<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am researching colleges with good BA or BFA degrees that do not require the applicant to have excellent grades (probably 70% audition 30% grades/portfolio or something like that). I’ve read on some of the threads that CalArts and Juilliard are more interested in your audition than your high school transcripts, but I’d like to broaden my options.</p>
<p>I’m an international student, so basically my TOEFL grade is my strongest one (I took it after a couple of years of not speaking English and got 100, but I can manage to get a higher grade if I must). Most colleges don’t ask for SAT grades from international students. I guess my portfolio is above average and I’ve been told I write good essays.</p>
<p>In my country grades are useless to get into college, so most people go to very hard and competitive high schools and end up with grades that are far from perfect in American standards.</p>
<p>As I mentioned in a previous thread, my priority is the U.S., but I’m willing to apply for colleges in any English or German-speaking country.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>I forgot to add great British suggestions from TheRealKEVP that match my criteria and taste: LAMDA, RADA and Central School of Speech and Drama.</p>
<p>Most BFA programs care more about auditions than grades. I think that most American colleges recognize that foreign educational systems function differently, and will consider things like baccalaureate exam results and TOEFL scores. It probably wouldn’t hurt to take the SAT and/or ACT tests, though, just to get a sense of how you compare with American applicants, and be sure that an adviser or administrator at your school explains its grading system and requirements in the letter that colleges here require. Juilliard and CalArts do not place great importance on grades, but they are extremely competitive in terms of talent. You can follow threads here to learn more about other programs.</p>
<p>Admissions to LAMDA and RADA are based completely, 100%, on audition and interview. Academics play 0% in admissions decisions to these schools.</p>
<p>Admission to Central is based on a combination of audition and academics. I found the academic requirements put in terms of the British system, but that won’t be much use to you. However, Central seems to be very excited about having international students. I would suggest you contact Central directly and let them know that you are considering applying, that you are a Brazillian student, and then ask them what requirements, in terms of the Brazilian system, you would need.</p>
<p>You understand that the British educational system is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the USA one? British schools won’t be looking for SAT’s, that is someting American. I think they have their own test instead of the American TOEFL as well.</p>
<p>These three schools you are talking about–RADA, LAMDA, and Central–are very tough to get in. Your audition will have to be really INCREDIBLE to get in any of these.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>KEVP - I searched these programs sites and Central does accept the TOEFL (yay!). I still have no word on the other two (just sent an e-mail).</p>
<p>How about Sarah Lawrence? I read a lot about it on their website and on some of the threads and it seems like a great acting program, but I’m afraid they will not take me in.</p>
<p>Also, I think BU is a bit too much out of reach, but I haven’t heard that much about it.</p>
<p>My biggest fear is really being rejected because of a silly thing like this. I know most of my teachers would be glad to give me great recommendation letters, so I hope that makes up for it as well.</p>
<p>Thanks stagemum and KEVP for your help!</p>
<p>I’ve been looking at some of the threads and I’m wondering if I should also apply for a non-auditioning college. I know my grades are not good, but if they require an essay and recommendation letters, perhaps I have a very tiny chance. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Of course, it’s always up to you. It’s your life.</p>
<p>Why do you believe you need to apply to a non-audition college? Are you looking for what we Americans call a “safety college”? That is, a college that you can be SURE of getting into, even if the places you want don’t take you?</p>
<p>Personally, I have mixed feelings about “safety colleges”. Why would someone apply or go to a college they don’t like? If you don’t get into a college that you want to go to, maybe you should wait a term, or a year, and re-apply. College will still be there. Is there some reason why you need to go to college RIGHT NOW?</p>
<p>A good “safety college” is Columbia College Chicago. They will take pretty much anyone who applies. If you just need one safety college, that could be a good pick. Now I think CCC’s theatre program is quite good, but some people turn their noses up because it isn’t elitist enough. The program is based in Spolin, rather than the method acting taught in, say, New York.</p>
<p>Why do you feel like you have to go to college RIGHT NOW?</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>The notion that ‘safety colleges’ are going to be the colleges which the applicant absolutely despises and only applies to because they are afraid of being rejected to their top choices is really problematic. Safeties are meant to be colleges that you do want to attend, hence the point of applying in the first place. The bar is just set a bit lower, so your chances of getting in are almost guaranteed.</p>
<p>It is silly that someone would apply to a college they don’t like. I, for one, do have a handful of safeties which I’d be happy to attend if my tops rejected me.</p>
<p>So milkshakespeare, I’d say it’s advisable to look at a couple of safeties YOU WOULD like to attend if it so happened that you were rejected to your auditioned/reach schools, because it can happen, and if you do want to go to college and are hesitant to take a gap year (because it really isn’t for everyone), then it’s a lot more secure. Play your cards right.</p>
<p>Hey, Milkshakes., I sent you a PM about nonaudition schools, the importance of finding some “match” schools that you like, etc., but wanted to add that I remember reading you’re going to NTI this fall. I’m sure you’ll get a lot of help there in identifying schools that would be a good fit. Their program attracts students from a range of great BA programs who will be able to tell you about their schools, too. Best of luck!</p>
<p>KEVP:
I’m not looking for “safety” colleges, precisely because I’m not being obliged to go to college outside of Brazil (it’s my own choice). I would apply to non-audition colleges because I feel that maybe I’m still not experienced enough to get picked by an audition college. I mean, I have some experience, but theater schools over here are SO different than the ones over there. The kind of theater that attracts some sort of audience (other than stand up comedy and remakes of Broadway musicals, of course) is very experimental and usually each company has it’s own “method”, which can combine physical theater, Tanztheater, native indian rituals, Meisner, Stanislavski, among others. It is really a big mix of everything.
That’s the “kind” of theater I want to make. Different, original, unusual. That’s why I’m not even looking at schools like Mason Gross.
Anyway, if I don’t get accepted overseas, I’ll just have to go to college over here, even though the “dramatic arts” colleges in Brazil are either fairly new and still going through major changes or are old, but not that good for me. Besides, I want a diploma that will broaden my opportunities of work all around the world, not one useful only inside my own country.
And to answer your question, yes, I pretty much need to go to college right now. I’m already taking a “gap” year (graduated last December, applied to a different liberal arts college in Berlin that did not have any performing arts, applied to some other colleges over here, didn’t feel like going) and it has been wonderful, for it made me realize that theater is something I should pursue (I was considering more academic subjects, I was very afraid to try doing theater professionally). I’m a very restless girl and I really love studying what I’m passionate about. I’m tired of doing this professionalizing course plus tons of workshops, I really want to dig deep into the craft.</p>
<p>Times3: Yes, I’m going to NTI this fall. I’m excited because they told me I’m one of the three students who are just out of high school. That means I’ll work alongside artists from different colleges who can also give me some tipps and inside info, just like you said. I’m answering you via PM as well.</p>
<p>Thank you KEVP, kaleidotroph and Times3. I guess I’m not “safe” either way. So the non-audition schools will not be really safeties, I will choose them wisely according to my likes.</p>
<p>There’s an old theatre saying “If you have a hump, put a frill around it.” In other words, don’t hide the thing that makes you different, instead draw attention to it and celebrate it. It’s what makes you stand out from the crowd.</p>
<p>You may well be the ONLY Brazilian student auditioning that year for a given college. That will make you exotic and unique. Some schools may be excited about the eclectic, Brazilian approach you take to theatre, and they may be excited to work with you. You will offer them something that no other applicant offers. They will be impressed that you can articulate what sort of theatre you want to create, and that what you are articulating is different from the stereotypes of a Broadway or West End show.</p>
<p>But I am curious why you feel the need to go to college AT ALL. Many, many people have been succesful in the entertainment industry without any college degree.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Wow KEVP, what an inspiring paragraph you wrote! I hope you are right and they actually appreciate and enjoy what my unusual background has to offer.</p>
<p>I thought about your question and I have been asking myself the exact same question for years, as I did not feel like going to college (and I didn’t feel ready to make such a big decision at 17) throughout high school.
I am aware that many people have been successful without a degree, even though I believe it takes thrice the effort and the work to do so. I feel the need to go to college because I like to study my art, to discuss it with other people that have different points of view and to create. I know I can do this without a degree, also. But the point is not actually the degree (although I must admit that helps a lot, especially over here where actors don’t earn much money and must become drama teachers), it’s the creative community, the experienced teachers, the contacts and the chance to make mistakes without any serious consequences, like losing a lot of money on an amateur production that fails. Also, I don’t think I’m ready at all to go “by myself”, get an agent and audition for plays. I do believe I still have LOTS to learn, and I’m anxious to do so!</p>
<p>Besides, I would like to have the chance to study more (post-grad, MFA) and in other parts of the world. Like I said, I’m very restless and I probably bite off more than I can chew (during high school I did more than 15 workshops on cinema/theater, including one that I had to direct a 16mm 10-minute short film with a 30+ year old all-male crew when I was just 15). But my desire to learn and to fulfill my dreams is what drives me, and this desire is what brought me to think of going to college.</p>
<p>milkshakespeare – in just a few posts, you’ve shown a sophistication for who you are and what you want to accomplish that is well above what you typically see from most of the posts from high school age kids. I agree with KEVP that you might be surprised by the reception you might get depending on the program. It sound like you have a lot of create/directing interests in addition to acting.</p>
<p>Thank you, ActingDad! Indeed I do have interest in directing, as well as playwriting. But they are not equal to passion for acting (it is great to be the composer or the maestro, but there’s nothing like playing the instruments).</p>