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Conservatory of Theatre Arts

Undergraduate Programs
Acting BFA • Playwriting and Screenwriting BA
Theatre Design/Technology BFA • Theatre and Performance BA

Graduate Programs
Theatre Design/Technology MFA

Be sure to carefully review and follow all application instructions and observe all deadlines carefully. In cases where students fail to follow the requirements and instructions and/or to observe deadlines there is no guarantee the application can be reviewed and the application may be withdrawn from consideration.

Freshman

BFA Acting Deadline to Apply:
Fall Admission: January 1, 2012
Spring admission not offered

BA Playwriting and Screenwriting Deadline to Apply:
Fall Early Action: November 15, 2011
Regular Admission: March 1, 2012

BFA Theatre Design/Technology Deadline to Apply:
Fall Admission: March 1, 2012
Spring admission not offered

BA Theatre and Performance Deadline to Apply:
Fall Early Action: November 15, 2011
Regular Admission: March 1, 2012

Step 1: Apply Online:

BFA Acting & Theatre Design/Technology Applicants: Apply online using the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply.** The application fee is $50. The Common Application is not available for BFA Acting and BFA Theatre Design/Stage Technology applicants.

**NOTE: BFA Acting and BFA Theatre Design/Technology applicants are NOT required to submit the SUNY Supplemental Admission Form.  BFA Acting applicants must submit an essay/written statement of 300-500 words on any subject they find meaningful. One copy of this essay must be submitted to Admissions and another copy must be submitted at the BFA Acting audition.

BA Theatre and Performance and BA Playwriting and Screenwriting applicants: You may apply using either the Common Application at www.commonapp.org or the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply. Please use only one application form. The application fee is $50.

**NOTE: The Supplemental Admission Form is required of BA Theatre and Performance and BA Playwriting and Screenwriting applicants.

Step 2:  Submit Academic Records:

All freshman applicants must submit the following information:

  • High School transcripts or GED scores
  • SAT or ACT scores
  • One letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor*
  • BFA Acting applicants must submit one copy of this essay to Admissions by email at admessay@purchase.edu and submit another copy of the essay in-person at the BFA Acting audition.

BE GREEN, GO PAPERLESS: Purchase College recommends you self-report your academic transcript information electronically through the SUNY Online Academic Record (SOAR) system.* Obtain copies of your high school transcript and your standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT) from your college counselor and/or the standardized  testing services to self-report. All information (i.e. grades, test scores, grade point average, class rank, etc.) should be self-reported on SOAR exactly as it appears on your transcript.

Your transcript should not be mailed at the time you apply if you self-report your academic record online. Once you are accepted and indicate your intent to enroll, an official final transcript must then be sent from your high school to the address below.

*Letters of recommendation cannot be self-reported and should be mailed to the address below.

NOTE: Any deliberate omission or falsification of information on SOAR will jeopardize a student’s chances for admission. Purchase College will verify your self-reported transcript against your official final transcript for accuracy. If misrepresentations are found, the college reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission.

If you are accepted to Purchase College, you or your high school must then submit official** copies of the following items (Official means documents are delivered in sealed envelopes from the school or delivered electronically directly from the school or testing service):

  • Your official high school transcripts or GED scores
  • Your official SAT or ACT scores (SAT/ACT scores and AP scores can be submitted electronically)

These items should be submitted electronically or mailed directly to:

Purchase College-Application Processing
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

*Any student choosing not to self-report his/her academic record online through SOAR must have his/her official transcripts and test scores submitted to the address above.

Step 3: BFA Applicants Only:

BFA Acting Audition

BFA Theatre Design/Technology Interview

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Transfer

BFA Acting Deadline to Apply:
Fall Admission: January 1, 2012
Spring admission not offered

BFA Theatre Design/Technology Deadline to Apply:
Fall Admission: March 1, 2012
Spring admission not offered

BA Theatre and Performance Deadlines to Apply:
Fall Admission: May 1, 2012
Spring Admission: November 1, 2011

BA Playwriting and Screenwriting Deadline to Apply:
Fall Admission: May 1, 2012
Spring Admission Not Available

Step 1: Apply Online:

BFA Acting & Theatre Design/Technology Applicants: Apply online using the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply.** The application fee is $50. The Common Application is not available for BFA Acting and BFA Theatre Design/Technology applicants.

**NOTE:  BFA Acting and BFA Theatre Design/Technology applicants are NOT required to submit the SUNY Supplemental Admission Form. BFA Acting applicants must submit an essay/written statement of 300-500 words on any subject they find meaningful. One copy of this essay must be submitted to Admissions and another copy must be submitted at the BFA Acting audition.

BA Theatre and Performance and BA Playwriting and Screenwriting applicants: You may apply online using either the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply or the Common Application at www.commonapp.org. Please use only on application form. The application fee is $50.

Step 2: Submit Academic Records:

Transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 college credits are strongly encouraged to complete SOAR (SUNY Online Academic Record) in order to speed the review process. If you choose to complete your academic record online, please note that once you are accepted and indicate your intent to enroll, an official final transcript must be sent from your high school to Purchase College. Please see the information regarding SOAR (SUNY Online Academic Record) in the Freshman instructions above.

Transfer applicants must submit:

  • Official college transcripts from all colleges attended or in which you are currently enrolled*
  • Official high school transcripts and SAT/ACT test scores, if you have earned fewer than 24 college credits**
  •  One letter of recommendation from a recent college professor (for non-traditional age applicants, a letter from an employer is satisfactory)
  • BFA Acting applicants must submit one copy of this essay to Admissions by email at admessay@purchase.edu and submit another copy of the essay in-peson at the BFA Acting audition.

These items must be sent directly to:

Purchase College-Application Processing
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

*Students with under 24 college credits are required to submit official high school transcripts, SAT and/or ACT, and/or GED scores. Students who have completed over 24 college credits at the time of application completion may choose to only submit college transcripts, but it is possible the Office of Admissions will request these additional items upon application review. Students who have taken AP exams should submit all AP scores for evaluation and transfer credit.

 **’Official’ means documents are delivered in sealed envelopes from the school or electronically directly from the school or testing service  

Transfer Supplemental Form (NOT required of BFA applicants): BA Theatre and Performance applicants using the SUNY application must complete and submit the SUNY Transfer Supplemental Form. Be sure to complete all applicable sections of the form including the required statement. The supplemental form should be emailed directly to admessay@purchase.edu. The form is available in the following formats:

Common Application Supplemental: Applicants using the Common Application must complete and submit the Supplemental Application, Instructor Evaluations, and College Official’s Report in order for their application to be processed.

Step 3: BFA Applicants Only

BFA Acting Audition

BFA Theatre Design/Technology Interview

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