Deadlines and Requirements: Acting

  • Deadlines

    Fall Application:

    Recommended: November 15, 2021

    General Admissions: January 1, 2022

    Video Audition: January 7, 2022

    Early Action: Not available

    Spring: Not available

    Application Requirements

    Audition Requirements and Dates

    Mandatory Requirements

    All applicants to the acting program for fall 2022 must submit the following to be considered for an acting program callback:

    1. Video audition submission
    2. Acting audition form
    3. Non-refundable payment of $60
       

    Faculty will be reviewing completed video audition submissions starting at the end of November and will notified students of a callback on a rolling basis.  If selected for a callback, students will be notified no later than the week of January 19th if they are being invited to a callback.

    • If invited for a callback, applicants will be notified via email no later than January 19th.

    • Callbacks will take place in person in NYC and on the Purchase campus.

      • New York City Callbacks
        January 29th and 30th
        Ripley-Grier Studios
      • On-Campus Callbacks
        February 5th and 6th
        Purchase College Campus

     

    • Admission to the BFA Acting program is highly competitive and based on a required audition process conducted by the Acting Faculty and a review of the student’s overall application by Admissions staff. Only exceptionally talented actors who can demonstrate talent, creativity, and commitment will be offered admission.

    Video Auditions

    All video auditions should include the following:

    1. Two Monologues

    We are looking for imaginative actors capable of bringing their authentic self to a wide range of circumstances. With that in mind we ask for:

    • 1 Classical piece: The language or circumstance is heightened.
      • Shakespeare is preferred but will accept other classical/verse texts
    • 1 Modern/Contemporary piece:
      • Note: We consider Chekov/Ibsen/Shaw and the like to fall under Modern, not Classical

    The pieces should show a range. Often, that is taken to mean comedic vs dramatic. That distinction is less important than that you show your range.
    We want to see how you physicalize your character so, if possible, allow us to see that.

    • Each monologue should be roughly 90 seconds to two minutes in length.
    • We prefer two separate videos, one for each piece.
    • Upload videos or share links in the Admissions Portal.

    Your Monologue Video Should Include

    • Your first and last name
    • The date
    • Name of the play
    • Name of the author
    • Name of the character

    2. Picture and Resume

    • A snapshot will do if you do not have an 8 x 10 headshot.

    • Be sure that your name, address, and telephone number(s), are included on your resume. Your resume should include a complete list of theatrical activities.

    3. Essay

    • What event or circumstance in your life awakened you to the understanding that being an artist/actor was what you needed to do with your life?

    Callbacks

    If you receive an invitation for a callback, be prepared with three or four pieces. We won’t ask to see all of them, but we may ask what they are and to see one or two.

    • If you didn’t previously submit Shakespeare, for example, we might want to see one. If you didn’t submit a comedy piece, we might like to see something along those lines.

    • We may ask you to sing, even if you are not a singer.

    • Be prepared to work with your auditors. This callback will be a work session and hopefully fun!

    Visit the Acting BFA program to get answers to the most frequently asked questions.

    For additional information about the acting BFA program, visit Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

Whether you just graduated high school or you’ve taken a gap year (or more), if you have not yet attended college you should apply as a freshman. Even if you’ve taken college-level courses in high school, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, you’re still a freshman.

Who We’re Looking For

It takes a certain nature to thrive at Purchase. While we seek to enroll academically qualified students with a consistent record of achievement in a challenging high school curriculum, we also seek students with grit—the determination to strive and succeed.

Successful students at Purchase are highly motivated, intellectually curious, and deeply engaged in our community as well as the world at large. Our students are passionate about their goals and persevere to achieve them. They are daring—willing to take calculated risks to achieve more when they create works of art, engage in research and scholarship, or take on internships. They are driven to succeed and exhibit an entrepreneurial spirit in creating that success for themselves. In addition, Purchase students are often socially aware and will take an active stand for what they believe in.

All candidates are encouraged to pursue a rigorous college prep curriculum throughout their entire high school career, enhancing their college preparation through honors and Advanced Placement coursework. The Office of Admissions maintains a holistic review process with a focus on the quality of your academic program, your cumulative academic average, your Think Wide Open Statement, and supplemental information. 

Typical Grades

Generally, successful freshman applicants have earned a GPA of 3.0 (or 85 on a 100 point scale).

Purchase does not require scores from the SAT or ACT exam (with exceptions), though applicants are given the option to submit them. It is recommended that test scores be submitted only if it is believed to benefit the application. For applicants who are considering submitting scores, we typically prefer the following:

  • SAT: 1170 total score
  • ACT: 24 Composite

Students who are required to submit test scores include:

  • Applicants who are homeschooled
  • International students, who will need to provide a TOEFL score
  • Applicants who attended secondary schools that provide only narrative evaluations rather than some form of grading scale

Think Wide Open Statement

Purchase College’s motto is “Think Wide Open.” It’s our way of learning, teaching and being and so much more. By choosing Purchase, students make a conscious decision to join an intense community with a deep respect for individuality and diversity and an unparalleled environment of creativity and innovation.

As an applicant, we want to know what Think Wide Open means to you. All students submit either an essay, video or other creative work (poem, song, visual artwork, etc.). It should be original and should connect to Think Wide Open broadly or specifically. Videos and creative works should include a brief introduction or statement that helps contextualize your submission for the viewer/reader.