Admissions Requirements
Requirements for Applying to AADA
The Office of Admissions must receive the following application materials for acceptance consideration.
To apply for AADA's full-time degree programs (BFA or AOS), click here. A $50 USD non-refundable application fee is required to be paid with a credit card along with the submission of the completed online application, unless a fee waiver is applied.
A transcript is a document that lists completed courses and the grades or marks received. If the course of study is complete, the transcript must also indicate the date of completion and the credential awarded (e.g., Diploma, Degree, Certificate).
International academic records may vary in format and title. Acceptable examples include Senior Secondary Certificates, GCSEs, and Diplomas. If documents are not issued in English, a certified translation may be required.
Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with the application. However, if admitted, official school-issued transcripts must be submitted before enrollment.
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the Applicant Portal.
Official transcripts can be sent directly by your school via electronic transfer or mailed to:
The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Attn: Admissions
120 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Two letters of recommendation are required. Recommender contact information must be submitted through the Applicant Portal. The Academy will then automatically send a recommendation form to each recommender. Once submitted, the letters will be added to the Applicant Portal.
Letters may be written by a member of a high school or college theatre department, or by a director, producer, or other theatre professional familiar with the applicant’s artistic potential.
Upon submission of your online application form, you may schedule your Admission Audition from your Applicant Portal.
- See Audition Requirements
- See a full listing of Audition Dates
Additional Admissions Information
Notification of Admission
The Admissions Committee considers application materials along with the audition. AOS applicants will be notified of their decision typically within four weeks of completing the application and audition. BFA applicants will be notified of their decision based on the timing of their application submission (early, regular, late/transfer) and start term, according to the decision release date schedule.
Deferment
A full-time admitted student may request to defer enrollment one time for a maximum of one year from the original application term. Approvals are at the discretion of the Director of Admissions. Deferred students are required to return their Intent to Enroll form along with a non-refundable and non-transferable $750 tuition deposit to indicate their intention to enroll. This deposit will reserve a space for the deferred student in the new desired term. Deferment beyond one year requires new application materials and a new audition.
Eligibility
Education at The Academy is specialized. Serious, responsible and highly motivated applicants are sought for admission. All entering students must have received a high school diploma or have completed a GED program. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above is required to be considered for admission.
Each candidate is evaluated individually; consideration is based on dramatic ability or potential, academic qualifications, and readiness in terms of maturity and motivation to benefit from the program.
The Academy accepts new students for both the Fall and Spring Terms. The curriculum and program format are the same regardless of your term of entry.
International Student Information
Language Requirement
In addition to the requirements listed above, international students whose native language is other than English must demonstrate sufficient competence with speaking, writing and reading English at a Grade 12 level to avoid communication problems between faculty and students that might impede learning and development.
Academic Records
International applicants may email or upload a copy of all academic records (transcripts) in their original language. We will notify you if an English translation is needed. More details on requirements can be found on our International Requirements Page.
Student Visa
A Form I-20 will be issued only after the applicant has been accepted for enrollment and has met all standards set forth by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and The Department of Homeland Security. The Academy does not issue travel documents in order for the applicants to audition.
Note for International Students Interested in the BFA degree program:
As of August 1, 2026, approval from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for certification to issue F-1 visas to international students for the BFA is pending. You are welcome to apply to the BFA program now. However, if you are admitted, there may be a delay before we are able to issue the documents required for your F-1 student visa.
If you wish to begin your training as soon as possible, we encourage you to apply to our Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree Program, which is already approved for F-1 student visas.
Students admitted to the AOS program can begin the visa process immediately, and our Admissions team can discuss options for transitioning to the BFA program once it becomes available.
Timeline
We encourage early application/audition for all international students and recommend sufficient time allotment for visa processing (6-8 weeks prior to enrollment).