Do contacts improve your chances of getting accepted?

stagemum
Sat, 29 Dec 2012 09:06:10 +0000

I think the value of recommendations from these teachers depends on how closely and recently they have worked with you. If your third grade teacher later returned to graduate school and is now a part-time instructor at NYU, then that probably wouldn’t help at all. Colleges want teachers from your junior or senior year, and additional recommendations should be from people who know your “work” well. As I recall, NYU/Tisch only wanted recommendations from academic teachers. I think that Emerson had the same policy. That was difficult for my son, because his strongest relationship was with the Theater Arts teacher, whom he had studied with for four years. You should mention the connection to “Complicite” in your theatrical resume (required by almost all programs), when you list your training. If you are under serious consideration, they can ask their colleagues about you.