AMDA... I'm so confused?

<p>I Auditioned the 2nd of May, I had a really smooth audition. I asked the ratio on how many people will get accepted to the school. The man I was on the phone with told me out of 15 people who will audition it will be 3 to 5 people who will be accepted into their summer program out of my city. Today I got a thing in the mail from AMDA giving me my acceptance letter and an hour later I got a call from my rep. that I spoke to the whole way and he congratulated me and right now I am filling out papers. I heard mixed feelings about it and I had tuned every body out and thought about it on my own and woke up feeling that I had to go there. My friends attend there and they said follow your heart; its what you make of it. As for your audition BREAK A LEG!! <3</p>

<p>I am an international student and lucky me there are going to be auditions in my country… I am a senior in high school and I am really looking forward to get into AMDA, what are some thing that you recommend for me becuase I’ve heard that I should study something else first and then go to AMDA. Do I need previous experience?
About the school being strict I’ll have to say that I really like when schools are strict instead of letting every student get good grades for just sitting in class, after all AMDA is a school were they are preparing artists and they want them to give the best they can.
My audition is on march 26, 2011… I guess I have time to prepare well and I’d like your help
THANK YOU</p>

<p>Your post is a bit confusing. I’m not sure what you mean when you say “I’ve heard that I should study something else first”. Does this mean that you are interested in a college degree? If so, you should be looking at colleges or universities, not AMDA. It is a trade school, and will not provide an education in any other areas.<br>
I’m also confused by your question “Do I need previous experience?” Strictly speaking, the answer to this is no – but if you have never had any theater experience I wonder why you are thinking about attending AMDA. You should definitely have the experience of performing before you consider this very difficult career route. Being a performer is not an easy life, and you need to be passionate about the REALITY of what it entails, not just what you think it MIGHT be like.</p>

<p>Hey, just wanted to commend u on your post. I’ve read hundreds of reviews regarding amda and was so worried for my son but your review relieved me! If you don’t me asking, how is it going and which location are you attending?</p>

<p>Did you get accepted?</p>

<p>Hi, what is CITS or PCPA ? Thanks for helping me</p>

<p>PCPA is the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts. It is a 2-year immersion training program held at Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, CA. Students are trained in all aspects of theater and perform at the campus in Santa Maria, as well as at a second theater in Solvang, about 45 minutes away (near the location of Michael Jackson’s former ranch), Students train with resident actors. Overall, I would say the age of students tends to be older than average. It is strictly a training program, with no GE requirements (at least I don’t think there are any). We have seen several productions over the years, and they are well done. Honestly, even though we live about 1-1/2 hours away and are often in Santa Maria to visit in-laws, I can’t say I personally know a single person who has gone thru the program. I know they also have an acting intern program that is geared toward more experienced actors- I want to say they are usually MT BA or BFA grads- who are looking for some experience. The cost is fairly low, as the program is part of the Community College. It has a good reputation.</p>

<p>Sorry- don’t know CITS…</p>

<p>CITS is Circle in The Square, no…?</p>

<p>^^^^^Yes…of course…</p>

<p>Jujurocco- CITS is also a 2 year program. I would say the difference is that PCPC is more of a working program, and of course, is not as well known as CITS.</p>

<p>Can you please explain more about PCPA? I was wondering what if I got accepted to that school and after I graduate I plan to go to amda? can I do that?</p>

<p>My daughter knows a couple of PCPA kids. The students run the gamut from those who have graduated college and want supplemental arts training to high school grads with little experience. It’s basically community college and not all that hard to get in. There is no reason that you couldn’t do that and AMDA but that’s 6 years of schooling and no real degree. I’m not sure what’s the point.</p>

<p>Hi Everyone. I’e recently been accepted to AMDA for the BFA program. I have scholarships and loans but i still need a little bit more funds. Considering that my mom is a single mom of three and doesn’t want to take out the parent plus loan. Is there anyway i can go around this? Ive tried other loans but i need a co-signer, which i don’t have! Can some one please help me!</p>

<p>You may want to post on the financial aid forum…</p>

<p>Do you already have the full Stafford loan for a freshman in your aid package ($5500)? </p>

<p>If your mother applies for a Parent Plus Loan and is denied you will be able to take out additional federal loan money in your name for about $4000 for the year without a co-signer.</p>

<p>Banks will generally not loan 18 year olds money without a co-signer, so a co-signer will likely be needed for additional loan money.</p>

<p>What are the direct billable costs at the school? How much are you paying in rent each month, how much do you have in your budget for books, travel, food, etc… You may be able to cut expenses a bit. Do you have a summer job? Can you try to earn more at that job? Will you have time to work during the school year?</p>

<p>How big is the gap you are trying to fill?</p>

<p>You really need to consider what it will be like to hit the ground auditioning in NYC for musical theatre jobs with 100k of debt saddling you. There are many state schools with excellent theatre training that are much less expensive, and then you don’t have nearly as much debt starting out. AMDA accepts SO many students, it has a very high acceptance rate. Getting accepted there in no way guarantees you will find work in music theatre, and then you are saddled with 100k in debt and no real degree to fall back on. I have a friend who went to a state school, headed to NYC, and ended up in 4 different Tony award winning Broadway productions. And she doesn’t make a ton of money- just enough to get by- but she managed to land roles all without the scam and loans needed for AMDA. And I know a girl from AMDA who is doing volunteer theatre work and only getting secondary roles
in her tiny midwestern home town local theatre troupe. She is going back to a state school to become a teacher so she can have a career that pays. Just something to consider. You really need to consider your loan to future income ratio. </p>

<p>@KC1453 I am not an AMDA graduate, nor is AMDA on my list, but talent is not measured by school. Perhaps, yes, your struggling friend’s troubles may have some part to do with her education, but it also might have to do with just the way she auditions. The life of a performer will be hard, I know, we all know, that is why we try to get the best education, not for getting guaranteed success, but to get a shot at success.</p>

My friend went to the American musical theatre academy of New York and said it was awful (www.theamta.com) because it is a scam and the lady who runs it is a beaaach. DO NOT be confused by AMDA vs. AMTA. They planned it that way on purpose. AMDA is okay. AMTA is a scam. Just FYI