College 101

By: ; STO Talya Hammerman, Ridge Point High School, Troupe 7678; STO Gabriel Brock, Goose Creek Memorial High School, Troupe 8132
 
With the school year coming to an end, we wanted to leave this year’s juniors and seniors with a little bit of advice.

Tips for applying/preparing for college

• Watch youtube videos from people at colleges you’re interested in

Oftentimes, you can find vlogs from students or simple introductory videos on schools that you may apply to. These videos can help serve as a window to the environment and the types of people you will encounter at the school!

• Do not stress, but a deadline is a deadline

By no means should you be worried about these auditions/applications. After all, seniors go through this process all the time, and they all survived. Although it may be difficult, trust in your abilities to get everything done and put in your best work. Of course, a deadline is a deadline. These are colleges, and they won’t be as forgiving as your super cool english teacher who gives extensions when you're just “not feeling it”. Think ahead and keep track of all deadlines as soon as they're introduced. 

• Do not compare yourself to other people

It is extremely easy to compare your progress to someone who has 6 of their applications done already, is filming 5 auditions on a Saturday, and has a resume that looks like a CVS receipt, but you simply can’t. Every individual is different, works at a unique pace, and overall, you have to trust you are doing what is best for you. 

•  Early decision is binding, early action is what you need for theatre

This may get confusing, so buckle up. When you apply for colleges, there are two different forms of application: Early Decision and Early Action. Early decision means that, once you apply to a school, you have to attend if you get in. Early action allows you to apply to a school, get in, but still decide to go elsewhere. Of course, it depends on the person applying. If you have your heart set on a specific college, then by all means go for early decision. However, if you are looking at a plethora of schools, early action may be the best option to pursue.  

• Get eyes on your work

It is always beneficial to have your work reviewed by a director, peer, or even just your parents. The more people who see and critique them, the better your pieces will become. However, you want to make sure you are keeping your selections fresh and authentic. Colleges can tell when a piece has been overworked, and they are looking for ingenuity. 


Q: What if I’m not majoring in theatre?
A: People have this stigma about those who don’t do theatre as a major. I’m here to say, you don’t have to listen to them. Do what is best for you. For me, I knew that I had done so much in theatre already, I’m not saying I’m done learning, but I wanted to try something new and push myself in another area. With a minor, you are able to do that and still do theatre. I will Major in Graphic Design with a Minor in Theatre. This will allow me some time to still use theatre as a creative outlet while doing something else that I love as well.
~ Campbell Lemons, 2018-2020 Texas State Thespian Officer

Q: What advice do you have regarding auditioning for colleges and finding which program is right for you?
A: My best advice when auditioning for colleges is to know your type. Do not try to fit into another mold. Being yourself is the best thing to do! When it comes to finding what program is right for you I completely recommend doing your research. Campus visits, talking to some of their current students, talking to some of their current students, watching a show from the college. Anything to make sure you could grow and thrive in their environment. Also when you know you know. When I stepped onto my college campus I knew immediately that that was where I was going to spend the next 4 years. If you have that moment, listen to it! 
       ~ Jackson Barnes, 2019-2020 Texas State Thespian Officer

Q: How stressful is the entire audition/application process?
A: I'd say make sure that you pick pieces that fit you well. Most of the college auditions that I went on asked me if I had any pieces that better reflected myself as a performer. I wish that my primary pieces had been in my age range since they're generally looking for someone who can do a piece that feels natural for them. It can take a lot of time to find a piece that you love and that also fits you, but once you find something it's completely worth it.
    ~ Elam Blackwell, 2017 Texas State Thespian Officer/ International Thespian Officer

Q: What is the hardest part of the audition/college application process?
A: For me the hardest part was knowing where to start! Because of the nature of what I wanted to study combined with the fact that I didn’t have a list of “dream schools” to reference, it felt very overwhelming to begin looking at schools when you know little to nothing about their actual reputation in your field. I found myself just kind of going in circles looking for programs until I had to sit and make myself pick some schools I liked to apply to.
        ~ Annie Bailey, 2019-2020 Texas State Thespian Officer 

Life is hard and school doesn’t make it any easier. Take these tips to heart and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your classmates, directors, or graduated seniors. When the fall rolls around and you’re auditioning for schools, (acting, playwriting, technical theatre, or anything in between) just remember to be prepared and don’t forget to break a leg!

Seniors, don’t think that because this was an auditions blog we forgot about you. Several state schools still have application periods open until May 30th, May 31st, or June 1st. You still have a few weeks to get in that application for the upcoming fall and if you’ve already committed we have a blog coming up about what to bring with you in the fall (both theatre and non-theatre related). So stay tuned!

With love, 
Your 2020 & 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers