College for the Contemporary Actor

A: $550.00 per credit. There are 72 credits total over the course of two years. Given the thoroughness and intensity of the curriculum, the attention our teachers show each student, the size of the student-to-teacher ratio, the location, and the degree to which we get you ready for your career, we believe we are the best value in Los Angeles and the right fit for many students.

A: No. Not yet. Theatre of Arts has changed the outcome of our program from a “certificate” to an Associate degree. The application for Federal Financial Aid takes a minimum of two years to complete after this transition, so we intend to have FAFSA by the Fall of 2014.* In comparison to other similar degree programs offered at comparable schools in Los Angeles, we are still very competitively priced and keep other costs such as material fees (books, etc) low.

A: Yes.Once you have applied and auditioned for the program, if accepted, you will be notified on your acceptance letter the amount of Merit Scholarship offered for your first year of study.*We use your entire packet application and audition to consider your scholarship amount. We seek to create a baseline of where you are at the time of application and most students garner a scholarship from $1200-$2700, often reducing the per trimester fee from $6600 to $$5700-5900 per term. For your second Merit Scholarship, we use your grades and instructor evaluations to determine the amount for your second year of study. If you maintain a high GPA and have excellent instructor evaluations, your scholarship will be higher and your second year of tuition will be lower than the first.

A: Theatre of Arts has partnered with Acceptd. Click this link to go to our page at getacceptd.com, fill out the form, and submit.
The requirements you find there are: to fill out the form then upload two letters of recommendation (not from family members), a statement of goals, and an audition. This is also a good way to apply even if you are auditioning in person.

A: A 1-2 minute contemporary monologue from a published play.You find, select, memorize, and perform the actual piece. If you are able to come to Los Angeles, then you may schedule an audition appointment. If you are not, then you may submit your audition to us using getacceptd.com or any other electronic way that you have at your disposal. No need for a second piece. No need to turn in a longer monologue. No need for it to be from your favorite movie.

Find a character that is near your age and that you can relate to. For example, by typing in a Google search of “theatre monologues for a male/female 18-25 years old”, you will yield many results.

A: You do not have to make a special trip to our L.A. campus to audition. Once you find your monologue and memorize it you can have a friend or anyone you know with an IPhone, or camcorder, even a Flip Video device can record your monologue. Then you can upload it to getacceptd.com/toa. If not there, then YouTube, Vimeo, Yousendit, Wetransfer, etc.

Many of our international and out of state students audition this way. However, if you think you will be in the Los Angeles area in the months before you wish to start school, you are more than welcome to schedule a live audition with us.

A: Select a monologue that you enjoy and feels natural to you. Rehearse your monologue until you firmly have it memorized and then perform it. If you are doing the best you can, we will see your talent and potential.

A: On average you are in 5-6 classes per term, which equals about 18 hours per week of class time. The schedule will typically be Mon-Fri with classes starting at 9am and ending at 5:30pm – with the exception of the On Camera classes in the second year which can end later in the evening. Within those parameters, the schedule may vary.

A: No.As an accredited school, we are obligated to submit and receive approval for our progressive curriculum. It was designed with the student in mind, to provide the subjects in a particular order so you can immerse yourself without concern about when you take one class versus another. Also, this means at the start of the program you can see and chart your progress from start to finish.

A: Well…While TOA does not have a standard policy of NOT allowing students to go on professional auditions, we caution each student to consider that important thought: casting directors make up the smallest group of all industry professionals. It is their job to network within their small collective about actors. They have a sharp skill for assessing whether an actor is “right and/or ready for the part.” T has never been as relevant as it is for an actor. It will not help advance your career to waste your opportunity to be considered a professional. We typically advise first-year students not to audition for anything outside of student projects or non-professional gigs. Also, you are not allowed to miss class for any audition. Should you elect to miss class you will lessen you attendance percentage and be responsible for any missed work.

A: No school can or should operate as a talent agency; it is not legal or ethical for them to do so. However, what TOA does is offer you a progressive two-year program that will give you tools to build your career from graduation and beyond. Into your second year, you will begin to have public performances, you will complete your demo reel, and in your final trimester you will perform in an industry showcase where we invite the industry professional in all areas from casting, directing, writers and producers to see our graduates. In addition you will have taken important classes such as business of acting, and attended several guest speaker seminars with a focus to making the transition from student to professional. At times there will be requests made to us from production companies looking for acting talent – when this is appropriate we will pass the information onto students that fulfill what the role dictates. We hope that you will remain connected to TOA and look to return as an alumnus to share your stories and to continue the relationship between you and your school.

A: No.We are located right in the middle of Hollywood, so we do not resemble the typical college campus. What we do offer is information and guidance on how to best look for housing that fits your needs and desires. See our housing section, and keep in touch with us about this.Due to the amount of college-age students in the area many apartments have begun to make special rates just for students – typically all they require is proof that you are enrolled in a local school. Please refer to the housing guide on our website for this as well.

The students that attend Theatre of Arts have made their housing situations work for them in a myriad of ways, even though sometimes they found this challenging. In short, if you want to come, you can make it work. Getting to know the city and how to live here is one of the most valuable parts of our education.

A: No more than anywhere else.Ten years ago, we may have said, “yes.” However, since that time Hollywood has undergone many changes that now make it much safer and a sought-after city i which to live and go to school. There are many colleges and other study programs in the area, and with such places as the Kodak Theatre, and other historic landmarks, Hollywood is often patrolled by police and other city folks maintaining the upkeep of the city.

A: No.

This is completely dependent on your personal needs. If you live within walking distance to the school, you will also likely be near grocery stores, restaurants, gyms, coffee houses, theatres, museums. Hollywood also now has a metro line (subway) that connects people to downtown L.A. and back up to North Hollywood a city about 8 miles from the school. You can also catch buses from the major hub on Hollywood and Highland that go in several directions including the beach. Students are eligible for discount transit passes.

All these amenities make having a car not as important a necessity as it was years ago. There are also great ride share programs that allow you to rent cars for hours at-a-time for a slight membership fee – so when you do need a car this is an alternative to owning.

We do not have a minimum requirement for GPA or SAT/ACT score.* We find no correlation between the ability to develop into a great actor and academic prowess. This is practical, hands on training. On the other hand, any actor is required throughout their entire career to read, analyze, and memorize text.

A: Theatre of Arts reinforces a small class environment. This small thing will have the biggest impact on your training bar none. You will not be in a class larger than 12 students, on average it is likely closer to 8-10 students per class. This allows for much more one-on-one instruction from your teachers – this is quite an advantage in comparison to a UCLA student, for example, who will likely have 20-25 students in class. Also, our faculty separates TOA from most schools in that we do not hire professors that have a long history of solely teaching. Our entire faculty is comprised of currently working professionals in the industry as theatre practitioners, actors, producers, directors, and writers. This gives you relevant insider information that only a working professional has access to, and may help you in the future as you make the transition as they did once from a student to a professional.We do still suggest that you investigate other schools with like-minded programs, and ask these same questions. Selecting a school/program will be a very important decision any student will make, so we definitely want our students to have done their homework – so that when you do make your decision you will feel confident and sure about your choice.

Once you are accepted, however, we will assist you through the process of securing an F-1 visa. It requires being able to prove you can afford tuition and cost of living for a year (usually proven through a bank statement). Once you are approved for a visa, you are administered an I-20, a document that you show in order to travel into the United States as our student.

Your ability to speak and write the English language is very important to us. However, we are able to assess this ability with your audition.

We are authorized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the California State Approval Agency for Veterans Education to enroll veterans of the United States Military and their children using the Post-9/11 GI Bill.