Admissions Requirements

Requirements for Applying to our
Full-Time Conservatory

The Office of Admissions must receive the following five application materials for acceptance consideration.

1Completed Application

To apply to our Full-Time Conservatory program, click here. A $50 USD non-refundable application fee is required to be paid with a credit card along with the submission of the completed online application.

2High School or College Transcript

A transcript is a complete and original secondary school marks/grades sheet that bears the school seal and certifying signature of a school official. High school seniors should submit their most recent transcript and must request that an official final transcript be sent following graduation. Applicants can find and submit a Transcript Request Form by logging into their Full-Time Application Account.

Other Instructions:

  • If you have taken college courses, we will need your college transcript in addition to your high school transcript.
  • If you have completed a bachelor’s degree, we do not need your high school transcript.
  • For applicants from the United Kingdom, the equivalent of a high school transcript is your GCSE results.
  • International students, please submit your complete academic records for any secondary schools, colleges, or universities you have attended.
  • Do not submit personal diplomas or original copies of records that cannot be replaced.

Unofficial Transcript Submission

If an applicant to our New York campus wishes to submit an unofficial transcript, it must be delivered to the Admissions Office.

Delivery Options:

  • Email to the address indicated in the applicant’s Full-Time Application Account
  • Fax to 212-685-8093 for New York applicants
  • Mail to:

    The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
    New York Admissions Office
    120 Madison Avenue
    New York, NY 10016


Official Transcript Submission

An official transcript is mailed directly from the school or institution in a sealed envelope. A student may deliver an unopened official transcript directly to the Admissions Office at the campus he or she wishes to attend. After graduation, a final official transcript is required for enrollment to The Academy.

3One Personal Reference Letter

An employer, teacher, counselor, clergy, advisor or anyone who has known the prospective student for a period of two (2) years or longer may write the letter, but not a friend or family member. The letter should be written on letterhead stationery and should mention the relationship of the writer to the applicant.

4One Dramatic Reference Letter

This letter may be written by a member of a high school or college theatre department, or by a director, producer, or other professional theatre person who has had an opportunity to appraise the applicant's potential. Applicants with no dramatic training or experience should substitute a second letter of personal reference.

5A Completed Audition

In order to schedule an audition, the Office of Admissions must receive a completed Application.

Additional Admissions Information

Notification of Admission

The Admissions Committee considers application materials along with the audition report. Notification of the decision is made within four weeks. Accepted students are required to return a signed enrollment agreement along with a non-refundable and non-transferable $750 deposit to indicate their intention to enroll. This deposit will reserve a space for the accepted student in the desired term.

Deferment

A full-time admitted student may request to defer enrollment one time for a maximum of one year from the original application term. Approvals are at the discretion of the Director of Admissions. Deferred students are required to return a signed enrollment agreement along with a non-refundable and non-transferable $750 deposit to indicate their intention to enroll. This deposit will reserve a space for the deferred student in the new desired term. Deferment beyond one year requires resubmission of the admissions materials, re-auditioning and a new deposit.

Campus Visit

Although The Academy does not permit auditing classes, prospective students are welcome to visit the school by appointment to meet with an admissions advisor, view the facilities, and gain a sense of the atmosphere and environment. Visits may be scheduled through the Office of Admissions at least 48 hours in advance.

Eligibility

Education at The Academy is specialized. Serious, responsible and highly motivated applicants are sought for admission. All entering students must have received a high school diploma or have completed a GED program. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above is required to be considered for admission.

Each candidate is evaluated individually; consideration is based on dramatic ability or potential, academic qualifications, and readiness in terms of maturity and motivation to benefit from the program.

Candidates may pursue admission for the First-Year class in the Fall or Winter Term. The courses in Fall and Winter are identical in curriculum and format. Students from both groups, if invited to return, join the same Second-Year class the following fall.

International Student Information

Language Requirement

In addition to the requirements listed above, international students whose native language is other than English must demonstrate sufficient competence with speaking, writing and reading English at a Grade 12 level to avoid communication problems between faculty and students that might impede learning and development.

Academic Records

International applicants may email or upload a copy of all academic records (transcripts) in their original language. We will notify you if an English translation is needed. More details on requirements can be found on our International Requirements Page.

Student Visa

A Form I-20 will be issued only after the applicant has been accepted for enrollment and has met all standards set forth by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and The Department of Homeland Security. The Academy does not issue travel documents in order for the applicants to audition.

Timeline

We encourage early application/audition for all international students and recommend sufficient time allotment for visa processing (6-8 weeks prior to enrollment).

Apply Now
Auditions
Audition Requirements