<p>yep. I auditioned in New York two weeks ago, and I just got accepted. I’m really interested but after all that i’ve read on this site i’m kind of worried. However, I found something to put my mind at ease. The school puts up the final reel video’s for the graduating second year students onto Youtube. I’m actually quite impressed.</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>First of all, how the heck do you make new threads on here? CC is so confusing…I can’t find the “New Thread” button anywhere.</p>
<p>So I got accepted for the summer acting program for both the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and the New York Film Academy. I don’t know which is the better route. Does anyone know about the two and can attest to their merits? Is one better than the other? What are their main differences? </p>
<p>I’m also considering doing a 1-year conservatory for NYFA. Should I do the summer acting program for the NYCDA and a year long conservatory for NYFA, or do both the summer program and conservatory with just NYFA?</p>
<p>A side-note: I am 21 and looking for a challenging acting program. I am serious about becoming a screen actor and have been in contact with several agents and casting directors in both NY, LA, and other places. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>JalyssaEliasen,
I think that The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts offers a two year program with an a by invitation only third year. Why don’t you try the summer program and see if you like it?</p>
<p>After sorting through walls and walls of angry text, I’d just like to pull the most basic facts out of here. I’m a junior in high school who’s very invested in theater and drama, definitely would like to go pro some day, but reading this thread raises some questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Are there any measurable differences between AMDA, AADA, and NYCDA?</p></li>
<li><p>Would I be better served with a BFA at a four-year school like NC Arts, Boston U, CalArts or (in my dreams) Tisch?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>3 and most importantly: Where do I sign up for all these en-masse auditions? I’m a public-school kid, not a member of the ITS or similar groups, and I’ve heard that certain selective prep schools will get their students into “shotgun” auditions. Is there any way for a middle-class schlub like myself to get in on this?</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, but does anyone know which program is better? NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts or New York Film Academy? This is in terms of acting.</p>
<p>StrangeBro -</p>
<p>Keep asking questions, and do a lot of reading, here and on the schools’ websites. Only you know if a 4-year degree, BFA or BA, or a certificate program is right for you. People have successful careers with any of the above, including not majoring in theatre at all, or not even going to college.</p>
<p>Anyone is entitled to apply to schools and programs, and anyone who applies and meets any criteria the schools decide to assign, may audition for a program. Just look on the schools’ websites for how to apply and audition. Very few even expect you to be admitted academically before they will let you sign up to audition. None of the people you see posting here are anything but regular kids or parents who are doing what regular people do. No one can control the results - but you have plenty of opportunities to apply and audition just like everyone else.</p>
<p>We’re happy to help you. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for your post. My son (hs junior) has been invited to attend the 4 week summer porgram at NYCFDA, summer 2011, he was offered a scholarship of $1500 plus there is a $990 early registration discount. I have reviewed this site and you are one of the few respondents who actually attended the school and had very positive statements about the program. Can you tell me if you know much about the 4 week summer program? Even though he is offered a $1500 scholarship (he was seen in Atlanta at the SECT), the program is still going to cost us about $5000 to $7000 out of pocket, travel, incidentals, residence etc. so we are not talking a small amount for only 4 weeks. So I guess I am asking if the 4 weeks training and resulting experience/contacts etc is worth the investment or is the program more of a way for the conservatory to “sell” their two year year program to excited teenagers??? ( not meant to be demeaning but just concerned.) Any feedback is appreciated, Jim</p>
<p>well said.</p>
<p>I visited the school about a year ago. I wasn’t really impressed.</p>
<p>First of all, it doesn’t offer a degree - and I think a degree is very important for any actor so they can get jobs like teaching (even if that’s not what you want to do, it’s important to have that option.)</p>
<p>And I seriously doubt 4,000 kids audition there. I can’t remember what my dad said about what they probably mean - but there’s an audition studio in the same building, and perhaps 4,000 people audition there? idk</p>
<p>But it’s small, kinda crummy looking. Very small faculty. Don’t have much to say for alumni. It just didn’t appeal to me. It didn’t feel like a school or a conservatory. In fact, while most conservatories require that you spend all day working, they offered LOTS of breaks so you could have a job (which is great, but not quite conservatory training in my pov)</p>
<p>I also felt like they were kinda annoying…they kept calling me and trying to get me to enroll, seemed needy and not professional. It seemed like they were just trying to advertise themselves and get money.</p>
<p>However, the person who showed me around was very friendly. That’s all I really liked - other than the fact that it’s in NYC.</p>
<p>Hi.</p>
<p>I have just applied for the Summer Programme for next year. I am currently a Graduate who has just finished a Drama Degree in England. If by chance I am accepted into this programme would I be eligable for financial support?</p>
<p>I had previously been ignoring this thread since this is a COLLEGE forum and NYCDA is NOT a college program, but just got around to reading it out of holiday afternoon boredom. </p>
<p>Obviously, the admissions rep’s evasiveness and all the one-hit-wonder posters say a lot that I wouldn’t want to hear if I were considering such a program. On the other hand, I could see attending such a place to get my feet wet in New York if I were an extremely gorgeous 18-to-play-younger type that was primarily interested in TV and film work and they offered a HUGE scholarship though it would probably be smarter for me to train in LA instead. I’d definitely have to be off my rocker to take on any debt or deplete my folks’ savings for it …</p>
<p>I’d actually probably look a little deeper into New York studio training and go to a non-scholastic conservatory that is not only less expensive, but has established an excellent reputation over the years by turning out large numbers of successful working actors without having felt the need to attend high school theatre conferences and engage in puffery ridden telemarketing regarding their selectivity. </p>
<p>The ones I’d look into are …</p>
<p>Michael Howard Studios
Maggie Flanigan Studio
Circle in the Square
William Esper Studio
Stella Adler Conservatory
The Neighborhood Playhouse
T. Schreiber Studio</p>
<p>Yeah … ;)</p>
<p>Oops! Add Atlantic Acting School to that list!</p>
<p>I got an email asking me to audition for NYCDA in January. Does any one who went there have any advice?</p>
<p>Caitcat92, hope this isn’t too late. I went to the summer program and absolutely fell in love with the school. That said, you should do your research and check out other programs as well. Everyone I met at NYCDA was extremely encouraging and helpful. I had some brilliant teachers. Unfortunately, NYCDA does not have the reputation that other well known schools do. They aren’t nearly as selective, accepting close to 70% of the students who audition. You also don’t receive an actual diploma, you get a certificate upon graduation. The program seems kind of expensive for no degree. It’s a huge commitment. But college in general is a huge commitment. Don’t rule it out completely, though. NYCDA is still in the heart of Manhattan, which is ALWAYS fantastic. Doing a 2 year program instead of 4 year can be beneficial if that’s what you decide that you want. Also, they have some internship programs set up with casting agencies that can land you with some amazing connections. One of the stars of Footloose got his role that way. So did Jack from Lost. I honestly think that NYCDA just needs a few more years to build their reputation.</p>
<p>I couldn’t really find much info on NYCDA, either. We had a master class with Charlie Fersko at my school last year (I think he’s coming back in the spring) and he seemed pretty cool. But, later at our college audition fair, we found that he called back everyone in our class (about 19 kids), which leads me to believe that NYCDA’s not as exclusive as it appears to be unless all of us are just really good. A junior at my school also got into their summer program in NYC. My theatre teacher said neither her nor any of her theatre friends had really heard much about the program either. Another downfall is that it’s a certificate program and is only 2-3 years. I’m kind of iffy about it, but it can’t hurt to audition.</p>
<p>NYCDA is a good school for acting if you are willing to commit and have a strong will to be in that industry. As any actor knows, the chances of making it as an actor are low, and to do so you must be willing to work for it. NYCDA is a very serious school that isn’t going to baby you, but will work you harder than any other acting class will.
Near the end of graduation, there is a final reel project that you can audition for which is a project that gives you a real taste of the industry with real cameras, lighting, makeup, etc. this short monologue can be used later for auditions and would be a great tool to further your career as an actor in New York City.
A downside is that you will not receive an actual degree, hence, serious and committed is key. If you are unsure about whether to go there, I say do it. But only if you are 100% commented to being an actor and making a career out of it. Because after graduation, you will have to work for it.
Credentials: my sister just graduated this past May from the 3-year program</p>
<p>Chloev3, I couldn’t find a three year program on their website. I only saw a 2 year and summer program. Can you tell me where you found it? And what it is?</p>
<p>Josh, did you attend the school or are you an advertisement for it? 
</p>