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 Application Requirements at right.

Deadlines

Applications for admission must be received by the following dates or the succeeding Monday if the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday. January 3, 2008: Acting and Directing. February 1, 2008: All Other Departments and Special Research Fellow. February 15, 2008: Financial Aid.

Application Fees

$100 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 Card.

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, and lighting)
  • one official transcript from the undergraduate institution granting the bachelor’s degree
  • GRE scores (general test) required only for Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management
  • TOEFL if first language is not English or if applicant has graduated from a non-English institution

Audition Dates/Department Application Review Procedures

  • Acting auditions in 2008 are scheduled only in the following cities; dates are subject to
    change depending upon the Committee’s availability:
    January 19, 20, 26, 27; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
    February 2, 3; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
    February 5, 6, 7; Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago
    February 9, 10, 11; American Conservatory Theater,
    San Francisco
    March 1, 2, 3 Final callback session; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
  • Design in-person portfolio reviews are scheduled at Yale School of Drama. Phone the Design department’s administrative office (203.432.1579) to schedule a review. If unable to appear in person, mail portfolio by March 14, 2008 to Design Department, Yale School of Drama, P.O. Box 208244, New Haven, CT 06520.
  • Sound Design applicants contact David Budries (david.budries@Yale.edu; 203.432.8825) for preliminary interview. Refer to Sound Design application requirements for more details.
  • 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 session in New Haven. Final directing session dates: March 3, 4, 5, 2008. 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. Applicants are contacted by email and phone. Refer to Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism application requirements for more details.
  • The Stage Management Admissions Committee invites qualified applicants for an inperson interview at Yale School of Drama after a review of the application materials has been completed. 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 threeyear training program. Dossiers submitted by placement services are acceptable.

Transcript

Master of Fine Arts, Special Student, and Special Research Fellow applicants must submit one official copy of their transcript from the institution granting the bachelor’s degree. The transcript is mailed directly to the Registrar’s office at Yale School of Drama. 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.

The Certificate in Drama applicant should submit an official transcript if he or she has completed any undergraduate coursework.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

General test scores are required only by the following departments: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management

Web site: www.gre.org

GRE Yale School of Drama code: r3988

Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • Required of an applicant whose first language is not English or who has graduated from a non-English institution
  • Exceptions are made for applicant who has earned a degree at a U.S. college or university or applicant whose schooling (primary through university) has been conducted entirely in English

Web site: www.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 2008 application
  • Submit: online application for 2008; 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