• Application
• Required Documentation for Undergraduate Applicants
• Required Documentation for Graduate Applicants
• Interview Information
• Scheduled Interview Dates
• International Applicants
• Notification of Decision
• Other Requirements
• Final Steps

The School of Design & Production offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a College Arts Diploma, and a Master of Fine Arts.

Application Process

• The application for admission must be completed in full.
• Applicant signature is required along with the parent signature if the applicant is under the age of 18 at the time of application.
• Mail the application to the Office of Admissions along with the nonrefundable application fee ($60 for U.S. Citizens/Permanent U.S. Resident/$110 for international applicants).
• Applications received without the application fee or all questions not answered will be returned to applicant.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by the application deadline to secure the audition date they desire and to allow time for travel arrangements.
• All required documentation must be on file in order for the applicant file to be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee for a final decision regarding acceptance.

Application Information in Admissions

•      Concentrations:     

  • Costume Design and Technology
  • Lighting
  • Scene Design
  • Scene Painting
  • Sound
  • Stage Management
  • Stage Properties
  • Technical Direction
  • Wig & Makeup
    
    
• Statement of Purpose:


• All undergraduate applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose expressing their interests, goals and other information that gives insight into their work.
  
  
• Resume:
• All applicants must submit a resume detailing their artistic experience and educational objectives.
  
  
• Undergraduate Portfolios:
  
  An original portfolio of work is required at the time of interview. Examples of work the portfolio might contain are:
  • photographs of productions
  • drawings or paintings from arts classes (not necessarily related to theatrical design)
  • three-dimensional work, models, sculpture
  • production books
  • production draftings
  • scene, costume or lighting examples, renderings and sketches
  • visual examples showing the applicant’s highest level of achievement and training, graphic abilities and artistic vision.
  • sketchbooks, preliminary sketches (your process)
  • sound systems diagrams, audio examples on CD, notation of cues.
    
  
  
• Recommendation Letters:
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
  • One (1) letter is to come from an arts instructor
  • One (1) letter is to come from an academic instructor.
  • If not currently enrolled in school a letter may come from aan employer, mentor, instructor, director, etc.
  • All letters are to be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions to be placed in the applicant’s file. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
    
    Note: No form is provided for recommendations. All recommendations should be dated and signed by the writer and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Materials that do not bear the Office of Admissions as the recipient may be sent to other departments.
  
  
• Transcripts:
  • Official transcripts and courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time of application are required.
  • All transcripts must bear a validation seal or signature of a school official or registrar.
  • Transcripts sent under separate cover must come in a sealed envelope and should be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
  • Undergraduate applicants who have been home-schooled must provide proof of graduation from home school along with titles and course descriptions in each year of home-schooling, tests used and evaluation of knowledge that the applicant has completed the equivalent of the University of North Carolina’s Minimum Course Requirements
  • College transfer applicants must supply their official college transcript along with an official list of courses the student is taking at the time of application.
  • A high school transcript or GED is required of all applicants who are applying as a first time freshman or undergraduate transfer.
  • SAT or ACT. Official scores from the testing agency are required of all applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (do not send student copy).

• Concentrations (MFA)

  • Costume Design, Costume Technology
    Renderings or costume sketches, photographs or slides of produced costumes, millinery, accessories, demonstrations of patterning, tailoring skills; figure-drawing; work in watercolors, acrylic, ink, etc.

  • Performing Arts Management
    A three-page (minimum) typed sample of writing that demonstrates expository (not creative) writing skills and a resume detailing relevant experience in production and/or administration. Writing samples might be, for younger applicants, an excerpt from a paper written for a class or, for students more removed from their undergraduate years, a press release, a grant narrative, etc.

  • Scene Design
    Design candidates should include sketchbooks and preliminary sketches (we are interested in your process), renderings, models or photographs of models, drawings, photographs of realized designs and their related materials-drafting, paint elevations, prop drawings, and other non-theatrical artwork demonstrating your visual expression and the exploration of ideas.

  • Scenic Art
    Scenic Artist candidates should include sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, production shots of your work, renderings, sculpture, designs, paint elevations, examples of soft good skills and other non-theatrical artwork.

  • Stage Properties
    Stage Properties candidates should include: sketchbooks, drafting, prop drawings, examples of your painting, scene painting, renderings or designs, woodworking skills or construction, metalworking, mould making, sculpture, soft good skills: sewing or upholstery, as well as items you have built: furniture, masks, puppets, costumes, craft pieces, and examples of craftsmanship.

  • Sound Design
    System design draftings, photos, audio examples used in productions, any documentation supporting script analysis and sound design for productions. Examples of any creative work.

  • Stage Automation
    Mechanical designs, draftings, structural designs, technical drawings, production work, and examples of computer or programming work.

  • Technical Direction
    Draftings, technical drawings, production photographs, construction detail photographs (if available), any documentation supporting your organizational and technical skills, and some examples of the quality of your craftsmanship.

  • Wig & Makeup Design
    Renderings; makeup designs; portraits; photographs of realized makeups and/or hairstyle designs; photographs of hairpieces or wigs constructed; examples of costuming, masks constructed, or millinery.

• Writing Samples
  • A Statement of Purpose expressing the applicant’s interests, goals and other information giving insight into their work is required of all graduate applicants except those to the Performing Arts Management Program.
  • Performing Arts Management applicants must submit a three-page (minimum) typed sample of writing that demonstrates expository (not creative) writing skills. Writing samples might be, for younger applicants, an excerpt from a paper written for a class or, for students more removed from their undergraduate years, a press release, a grant narrative, etc.
    
    
• Portfolio:
• Applicants to the graduate program are required to submit an original portfolio of work at the time of interview.
  
  
• Resumes:
  • Applicants must submit a resume detailing artistic experience and education objectives.
  • Performing Arts Management candidates must present a resume of past performing arts experience in production and/or administration.
    


• Recommendation Letters:
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
    • One (1) letter is to come from an arts instructor
    • One (1) letter is to come from an academic instructor.
    • Applicants who are no longer enrolled in college and do not have contact with an academic or arts instructor should have a letter of recommendation from an employer.
  • All letters are to be mailed directly to the Office of Admissions to be placed in the applicant’s file. Always list the Office of Admissions as the recipient.
    
    Note: No form is provided for recommendations. All recommendations should be dated and signed by the writer and mailed directly to the Office of Admissions. Materials that do not bear the Office of Admissions as the recipient may be sent to other departments.
    
  
  
• Transcripts:
  • Graduate applicants must supply an official transcript.
  • If currently enrolled in college, the applicant must supply a list of the college courses in progress.

• Applicants must select a date from the list of approved dates provided and write the date and city in which they desire to interview on the application.
• Written confirmation of the interview date, time and location will be mailed to the applicant from the Office of Admissions after the application has been processed.
• Please allow ten working days for processing.
• Interviews will not be scheduled by phone.
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their application by the application deadline to secure the audition date they desire and allow time for travel arrangements.
• Applicants are encouraged to provide all required documentation prior to the their interview.
• Applicants to the graduate Performing Arts Management Program who prefer to interview on a weekday may contact Robert Wildman, Program Director, at Wildman@ncarts.edu to arrange an alternate interview date.
• The North Carolina School of the Arts reserves the right to cancel and reschedule auditions, or make other arrangements with the applicant. If weather prohibits an audition from being held the cancellation notice will be placed on www.ncarts.edu.

Undergraduate applicants check-in at the Welcome Center at 9:15 a.m. An information session and a walking tour of the campus are offered until 12:30 p.m. A tour of the Design and Production facilities begins at 1:15 PM. Interviews begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Design and Production Office.

*Priority for merit scholarship consideration will be given to applicants who interview on or before February 22, 2008.

Graduate applicants interviewing on Friday should check-in at the Administrative Offices for the School of Design and Production at 1:30 pm. Applicants interviewing on Saturday should check-in at 12:30 pm.

In addition to the required documentation listed for the undergraduate or graduate programs, international applicants must provide the following information:

• International applicants must complete the International Questions on the application.
• International Applicants must complete the North Carolina School of the Arts Safety Questions.
• International applicants must follow all of the program guidelines as outlined and submit all required documentation as stated.
• An official TOEFL score is required for undergraduate applicants for whom English is not the primary language.
• For information on TOEFL scores please go to the following web link: www.ncarts.edu/iss/esl.htm.
• An official SLEP score is required for high school applicant for whom English is not the primary language.
• For information on SLEP scores please go to the following web link: http://www.ncarts.edu/iss/esl.htm.
• Official transcripts from each school attended that bears a seal or registrar’s signature and a notarized English translation of each transcript.
• Transcript must include the courses in which the applicant is enrolled at the time if application.
• Verification of sufficient funds to cover the first year of enrollment or affidavit of support from a bank or sponsor is required.
• A North Carolina School of the Arts Financial Statement Form must be completed by the applicant. The link for the form is: www.ncarts.edu/admissions/guidelines.
• Applicant is to provide a copy of their current passport, visa and/or I-20.

• Decisions concerning admission are made only after all candidates have auditioned.
• The Admissions Review Committee (the Office of Admissions and Student Life) must review applicant files that are recommended for acceptance and make the final admission decision.
• All required materials must be on file for the applicant to be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee. No incomplete files will be reviewed.

• If submitting an online application, print, sign and mail to the Office of Admissions immediately after submitting the application the Application Agreement Statement.
• Complete and sign the Provision of Social Security Number form provided with the application.
• Complete the top section of the Mandatory Information Form, sign and give the form to your guidance counselor or college advisor. If currently not enrolled in school, the form may be given to an employer, mentor, instructor, etc.
• Signatures of family members or legal guardians will not be accepted. Form is required of ALL APPLICANTS.

• For your records keep copies of the application and all materials mailed to the Office of Admissions. Items can get lost in the mail.
• Always address materials to the following mailing address:
  
  Office of Admissions
  North Carolina School of the Arts
  1533 S. Main St.
  Winston-Salem, NC 27127
• Materials mailed to the North Carolina School of the Arts only may be distributed to other departments and delay processing of your application.