Deadlines and Requirements: Acting

  • Fall: January 1, 2019
    Early Action: Not Available
    Spring: Not Available

     

    Application Requirements:

    • SUNY APP and  Supplemental Application, or Common App. ($50 application fee)
    • Academic transcripts
    • Letter of Recommendation
    • Audition and non-refundable $50 audition fee and $5 SlideRoom fee submission
    • OPTIONAL: SAT/ACT scores (ETS Code: 2878) 

    Admission Decisions

    Students are notified of decisions on or around March 15. If you are offered admission, you will need to accept our offer in writing, and you will be required to submit enrollment and housing deposits by May 1.

     

    Audition Dates

    New York City:
    Ripley Grier Studios
    520 8th Ave
    New York , NY 10018 (between 36 & 37)

    Chicago, IL:
    Hyatt Regency
    151 East Wacker Dr.

    Los Angeles, CA:
    Sheraton Gateway
    6101 West Century Blvd
    Los Angeles, CA 90045

    On-Campus:

     

    Audition Requirements

    Online audition registration for the BFA Acting program will open October 2018 in our Slideroom portal, but you must first submit an application to the college for the BFA Acting program. Only applicants to the college for the BFA Acting program will be able to register for an audition. 

    Applicants will be emailed the audition registration instructions. The non-refundable audition fee of $50.00, plus the $5.00 SlideRoom submission fee must be submitted online at the time of your audition submissions. 

    All auditions are scheduled online only.

    Is Acting Part of Your Soul?

    The BFA in Acting at Purchase is a rigorous program for those who can imagine nothing other than a life on stage or screen. Admission is highly competitive and based on a required audition process with the Acting Faculty and a review of the your overall application by Admissions. Only exceptionally talented actors who can demonstrate talent, creativity, and commitment will be offered admission. You know who you are, now go ahead and apply.

    Hit Your Mark and Wow Us

    Prepare two monologues approximately two minutes each and in contrasting styles (i.e. one dramatic and one comedic). One monologue must be classical and the other contemporary. Classical monologues should be Elizabethan (i.e. Shakespearean), Chekhovian, or Greek, and should have been written before 1900. Choose material that you connect with, that you like and that shows you to your advantage. A small assortment of chairs will be provided.

    Act Out a Song

    Be prepared to sing 16 bars of a song in any genre, preferably a capella. If you choose to sing along with music you must provide your own music and player (e.g. CD, iPod) — and be sure to test it thoroughly to avoid surprises at your audition. A trained singing voice is not required.

    Time Yourself Beforehand

    Total audition time must not exceed five minutes, so time yourself carefully to be sure you’ll finish comfortably within the time limit. If you memorize the material and prepare thoroughly, you’ll feel less pressured and more confident about your work. And remember, we’ve all been where you’re standing now, so relax, breathe, and be present.

    Dress the Part (But Leave the Costume at Home)

    Choose audition clothing that is suitable for presenting the characters, but do not attempt costumes. Your clothing should allow freedom of movement.

     

    We Also Need the Following for the Acting Audition

    Picture and Resume

    A snapshot will do if you don’t have an 8 x 10 headshot. Be sure that your name, address, telephone number(s) and date of audition are included on your resume. Your resume should include a complete list of theatrical activities.

    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?

    Note

    You do NOT need to bring printed copies of your transcript or letters of recommendation to your audition.

    Acting Program National Audition Tour Dates

    All off-campus auditions take place in conjunction with the Consortium of Conservatory Theatre Training Programs, of which Purchase is a member.

    However, each member school requires a separate application as well as separate audition and you must request your own individual audition for Purchase College.

     

    Still have questions?

    Visit the Acting BFA program site to find out more.

    For additional information, visit the 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; minimum Reading score of 24 
  • 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.