Admissions Guidelines

Admission to Yale School of Drama is only for full-time graduate study beginning in the fall term. There is no rolling admission. There is no summer session. Transfer or part-time students are not accepted. The School of Drama Admissions Committee carefully evaluates all applications, and admission decisions are determined on or before April 1. Please refer to each department’s more detailed requirements.

Deadlines

Applications for admission must be received by the following dates:

  • December 5, 2011: Directing
  • January 3, 2012: Acting, Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, and Playwriting.
  • February 1, 2012: Design, Sound Design, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, Theater Management, Technical Internship Certificate and Special Research Fellow
  • February 15, 2012: Financial Aid applications for U.S. citizens and international applicants.

Application Fees

  • $110 - All departments; Special Student status; Special Research Fellow
  • $50 - Technical Internship Certificate

The nonrefundable application fee can be paid online by Master Card, Visa, American Express, or Discover.

Contact Us

Registrar/Admissions office: 203.432.1507, fax: 203.432.9668, ysd.admissions@yale.edu

Financial Aid office: 203.432.1540, fax: 203.436.8195, ysd.finaid@yale.edu

Mailing via: U.S. Postal Service/Air Mail
Admissions Office, Yale School of Drama
P.O. Box 208325
New Haven, CT 06520-8325

Mailing via: Express/Courier Services
Admissions Office, Yale School of Drama
149 York Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Application Materials

An applicant should carefully read the additional department admission requirement sections that follow. In general, an applicant submits the following materials:

  • application form
  • current resumé
  • statement of purpose
  • application fee
  • three letters of recommendation except for Design (set, costume, lighting, and projection)
  • one transcript copy from the degree granting institution
  • GRE scores (general test) required only for Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management
  • TOEFL (iBT) if first language is not English or if applicant has graduated from a non-English speaking institution

Audition Dates/Department Application Review Procedures

  • Acting applicants self-schedule their audition using the online application.
  • Acting auditions in 2012 are scheduled only in the following cities; dates are subject to
    change depending upon the Committee’s availability:

    • January 21, 22, 28, 29; February 4, 5; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
    • February 7, 8, 9; Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago
    • February 11, 12, 13; American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
    • February 25, 26, 27; Final acting callback session; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
  • Design in-person portfolio reviews are scheduled only at Yale School of Drama.  Set, lighting or projection design applicants may phone the Design department’s administrative office (203.432.1579) to schedule a review. The Design department will contact costume design applicants who are invited to interview. If a set or lighting design applicant is unable to appear in person, he or she must mail their portfolio by March 10, 2012 to the Design Department, Yale School of Drama, PO BOX 208244, New Haven CT 06520. A costume design applicant, who is unable to submit his or her portfolio digitally through the online application process, must mail the portfolio by February 1, 2012 to the Design department.
  • Sound Design applicants must contact David Budries, Chair, Sound Design program (david.budries@yale.edu; 203.432.8825) to schedule a preliminary phone interview.
  • Directing interviews for invited applicants are scheduled in Chicago, San Francisco, and New Haven according to the Committee’s availability. Selected candidates are contacted by email and phone. Upon the completion of all interviews, a limited number of finalists are invited to a directing callback in New Haven. Final directing callback dates are February 4 and 5, 2012 at Yale School of Drama. Refer to Directing application requirements for more details.
  • The Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism Admissions Committee invites qualified applicants for an in-person interview at Yale School of Drama after a review of the application materials has been completed. Interviewees are contacted by email and phone. Interviews are scheduled in February. Refer to Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism application requirements for more details.
  • The Playwriting Admissions Committee invites finalists via email and phone for an interview in New Haven. Interviews for finalists living abroad are conducted wherever possible. Additional writing samples may be requested of a finalist. Refer to Playwriting application requirements for more details.
  • The Stage Management Admissions Committee invites qualified applicants for an in-person interview at Yale School of Drama after a review of the application materials has been completed. Interviewees are contacted by email and phone. Refer to Stage Management application requirements for more details.
  • The Technical Design and Production Admissions Committee invites promising applicants to schedule an interview either at Yale School of Drama during late February and early March, or at the national USITT conference (www.usitt.org) usually in March. Refer to Technical Design and Production application requirements for more details.
  • The Theater Management Admissions Committee schedules in-person interviews at Yale School of Drama for qualified applicants during February and March. Refer to Theater Management application requirements for more details.
  • Promising applicants for the Technical Internship Certificate program are invited to interview either at Yale School of Drama during late February and early March, or at the national USITT conference (www.usitt.org) usually in March. Refer to Technical Internship application requirements for more details.

Recommendation Letters

All departments require three letters of recommendation except the Design department (Refer to Design application requirements). The recommender is providing an appraisal of the applicant on the basis of his or her past performance in a professional and/or academic setting, perception of the applicant’s talent, experience, potential for a career in theatre, commitment to his or her craft, and how the applicant can benefit from a concentrated three-year training program. Dossiers submitted by placement services are acceptable.  Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically through our online application system.

Transcript

Master of Fine Arts applicants should list only the undergraduate or graduate institution which granted, or will grant the degree. Master of Fine Arts candidates are not required to mail an official paper transcript. They submit a transcript by uploading a scanned or digital facsimile through the online application system.

Certificate in Drama applicants are not required to submit an academic transcript. However, if they choose, they may upload a scanned or digital facsimile of any undergraduate coursework taken, or professional certificate attained through the online application system.

Special Student, Special Research Fellow, and Technical Internship Certificate applicants should list only the undergraduate or graduate institution which granted, or will grant a degree, diploma or certificate.  They submit a transcript by uploading a scanned or digital facsimile through the online application system.

If the institution does not provide an English translation with the transcript, please obtain a notarized English translation

In the absence of a transcript from an international university, attested copies of the diploma or certificate, or a formal description of work completed, signed by an official of the institution, must be included with the application. A credential not issued in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

General (GRE) test scores are required only by the following departments: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management. The GRE general test should be taken by December 2011.

Web site: gre.org

GRE Yale School of Drama code: R3988

Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • TOEFL (iBT) is required of an applicant whose first language is not English or who has graduated from a non-English speaking institution. The TOEFL (iBT) should be taken by December 2011.

Web site: toefl.org

TOEFL Yale School of Drama code: 3988

Reapplication Procedures

The following information pertains to reapplying for admission to Yale School of Drama:

  • Files retained by Admissions office: Acting department – three years; all other departments – two years
  • Previously submitted supporting documents (i.e., recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) become part of 2012 application
  • Submit: online application for 2012; fee, current resumé, transcript if different from prior year; one new letter of recommendation
  • Writing Sample: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism department – one new sample; Playwriting department – one new play
  • Statement of Purpose may be amended
  • Acting applicants need to present new audition monologues

Application Requirements
Acting
Design
Sound Design
Directing
Dramaturgy
Playwriting
Stage Management
Technical Design and Production
Theater Management
Technical Internship Certificate
Special Research Fellow
Special Student