New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
81

<p>rfassett, I cross posted with you but in my view, a student should be at the standard for acceptance at the point of admission to the program, as opposed to be accepted and then cut after a year and having no degree program and no chance to apply to transfer that year. Perhaps the level of “selectivity” could have happened at the admissions/audtions like most other schools do. That is my personal viewpoint and there re many threads here on CC (you appear to be new, so just explainin’) that debate cut policy/programs in theater.</p>

<p>For the record, I am not knocking this school whatsoever but merely trying to learn more so that I know the school well enough in order to recommend it to students.</p>

82

<p>Let me make it very, very clear. I am not, nor will I, diss anybody’s choice of higher education. If it works for you and yours, then what more could you ask. I commend anyone for learning more about any issue. Leave no stone unturned. It has oft been said that knowledge is power. But all here know that it’s in the use of that knowledge where you will find the real power. I posted because I believed that I could provide some insight from one that is currently involved with the school. And I do not need to defend this school - it will stand on its own merits. It is a two or three year conservatory. The classes are very technical in nature. If your ultimate goal is to transfer into a four year program (from NYCDA) I would say that you will be disappointed when the classes do not transfer (in whole) to any school other than those to which NYCDA is affiliated. But that statement is most likely true for any technical school. And to be sure, when I began my educational career, more than just a couple of years ago, I took some technical courses at a State University and those credits would not transfer to a private non-technical four year program, nor to a non-technical trac at the same State University where they were earned. So again, this program is not a ticket into another program. In fact, you would probably be wiser to investigate this program after you finished the four year program as part of your continuing education.</p>

83

<p>I agree with rfassett that it likely is not a wise path to do NYCDA as a stepping stone to a four year college via transfer (unless one of the schools affiliated with NYCDA) but rather attend NYCDA on its own merits as a two year certificate conservatory program after high school OR for conservatory training after getting a college degree…much like people do at other two year programs like Neighborhood Playhouse, Circle in the Square Theater School and the like.</p>

84

<p>Look I’m the 100th post of this thread, isn’t that great!!! </p>

<p>Any way, thank you rfass and soov for answering my questions. I personally do not think a 2 year conservatory is right for me and wouldn’t do it after Simon’s Rock. I wouldn’t see the point anyways, lol. I was just curious to know if the credits would transfer to schools like NYU. I do not think so and you rfass said it prob. wouldn’t too. I was just curious to know if the credits are transferable, that was all. I wouldn’t want to transfer to NYCDA and then to NYU. Although, it could give you a well rounded education. I am indeed intresteted in the program for the summer, that does look great and more for me!</p>

<p>Soov- I know I am getting off topic, so I’m sorry lol. I will make a short thread tomorrow so I won’t be bothersome. I will discuss my options on that thread. Thanks for all your help, much appreciated.</p>

85

<p>I am in the process of making a decision as to which acting conservatory I will attend. I am thinking of the New York Film Academy. I am also looking at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Does anyone have any advice,opinions, or experience with these acting schools? I auditioned for and was placed into the advanced acting program at New York Film Academy. I have loads f acting experience. I really desire to study acting in NYC. These schools are a significant investment for me and I want to make an informed decision and …well…pick the best one :slight_smile: ANY ADVICE???</p>

86

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I’m considering going to the NYCDA. I’ve read through most of this thread, and I’m kinda confused about the school now. Many of the points made have been good ones, and the speculations are valid, but I would like to hear from someone who has been through NYCDA’s 2 year course.</p>

<p>Is this a school good for serious, committed students who really want to get into the nitty-gritty of acting techniques and really get the utmost from their time, or is it a good place just to “have fun”? (Of course, acting is fun anyway, but you know what I mean.) Even judging from their website, it looks, though qualified and “selective” as they call themselves, isn’t as “professional” and serious as say, Neighborhood Playhouse or AADA.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

87

<p>I graduated from The NY Conservatory For Dramatic Arts in 2006 and I adored the program! I went right out of high school and it was both challenging and difficult and I learned so much. I have been a working actor ever since and have lots of film acting credits and I earned my Equity card right after graduation when I booked an off-Broadway play. I am now looking to complete my final two years of training to complete my BFA and several of my NYCDA classmates went on to do that in just two years at Marymount Manhattan in the BFA program. I have applied as a transfer student to NYU for the fall of 2010. I don’t know if they will accept my acting class from NYCDA or not because they told me that Tisch has a policy of not accepting drama credits from all other schools which makes sense. </p>

<p>I can say that The NY Conservatory prepared me as a working actor. It’s a serious conservatory NOT a vocational school. They DO call people a little too much though. I think they’re just trying to get their name out there though.</p>

88

<p>@early_college: are u attending NYCDA for the summer?</p>

<p>@DarlaFarla23: what schools did u applied to and got accepted at?</p>

89

<p>No I am not…</p>

90

<p>stargurl93: After graduating from the two year program at the NY conservatory for dramatic arts I applied to NYU Tisch, Marymount Manhattan’s BFA and Juilliard. I got in to all except Juilliard and Marymount is accepting my transfer credits from the NY conservatory which is great. What school are you going to?</p>

91

<p>hi early_college.
so I graduated from the ny conservatory and now I’m transfering to the third year at the BFA acting program at Marymount Manhattan. I was accepted as a transfer student at NYU Tisch but they would only let me skip one year and I want to graduate in two not three years so I’m going to Marymount instead which seems to have a pretty good rep and is supposed to be a good program. Anyway know for sure? I’m curious since I start school their in September.</p>

92

<p>@DarlaFarla23: Sorry. Haven’t been online for a while.
I am actually attending BMCC this year. honestly, i didn’t really want to go back because i wanted to concentrate more on acting training than academics but it is better than no school.
I am going to apply to USC and Chapman … again but this time apply as a theater major. I applied as undecided last year.</p>

<p>I know you are probably in Marymount but i heard it is a good musical theater. I haven’t watch Glee but on of the cast members graduated there. Also, do you know a girl named Kat in the Theater program.</p>

93

<p>From a former student, don’t go to this school! I graduated and paying back tons of money and have no BFA degree. Go to a 4 year college, where you’ll get the same, if not better training, spend less money, and come out with a degree. I have gotten work out of no help from the school. I knew so many people that dropped out.</p>

94

<p>NYCActor - </p>

<p>I am sorry you feel that way. I was cruising the sites of my old Alma Mater and had to see what they were saying about it. I loved SFT. This school not only helped me to build a solid foundation as an actor, but to this day my agent commends the Conservatory for teaching me all about the business of being an actor. </p>

<p>I am a member of the Unions (Actor’s Equity, SAG & AFTRA) I work in film, TV & theatre and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the teachers (who push & challenge you) and the contacts I made as a student of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. </p>

<p>Like others, I am willing to answer questions if you all have any.</p>

95

<p>Hello everybody, im an italian girl who has been living in ny for the past 1.5 years. I moved to the states in 2006 from milan, italy. i was living in miami before, where I attended the “honors college” at miami dade college, and got my AA degree with a 3.5 gpa. all my life my parents kind of tried to push me towards becoming a lawyer or something “prestigious”. go figure. so till pretty much 2 years ago, I thought that that was what I wanted to do. but I was very wrong and luckily I realized it and I was in total confusion. as soon as I graduated I moved to new york city, I had a feeling that I needed to get away to figure myself out. i was so damn confused and I felt like I trew away many years. i told my parents i was taking a year off, and they got so pest. I didn’t want to keep going to school for something I knew I didn’t care to learn about. I needed to find out which profession I really, truly loved and wanted. I’ve been supporting myself since the age of 18 with only a little help, and I found it so hard to do both, work and make enought money to pay for rent and bills and REALLY focusing on school, impossible. I grew up in milan and I was attending a “liceo classico” (basically ancient greek and latin studies), I was studying a lot there, and when I got to Miami I was not challenged enough and I found school really easy there and I kind of gave up, even if I was getting great grades. the past few years since I moved to the states have been a total confusion. it was hard for me to leave my dad, family and friends in italy (i moved here with my mom and stepdad) and the States are so different from where I grew up.
Taking this time off school finally made me understand that what I really really wanted to do was being an entertainer, focusing on acting.
Since I moved to ny, I’ve been modeling, (another thing i always wanted to do but never got support from my family) as I thought I could start doing that and transition later on into acting; I also got my real estate license so that I could make some more money on the side and still be able to attend my castings, but I still feel im missing something, I feel im not trying hard enought.
I’m not gonna lie it’s been pretty hard but even if I’m poor I am happy and I now know what I really want to do with my life. I really miss school thought, and I’ve been feeling kind of an ignorant. I now know that I want to be an actress, but I have no training whatsoever except for a short class that I took at actors connection (and it kind of sucked), plus I have a very strong italian accent and I know that is a problem if I want to play american roles. I don’t want to become an actress just cause “I’m pretty”, or because I think I can make it, I wanna do it right. I want to be good at it, I know I could, I want to be cultured about the whole acting world, I want to KNOW stuff. I have such a strong drive to succeed and a dream, but I am now 21 years old, I feel so old to start acting now, and I feel I lost so much time trying to figure out my life and I need to start work towards my dream asap.
So I want to go to school. I don’t know yet how am I going to do it, but I know I’ll figure it out. I heard great things about The new york conservatory college and I wanted to know if you guys think it’s a good choice. am I too old for it? I want to do movies and television, not so much teather, but I do want to learn how to sing and to improve my dancing skills.
I feel such an idiot, I feel like I am not doing enough, even If im working to support myself but I am so scared I’ll be stuck in this forever, with a big dream and never getting where I want to get. I have so many dreams and don’t know where to start.
I know this might be a little bit of confusing, but I need advices.
how/where should I start? What kind of school do you guys think I should go to? I don’t care about getting a degree, I care about getting a good training. Also, I have to find a school that will allow me to still model and work so I can support myself. I heard the new york conservatory allows you… but will I have enough time for everything?
please any advice would help!!!</p>

<p>thank you so much in advance!</p>

<p><3</p>

96

<p>So i have been reading this forum for like the last hour and a half and i have just one question… (for the two year conservatory program) Has anyone actually been rejected from this school?
I am a senior in highschool. I am going to pursue acting after graduation and my agent Naomi from New York Model Management Group refferred me to this college. Now it may seem that i dont need to go to school for acting since i have gotten an agent. But most of my jobs have been for modeling alone. To be more competitve in the acting world, i have applied and have been accepted to three new york acting conservatories; American Musical and Dramatic Academy, New York Film Academy, and The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. I have done my research on each of these schools too, explaining why i’m on CC, but i’ve seen this school has had an issue with acceptance rate. For the Adm that hasn’t been on for like three years, or anyone that feels they can answer this question: i want to know if anyone out of the so-called 4000 that auditioned have been told they were not accepted into the school. souly on bad audition rather than grades or letters of rec.
I’m just checking if this school is at all competitive as the other schools. I’m not dissing any part of the program, just wondering if i’m going to be stuck with other kids with no idea what’s going on.</p>

97

<p>I auditioned in September along with 3 other people to begin fall classes. I was accepted and i can tell you that i dont see any of those 3 people in the school. It is a great school, and the training is of the most proffesional you will get in the film and television field. I’ve yet to meet one person that’s attended this school and not benefited greatly from it.</p>

98

<p>I have just joined this site as a friend found it for me while helping me to research NYCDA to determine if it was “legit”.</p>

<p>For some background, my son is a senior and is interested in film/television acting. So, most of the college programs are not geared for his interests. He attended the National Thespian Society National competition last summer where he was also eligible to attend the college auditions. This is where a number of college scouts, including those from NYCDA attend to view a student’s audition. Then, they may call the students back for an additional audition and screening if they liked what they saw in the first audition.</p>

<p>I believe these are the additional auditions that are being used in the numbers to get to the “4,000+” students auditioned. So, these students weren’t just auditioning for NYCDA, but for other colleges simultaneously. Is it misleading, maybe. Do I care, not really. I do know that not everybody that auditioned at Nationals was called back by NYCDA at that time, as my son’s school had several seniors there and only 2 of them received NYCDA callbacks. Based on that, I am inclined to at least basically believe the numbers posted. Obviously, they “accept” more than 180 to get 180 in the class. Just because a student is accepted doesn’t mean that NYCDA becomes their final choice, for whatever reason. It could be financial, they had a better offer from a different school, they changed their mind, whatever.</p>

<p>However, even though my son received a callback at state, he had to do an additional “official” audition, which he did in December. He was then notified that he in fact was accepted into the 2-year program. </p>

<p>So, if I’m not worried about the acceptance/audition numbers, what did I come here to find out? Well it is to see if the quality of the program was such that it would give my son the skills (both acting and business) and contacts to give him an edge in his chosen field. I haven’t finished reading all of the posts, so I don’t have my answer yet. But I did want to post my son’s audition experience in hopes of helping clarify some of the numbers questions that seem to be dominating the forum at the moment. Hopefully I didn’t just add more fuel to the fire.</p>

<p>My only other concerns are: 1) finding the money to pay for this after being laid off of work for 8 months and 2) the “cut” at the end of the first year. I will be contacting the school about both of these issues. </p>

<p>I will keep reading and if anybody has any direct (or semi-direct) knowledge about the quality of the 2-year program, it would be most appreciated. Good luck to everyone in their search for information.</p>

99

<p>Hey!,</p>

<p>I have read through nearly every comment made on this thread and I just thought I would add in my two cents.</p>

<p>I am auditioning for the school in February in Chicago and could not be more excited. I have spent endless hours trying to find a school that I felt would be right for me after graduation and NYCDA has repeatedly come up in my searches. I had heard about it a couple of years ago and something about it had just stuck with me. I have been acting professionally since I was 16 and have taken too many classes and workshops with Directors, Casting Directors, Agents/Managers to count. And through doing those have learned alot about the industry. (I highly recommend taking workshops and classes with multiple people or teachers. The things you learn from each individual is great, everyone has their own opinion and it’s nice to get more than one perspective). </p>

<p>My junior year I decided to get in contact with people from the school. They couldn’t have been more kind, informative, and easy to talk to! I found that I was talking with them (yes, i spoke with more than one rep) for more than the 5 minutes I had expected. I would ask one question and get a very detailed response. No digging necessary. They were very straightforward.</p>

<p>I do agree with that stats that it seems near impossible to actually audition 4000 people specifically for the 2 year program, but who cares? It shouldn’t be about that but rather the quality of the teachers and what you get out of the program.</p>

<p>I took a workshop with Joan See (the head of the entire school) and found that they were very very informed and in tune with exactly what was going on in the business and very hands on when it came to helping the students with their monologues. Not only with what they could change to give their best performance with the specific peice they were doing but going the extra mile and even telling them things like why something wouldn’t work in an audition and what casting directors or auditioners look for when you perform your piece. </p>

<p>And the location! Wow. What an amazing place to have your campus. And the proximity of everything there makes transportation easy. But you do pay the price for that. Even though the tuition is high (about $30k per year) I have heard good things about their financial aid process. And that they do their best to accommodate each individual students needs. I haven’t heard the same for AADA or AMDA. The quality of education you get there and the opportunities you’re given, I think are well worth the price. You are put in front of important people in the industry that can help further your career at the end of your second year. Moving to NY and trying to get put in front of people that could do that for you on your own would be a long and expensive process. That alone I think is a huge plus.</p>

<p>There’s my two cents. Feel free to ask questions.</p>

100

<p>My d just got accepted today and our experience with this program has been a very positive experience. We have been to the school twice, spoke a number of times with their Admissions Coordinator who very patiently answered our million questions. The student body is very eclectic in a positive way, there is a wide range of ages and backgrounds, but they all seem to have one thing in common…a love and devotion to their craft. It is a hard decision to choose between a 4 year program versus a 2 year program, but if this is the road my d chooses, I would be very comfortable with her attending this program.</p>