SCAMDA?

[uniquelee08]

Posted: 10/14/07 at 11:21am

Well, we all know about those top colleges (ccm,cmu,nyu etc.)Well, AMDA and AADA both look good to me and they have some good alumni, it seems. They are not considered a top college though, why is that and why does it have the rep of being called ACAMDA? If anyone goes to AMDA or AADA could you tell me about the program, training,if it's a scam etc.Oh I want to major in Musical Theatre, yay!Thanks!

[actress_06]

Posted: 10/15/07 at 4:51pm

AMDA isn't technically a college. It's a 2-3 year training program that can lead to a degree with New School. As far as why it's not in the top schools I think a lot of that has to do with the education you're gaining. At many of the Universities you've listed it's a much more comprehensive education with classes like theatre technology, and stage make-up, while at AMDA the education is solely for the performance aspect of theatre.

[AngActing]

Posted: 10/16/07 at 12:54pm

AADA is also an academy of theatre. In a college setting you also take other classes from English to Math. I chose AADA as I have no interest in taking anything but theatre. Also, like AMDA; AADA is a one, two or three year course of study; depending on many factors. Namely, if you're "invited" back the 2nd and/or 3rd year.

The reasons for being invited back or not being invited back are based on so many factors from lack of focus to the fact they just limit the size of the class from year to year.

Is it a scam? No, I don't think it is a scam -- the first year.

Still, I know they often invite back "favorite" students and not always the most talented or deserving. I was there years and years ago, of course, this could of changed. At that time, they did seem to invite the 'more attractive students", even if they were not the more dedicated or talented.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 10/16/07 at 5:39pm

If oyu want to go to a two year program also look as Circle in the Square. circlesqaure.org. It's harder to get into than AMDA, I don't know about AADA though.

Basically, AMDA got its nickname SCAMDA because they charge a lot of money and take almost everybody. Apparently you work mostly on audition technuique for the first few months. This is only what I've heard, I'm not saying it is true seeing as how I have no experiance with AMDA.

[AngActing]

Posted: 10/16/07 at 5:51pm

>> If you want to go to a two year program also look as Circle
>> in the Square. circlesqaure.org. It's harder to get into than
>> AMDA, I don't know about AADA though.

I've also heard "Circle In The Square" is great!

As for AADA ... it was pretty selective back in the day (80s). AADA has two schools, the older one in New York and the one in Los Angeles. I was able to audition in the West (Arizona) and of a few hundred, in the West, who auditioned for placement in NY's AADA . . .they only chose five (5) of us!

Thus, not easy! Nevertheless, I, too, have no experience with AMDA; except everyone makes the mistake of thinking "The Academy" is AMDA, and it's not.

AMDA is known as "AMDA"
AADA is known as "The Academy" or was . . . when I attended.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 10/16/07 at 6:51pm

Circle in the Square is great! I went to their 7 week summer intensive and it was the best thing I ever did. If I start talking about it now I won't shut up, so anyone, feel free to PM me about it.