Applying to a Drama School
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There are many different types of drama school: they may
be close to home or further afield; large or small; offer degree courses
or professional vocational courses.
Remember that choosing a drama school is a two-way process. Before you start putting together audition speeches, read what Tanya Baldwin,
Administrator of The Oxford School of Drama says about what you should
look for when choosing a school and what the school will be looking for
in you.
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Never judge a school by its prospectus
One of the great strengths of drama training in this country is its
quality; another is its diversity. Don't imagine that all drama schools
are much like one another: we may all train to the same standard, but
how we get to the end point can be very different. Each school's
prospectus should give you a feel for the organisation and inform you
whether a school's curriculum offers the training you're looking for,
but there is no substitute for visiting a school, either on the audition
day itself or during an open day, to experience it firsthand. It is
only by going to the school that you'll get a gut reaction as to whether
it might be the place for you.
Ask the questions
It is worth thinking about what you want to know about a school when
approaching applications and auditions. It is often said that your
audition is as much an opportunity for you to find out about the school
as it is their chance to find out about you. If you can, take the
opportunity to ask questions of the school's staff. Here are some things
you might want to ask:
What is day-to-day life at the school like?
Where do the tutors come from? What are their backgrounds?
Where do the students perform? Would I be able to see their work in showcases and productions?
How many students will be graduating alongside me?
What is the school's graduate employment record like?
What sorts of jobs do the students typically get on graduation?
You should also take the opportunity to ask questions of the current
students and to think about whether they are the type of people you'd
enjoy being with.
Be prepared
The schools, for their part, will be trying to judge whether you are
right for their kind of training. Don't forget, while preparing your
speeches, that schools will look at all aspects of your contact with
them. Some things they will be looking for in you include:
Do you show good communication and organisational skills?
How do you relate to the organisation as a whole?
Do you have any knowledge of the profession you want to become part of?
Have you approached the preparation of your speeches effectively and creatively?
Do you have the ability to turn your knowledge into art?
How determined are you?
Are you open, flexible and prepared to look honestly at yourself?
Are you ready for the training?
Are you prepared to fail … and can you accept criticism?
Do you have good interpersonal skills?
If you are not successful at your first attempt to enter drama school,
make the most of the feedback that many schools offer. This feedback can
provide you with advice about areas you need to work on to be
successful next time.
Above all, enjoy your audition experience - it is a fantastic learning opportunity!
