Admissions Requirements
Requirements for Applying to our
Two-Year Conservatory
The Office of Admissions must receive the following application materials for acceptance consideration.
To apply to our full-time, Two-Year 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, unless a fee waiver is applied.
A transcript is a document that lists completed courses and the grades or marks received. If the course of study is complete, the transcript must also indicate the date of completion and the credential awarded (e.g., Diploma, Degree, Certificate).
International academic records may vary in format and title. Acceptable examples include Senior Secondary Certificates, GCSEs, and Diplomas. If documents are not issued in English, a certified translation may be required.
Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with the application. However, if admitted, official school-issued transcripts must be submitted before enrollment.
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the Applicant Portal.
Official transcripts can be sent directly by your school via electronic transfer or mailed to:
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Attn: Admissions
120 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Two letters of recommendation are required. Recommender contact information must be submitted through the Applicant Portal. The Academy will then automatically send a recommendation form to each recommender. Once submitted, the letters will be added to the Applicant Portal.
Letters may be written by a member of a high school or college theatre department, or by a director, producer, or other theatre professional familiar with the applicant’s artistic potential.
If an applicant has limited dramatic training or experience, standard letters of reference may be submitted instead. These may be written by a teacher, counselor, mentor, supervisor, or employer but not by personal friends or family members.
Upon submission of your online application form, you may schedule your Admission Audition from your Applicant Portal.
- See Audition Requirements
- See a full listing of Audition Cities and Dates
Additional Admissions Information
Notification of Admission
The Admissions Committee considers application materials along with the audition. Notification of the decision is typically made within four weeks. Accepted students are required to submit their Intent to Enroll form along with the non-refundable and non-transferable $750 tuition 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 their Intent to Enroll form along with a non-refundable and non-transferable $750 tuition 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 new application materials and a new audition.
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).