<p>I'm currently considering applying to these two schools for Acting. I have experience in both film and theatre, but i'm sure other applicants will blow my resume away in that aspect. Is that reason enough to give up hope? On Juilliards drama requirements it says:</p>
<p>"A potential for vital, individualistic, trainable growth-regarded as more important than the applicant's present state of technical accomplishment"</p>
<p>So, what exactly are they looking for in potential students? From the audition?</p>
<p>and secondly for RADA, their site is not very helpful. Does anyone know anything about the school and the application process. </p>
<p>Also, any first hand stories would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I know RADA rarely takes americans, the only American person they called back last year for a second audition was a boy from my school, and he said the auditions were super intense. now he's at cal arts.
you could also look into Royal Scottish Academy, which has an amazing acting program.</p>
<p>While RSAMD is a good drama school, it's not one of the absolute top ones like RADA - there are several other British drama schools of the same calibre.
Not saying don't apply or anything, just that if you want to look at that school, there are even more options out there.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ncdt.co.uk/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ncdt.co.uk/</a> is a good place to start if you're looking for a British drama school.
Regarding RADA - very very very hard place to get into, even by drama school standard. One thing I have heard about them is that they are keen on life experience, making it harder to get in to straight from school.</p>
<p>What sort of course and what sort of school are you looking for? :)</p>
<p>I'm not really sure. I didn't do very well in school(family drama) so a lot of the other good theatre programs aren't an option; nyu-tisch, BU, Boston Con, CM. I really just want to enter a rigorous program that can prepare me for this harsh business, also a school where I can get a lot of networking done. My college advisor adviced me to go to a lesser theatre program and then try to get into one of these other programs.</p>
<p>Is it Acting or MT you're wanting to go in for by the way?
An important thing to think about with British schools is whether you want to stay in London or not, as a lot of schools are based there.
You might want to check out what schools let you send in video auditions (the one that comes to mind is RSAMD, but they go to the Unifieds in America, so that might not help so much!)
Generally, I can't think of any straight acting degree at a British drama school where your grades in school are a particular factor in decisions. It's all on the audition really.</p>
<p>My son is applying to do one semester at RADA. He is a jr. MT at Michigan and several of his friends are there this semester and are loving every minute of it. RADA is a straight drama program not MT.</p>
<p>I guessed that was the case but wanted to be sure :D That said, I was going to audition for RADA in addition to other acting courses, plus some MT courses, so it could have been a mixture :) Some of the straight acting courses in Britain are quite good at including the odd bit of MT in their courses, including having musicals among their performances.</p>
<p>I can't hold a note for anything. My dog howls along when i sing a mariah carey song :).. This is a very tedious process looking at Drama Schools :(</p>
<p>I would definitely not rule out Carnegie Mellon based on your grades. Yes you do have to be accepted to the college and the program but from what I've heard if the Drama department wants you bad enough, then you're in. It's not like NYU where your academics and audition are weighted 50/50. CMU is more like 90/10 with the audition being the real deciding factor. Aside from Julliard, I think it's safe to say that Carnegie Mellon is one of the most well-respected acting programs in the country and it's a great place to network with alumni in the biz, plus the showcase.</p>
<p>That's good news! I did check out CMU, but on Princeton review i think the average GPA was 3.0. I moved a lot of moving during high school(from NY to Brazil, to Germany to Morocco, then back!) so my grades are pretty terrible...I think I'm working with an 82.</p>
<p>CMU will not care about your grades - as BreakIntoSong says, if they want you in the Drama department, you'll get in. :) And they and other schools will LOVE your well-traveledness!!!!!</p>
<p>I agree with BreakIntoSong that for admissions to CMU's BFA programs, 90% is based on the audition, and 10% on academic review (which is not the case at all schools). I agree with Coach, that if they want you, they'd do what they could to get you. However, I think it should be pointed out that with 1200 auditioning for approx. 10 MT and 18 Acting slots, that there are going to be more than 10+18 students whom they are interested in who they think have what it takes. So, when it comes down to the final kids they are considering, there is that 10% academic review and so that could set one kid apart from another. I think there are more than 10 MT applicants whom they would find attractive and suitable for those slots. Indeed, they even have a waitlist. So, while academics are not the main factor there by a long shot, they do count and they do matter (after all, they ask for all that information and essays and all that jazz), and can possibly be what sets one finalist for a slot apart from another. Acceptance is not 100% audition, but rather 90%. </p>
<p>While it would be interesting to know the stats of admitted students to the BFA program itself, that information is not available. However admitted students to CMU have an Avg. GPA of 3.6, 71% from top 10% of class, 94% from top 25%, 99% from top half, mid SATs V 610-710, M 680-760, Combined 1290-1470. So, while the audition counts 90%, academics will matter when there are so few slots. Having stats in the ballpark helps when it comes down to the final choices. A GPA below 3.0 or an SAT below 1250 and ranked below the top half of their HS class, would make it more difficult next to another candidate whom they like equally in terms of artistic talent who had much higher stats, etc.</p>