I’m going into my junior year of high school and I want to become an actor. There aren’t many performance opportunities around me other than my school’s drama program, which I haven’t been a part of for my first two years of school due to my extreme dislike for the teacher that ran it. Luckily we’re getting a new drama instructor this year and I’m prepared to actually participate. But besides that, I have no experience acting whatsoever. I attended an acting class once. I helped with the middle school’s musicals, but I don’t think that counts as much. I primarily have a background in music, I’m trumpet section leader in all three bands at my school, yada yada yada.
But the main point is, I don’t have any acting experience but I want to go to college for acting. Is this a dumb idea? I’d like to audition for the somewhat local theatres around me but I’m afraid I’ll give them a blank resume and they’ll just laugh at me. I really want to go to school for acting but I know that most kids that audition have tons of experience. Should I try to do some camps or classes? Would they count on a resume?
I wouldn’t say it will rule you out completely - most people will say that your audition trumps any and all other factors at play - but it does make you seem like a wild card and a big risk. Chances are, at many of your college auditions, your auditioners will ask why you don’t have any prior experience, and “I didn’t like the drama teacher and was afraid community theatres would laugh at me,” don’t sound like the sort of insurmountable obstacles that would lead them to consider you over someone who has put years of work into their craft. I don’t mean that to be harsh - just letting you know that the process for BFA programs is cutthroat, and you need to be prepared for that going in.
That said, it’s not too late to get involved. Really, really inundate yourself your junior and senior years. Connect with a community theatre, get involved at school, find a pre-college program or internship for next summer. Dive in head first and A) start gaining experience/building a resume while B) finding out if theatre is something you actually want to pursue. That’s the flip side of auditioning for college programs with no experience - you’re potentially throwing yourself into a fully immersive, four year program with no practical way of gauging whether or not it’s something you really want. Seek experience for the sake of appearing more desirable to schools, sure - but, primarily, seek experience for your own sake and your own peace of mind.
I would also suggest looking into BA programs since the majority don’t require auditions, and you’ll have the flexibility to change majors if you decide you want a different path.
If you are really intent on pursuing a BFA - I would strongly recommend doing a summer college program next year, it will give you a window into what studying theater at the college level is all about. Lots of schools have them ( you may want to stay close or go father away) ones that we looked into were: northwestern , Boston , Carnegie Mellon , NYU Tisch (this is what my d ended up doing) Ithaca, Syracuse, and Rutgers.
Yes, of course. The selection process is very subjective and somewhat irrational. Talent, looks, experience, and passion are not always the golden ticket for these BFA programs… so anything is possible. Toowonderful. Is correct. College Summer programs and services like MTCA go a long way in knowing the particulars and inside scoop of what evaluators are looking for…which may have helped D more so than experience- especially professional experience which oddly hurt more than helped… Stay positive and Good luck Emily.