One day before the deadline for enrolling, the Shanghai Theater Academy saw thousands more applicants than the record set last year.
The prospect of becoming famous and starring on the silver screen has driven students to rush for art colleges. The Shanghai school along with the Central Academy of Drama and Beijing Film Academy are considered the cradles for film stars in China.
But the chances are quite slim for art school applicants. The Shanghai Theater Academy said on Wednesday that 34,872 applicants had applied for 484 spots.
The number of applicants has surpassed last year's record of 31,000 people registering for the school's enrollment exam. The school added 21 more spots this year to deal with the demand.
Huang Changyong, president of the Shanghai academy, said enrollment exams in art schools have been under the public spotlight in recent years.
"Some applicants consider art schools as an easy choice if they are physically attractive but have inferior academic grades. But performing art schools must focus on talent for the country's cultural development," He said.
He said the academy has strict requirements for the applicants' academic performance when selecting talented students for theater director, broadcasting, and hosting majors.
