How to get into a drama school?
Acting schools are institutions where students can, trough training, acquire the necessary acting skills to become professional actors. If your goal is to become an actor, drama schools have advantages over universities. In this article we will go over tips on how to get accepted into a drama school to follow its courses.
1. Is it hard to get into a drama school?
Yes it is. Choosing the right drama school can be a challenge in itself, but getting accepted into one is quite another. Preparation is key to succeed your drama school audition. The competition can get very tough, as each establishment only picks only a handful of applicants.
In order to better your odds, be careful to follow the schools' instructions to the letter. If you are asked to prepare a monologue from a specific play or from a specific era, do just that. My point being, don’t give the panel an obvious reason to reject you.
2. Practice your craft
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. As obvious as it may sound talented students have a better chance of being noticed and their application accepted. Growing and improving should be an integral part of your way of life. But this won’t happen overnight and only dedication will allow to reach your goals. On top of that, investing time and energy in yourself shows that you are dedicated and that's a quality schools are looking for.
- Follow courses, trainings and workshops
- Take a role in a play organized by an amateur theater. Actual acting experience is always a plus
- Study different acting techniques: Stanislavski’s System, Method acting, Meisner Technique, Michael Chekhov, Lee Strasberg’s Method, etc
- Do exercises on a daily basis
- Practice with friends and more experience actors if you get the opportunity. You will always benefit from obtaining feedback from others
3. Be knowledgeable
Generally speaking, stay curious. Acting skills are essential, but they are not all you need. Being knowledgeable can only be beneficial to you and is likely to give you an edge.
- Watch and read plays, study the history of acting. If you have the time, read biographies of famous actors
- Learn about the theater industry, as well as the different theater practitioners and what their jobs entail
- In addition to your core acting skills, feel free to learn extra talents. For instance, learning how to sing and how to play an instrument or how to dance can give you an advantage over other candidates
4. Is it possible to get into a drama school with no experience?
Honestly, it is quite unlikely. You are going to enter the fray along with other applicants who have been taking courses and took role in plays for years. That being said, school members and teachers are looking for potential. Possessing life experience may play a small role in tipping the balance in the right direction.
5. Application fees and entry requirements
Applying can be expensive, especially if you audition for several institutions. In the UK auditions fees range from £30 to £60. Additionally, you are likely pay transportation and accommodation fees
So this is definitely something to consider.
6. What to do if I get rejected multiple times?
Facing one or multiple rejections in a row can be frustrating. Seeing your friends being accepted while you didn’t can be especially disheartening. But don’t despair!
- Consider your past experiences as practice runs
- If you felt that you made mistakes during the audition, don’t mull over it. Was it a lack of preparation? Was my acting to stiff? Instead learn from it, for when you try the process again
- Don’t be hard on yourself, sometimes it is not that you lack talent, it is just that your profile doesn’t quite match what the school is looking for, or that it is looking for people with more life experience