| Q. I want to apply for drama school. What preparation should I do?
A. OK, the first thing you need to do is some research. Drama schools, like other educational institutions tend to have a new intake every Autumn, so don't leave it to the last minute. It's never too early to start your research and ideally you'll want to apply before Christmas for entry into September of the following year. Firstly you'll want to have an idea of the different Drama Schools and what they offer. A good place to start is the Conference of Drama Schools website. The CDS is made up of the 22 top drama schools and you can download or order a very informative guide that lists all the courses available (including design and technical courses as well as acting), how to apply and even some general information about funding options. The National Council for Drama Training is another very useful resource.
Once you've got a read through a copy of this and you've got a vague idea of where you may like to apply to, now's the time to send off for prospectuses. These are free, so even if you're not entirely sure about a place, there's no harm in phoning or emailing for one, just to help inform your decision.
Just because you've heard of a particular drama school, or your favourite actor went there don't assume it's automatically the 'best' or the right one for you. Every school has a different approach and atmosphere and what may suit one person won't necessarily suit another in terms of ethos and approach to training. Similarly don't assume all the best drama schools are in London - that simply isn't the case. Ask as many people as you can for their take on a school that interests you. Internet discussion forums are a good place to start. Try The Stage and The NCDT forums - although you should be aware that some people's opinions may be biased depending whether or not they were successful in auditions!
Once you've had a read through all the prospectuses, check to see whether they are holding any open days for prospective students. The whole application process can get expensive, what with travelling, audition fees, etc. - but you should try and attend an open days if possible. It'll also make you more familiar with the surroundings should you decide to audition for that school. Alternatively, see if you can arrange an informal look around the school with one of the admissions staff. That way you may be able to fit more than one in a day if the schools aren't too far apart.
Remember that you have a perfect right to ask questions about a particular course, the application and audition process - obviously don't pester the admissions staff everyday, but you can (and should) find out what you need in order to for you to follow the application procedures and give yourself the best chance of a successful audition. | |
