AADA

[Bobby2K]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 8:53am

Hey,

So I'm a brit that has got a place at the American Acadamy of Dramatic Arts but I was wondering what people thought of the school. There is barely anything on the internet about the place which strikes me as really bizarre when compared to the streams of information about British schools.

 

I have read the odd forum discussion about the place and it raises eyebrows though... I'm wary of spending so much on a school that might not be regarded that highly. What are people's general opinions of the place in this day and age?

 

I looked up acceptance rates and google suggested it was about 57% which is astronomical compared to UK drama schools, I'm wondering if I should disregard my offer and instead focus on getting into a school in London...
 

Updated On: 9/18/15 at 08:53 AM

[BwayLady999]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 10:38am

I attended AADA for a year.  My main problem with it is that so many students are cut after the first year (me included, but I don't think I'm speaking from a place of sour grapes).  I think one of the big things about an acting class is that it be a safe place where you can take risks and "fail".

At AADA you are sort of constantly reminded that almost 2/3 of you won't be invited back for the 2nd year. So class is a place of fear, rather than safety.  

Most of the opinions I hear from people is that they have a brilliant money making plan.  Accept a huge 1st year class, charge them a lot of money, then make big cuts each year.  I realize that doesn't speak too highly of my getting accepted there, but it is what it is.  I don't even list it on my resume anymore.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 10:49am

Neither AADA (or AMDA) are regarded particularly well, for the reasons BwayLady999 cites above. Some talented people emerge from those programs, of course, but that's saying more about the number of accepted students than the school being a talent incubator.

[Alessio2]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 3:14pm

I attended AADA and would not recommend this school on my worst enemy if that helps at all:)

[Bobby2K]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 3:23pm

Thanks for the responses everyone, really appreciate your input! Looks like it's worth me concentrating on getting some experience over the next year and then reapplying.

Alessio2 your reaction was super strong! What exactly was it you didn't like about it so much?

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 9/18/15 at 9:52pm

I attended the Los Angeles campus for a year and loved almost every aspect of it. We were all fully aware of second year being invite-only and it didn't make class a fearful thing, it just challenged us to to our best and show up every day. I was invited back but couldn't attend right away due to family issues back home. I do recommend the LA campus.

There were second year and company students who switched from NY to LA in between their years. I asked why and some said there were attitude and ego problems with both students and faculty.