Need some serious advice.

DCFC79

Emmzi wrote: »

Funding for drama schools in the UK is tough enough never mind the US.

I am assuming your parents have said no?

Although not as tough as mr leg stretcher who wanted a loan to stretch his legs to be a model.

heathcote123

rpursell wrote: »

Right, first things first. I want to study in the USA. I've found atleast 3 schools to apply for, i don't want to study in the UK because of the course im doing is SO much better over there than here.

How the heck do i get funding? Like tuition fees, living costs, money to live etc. The prices are majorly huge especially with the visa requirements saying you need proof etc of the money you have to live and pay for school.

I need advice on loans, student finance for international students. I went on Yahoo answers and asked but the people are rubbish and don't help at all.

I need approx £34,000 and i will be paying it back! I am so stressed so please please help if you can. :T

Good luck, I can't think of many riskier propositions for a loan, so I don't think your bank will be helpful.

Mara69

OK, now I've stopped laughing let's get serious.

1. How much have you saved?
2. Are you working?
3. Do you have any assets, such as a house or even a decent car?
4. Have you asked your parents?
5. Have you got work lined up in the USA?
6. How are you intending to repay the debt?
7. How old are you?
8. Do you have any dependents?
9. Do you actually have any genuine acting talent (has anyone other than family or friends ever commented on your acting ability?
10. Have you attended any stage schools or done any acting in the UK?

Elvisia

Will this money cover your fees, as the fees for international students in the states is phenomenally high. Also I was wondering how you'd pay this money back when you've done the course? If you're going to be an actor then you'll be lucky to make any money, certainly when you start out, and you might find yourself doing min wage jobs to make ends meet let alone pay off a massive loan.
There are some good acting schools in London, it's all about having the right teacher, although they're still going to be expensive but I assume you might be able to get a student loan.
Normally universities have scholarship funds that you can apply to in advance, but I think it's unlikely they would be open to an international student. Universities love international students as they pay far more for their course and they have the money ready to go.
Otherwise you might be looking at using your creative cunning and writing to famous people for sponsorship! I seem to remember some years ago an acting student asked famous people for money and they managed to get on a course.
I can't see any other way you're going to get that much money, unless you happen to currently have a very well paid job.

iolanthe07

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (based in England) is considered among the best in the world, at least as good as anything in the States. If you have real talent they will accept you and sort out the funding later. If you don't have real talent you would be best to stick to the day job and join an amateur dramatic society.

DCFC79

iolanthe07 wrote: »

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (based in England) is considered among the best in the world, at least as good as anything in the States. If you have real talent they will accept you and sort out the funding later. If you don't have real talent you would be best to stick to the day job and join an amateur dramatic society.

Not what the OP wants though ,

System

As others have said, there are some fantastic drama schools in this country which are 100% practical. I started training at one of those schools and did one piece of formal (i.e. marked) written work in the two-and-a-half years I was there - everything else was practical. Are you thinking of academic theatre degrees, with lectures and exams? If so, you really need to do more research into what's available in this country. If you've already done this reasearch, I apologise for my assumption, but you're still very wrong in thinking that these courses aren't very hands-on.

Many of these vocational degrees are now attached to universities, which means you get the same fee and living costs loans as you would doing an academic degree. You're incredibly unlikely to get a £34k loan just to complete a drama degree, as you have no way of making the repayments while you're studying, and you'll probably have no way of making the repayments once you've finished either. If your mum and dad can't/won't pay, you've got two choices - either get a job and save up to pay for yourself, or go to a drama school in this country and get funding.

For reference, the following schools are quite highly regarded (at least they were five or six years ago), and offer practical training:

• Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA)
• East 15
• Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD)
• Drama Centre
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Bristol Old Vic

There are others, but these are the ones that spring to mind. This website (The Conference of Drama Schools) might have more information. Of course, you'd be expected to do an audition, and the standards are incredibly high with enormously tough levels of competition.

sjb2016

It's not always the case that American universities charge more for international students. Public universities, yes. Private unis, it depends. Mine didn't, and the international students were entitled the same need based scholarships as US students (scholarships created from donations to the uni from alumni and the like). Having said that, US government programs obviously don't help foreign students. Many of my foreign friends paid nothing for tuition and were granted money for living expenses.

Now, if these acting schools don't deal with financial aid, then I would seriously consider NOT attending. With such high tuition costs and no effort to help cover that cost, they obviously exist solely to make money (in my opinion).

geoffky

Wake up and smell the coffee..