Many young people choose to pursue acting as a career. They aspire to be like their celebrities because they watch them on television pulling off outrageous stunts. Entering the world of acting may seem impossible. However, there are so many shows being made these days that it's simple to land a role in a parody comedy.
How to choose the best acting school for you
If you’re considering whether to attend acting school, it’s important to know that there are many different types of schools with different approaches and philosophies. Here are some things to consider when choosing the best acting school for you:
1. Pick a School with Actors as Teachers
A good acting school will have active working actors as teachers. They should not only be excellent in what they do, but also able to share that knowledge with you. Some schools even offer the opportunity for students to work in their productions or gain other industry experience.
2. Choose a School with Several Programs and Courses
A good acting school will offer a variety of programs and courses to suit your needs. Some may focus on different aspects of the craft, such as developing your voice or movement skills; others may offer classes in audition technique, cold reading and scene study.
3. Pick an Acting School with Great Industry Connections
A good acting school will have strong connections to the industry, meaning they can help you get your foot in the door after graduation. They may offer internships at local theaters or other venues, as well as connections with agents and managers who can represent you professionally. Look for a School with a Reputation for Success A good acting school should have plenty of success stories under their belt. Check out their website and social media pages to see what past students are doing now—and ask them about their experience there!
4. Pick a School that Offers Career Guidance
A good acting school will help you plan for after graduation. They should have connections to agents and managers, as well as a network of alumni who can offer advice about their experiences in the industry. Look for a School with an Active Alumni Network
11 Best Acting Schools In The US
There is a list of the best acting schools in the world that can help you become ready for the acting world :
- TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (NEW YORK CITY)
- Juilliard (New York)
- Yale (New Haven, CT)
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ART (KENSINGTON)
- OXFORD SCHOOL OF DRAMA (WOODSTOCK)
- University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
- AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER (SAN FRANCISCO)
- GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DRAMA (LONDON)
- UC San Diego (San Diego)
- Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (LOS ANGELES)
1. TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | NEW YORK CITY
The New York University includes the Tisch School of the Arts, or TSOA. It was established in 1965 and is currently one of the top universities in the country for studying performing arts. Tisch is regarded as the top "provider" of musical performers in the nation, if not the globe, having trained many of the most well-known Broadway stars in addition to well-known cinema actors. With approximately 3,000 undergraduate and over 1,000 graduate students, it is a sizable institution. The school's various artistic divisions help to explain the overwhelming number of pupils. Consider yourself an alumnus of one of the top acting programs in the world, which produced many of today's top performers, if you can earn a degree from TSOA.
Website: http://www.tisch.nyu.edu
2. Juilliard | New York
Since November 2020, classes at Juilliard, which offers a four-year BFA acting program and a four-year MFA acting program, have been held on-site. In studio work, students from both levels of this most prestigious of schools interact (voice, movement, scene study, etc.). Corey Hawkins of In the Heights and Brandon Micheal Hall of Search Party are recent grads. Derrick Sanders, the creator of Congo Square Theatre, who is committed to work "rooted in the African diaspora," was hired as the new assistant director of the school's theatre division after a nine-month search for faculty members. Recent student protests against a proposed $2,000 tuition hike to around $51,000 garnered headlines. For graduate students, the final year's tuition is not charged.
Website: https://www.juilliard.edu/
3. Yale | New Haven, CT
The institution, which collaborates with the Yale Repertory Theatre, only offers a three-year acting MFA and boasts one of the most famous alumni, including Frances McDormand, the 2021 Oscar winner, Kathryn Hahn, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II from Watchmen. The institution boasts that 85% of its students obtain financial aid despite the $34,000 tuition.
Website: https://www.drama.yale.edu/
4. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ART | KENSINGTON
Finally, there is a school from Australia on our list of the top acting programs worldwide. NIDA was founded in 1958 with just 23 pupils and two lecturers in a suburb of Sydney. It eventually became Australia's largest drama school and unquestionably one of the top acting schools in the world, sending a sizable number of talented actors to the United States and the United Kingdom. As it is stated, just 4% of applicants succeed in their NIDA auditions; similarly to every other prestigious theatre school, admission and retention are both challenging. I mean, I both liked and despised NIDA, Mel Gibson stated. Having NIDA on your CV can surely help you land a job if you can get the chance.
Website: http://www.nida.edu.au
5. OXFORD SCHOOL OF DRAMA | WOODSTOCK
One of the newest acting schools in the UK is the theatre school in Oxford. Despite being only around for around 26 years, it has already given birth to a considerable number of skilled and well-known performers. Since there are only 18 students enrolled in each session, the institution is relatively small, making admissions rivalry among eminent would-be actors intense. To get accepted requires training at one of the top acting studios in the world. This theatre school is completely autonomous and unaffiliated with any UK universities.
Website: http://oxforddrama.ac.uk
6. University of North Carolina School of the Arts | Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The four-year undergraduate program is one of the top training programs that provides a BFA in acting. With a combination of filmed theater, radio plays, and socially isolating live performances, the program was among the most creative in helping its students survive the pandemic. Alumni include Billy Magnussen (Made for Love) and Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier). In-state tuition is $6,500 and out-of-state tuition is $23,000. Scholarships are available.
Website: https://www.uncsa.edu/
7. AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER | SAN FRANCISCO
started in Pittsburgh in 1965. 7 million people were drawn to the Tony Award-winning plays at the theater by a local group of top-tier professional performers. What's more crucial is that students have the chance to try out for actual ACT productions and are cast, giving them a tremendous amount of exposure and experience from the best shows in the acting business. ACT is listed among the top acting schools in the world because, like the majority of prestigious theater schools in America, it has produced actors whose names you are likely to recognize. This may encourage you to apply for an audition to enter the school.
Website: http://www.act-sf.org
8. GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DRAMA | LONDON
One of the most prominent theater schools in the UK, it has produced actors who have found success in both the UK and US markets as well as great musicians like James Galway and Jacqueline du Pre. "Guildhall delivers a wide training — it's not prescriptive," explains Dominic West of GSMD. We are able to change things around. "Getting in was like winning the jackpot," said Michelle Dockery.
Website: http://www.gsmd.ac.uk
9. UC San Diego | San Diego
The top-ranked La Jolla Playhouse at UCSD, where Toby Onwumere (The Matrix 4) received his MFA, collaborates extensively with graduate students. The school prioritizes producing new plays and collaborates closely with the Wagner New Play Festival. Additionally, there are BAs in theater available, and students have access to the five theaters on campus (four of which are shared with the La Jolla Playhouse). Undergraduate tuition is $15,000 for California residents and $45,000 for out-of-state students; graduate students receive a $2,500 monthly stipend in addition to having their tuition waived.
Website: https://theatre.ucsd.edu/
10. Carnegie Mellon | Pittsburgh
The very best schools in the country still include the first one to provide a degree in acting. There is only a BFA in acting, a four-year course of study with a focus on musical theater, and Gary Kline, one of the best vocal coaches in the world, is on the faculty. Both Ming-Na Wen and Matt Bomer, stars of Mulan and The Boys in the Band, are grads. Valeria Martinez has been hired as an assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion to manage representation in the college of fine arts. Undergraduate tuition is $58,000, while graduate tuition is $36,000, with some financial help and scholarships available.
Website: https://www.drama.cmu.edu/
11. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES
founded in Los Angeles in 1880. Although USC's drama department isn't solely focused on acting, and University's research department is already incredibly well-known on its own, it is thought to be strong enough to compete with other top acting programs worldwide. It is listed as one of the best theater programs in the country for good reason; over the years, it has produced actors who have gone on to have very successful careers. I appreciate USC since its students are already trained in the industry because getting into this field requires training in both acting and business. Los Angeles natives are the best people to know this.
Website: http://www.usc.edu/
How to get into one of the best acting school in the world?
The majority of the world's top acting schools are, of course, from the United States and the United Kingdom. Obviously, the two best theater cities with the longest and most extensive histories are London and New York City. However, all four of the drama schools in California, in my opinion, provide the best training for screen acting. And as I previously mentioned, the training of actors in America is significantly different from that in the UK because many actors working nowadays don't bother with degrees and instead attend private acting schools.
