Fake Scholarships for American Acting Schools

Some time ago I noticed that everyone I knew that applied to certain American acting schools not only got in, but also got a scholarship too. My friends and former students must be incredibly rich in talent.  My Facebook is full of lovely people finding, crowdfunding, or borrowing huge amounts of money. They’ve received a life changing scholarship of $10,000 off the tuition fees from this acting school – leaving only $25,000 per year to find.  This year I know three people that are in this position and it really upsets me. I’m not true enough to tell them that they were duped, they have been sold a dream and set their heart upon it.

I was so excited for these people, I often contributed to their fund myself. And then I twigged, everyone got in, and everyone got in and everyone got a scholarship.

Call it ‘marketing’, call it what you like – it’s bullshit.  Set the price at $35,000, those that will pay it – will pay it. Then give a scholarship to all the foreigners and see how many of them can pay $25000 instead. Since that’s the REAL price of the course, those that pay $35k and providing the scholarships for those that pay $25k.

As someone that runs an acting studio with a full time course, I understand that these schools must run and they must make a living. Our course cost is modest at £6000. We’re looking at how we can offer a scholarship in the future. But I cannot bare the idea of charging everyone £8000, so that we can charge the ‘scholarship’ holders the same as they would have paid anyway.  Cynical, cynical bastards.

I’m not talking about real scholarships. The Atlantic Theater Company’s Acting School now offers scholarships – real opportunities.

Take care before you apply to these schools, take care when you audition, take care when you are offered a place, take care when you are given a scholarship. They might be good schools, they might not, but sure as hell this is a cynical marketing ploy and you shouldn’t fall for it.