Frequently Asked Questions
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. Who may apply to Yale School of Drama?
Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional conservatory offering advanced training in every theatrical discipline of the art form. High school seniors are not eligible to apply for admission to the School of Drama. Applicants seeking undergraduate studies should visit Yale College admissions at www.yale.edu/admissions.
2. What are the application deadlines?
December 5, 2012: Directing
January 3, 2012: Acting, Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, and Playwriting
February 1, 2012: All other departments including Special Research Fellow status
February 15: Financial Aid Deadline
U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents: File online applications: FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and NEED ACCESS
(www.needaccess.org).
International Applicants: Complete the Need Access application on the web (www.needaccess.org). Mail the International Student Certification of Finances to the School of Drama Financial Aid Office.
December 2011: 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 2011: Deadline for TOEFL iBT for international applicants whose first language is not English.
3. 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: http://apply.drama.yale.edu/apply/
You may enter and exit as often as you need in order to complete your application. When you are ready to submit your completed application, you will be prompted to pay the application fee with a credit card.
After submitting your application, you may print a PDF copy for your records.
4. What are the application fees?
When you are ready to submit (select the submit button) you will be prompted to pay the application fee with a credit card:
- $110: Fee for MFA, Certificate in Drama, Special Student and Special Research Fellow
- $50: Fee for one-year Technical Internship Certificate
5. 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.
6. I’m reapplying. What is the process?
Files retained by Admissions office:
Acting department – three years; all other departments – two years
Previously submitted application including supporting documents (i.e., recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) become part of your 2012 application.
Submit: online application for 2012; application fee, current resumé, transcript if different from prior year; one new letter of recommendation.
Writing Samples: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism department – one new sample; Playwriting department – one new play.
Statement of Purpose may be amended.
Acting applicants need to present two new audition monologues.
7. What do I address in my statement of purpose? What is the length?
Please provide a statement of purpose approximately 500 words in length. An applicant may 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 an applicant’s artistry and craft.
An applicant to the Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism department should specifically explore his/her reasons for choosing a life in the theatre instead of describing specific career objectives.
8. How do Acting applicants schedule an audition?
Once an acting applicant submits an application and pays the fee, he/she should see on the application status page: Recent Activities—Audition Requested- Click Here to Respond. This is the prompt to self-schedule an acting audition in Chicago, New Haven, or San Francisco. The Admissions Office emails a confirmation of audition city, date and time to each scheduled acting applicant as the audition dates approach.
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 is closed at least five days before the actual audition dates in each city. Acting applicants, who need to reschedule after the close, must call the Admissions Office (203.432.1507) to reschedule.
9. How do Design applicants (set, lighting, projection) schedule an in-person New Haven interview?
Applicants to set, lighting and projection should contact Mary.Volk@yale.edu to schedule an in person portfolio review with the faculty. The application must be complete at the time of the interview. Interviews are scheduled only at the School of Drama in January, February, and March.
10. How do Design (set, costume, lighting, projection) and Sound Design applicants submit their portfolios?
Set and lighting portfolios are not submitted digitally through the online application process. An applicant who has scheduled an in-person review in New Haven brings his/her portfolio to the interview. Refer to the website: Preparing a Set and Lighting Portfolio.
Only a set or lighting applicant, who is unable to schedule an in-person interview, mails his/her portfolio by March 10, 2012 to the Design Department, Yale School of Drama, PO Box 208244, New Haven CT 06520.
A costume design portfolio is submitted digitally through the online application process. If an applicant is unable to submit his/her portfolio electronically, the portfolio must be mailed by February 1, 2012 to the Design Department, Yale School of Drama, PO Box 208244, New Haven CT 06520. Please refer to the website for Preparing Your Portfolio.
After the committee completes reviewing costume design applications, qualified applicants are contacted by the end of February to schedule an interview. An evaluation is sent to those costume applicants who are not invited to interview.
A projection design portfolio is submitted digitally through the online application process. One copy must be mailed to Wendall Harrington, Yale School of Drama, Design Department, PO Box 208244, New Haven CT 06520. Refer to the website: Preparing a Projection Portfolio for detailed requirements.
Sound Design portfolios are submitted digitally through the online application process. No copy needs to be mailed. Refer to the website for detailed portfolio requirements.
11. How does a recommender submit a letter of recommendation?
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.
If your recommender is absolutely unable to submit a letter electronically, you may print the recommendation form for mailing.
12. What email address should I use for my recommender?
When you identify a recommendation provider within your online application, and indicate he/she will be submitting a recommendation online, an email is initiated from the online application system. The email is not sent by the School of Drama Admissions Office.
If a recommender has any spam blocking, or other software intended to filter out certain email, he/she may not even see this email. Use your recommender's institutional or corporate email address, if available. Submissions from anonymous email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) may be subject to additional review.
13. What instructions does my recommender receive?
This is the body of the email that the online system sends directly to your recommender:
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 submit your recommendation, please visit the following website:
https://apply.drama.yale.edu/refer (secure link text)
Thank you for time and consideration.
Your recommender receives an electronic acknowledgement through the online system. You will also receive an electronic acknowledgement that the recommendation has been received.
14. May I submit more than three letters of recommendation?
The Admissions Committee appreciates reviewing only three letters.
15. What are the Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism writing sample requirements?
Two samples of critical writing (excluding fiction, poetry, plays, and translations) about theatre or drama must be submitted. The combined length of these essays should not exceed 10 pages (2,500 words.) One critical piece of no more than 1,000 words in length must be written especially for this application. The subject of this short essay can be a play, production, or theatre artist — director, playwright, actor, or designer.
16. How do Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism applicants submit their writing samples?
Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism submit two critical essays digitally through the online application system. Applicants do not mail originals to the School of Drama Admissions Office.
If an applicant experiences difficulties uploading his/her essays, please contact Maria Leveton, Admissions Administrator (maria.leveton@yale.edu)
17. What are the Playwriting writing requirements?
Applicants to the Playwriting department should submit for consideration an original play, either full-length or one-act. Adaptations and collaborations may be submitted, but are reviewed only as supplementary to original and individual work. Musical scores, tapes, and CDs of musical works may be mailed to the Admissions Office, but cannot be returned. All mailed writing samples are not returned.
18. How do Playwriting applicants submit their writing sample?
Applicants to the Playwriting department submit one original full-length play or two original one acts digitally through the online application. A hardcopy of the script must be mailed to the Admissions Office.
If an applicant experiences difficulties uploading his/her script, please contact Maria Leveton, Admissions Administrator (maria.leveton@yale.edu)
19. How do I check on the status of my application?
Once you begin the process of preparing your online application you can logon at any time to check the status of electronically submitted documents. Receipt of materials submitted by mail is posted to your online application status page. Please allow the Admissions Office ample amount of time when checking the receipt of mailed materials.
20. Can documents arrive after the deadline?
Timely submission of documents and test scores provides the Admissions Committee with a complete application for review. The online system accepts electronic letters of recommendation after deadlines have passed. Applicants should always check their application status page to see what documents have been received.
21. When will admission decisions be announced?
Decisions are made by early April. Department chairs phone and/or email those who are offered admission.
22. 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.
