How to tell which acting school is the right one for you:
Actors around the world share a universal understanding: acting training is important. Okay, great, but there are so many out there, how do you know which one to pick?
Have you ever wondered why some acting programs aren't working for you? Maybe you aren’t being challenged or the class is causing you more confusion, making you doubt your own acting style?
I mean, like the majority of the acting industry, there is no rule book. Technically you can pick any school you want. You might even get lucky and pick the right school at the right time and learn everything you want to learn, leaving the school knowing exactly how to apply that knowledge to your acting. But that’s not always the case.
This is how I figured out that I had picked the right school. Maybe these tips can help you too!
First, we need to discuss why picking the right acting school is even important. I mean, does it really matter at the end of the day if you can simply pick the school that promises you the “best of the best?” Absolutely. In fact, every school believes they can provide the best. The truth is that any school can be the best…for YOU. But that’s where understanding the importance of choosing the best one for you is critical to understand:
Picking the school that is right for you ensures that you will feel more confident with the education you are receiving. You are learning information that will teach you to be a better actor. That is a big deal. You should feel comfortable during the process.
Teaching style matters
Learning from a class or teacher that doesn’t suit your learning style can hurt you more than it can help you. This can cause a lot of time to be spent over something that isn’t properly advancing you. Without fully enjoying and understanding the way your coach is teaching you can cause confusion and doubt with your acting style and instincts.
Essentially, having chemistry or comfortability with the teacher is important to look for.
My senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to continue my acting training, but I wasn't sure how. Where do I go? There's SO many schools out there. Do I choose a college? A conservatory? Or spend the rest of my training going through different acting studios? Each of these are popular options, but I asked myself which one was going to be the right one for me?
I called different schools and attended some open houses. I even audited a couple classes. The schools were great, I liked each one of them. But I didn't fall in love with any of them. That was something that was very critical to me because I know that I work best and get the most out of environments that I am passionate about. As I checked schools off my list, I started to get scared because it seemed like none of them had what I was looking for. It almost felt like what I had been searching for didn’t exist.
I was tempted to pick the one that sounded like the best option, even though I wasn’t 100% sold. I spent several months— not days or weeks, but months researching schools, speaking with them, assistance from my parents and college counselor and most importantly, checking in with myself to make sure I was going after what I wanted. Not what others say you are “supposed” to do. This time also consisted of a lot of guidance from my mentor at the Actors Brand Academy. Throughout this process I discovered that the college or conservatory route was not for me. I realized that I was looking for something very specific and it was going to take time. I decided to take a gap year. As terrifying as it felt to be graduating without a crystal clear plan, I was clear about one thing: I could not rush this process.
It was discouraging to find that most of the schools I visited or spoke to didn't have what I felt I needed as an actor. Looking back, I think one major factor in my decision was that many conservatories and colleges did not permit their students to work on projects, while attending their school. The most common answer I heard was that by the third or fourth year students may be permitted to work. This isn’t necessarily a bad or wrong thing. But I knew that I was graduating high school and was set on pursuing an acting career. I’ve trained in acting before and I knew I was ready to begin auditioning. The whole point of pursuing an acting career, now rather than later, was because I wanted to audition and work.
It wasn't until my mentor introduced me to a list of schools that I felt hopeful. Specifically, one school stood out amongst the rest. I dove into more research and communicated with the school to determine if this was a school that had what I needed. I kept an eye out for:
Their values & mission
Authenticity
Professionalism
Communication
Were they trying to sell me
What classes did they offered
How their program worked
These key factors helped me determine that the Identity School of Acting was the right school for me. I learned that this school would provide me with flexibility, the ability to work while attending their school, a serious program and most importantly a welcoming and authentic environment.
Aside from those factors, the biggest tips that can give you further clarity if you're picking the right school are the following:
Do thorough research on each school AND the teachers.
Doing the research on the schools and its teachers you have in mind is critical for you to understand if it aligns with you. Be careful not to fall for keywords such as “#1 acting school, best school, guarantees or promises bookings, quick fix.” These words are very subjective and it's impossible for schools to guarantee booking a job.
Speak with the school directly over the phone, visit an open house or audit the class.
By interacting with the school directly you will be able to assess whether you enjoy it or not.
You also will be able to see whether they offer group, one-on-one lessons or online classes. Some types of classes may suit you better than others depending on your preference or circumstances.
Utilizing these tips can help make the process of choosing a school less daunting and more efficient so that you may choose with confidence.
Acting training is a very special experience and the journey should be enjoyable, therefore it is so important that you attend a school you are happy with.