My Best Advice To International Students Auditioning For Musical Theatre College Programs

I grew up as a third-culture brat.

Every time I moved to a new country, my heart ached as I said my last goodbyes to the friends I have made and the place I called home for the last 2-3 years.

Musical theatre became the only thing that I could bring with me. It brought me joy, provided me a voice when I didn’t necessarily have one, and gave me security when I was unsure about the future.

So when it came to applying for college, I knew I wanted to get a BFA in Musical Theatre or Acting.

However, it took me two and a half years to have the courage to go after my dream instead of what my parents wanted. 

Flashback to my final semester of my BBA, while most of my friends were signing contracts with some of the worlds’ best hospitality chains and trying their absolute best to graduate with honours. I was juggling my last semester of college while submitting common app applications, working with vocal and acting coaches to perfect my pre-screens, and going through the ups and downs of the whole BFA application process. 

Although the audition process that got me into my dream school (AMDA) has been challenging, it has taught me many lifelong lessons.

With that in mind, here are some of the most important lessons I have learned and advice I would give out when applying for BFAs as an international student :

1. Be patient and understanding towards your parents.

Your parents might not know who Elphaba is, what a pre-screen is, or most importantly, why you have chosen a career in the arts instead of a stable career. Although this might get on your nerves and might cause heated arguments within the family, always remember that they love you and want the absolute best for you. 

Understanding a career in the arts does take time, especially when you are outside of the US, where sources about these things are minimal. So allow your parents time to understand the arts better: sit them down to do your school research together, call dibs on playing your show tunes on the car until they know all the lyrics and titles to the songs on your playlist. Your parents will get there as my parents have, they now sing along to Lin Manuel and the cast of Hamilton on their way to work, know what a pre-screen is, and are absolute pros at filming self tapes.  

2. Pre-Screen Programs are absolute life savers. 

One of the things I wished I did was signed myself up for a College Audition Program Pre-Screen Prep by The Broadway Collective. It would have saved me a lot of stress, time and provided me with a community of performers who were working towards the same goal. Trust me, most of the friends who have used this program swear by it and say that it is the best decision their parents have made during the college application process. Pre-Screen Prep includes a Broadway mentor who takes you through the process, 5 weeks of online repertoire coaching, private coaching from your mentor, wardrobe styling, pre-screen production and editing, headshot session by Sub-Urban photography and a college essay and resume workshop and the price range is from $3,500 - $4,000. 

3. Start the application process, english proficiency test, and credit evaluation process early. 

Applying for a BFA as an American is stressful enough. Now add on the fact that you’re an international student who has no idea how the American system works.

Unlike universities in the UK or Europe, American universities also look at your extracurricular, achievements you have outside of school, and most importantly, your common app essay. When I first started, I had no clue how long it would take me to build my common app profile and write a common app essay that got me a 19.5 grand scholarship at Pace (I decided to turn down that offer). 

International students are also required to have proof of English Proficiency, whether it is a grade C or above in your English GCSE, IELTS Score of 6, or a Duolingo score of 100 or above (bare in mind these test scores are only valid for two years). So allow yourself time-efficient time to prepare for these tests and give yourself time to take them more than once if you underperformed the first time around. 

Since you have done your studies outside of the states, your high school transcript must be evaluated by credential agencies. I personally recommend going with WES as they provide you with credentials that are accurately evaluated to the American equivalency and have a solid understanding of most international credentials compared to other credential agencies.

4. Find your tribe.

There will be times during the process where you feel like no one understands you or need motivation. During those testing times, I invite you to find a community of artists who will pick you up when you are down, celebrate your success, push you to become a better performer and a person, and, most importantly, become members of your extended family friends for life.    

5. Your coaches are always here for you.

Feel free to reach out to your coaches if you need anything after the application process. They now consider you as part of their extended family and are more than happy to answer your questions about moving to the US, BFA offers, which one to commit to once decisions come out or pair you up with someone they know who is already on the program or lives near your university.  

6. Always lead with love, positivity, and gratitude.

As the future generation of musical theatre, we constantly put ourselves out there to go after our dreams - and that is already mentally and emotionally draining. We do not need any more negativity in our lives, whether it’s being catty towards someone else, comparing ourselves with the people around us, or just worrying about what the future might bring. Negativity will only take its toll and drag you down a hole that you wish you never fell into. 

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Michelle Ng (She/Hers) was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Thailand, England, Switzerland, and Kuala Lumpur. She has recently gained her Bachelors in Business Administration in Hospitality Management from Les Roches Switzerland and will be starting at AMDA New York as an acting major this fall. Some of her favourite credits include Songs From The Shows (Fatine and Elphaba), and Carousel (Snow Child and Ensemble). Aside from Musical Theatre, she enjoys writing, barre, and baking. Michelle hopes that her article will add to the resources available to international students who are in the process of applying for a BFA in the US and is always open to any questions on the college audition process! 

Instagram: Michelleng0903