AMDA

[Lalaroo]

I don't know which direction to start walking in. I'm going on a campus tour for AMDA in a few weeks just to check it out and explore options. I've read a lot of opinions about the school good and bad.. But I mean you gotta start somewhere right?.. I don't want to go there though where I'm with a bunch of noobs, or better term inexperienced students. I've token theatre almost all high school and was casted in a play and am currently in a musical. I want to go to a school where I know I'm working with people and things I will truly grow from and actually get somewhere with. Perhaps help me with better school options fellow internet thespian peers?

[LongIslandMTGuy]

They call AMDA, SCAMDA where I come from. My friend who went through theater programs said it's basically a mixed bag. You can get good training, but you can also not. They accept anyone, so you end up with some very talented people and some very untalented people.

I'm planning to do a musical theater summer intensive program in order to start making connections and to prepare for college auditions. I was trying to decide which one I should do, and I posted on the forum. I decided to do NYCinLI because it's really training based and they only take 22 people. The girl who responded to my post said she's a professional actress and she takes voice lessons from the director of the program. She says he's amazing and the program is really great. Just a thought- maybe you should look into a program like that to help you figure out what to do about school or just to make NYC connections.
NYCinLI Musical Theater Summer Intensive

[BroadwayBaby4]

DON'T DO IT! According to your message you're about to take a tour and see just what I'm talking about. AMDA has a reputation for being a bit of a dump. I took a tour of the campus and wanted to get out as fast as I could. But beyond the campus being completely disrespected and rundown by students, their training is not exceptional or even great in my opinion. I have friends who go there and just hate their lives. I suggest the American Academy of Dramatic Arts over AMDA. They have better facilities, staff, and alumni and the same campus locations as AMDA. If your interested in Musical Theater email me and I give you a list of schools... But yeah please don't!

[BlueEyedSymphony]

This is totally not what I've heard from students there.

I have two friends at AMDA NY, and they've both told me that their training thus far has been fantastic, the facilities are fine (I personally liked their facilities when I toured there last year) and that the thing about AMDA is that if you're willing to work hard, then you will learn everything you need to be learn to be successful in this business.

AMDA grads are everywhere right now. They are constantly getting jobs. They are in national tours, on Broadway, on Glee, on TV.. They have more successful alumni than most theater schools can hope to claim.

This whole "SCAMDA" thing is just flat-out not true. Was it like that 10 years ago? Yeah, kind of. There was a time when it wasn't a good option. Those days are past.

There was a time when Juilliard was the best school in the country for a musical education, but their reputation is far better than what they actually deserve. You can get a good education anywhere.

I've been accepted at AMDA, Emerson, Cornish and Marymount - wait listed at BoCo - and I'll probably pick AMDA because from what I've heard from their students, the program is seriously incredible. Don't let a bad reputation from the past scare you off.