Everyone moves at their own pace, but a rough month-by-month plan keeps the process from feeling overwhelming. Swipe through the timeline below, from building your list in the spring through decision season.
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The full timeline
Remember: everyone is on their own timeline, and there is no one right way to do this.
May: build your foundation
- Create a college-only email address.
- Give your recommenders a heads up (1 to 2 academic, 1 to 2 artistic).
- Research and start your school list.
- Decide when you will take the SAT or ACT.
- Musical theatre only: find dance prescreen choreography or a choreographer.
- Build a realistic budget for fees, travel, coaching, and headshots, and stick to it.
June and July: gather and shape your materials
- Choose your songs and monologues.
- Rehearse your dance prescreen.
- Register for the Common App and Acceptd.
- Write your Common App essay and brainstorm wildcard ideas.
- Shop for prescreen filming outfits.
- Start a meditation or self-care practice.
August: keep up the good work
- Finalize your school list.
- Finish your Common App essay and start supplemental essays.
- Track all of your deadlines.
- Check in with recommenders and add their emails to your applications.
- Musical theatre only: film your dance prescreen.
- Film your wildcard, and keep rehearsing songs and monologues.
September: putting it together
- Pull together a headshot and resume.
- Make a shot list for each school's requirements.
- Keep rehearsing, and start filming when you feel ready.
- Finish up your supplemental essays.
October: ship it
- Film your prescreens. You can film great prescreens with an iPhone and a ring light.
- Double-check that you have filmed all slates and video essays.
- Submit your prescreens and applications.
- Save your logins to the various portals in a safe place.
- Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
November: pause and plan
- Take a break.
- Receive your prescreen results.
- Schedule callbacks quickly. Some fill up fast, but slots often open up later.
- Start making travel plans. Choosing live virtual will not hurt your chances.
December: schedule and stay flexible
- Continue receiving prescreen results.
- Continue to book travel and callback dates.
- Revisit your songs and monologues.
- Musical theatre only: do practice dance calls on YouTube.
- Prepare any extra materials. Depending on due dates, you may not hear from some schools until January.
January and February: audition and care for yourself
- Keep playing with your pieces.
- Do a mock audition.
- Stay healthy and attend your callbacks.
- Tell your teachers and counselor about travel.
March and April: wait, breathe, decide
- Keep busy with meaningful activities.
- Receive your offers and weigh them against one another.
- Negotiate financials, pay your deposit, and buy school swag.
- Plan your graduation party and celebrate. You did it!
Track every deadline as you go. Find your programs on stageready and save them to your list.
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