What exactly is it....

[*thinkpink18*]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 3:40pm

about AMDA that causes people to "hate on it" so much? I hear a lot of people on here calling it names, saying how the people who go there will find out for themselves how awful it is, and that AMDA will let practically anyone who auditions in. However, I haven't really heard any specific examples of why it's so bad. Enlighten me please? I'm curious because I'm looking into schools and have an audition scheduled with them. However, if it is really that bad then I'm not sure I want to take the time and money to audition for them.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 2:45am

The main "bad" thing I've heard is that the professors are working actors, so a lot of the time they are out doing their own thing, and it's really up to YOU to make sure you learn everything. Which, if you're really dedicated and motivated, isn't necessarily a bad thing. Also, it's only a 2 year conservatory and a lot of people would prefer to get a 4 year education. I hear a lot of people that get a lot out of it, it's just not for everyone.

And, about letting everyone in, I was at the National Thespian Festival a couple years ago where juniors can audition for schools just to get "callbacks" if a school is interested...at least 7 people from my school (including me) were accepted to AMDA on the spot. It just seemed too easy.

[*thinkpink18*]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 12:43pm

Thanks. What exactly is wrong with it being "easy" to get into though? See, for me, I would prefer a two year program to a four year, just because I'm already going to be a sophomore next year. So as long as they aren't doing anything "wrong" there it doesn't seem like a bad choice, as long as you are willing to get as much out of it as possible and take your own initiative to get things done.
Updated On: 5/12/07 at 12:43 PM

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 2:54pm

thinkpink -- I think the basis is this: a school loses its prestige when it's "too easy" to get in. Prestige is what makes people feel special. People feel less special attending a school with less prestige. Thus, it is often considered "bad" when a school is "too easy" to get in to.

[*thinkpink18*]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 3:10pm

I can see where that comes from. As long as people aren't receiving "bad" training there though... for me it seems like it would work out better just because I don't want to start all over in a four year program, but I want to transfer somewhere else because the school I'm at right now sucks in the arts department.
Updated On: 5/12/07 at 03:10 PM

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 5/12/07 at 3:14pm

Well, I have, like you, heard many people say things like "AMDA is going down the drain" and such harsh statements with no basis for their proclamations. I have absolutely no idea as to whether or not that's true, as I haven't attended AMDA. Nor do I know anybody who has. I think that, if you think it would work out better for you, you should go for it and make the best of it!

[gumbo2]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:02am

Yeah I pretty much agree. I think I remember there being people on this board who went to AMDA and said they liked it. Honestly you are right, it doesn't matter how easy a place is to get into as long as the training is good. However, the perception of how good a school is can have an affect. I heard of people going into auditions and the fact that they went to AMDA hurt them. I don't know if that's true or not, it's just rumors that I've heard here and there.

[keithmichael]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:40pm

new to the boards, but...i have a contact in new york who says everyone 'successful' has nicknamed it scamda; too much money, too little training, just like gumbo2 said, the faculty is inconsistent. if you're looking for a two year certificate/diploma i'd say look at circle in the square.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:13am

I can't exactly agree with the whole "scamda" thing when it comes to AMDA. I will start there in about 2 weeks. The faculty at AMDA is extremely honest with you when they tell you about the school. They tell you that the program is only what you make of it. Usually, the people calling it scamda or the people who have negative things to say about it are those who didn't make it through the cirriculum. It is a very intense course of training, and even though I have yet to endure it, I have heard from MANY people that it is hard. It is created to weed out the bad from the good, and the devoted from the slackers. Also, AMDA knows that it is an expensive school to attend, and that is why they award 80% of those accepted scholarships. The training is by working professionals which I feel is a great advantage to a student because their teachers are out there doing what we all hope to do and can truly speak from experience. I just feel that people are generally uneducated about the whole AMDA program and are too quick to judge because it lets more people in than a regular musical theatre school. It also must be taken into consideration that compared to a musical theatre degree program, AMDA's admission is based primarily on the audition considering it is very easy to get in academically ( you only need a 2.0), so therefore, they will have more auditioners and a higher rate of acceptance.

That is the end of my AMDA rant haha. Thanks for reading!


Emma