Kick-Ball-Change & Carry On: How to Deal with Prescreen Rejections

Here’s the tea: Rejection Stinks. There’s nothing worse than feeling the sting of “No” - especially when you’ve been pouring your heart, your soul, and everything you’ve got into chasing your dreams. And even though you’ve heard us saying over and over that Rejection is inevitable for everyone in this process, nothing can really prepare you for that first (or fifth …. or tenth …) “No.” Actors know this better than anyone. And here at MCA, we’ve developed a tried and true method for beating back the Prescreen Rejection Blues.  Trust us - it works:

A Step-by-Step Guide to My College Audition’s 24 Hour Prescreen Rule:

1. When a prescreen rejection comes in, put down that phone, turn off the computer, and say goodbye to the internet. We promise it will still be there when it’s time to rejoin the world again. All that matters now … is your favorite dessert. Go get it! (Seriously … it’s calling your name …)

2. Throw on your comfiest clothes, turn on the saddest movie you have ever seen, and cry it out. Cry it alllllllll out. Loss hurts, and yes, this counts as a loss. It’s all right to mourn! If you need to talk about it, talk about it. If you need to yell about it, yell about it. If you need to sing about it, sing about it! Dance about it! Draw about it! Write about it! Give yourself the time and space to feel all the feels.

3. Snap a sad, weepy selfie and send it to someone on your Team. Your coach, drama teacher, mentor, best friend - whomever it is that understands the wild ride of college auditions and will help to put a smile back on your face. Our MCA Consultants are biiiiiiiiiig fans of the sad selfie. We have a whole collection of sad selfies from our awesome students, and we love to send them back to you when you book your first big gig - a reminder of how much you rock and how far you’ve come! Today is the worst, but there are awesome days ahead.

4. Head to bed. Sleep is your body’s time to process and restore, and nothing will help you bounce back from a tough day better than a restful night’s sleep. Then, after 24 hours, it’s time to let it go. Take a deep cleansing breath, say goodbye, and shift your focus to all of the awesome opportunities still available to you. The right school for you is out there waiting!

What Do Prescreen Rejections Mean?

Great Q. Let’s start with some Common Misconceptions, aka: things that prescreen rejections definitely do NOT mean:

1. That you aren’t talented. You are.

2. That you won’t get into a school you love. You will.

3. That you’ll never succeed as a performing artist. You can.

Here’s what a prescreen rejection does mean: At this moment in time, for whatever reason, this program and you just aren’t the best fit. And that’s it. 

Prescreen rejections are the norm, and college auditions are just like dating. We know it sounds cliche, but it is oh so true. Auditioning can be exciting and exhilarating! It can also be messy and scary and hard. There are expectations, and hurt feelings, yes, but there are also a lot of awesome opportunities for personal growth and joy. Sometimes it’s just not the right fit - but that is not a reflection of what you are capable of, and it is certainly not your fault. Keep bringing your awesome authentic self to the table, and celebrate those “Yes”es - they’re a sign you’re on the right track. When you find that perfect fit, it’ll be magic.

So What Can You Do About It?

There are a lot of things in this process that are out of your hands, so we always encourage our MCA students and families to focus their energy on the things they can control.  If your prescreen results aren’t turning out the way you’d hoped, here are some steps we’d recommend taking:

1. Gain Some New Perspective. Most often a prescreen rejection is just a sign that it’s not the right fit. In some cases, however, it may be that your prescreens aren’t showing you off in the best way possible. Perhaps it’s a sound or lighting issue. Maybe a swap in material will help you shine. Whatever the fix, getting fresh eyes on your prescreens can make a world of difference to the outcomes of your live auditions (or even any remaining prescreens that you have yet to submit). If you’d like to receive comprehensive prescreen feedback from an MCA coach, you can submit videos here. Our coaches are prescreen pros and have helped hundreds of students ensure that they are putting their best foot forward.

2. Make A New Game Plan. If prescreen rejections mean your college list has shrunk significantly, now is the time to supplement! The college audition process is incredibly competitive, so having a healthy balance of Reach, Middle, and Safety schools is a must. There are many fantastic programs that offer rolling deadlines or don’t require prescreens at all, and these are great programs to consider adding to your list. If you need assistance compiling a balanced college list, would like help navigating deadlines and requirements, or just need some support to get back on track, we recommend booking a consultation with one of our MCA Consultants.

3. Say Hello to Unified Auditions & Walk-Ins. If you weren’t already planning to attend a Unified audition, it’s time to make that plan! Unified Auditions take place in NYC, Chicago, and LA, and they offer students the opportunity to audition for many great programs in a condensed period of time. Unified Auditions also offer students the opportunity to participate in Walk-In auditions! Alternatively, If you’re not planning to travel for Unifieds or are looking for additional Walk-In opportunities, our friends at Acceptd are hosting Virtual Walk-In Auditions this January 12th and 13th! Another great way to supplement your list and expand your search for The Perfect Fit.

If you’ve experienced a lot of early prescreen rejections, Walk-Ins are for YOU! Walk-ins can be an amazing opportunity to discover and audition for awesome schools not previously on your radar. Many of our incredible students found their perfect program through Unified or Virtual Walk-Ins!

4. Consider a Gap Year. There is no overstating how challenging this process can be, and sometimes you just need room to breathe. If the stars have not aligned, and you’re feeling like a break and some self-care is what’s called for, consider taking a Gap Year. Learning to rest - not quit, is an important skill for artists, and taking a year to connect with what’s most important to you, focus on growing as a person and an artist, and reentering the college audition process with greater preparation and a fresh perspective can be a total game changer. In fact, many of our Gap Year students are some of our most inspiring success stories! If you think a Gap Year might be the right path for you, check out our previous post: “The Gift of the Gap” - including awesome advice from some of our amazing MCA Gap Year students!

Kick-Ball-Change and Carry On

If Prescreen Rejections have you feeling down in the dumps, know that you aren’t alone. We hear you. We see you. And we get it.

“No” can feel like a personal attack. A total dream killer. The end of the road. But please believe us when we say that rejections aren’t personal. Once you put on that sweet new college sweatshirt, this moment of heartbreak will look like nothing more than a necessary redirect on the road to where you were meant to be.

So keep that chin up, have faith, and trust in this crazy process.  Hard work pays off, and here at MCA, we truly believe that the right student and the right school always find each other. We know you’re gonna get there. And if you need us, we are always here to help.

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Want to chat one on one with Sarah? Hop into a call with her today.