Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions which arise as applicants work on their applications. Please contact the Admissions Office with any specific questions you may have as you complete your application. (ysd.admissions@yale.edu; or 203.432.1507)
1. What are the application deadlines?
January 3, 2010: Acting, Directing, Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, and Playwriting
February 1, 2010: All other departments including Special Research Fellow status
Financial Aid Deadline: February 15, 2010
U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents: File online applications: FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and NEED ACCESS
(www.needaccess.org).
International Applicants: Download the International Student Financial Aid Application from the School of Drama’s
website, at drama.yale.edu and the International Student Certification of Finances.
Mail these two applications to:
Yale School of Drama
Financial Aid Office
PO Box 208325
New Haven CT 06520-8325
December 2009: Deadline for GRE (Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Theater Management, and Technical Design and Production) Register to take the GRE general exam no later than December to insure the receipt of test scores in time for application reviews.
December 2009: Deadline for TOEFL iBT for international applicants
2. What is the application process?
Application for admission to Yale School of Drama is an online process (there is no paper application). You may create an account and access the online application by visiting:
drama.yale.edu or apply.drama.yale.edu
You may enter and exit as often as you need in order to complete your application. When you are ready to submit (select the submit button) you will be prompted to pay the $100 application fee with a credit card.
After submitting your application, you may print a PDF copy for your own use which should look exactly as the copy that is printed at the School of Drama’s Admissions office.
3. Can I apply to more than one department at Yale School of Drama?
An application can be made to only one department for fall admission.
4. What is the process for a recommender submitting a letter electronically?
You must create an online application account. First, you must enter basic biographical information as well as your department of proposed study.
- Select RECOMMENDATION from the navigational bar on your left. Select ADD Recommender.
- Enter your recommender's information including his/her own email address and indicate:
To be submitted electronically, by the recommender. - You will be prompted by the online system to send an email directly to your recommender at his/her email address. Once you check 'send' the system automatically sends the email to your recommender.
5. What instructions does my recommender receive?
This is the body of the email:
Dear [Recommender Name]:
[Your name] has requested that you write a letter of recommendation to Yale School of Drama on his/her behalf. In an effort to make this process as easy as possible for you, we offer the ability to complete your recommendation on-line through our secure website.
To start your recommendation, please visit the link below:
https://apply.drama.yale.edu/refer (secure link text)
Thank you for time and consideration.
6. What email address should I use for my recommender?
When you identify a recommendation provider within your online application, and indicate h/she will be submitting a recommendation online, an email is initiated from our service provider. If a recommender has any spam blocking, or other software intended to filter out certain email, h/she may not even see this email. Use your recommender's institutional or corporate e-mail address, if available. Submissions from anonymous e-mail addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) may be subject to additional review.
7. May I submit more than three letters of recommendation?
The Admissions Committee appreciates reviewing only three letters.
8. I’m reapplying. What is the procedure?
- 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 2010 application
- Submit: online application for 2010; 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
9. Can any of my supporting documents (transcript, recommendations, writing samples, GRE/TOEFL scores) arrive after the deadlines?
While credentials are accepted after the application deadlines, timely submission of documents and test scores provides the Admissions Committee with a more complete application for review. Applicants should always check their status page to see what documents have been received. The Admissions Office will do its best to notify you of missing documents that are crucial to your review.
Acting applications must be complete at least five days before the scheduled audition.
Directing, Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism and Playwriting applications should be complete by January 9, 2010.
All other departments: We urge applicants to submit all credentials by the February 1, 2009 deadline.
10. What supplemental documents need to be mailed directly to the Admissions Office?
- Playwriting: One copy of the original play should be mailed to the Admissions Office; one copy should be submitted electronically through the online application system
- Transcripts should be mailed if applicant does not submit a copy electronically through the online application
- Portfolios (Design applicants who cannot appear for an in person review need to mail the portfolio to the Design department)
Please do not mail Directing portfolios, DVDs, videos, Stage Management production books, etc. to the Admissions Office. Applicants may bring these materials to an interview, if invited.
11. What is the length of the statement of purpose?
The statement of purpose can be approximately 500 words. For the Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism department the Committee specifically indicates: "The aim of the statement of purpose is to explore the applicant’s reasons for choosing a life in the theatre instead of describing specific career objectives." An applicant to another department can also address why a life in the theatre, why Yale School of Drama, current training and skills or what this program of study offers in terms of developing his/her artistry and craft.
12. How do I submit my writing samples?
-
Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism: Submit two critical essay electronically through the online application
-
Playwriting department: Submit one original play electronically through the online application; mail one copy to the Admissions Office
-
Make sure your name appears on a cover page of each critical essay and play
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Mailed hardcopy playwriting scripts do not need to be bound; binder clips suffice.
13. What is the suggested length of a Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism critical essay?
One critical piece of no more than 1000 words in length must be written specifically for this application. The other piece may be a paper submitted for a course or another essay. The length of this sample should not exceed 2000 words, though it may be excerpted from a larger work.
14. Can I check on the status of my application?
Once you begin the process of preparing your online application you can login at any time to check the status of the receipt of recommendations submitted electronically.The Admissions Office will post to your online application status page, materials that it has received by mail. However, the process of status reporting requires manual file updates and can take some time particularly because the office receives a high volume of mail. Please allow the Admissions Office an ample amount of time for this when checking the receipt of materials.
15. How do Acting applicants schedule an acting audition?
Once an acting applicant submits an application, h/she is immediately prompted to self-schedule an acting audition in a city, date and time of choice: Chicago, San Francisco, New Haven.
Yale School of Drama is not a member of U/RTA. The Committee does not audition in New York City.
The online self-scheduling feature will be closed at least five days before the actual dates in each city. Acting applicants, who need to reschedule after the close, must call the Admissions Office (203.432.1507) to reschedule.
16. How do Design applicants (costume, set, lighting, projection) schedule an in-person New Haven portfolio review?
Contact Mary.Volk@yale.edu; 203.432.1579 to schedule an in person portfolio review. The application file must be complete
by the scheduled interview.
Portfolio reviews are only scheduled in New Haven.
17. When and where do I mail my Design portfolio if I am not able to travel to New Haven for a portfolio review?
Mail your portfolio to be received by March 12, 2010:
Yale School of Drama
Design Department
222 York Street
New Haven CT 06511
203.432.1579
18. When will admission decisions be announced?
Decisions are made by April 1, 2010. Department chairs phone and/or email those who are offered admission.
19. May I defer my admission?
Yale School of Drama does not grant admission deferments for any of the programs because of the nature of the advanced conservatory training program.
