Do WAAPA MT cert kids automatically get into BA

Been working all week on our show in the New Theatre on Saturday. The New Theatre is right across from where the auditions are, and I can tell you there has been a constant stream of nervous-looking folk going in there! and re why WAAPA- any method of study can work for people, but my experience from the last 15 years or so is that the actors/dancers/singers with the training at these type of institutions are more likely to have success in the professional field. If you are serious about performing as a career, then you do have to very seriously look at studying at a WAAPA or NIDA (or similar). It might not work for you, but you have to at least consider it. I think that Mr Kershaw answers his own question- First reason- "I understand that they have some great teachers there" this is good I presume? Two: "You are taught extensively by a small group of teachers who all have specific ideas about stagecraft." Well, you are taught extensively- again important, and thank god it's a small group. There is nothing worse in your early training than getting dozens of differing and competing ideas. and god-forbid your teachers would have specific ideas about stagecraft. I presume you'd rather everyone had vague & varied ideas? I think they are enough reasons on their own to justify it myself. I feel a need to address the rest of this post. "In addition to this, you are all expected to conform to these ideas." My god- any director doesn't expect this?! Apart from the fact that I am not convinced this is the case with all teachers in all areas at WAAPA (though I am sure some are more guilty than others), having to do it someone else's way is part of your job (unless you are the director/producer/financier!) "One thing I have learnt from my 30 odd shows in community theatre is that the more directors/actors you work with, the better you will become." Of course, but not everyone can afford to sit around for 30+ community shows hoping that this is the one that will give you 'x'. and do we all agree that doing a community show is not 'free'? (petrol, time etc.) "Sure, by all means do coursesi and workshopsi, they are a great thing. All I want to know is, what learning benefits does WAAPA have over other institutions and is it worth the vast amounts of money you spend to go there?" Well, they all cost money, and some much more than others. Is WAAPA better? That's unanswerable as it is pretty un measurable. Again, if it is a career choice, you have to consider how you will be trained to do your job. Every job in the world requires that you get trained in that job. Flipping burgers requires less training than being a doctor. "And hey, at the end of the day, you’ll still be just as unemployable as I am, doing a double BA." I think a fair number of WAAPA/NIDA/Brent St etc. grads would dispute that. I am a WAAPA (music) graduate, and have been out of work for 3 weeks since graduating in 1996. As you and others hint at- it's not the training itself, it's the personal work-ethic. Good luck all in auditions! And congrats to those with call backs. Nev It's the simple things stupid...