in need of guidance. please help.

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>i went into this whole audition process blindly and there are so many things i regret not knowing about. now that i graduated from high school and have gone through the audition process, i wish i could have done so much more to prepare ahead of time. i just had NO IDEA what i was doing. it is easier for kids who have parents who have done theatre or are apart of "the business". my situation was nothing close to that. i've taken theatre, choir, dance throughout middle school and high school but never any private training. and i've realized the training i had was very mediocre due to location and lack of financial resources. </p>

<p>this past february i auditioned for boco, hartt, and penn state. we went through the motions of visiting the schools and meeting with admissions directors; however none of the schools seemed to be the right "fit" when i visited the campuses. this was very disappointing because after doing research online, they seemed like they would have been the perfect fit for me. i had already applied to the schools and it was too late to apply for any other strong programs for MT. we did visit new york while we were there and i fell in love with the city. </p>

<p>while waiting for acceptance/rejection letters for the three schools, i received a brochure in the mail for AMDA and attended an open house seminar they held in LA. i decided it would be best to audition for AMDA, just in case the other three schools did not accept me. they mentioned offering a BFA in MT, which made it seem more of a secure choice as opposed to the two year conservatory program. i went ahead and auditioned for AMDA.</p>

<p>i was not accepted into hartt, boco, or penn state. AMDA did accept me. after the three rejections, i was just so happy to be accepted somewhere. i had the option of going to CSU fullerton, but i did not want to study in california, so i chose to study at AMDA on the NY campus. however, lately i have been getting a lot of bad comments about AMDA and that is not a good place to train. also, i searched the threads here on college confidential and read a lot of things about how AMDA is not credible in listing its faculty. i have a friend who attends the LA campus and she says she loves it there. however, i am still worried that it will be a mistake to go there. i am very serious about doing MT professionally and just want to make sure that i will be "in the right place at the right time". </p>

<p>i've been thinking about transferring after my first year if needed. i might as well try it out for a year, and if i don't like it, i can transfer. my concern is, whether i will be wasting so much money in that first year (seeing that AMDA is so EXPENSIVE), and if because of my lack of private training i may or may not be up to parr to be accepted to another prestigious program if i decide to re-audition after that first year. i have very “raw talent”, but there is definitely potential there. i am very passionate and dedicated about doing this professionally. </p>

<p>for those of you more experienced in this, do you have any suggestions, opinions, or advice for me? i feel so lost in this decision and where it is going to take me. </p>

<p>sorry this is so long. thank you so much in advance!</p>

2

<p>I doubt that you will find a school listed here that does not have negative comments concerning the program. While there are probably more critics of AMDA than cheerleaders, only you can decide what is the correct fit for you. You said that you felt that the schools you looked at weren't the right "fit". Is AMDA the right "fit"? If not, you are right, it is an expensive place to be, for more than just a few reasons. </p>

<p>I've stated this on this board and elsewhere - Good training can be found in hundreds of places. Small schools without huge reputations produce excellent artists, large schools with incredibly over-inflated reputations produce many future salesman and women and vice versa.</p>

<p>You say you have raw talent. If that is true, go and take some private voice from some reputable instructors, enroll in a few (several) dance classes, read plays by the bucket load, and get into an acting class or two. Put together a dynamite package and go off and find the right "fit." </p>

<p>AMDA will give you training. No doubt about it. Some of their students find success and many don't. I have read some things about the BFA they now offer, and I would suggest that you do your research about that before you count on it. If you are serious about transferring from AMDA, it is my considered opinion that you would be better off taking the route I described above. You would save money and spend time getting ready for your auditions in the fall and spring. But that is nothing more than my considered opinion.</p>

<p>Always remember, all training in the art of theatre is at least as much as what you bring to it (desire, heart, ability, work ethic, etc.) as what your teachers bring to it. Find serious like-minded instructors. You'll do fine. Good luck.</p>

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<p>There have been some pretty successful people that have come out of AMADA but I don't think that it is particularly hard to get in to. I think that is where they get a bad rep. I think that most kids that go to school and pay the big bucks to a place like AMADA expect to get work when they complete the program. Well if the acting unemployment rate is 92 percent that means there are a lot of kids out there 70K in debt (for 2 yrs) without a job or a degree.
I pretty much agree with everything kjgc said especially the part about if you go there thinking you will transfer after a year, that would be a complete waste of money in my opinion.
The good thing about re-auditioning next year is you have a shot at some scholarship money. Just make sure you pick some safety schools in the event you don't make it. As a parent I highly recommend that you get a degree, it will come in handy. Also consider taking some required classes at a JC that would transfer to most colleges Good luck!</p>

4

<p>Gap years can be great- but also can be a bit tricky unless you are in an area that offers great training and performance opportunities.
I don't know anything about AMDA, but it might be worth it for the training for a year. You will be in a great location, and be with other students who share your passion for theater.
Your original list was too short( you probably already know this) and the 3 schools you auditioned for are tough to get into for anyone.
My own d is very excited to be going to MMC in the fall. It's a great location(NYC) and requires a hefty liberal arts component . They accept tranfers also- so it might be a good one to add to your list if you do decide to reauditon</p>

5

<p>thank you for the advice...</p>

<p>i've been thinking about this a lot. right now, i am leaning towards not attending AMDA. i have an idea for plan B, but i still need to do a lot of research, calling the school and what not, and how the heck to explain to my mother the sudden epiphany i am having about all of this. it's not going to be easy. </p>

<p>i was also accepted to CSU fullerton. i was told they have a decent theatre program. while i would NOT want to stay there the four years, i could take care of some of my gen. ed. courses and take some voice/dance/acting courses as well. it would be much less expensive to attend and i could get a job and start saving up for re-applying to the other MT programs (much more than just 3 this time!) and also tuition money if i was able to transfer to a stronger MT program. it would also give me time to apply for scholarships and such. and on top of that, i have about $2, 700 to apply towards the tuition from FAFSA money. (i can't even use my FAFSA money for AMDA because i am studying in NY and the money only applies to schools in CA!) </p>

<p>as stated above, AMDA accepts too many people. i don't think i belong in an MT program like that. i want more focused and well-rounded training. and i cannot stand the idea of doubting and questioning everything that i am investing myself in. therefore, at this point, AMDA does not seem like the right fit for me.</p>

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<p>Begin to Hope - It does sound like you have thought alot about this and have come to a well-reasoned decision based on your long-term goals, your financial situation, and knowing yourself. I think if you explain this to your Mom as you explained it here, she will be very proud of your mature decision. It says alot that you are not letting fear, pride, or anything else allow you to follow a path that, you know in your gut, is wrong for you. Best of luck to you!</p>