<p>I know colleges like to create geographically diverse classes with kids hailing from every state and “x” number of countries. Do you think these preferences also go in to building a freshman acting company? </p>
<p>For instance, would a New York-based actor be more desirable to say, a school in Texas, because they add diversity? </p>
<p>Also, if a school attracts actors from all over the country, does it make them seem more prestigious?</p>
<p>If this is the case, should it influence where students audition?</p>
<p>I can’t answer your question fully, but I know that the fact that I’m an international student who speaks four languages was one of my highest “qualities”. I was asked to perform monologues/songs in my native language at auditions and got asked about what my future plans were a lot.</p>
<p>I believe that it depends on the school, but all the schools I auditioned for were looking for diversity and talent. Where I come from, not many people can speak English fluent enough to act or write plays. And I also know for sure that my accent is far from being one of the worst. So I can see why some schools would be interested in someone like me, but I don’t think they would accept any international just so they could call themselves a “diverse school”.</p>
<p>That being said, I don’t know about your other questions. I do know that people that live in a city that has a prestigious art school and don’t have the burning desire to leave, tend to go to those places.</p>
<p>milkshakespeare, you sound awesome! 
FOUR languages! I agree that would definitely increase your ‘value.’ </p>
<p>As far as geographical diversity, yes, this is a well known factor in admissions. It’s just one factor among many though. Colleges want to increase their presence throughout the country and hopefully global community, so all things being equal, if you were from a very different region, particularly an under-represented region, you would have an advantage. How big an advantage depends on the program’s individual goals, student make-up, and what you have to offer.</p>
<p>I also think anyone trying to build an acting company is going to be looking for diversity. They will say “Hey, we don’t have anyone of this ‘type’, this actor can play some of those roles we usually have trouble casting.”</p>
<p>On the other hand, I’m not sure it is a wise idea for someone who already has good connections in a strong theatre area (like New York City) to go off somewhere where there is much less of a theatre community, for no other reason than to seem “exotic”. The other direction (like Texas TO New York City) I would say “yes, definitely!”</p>
<p>KEVP</p>