Admission Requirements
The Admission Committee will make a decision on your application only after all the required materials have been received. You can download these instructions. (PDF)
For MFA applicants:
Slideroom Submission Instructions
- Begin the New School for Drama MFA online application and save your personal information.
- Log on to The New School for Drama SlideRoom portal. There is a small charge for Slideroom.
- Complete and submit your SlideRoom submission.
- Then enter the SlideRoom confirmation code into your New School for Drama MFA online application. This will complete and submit the online portions of the application.
Required Materials
- Application Form: Complete the online application.
- Application Fee: Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee. Payment must be made by credit card using the online application form only.
- Official College Transcripts
International Transcripts: All applicants with transcripts from international institutions are required to submit an original transcript from each institution attended outside the United States. Additionally, a certified English language translation must be provided for all official international transcripts that are not written in English.
Applicants who would like to transfer academic credits earned at non-U.S. institutions are also required to have their transcript(s) evaluated by World Education Services (WES) our preferred provider, or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation report must be prepared for each transcript. Please start the evaluation process as early as possible, including the submission of all required documents to WES (or another provider), in order to ensure the timely completion of the evaluation report. In addition, an admission counselor may require a transcript evaluation by WES or an NACES-approved evaluator if it is deemed a necessary part of the admission decision process, even when applicants do not want transfer credits applied to a program of interest. Instruct the provider to send the report to
The New School for Drama
Office of Admission
72 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
If you request your report online, search for "New School Drama" when selecting our institution. If your provider is unable to send the evaluation report directly to the school, please obtain the report and send it to The New School for Drama along with a Materials Cover Sheet (PDF).
- SAT or ACT Results (Optional
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Score: Required if English is not your native language. Minimum score required: Minimum 600 paper, 250 computer, 100 internet. International students should register to take the exam on the earliest date available. Visit Educational Testing Service for more information.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is also accepted. Minimum score required: 7.0
- Portfolio: This must be submitted online through SlideRoom. (CDs, DVDs, slides, original work, PowerPoint presentations, binders, and flash drives are not accepted.) All Drama students are required to submit a portfolio online.
All Portfolio requirements are outlined in Slideroom.
Actors: This is where you submit your resume and headshot.
Directors: This is where you submit your resume and director's portfolio. This will include production information and reviews if applicable.
Playwrights: This is where you submit your resume and samples of your writing. Required: one full-length play. Optional: an additional one-act play.
- Statement of Purpose: (Maximum 500 words) This must be submitted through Slideroom.
- Resume: This must be submitted through Slideroom.
Actors: Please upload a text document that contains a standard actor's résumé listing acting experience and theatrical training. Professional résumés are not required.
Directors: Please upload a text document that contains a standard director's résumé listing work developed, production history, and theatrical and directing training. Professional résumés are not required.
Playwrights: Please upload a text document that contains a standard playwright's résumé listing works written, production history, and theatrical and writing training. Professional résumés are not required.
- Two Letters of Reference: Your references can submit their recommendations online, and instructions regarding this are include with the online application. We do recognize that some recommenders prefer to mail in their letters; if one of your references prefers standard mail, download the form: Recommendation Form for Online Applicants (PDF).
Delivery of letters of recommendation and/or transcripts often takes several weeks. Please request these documents as early as possible. It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of admission materials.
ALL materials submitted by mail must be accompanied by a Materials Cover Sheet (PDF), whether the printed application forms or any materials sent separately in support of an online application. Please print out the cover sheet, follow the instructions, and include it with any mailed-in documents.
MFA Auditions and Interviews
Acting
Regional Acting Audition Guidelines MFA (PDF)
Acceptance into the program requires auditions in addition to all other materials. Please prepare a three to four minute, two-person scene from any contemporary dramatic work. Your partner in the scene need not be an applicant to the program. A table and two chairs will be provided for the audition. Should you feel your scene requires props, keep them to a minimum; you are responsible for providing any props you require. Wear clothes that suggest what is appropriate for the character you are portraying, but keep in mind that costumes are strongly discouraged as are dialects. In addition, please prepare a one minute classical monologue. Acting is rooted in several fundamental principles that provide for emotional truth on the stage. Among these principles are the ability to truly listen to one's partner, and to be alive and "in the moment" on-stage. It is difficult to tell from a monologue whether an actor possesses these qualities; therefore, we prefer to see the actor in both a contemporary scene and a classical monologue.
If, due to extraordinary circumstances, you are unable to prepare a scene with a partner, you may prepare two monologues. One three-minute contemporary dramatic work and a one-minute classical piece. Please note however, that we always prefer to see a two-person contemporary scene during the audition.
Please note- there are also callback auditions. Callback auditions are by invitation only.
Playwriting
All playwright interviews take place at the school with a member of the Playwriting faculty, and it is expected that applicants who are invited to interview for the program will make plans to travel to New York.
Directing
Applicants who are invited to audition will direct a scene for the program's Directing faculty; it will be necessary to travel to New York for this phase of the application process.
About Multiple Applications: We understand that many theater artists have interests and talents across the disciplines of writing, acting, and directing, and we will consider applications for more than one program in the same year. However, a student will be admitted only to one program, and once The New School for Drama has made an offer of admission, the major is not negotiable. Therefore, we discourage multiple applications except in cases where the applicant would be equally happy in either of the programs to which she or he is applying. If an applicant is considering applying for multiple disciplines but has a preference for one over another, we suggest applying only to the preferred major.
Additional Information
Tuition and Financial Aid
Submitted Materials
All materials submitted to the Office of Admission become the property of The New School for Drama.
Accepted Applicants
When notified of acceptance, applicants will receive complete instructions for additional procedures regarding financial aid, housing, tuition and fees , I-20 visas (for nonresidents of the United States), and other matters. The decision to admit applicants is always contingent upon their successful completion of any current studies and receipt of their final transcripts by the Admission Committee.
Mailing Address for Letter of Reference and Transcripts
The New School for Drama
Office of Admission
72 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
