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The college application process for students interested in pursuing visual or performing arts is unique in several ways.
Each school has different requirements for courses, portfolios, and auditions. They each have a different prescreening repertoire and admission review process. Some pieces like a portfolio are evaluative (considered in the admissions review) while others are just supplemental to help bring the application to life.
Not every school will admit students by the major they list on the college application, but the intended path will hold more weight and there may be less flexibility in changing your course of study.
Degree options and funding available via talent-based or academic scholarships will vary by school.
It’s beneficial to start earlier as there can be more deadlines to juggle and the process can be both competitive and unpredictable.
Here are some good questions to start with when considering next steps:
What do you want to study?
What do you want to do as a career?
Do you have appropriate training?
Are you prepared to audition?
Even if you’re not pursuing an arts-related major, there will be countless opportunities to get involved in student organizations and clubs on campus.
Common myths about arts-related courses of study in college
Common myths about arts-related courses of study in college
There is no money in the arts.
You won’t find a job in the arts.
I’m definitely in because:
I’m a legacy student
I’ve had the lead in the past 2 musicals
The chair of the department said I was his top pick
I won the visual arts award at my high school
I train outside of school
I did well in the school’s summer program
Types of schools where you can pursue the arts
Types of schools where you can pursue the arts
University - large, major/minor/extracurriculars in performing arts, taking classes with students from a variety of majors. Examples:
Columbia has a Music department but doesn’t confer degrees in music,
USC Kaufman School of Dance has a dance resume, headshot, action shot, 2 contrasting solos, portfolio prescreen determines who is invited to audition
NYU Tisch Acting application - creative supplement depending on major (deadlines and notification depend on the major)
College - Medium-size, liberal arts curriculum counted towards grad requirements, taking classes with students from a variety of majors (i.e., Dartmouth, Oberlin)
Conservatory - Small, focused on the art forms, prep for careers in the arts, taking classes with students in the same discipline (Juilliard, Curtis Institute)
Types of degrees:
Undergrad degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA - liberal arts), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA - dance/drama), Bachelor of Music (BM - classical/jazz/popular), Bachelor of Science (acoustics, lighting design
Graduate degrees: Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Music (MM), Master of Science (MS) > often considered a terminal degree
Post-grad degrees: Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD - research)
Always look for appropriate Accreditation:
National Association of Schools of Dance NASD
National Association of Schools of Music NASM
National Association of Schools of Theater NAST
National Association of Schools of Art and Design NASAD
Accrediting Commission for Community Pre-Collegiate Arts Schools ACCPAS
Timeline and unique aspects of programs with additional requirements
Timeline and unique aspects of programs with additional requirements
Spring of Junior year
Request feedback from instructors, coaches, and teachers for a candid assessment of your skills.
Community theater or Broadway? Church choir or Met? Hobby or career?
Create an "arts" college list and "non-arts" college list. Give careful consideration to location, travel, and cost of living.
Consider which type of degree you’re looking for and look at the courses offered in each route:
A BFA degree focuses on intensive studio or performance training, complemented by liberal arts courses.
A BA degree balances studio or performance practice with greater flexibility for academic exploration.
Students applying for both BFA and BA routes may be required to audition or submit portfolios (depending on the school)
Research schools' additional requirements and those that don’t require portfolios and auditions. Regularly update and refine your portfolio and audition materials (i.e., AP Studio Art, school plays, concerts).
A portfolio showcases a recent collection of artwork, including painting, design, photography, drawing, film, and more (often they want to see a progress work - what you're creating from the beginning to the end). Everything doesn't need to relate to the major of interest, it should highlight the final and strongest works that show originality, presentation, and technique.
National Portfolio Review Day is a great resource
Students should get feedback from admissions reps before submitting (typically through SlideRoom).
Summers
Attend summer programs to enhance your skills and experience like those at University of North Carolina School of the Arts or SCAD Summer Seminars (week-long workshops available to rising 10th graders), Rising Star (4 week program where they get college credit for 2 classes), Joint Enrollment. Review the full Leadership & Impact Guide for opportunities. Professors and faculty from these programs can write recommendations for college applications
Collaborate with parents to plan and budget for fall visits and auditions.
Senior fall
The Common App opens August 1st each year (You can also apply on the school’s website but the Common App keeps everything in one place).
Submit your application by October so you can plan visits and submit scholarship materials November-December
Solidify portfolio/audition requirements and deadlines (varying by school).
Many programs require a prescreen video audition and if you pass that, also an in-person audition.
The material for these auditions will be monologues / songs that they need to learn beyond their obligations to school shows. A typical student applying for theater programs may need to learn and perform 5-6 monologues of varying lengths and a song. Some Musical Theatre programs require a dance audition as well as singing and acting.
Example audition rubric from NC Governor’s School
Original Performance & Written Script: Analyzing Illusion of First Time, Use of Voice/Body, Interpretation of Text, Characterization, Creativity, Relevance
Monologue: Analyzing Illusion of First Time, Use of Voice, Use of Body, Interpretation of Text, Characterization
Interview: Clarity, Relevance, Supporting Details, Readiness, Potential for Growth
Senior winter
December-February > Scholarship season
Academic awards: GPA and rigor of academic record
Achievement based awards:
Achievement profile or artistic resume that outlines leadership, awards, clubs, community service, breadth that highlights impact (not the time to be humble)).
Some schools may require a statement of purpose regarding artistic career.
Portfolio examples:
Business and marketing (focused on graphic design pieces)
Visual arts (10-20 still works)
Time-based (literal video, animation, film)
Writing (research, poetry, short stories, script, 5-15 pages)
Acting (4-5 minute audition completed on or off campus (by Zoom or recording), or at Unifieds hosted for many students to meet in larger cities. Ex. pieces: monologue, dance, song, etc.
Some schools offer interviews for students to share more about themselves, their preparation for it, and aspirations for the future.
Additional resources
Additional resources
Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians, and Writers, Elaina Loveland
A Guide to College Choices for the Performing and Visual Arts, Kavin Buck and Ed Schoenberg, Lulu.com (2008).
My College Audition provides one-on-one coaching, training, and mentoring for the competitive college audition process for BFA/BA musical theater and acting programs:
The Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design offers a useful online website for visual artists.
College Prep for Musicians: A Comprehensive Guide for Students, Parents, Teachers, and Counselors, Annie Bosler, Don Greene, Kathleen Tesar, Performance Mastery Project, Inc. (2018).
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