General admission requirements are the same for all applicants regardless of citizenship, but immigration regulations and financial matters require added procedures for international students. Our Admissions and Financial Aid offices will assist with all issues regarding these policies and procedures.

After the audition, applicants who are admitted to The Academy will be sent visa information along with their acceptance letter from the Admissions Office. Important visa guidelines will also be enclosed and forms which you must complete and return to the Admissions Office.

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.

International applicants must submit copies of their academic records (transcripts) from all high schools and universities they have attended. Depending on the country, academic records may include school reports or exam scores (i.e. GCSE or A-Level Reports, International Baccalaureate, National School-Leaving Exams or Certificates). When applying, documents may be submitted in their original language. If an English translation is needed, you will be notified.

Upon acceptance to the program, official final academic records from foreign schools must be submitted to demonstrate equivalency to a U.S. high school diploma. Unless you are instructed otherwise, please plan to order a Credential Evaluation Report through a NACES-approved agency [https://www.naces.org/members]. This report is a requirement to enroll in the program.

SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service. They have created a custom application for AADA that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application - The American Academy of Dramatic Arts

In addition to the requirements listed for all applicants on the Admissions Requirements page, international students whose native language is other than English must demonstrate sufficient competence with spoken and written English. This is a necessary step to prevent problems with faculty and student verbal communications that might impede a student's learning and development. This proficiency is determined through the application and audition process.