Admissions

General Information and Requirements
Applications for degree programs through the Institute of Sacred Music are available online at http://www.yale.edu/ism/ or upon request from the Institute office at 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511-2167.

All completed forms and supporting materials are to be sent directly to the Institute of Sacred Music, to arrive no later than

• February 1 for students applying to the Institute of Sacred Music jointly with Yale Divinity School; and

• December 31 for students applying to the Institute of Sacred Music jointly with Yale School of Music.

The Institute's Admissions Committee will consider applications for all degree programs, invite applicants for auditions and interviews, and then make its recommendations to the appropriate admissions committee of either the School of Music or the Divinity School. Letters of joint acceptance will be sent to successful candidates on or around April 1. There is no early decision process, nor is there a summer program. Divinity School degrees may be completed part-time by special request. The School of Music does not now offer a part-time degree program.

Letters of recommendation and transcripts will be kept on file for one year. Students who are not admitted may reapply the following year without resubmitting these materials, although they may send new ones if they choose. All other application materials and the application fee must be submitted, as for first-time applicants, by the deadline.

YISM/YDS Application Requirements
The following materials must be received by February 1:

1. Completed application form with nonrefundable application fee of $100 payable to Yale University. This fee must accompany the application and it cannot be waived.

2. Official transcripts of academic records sent in a sealed envelope from all colleges and universities attended.

3. An essay indicating why and how you have come to consider a theological education at ISM/YDS at this juncture in your life. Include preparation for or interest in the academic programs in liturgical studies, in religion and the arts, or in preaching and/or interest in and preparation for the ministry in common formation with musicians.

4. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if English is not your first language. (See below for details.)

5. Three letters of recommendation mailed directly to the Institute from the recommenders.

6. A short paper (5–6 pages) in your field of study.

7. GRE scores (optional).

YISM/YSM Application Requirements
The following materials must be received by December 31:

1. Completed application form with nonrefundable application fee of $100 (U.S.) payable to Yale University. This fee must accompany the application and cannot be waived.

2. Official transcripts of all academic records sent in a sealed envelope from all colleges and universities attended.

3. Curriculum vitae (a résumé of academic, performance, and employment information). Optional: examples of involvement in liturgical, musical, or artistic activities (orders of worship, prayers, hymn texts or tunes, sermons, special events, etc.).

4. Repertory list of major performance area.

5. Audition recording (see recording guidelines below).

6. A writing sample, such as a term paper, thesis, course paper, etc.

7. A short essay (500–1,000 words) relating your goals to the mission of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The essay might discuss

• the sacred in music;

• your sense of vocation;

• your interest in interdisciplinary study.

8. Official scores from GRE and TOEFL, if applicable (see test guidelines below).

9. Three letters of recommendation mailed directly to the Institute by the recommenders.

10. Self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of recordings and scores.

Recording Guidelines
An audition recording (CD, cassette), twenty to thirty minutes in length, is required of organ and composition candidates. Recordings should be labeled with the applicant's name, instrument, and works performed. A recent recital recording may be submitted if the program falls roughly within the repertory guidelines.

Organ
Representative works from the major areas of organ literature—a major Bach work, a Romantic work, and a contemporary work.

Composition
Scores and recordings of at least three recent works, each written for a different group of instruments, voice, and/or electronic media.

Choral Conducting
Applicants are invited to audition on the basis of the application and supporting materials. Applicants must submit videotapes.

Audition/Interview

School of Music Applicants
Applicants are chosen for formal audition on the basis of the performance recording, scores, and application credentials. If selected, applicants will be informed as soon as possible of the time and place to appear before an auditions committee. Auditions are held in New Haven at a specified time, either the last weekend in February or the first weekend in March. M.M.A. applicants will be expected to audition and take a written examination in New Haven on a date in early March as specified by the School of Music.

Organ applicants should perform the same or similar works presented on their audition recording. They will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability and other essential musical skills.

Choral conducting applicants will be expected to present a highly developed level of comprehensive musicianship, including theory, transposition, keyboard skill, and score reading. In addition, applicants will be asked to conduct one or two previously assigned works with a University ensemble.

Composition applicants must come for personal interviews with the Institute's Admissions Committee and the School of Music composition faculty on a date specified in early March.

Divinity School Applicants
Divinity School applicants are not required to appear for an interview. Decisions made by the admissions committees of the Institute and the Divinity School are based on the application and supporting materials. Applicants are welcome to visit the Institute and the Divinity School campus at any time. Special open house events for prospective students are held during the academic year. Applicants are encouraged to attend one of these events, which offer the opportunity to attend classes, tour the campus, and to talk with faculty, staff, and current students.

Graduate Record Examination
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General and Music tests are required of all applicants to the Master of Musical Arts program who hold a master's degree from a school other than Yale. The computer-based General Test is given regularly at testing centers around the world. Contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for more information: http://www.gre.org/, or call 609.771.7670, or write to PO Box 6154, Princeton nj 08541-6154. Please use institution code #7072. Failure to use this code may result in lost scores.

All applicants in the composition department, regardless of the degree sought, must also take the GRE General test. Those applying jointly to the ISM and the Divinity School may optionally submit GRE scores to support their application.

Note: Candidates who have not submitted the required test scores will not be considered for admission.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (toefl)
Students for whom English is a second language must demonstrate, with a TOEFL score of 600 (250 for the computer examination), a level of language proficiency appropriate for study. TOEFL applications may be obtained from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Educational Testing
Service (ETS). More information is available at http://www.toefl.org/, or call 609.771.7670, or write to PO Box 6154, Princeton nj 08541-6154. Please use institution code #7072. Failure to use this code may result in lost scores.

Applicants are urged to submit all required materials as soon as possible. Applicants should check periodically to be certain that requested credentials have arrived at the Institute's Office of Admissions. All inquiries should be directed to the Office of Admissions, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511-2167.

International Students
In order to gain admission to the Institute and to obtain a visa, international students must show that they have sufficient funds to provide for their expenses while in residence as a student in the United States. Bank affidavits and certificates of finance will be required.

Transfer Applicants

Internal
Students currently enrolled at the Divinity School or the School of Music who wish to apply for transfer to the Institute of Sacred Music should submit the following:

1. Completed application form. The application fee is waived.

2. Official transcripts of academic records from all colleges and universities attended, including most recent Yale transcript. Unofficial copies may be obtained from current school registrars at student's request.

3. Copies of all letters of recommendation from student's file. Copies may be obtained from current school registrar.

4. Two letters of recommendation from current faculty, at least one from Institute faculty.

5. An essay to include a discussion of reasons for pursuing graduate study at the Institute of Sacred Music, comments on specific areas of interest for study, an indication of your sense of vocation, and areas of greatest importance as you consider your future career in relation to the Church. The essay is not to exceed one page.

6. Official scores from GRE or TOEFL (if applicable; see GRE or TOEFL sections above for details).

External
Students enrolled at other colleges or universities who wish to transfer to the Institute of Sacred Music should speak to the Institute admissions office regarding their particular circumstances.

Expenses and Financial Aid

Tuition and Fees
Tuition for Institute students is based on tuition established by the two affiliated schools. In 2002–2003, tuition for full-time students enrolled at the School of Music through the Institute will be $21,300. Tuition for full-time students enrolled at the Divinity School through the Institute will be $15,140. These figures include the cost of Yale Health Plan coverage but exclude the hospitalization insurance fee. The estimated cost for hospitalization insurance in 2002–2003 is $1,170 for a single student. Total estimated expenses for the ISM correspond closely with the two affiliated schools. For example, 2002–2003 estimated expenses (including tuition) for a single student living on or off campus are $31,475 for Music and $27,460 for Divinity. Estimated totals for different categories of students may include housing, meals, books, health care, major medical insurance, childcare, and other miscellaneous costs. All estimated expenses, with the exception of tuition, may be revised with proper documentation. Further information is available from the Financial Aid Office.

Financial Assistance
ISM provides full tuition scholarships to all admitted students. Prizes are also awarded to a small number of students selected by the faculty. Depending on the resources of the Institute, these scholarships and prizes are renewable for students who remain in good academic standing. These scholarships and prizes require no application or service to the Institute.

In addition, U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for federal loans and work-study, which are awarded on the basis of need as determined by federal methodology. The Institute of Sacred Music participates in the Federal Stafford Loan program, both subsidized and unsubsidized. U.S. students, if eligible, may borrow directly through Yale or a local lender. U.S. citizens or permanent residents who wish to be considered for a Federal Stafford Loan and/or Work Study must complete and submit the following:

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please use federal code 001426.

2. Signed 2002 Federal Tax Return and W-2 form

3. 2002–03 Verification Worksheet for Independent Student: http://www.ifap.ed.gov/vgworksheets/attachments/0203IndependentWorksheet.pdf

The FAFSA may require a few weeks to be processed; therefore, applicants are advised to complete their tax returns as soon as they receive their W-2 forms so that they can use them to complete the FAFSA on the internet. Late receipt of the required financial information may jeopardize the timely processing of the applicant's loan. All required materials must reach the Institute by March 1.

An application must be made each year to renew the Stafford Loan. Laws governing these loans are under frequent review by the U.S. Congress. Applicants should be aware that awards might need to be revised if major change is mandated by government regulations.

Federal eligibility may also be reviewed during the academic year if a student's financial circumstances change substantially; additional scholarship or prize support from the ISM is not available. Students must notify the financial aid office of all additional awards or sources of support, such as that received from denominational agencies, outside grants and scholarships, and parental contributions.

Financial Aid for International Students
International students also receive full tuition scholarship awards and may be eligible for prizes through the Institute of Sacred Music. No application is needed, nor is service to the University required to receive the scholarship or prize. International students are not eligible to participate in U.S. government-funded loan programs unless they are permanent residents; therefore, every effort should be made to obtain financial assistance from the applicant's government. Such assistance should be reported to the Institute's Financial Aid Office. The Institute cannot subsidize transportation to and from the United States.

Employment
Qualified students have the opportunity to audition for paid positions in Marquand Chapel at the Divinity School as chapel organists, chapel ministers, and section leaders in the chapel choir. A paid position as assistant choral conductor for the chapel choir is awarded to a choral conducting major. Other paid positions are available as organists, conductors, and singers both at Berkeley Episcopal Divinity School and at Battell Chapel, the University Church at Yale. Part-time positions abound in the libraries, dining halls, and the various offices of the University.

Institute students are encouraged to seek part-time employment in the ministry of churches in the New Haven area. Such work might include roles as organist and/or choir director, assistant for Christian education or youth work, pastoral assistant, or coordinator of arts programs in a church or the community. Institute and Divinity School placement personnel assist in locating such positions. Students generally work between ten and fifteen hours a week and are paid a salary commensurate with their experience and responsibilities.

Named Scholarships
The named scholarships are part of the Institute's pool of resources. They honor students of exceptional promise and achievement in their field of study. The overall amount of the named scholar's financial assistance is not affected. The Porter, MacLean, and Seder scholarships had their beginnings at the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary and were transferred to the Institute of Sacred Music upon its move to Yale University.

The Robert Baker Scholarship. Robert Baker is the former director and dean of the School of Sacred Music at Union and the first director of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. This scholarship is for an organ student completing his or her first year. The scholarship was established at Dr. Baker's retirement.

The Reverend Louise H. MacLean Scholarship. An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ, the Rev. Louise H. MacLean was a graduate of Union Seminary who admired the work of the School of Sacred Music at that institution. The scholarship is to be used for the benefit of worthy students.

The Menil Scholarship. A scholarship designated to be used for a Master of Arts in Religion candidate concentrating on the visual arts. Monies are given by the Menil Foundation.

The Hugh Porter Scholarship. Director (1948–60), Union Seminary School of Sacred Music, Hugh Porter was a distinguished organ recitalist and organist at St. Nicholas Collegiate Church in New York and a highly respected teacher. This scholarship is undesignated.

The E. Stanley Seder Scholarship. Organist and choir director at People's Church in Chicago, E. Stanley Seder also served as organist of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, which met in Orchestra Hall. This scholarship is undesignated.

Named Prizes for Music Students
The named prizes will be given to first-year students in addition to the usual scholarship awards, and will be renewable for a second year if progress is satisfactory. The first prizes were awarded to qualified students for the academic year 1996–97. Prizes range from $2,000 to $5,000.

The Baker Prize. Named in honor of Professor Emeritus Robert Baker, two prizes to be given to students who are deemed to be among the top 1 or 2 percent of the young organists in the country and who have elected to study at the Yale School of Music through the Institute of Sacred Music.

The French Prize. Two prizes, named in honor of Professor Richard French, to students who elect to study choral conducting at the Yale School of Music through the Institute of Sacred Music, and who are considered to be in the top 1 or 2 percent of candidates in choral conducting in the country.

Scholarships for Divinity Students
The Institute is especially interested in candidates for the Master of Divinity degree who seek ordination and who desire interaction with practicing church musicians as part of their education. Institute Divinity Scholarships are available for qualified candidates. Applicants should follow admissions procedures listed above.

Scholarships for Non-Choral and Non-Organ Music Majors
The majority of Institute scholarships for music students support majors in organ performance and choral conducting. A small number of scholarships are available to School of Music students outside these majors. Students wishing to apply for these scholarships must register in the School of Music through the Institute and must be able to meet the requirements of attendance in the ISM Colloquium. See above for information on the Institute admissions process.

Special Support for Students
The Institute of Sacred Music will provide limited financial support in the form of grants for student participation in competition, professional events, summer language study, and Colloquium presentation expenses. All requests must be made in advance and approved by the faculty and director of the Institute. Guidelines for support may be obtained from the financial aid officer.

Student Accounts and Bills
Student accounts, billing, and related services are administered through the Office of Student Financial Services, which is located at 246 Church Street. The telephone number is 203.432.2700.

Yale Charge Account
Students who sign and return a Yale Charge Card Account Authorization form will be able to charge designated optional items and services to their student accounts. Students who want to charge toll calls made through the University's telephone system to their accounts must sign and return this Charge Card Account Authorization. The University may withdraw this privilege from students who do not pay their monthly bills on a timely basis. For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at 246 Church Street, PO Box 208232, New Haven ct 06520-8232; telephone, 203.432.2700; fax, 203.432.7557; e-mail, sfs@yale.edu.

Yale Payment Plan
The Yale Payment Plan is a payment service that allows students and their families to pay tuition, room, and board in eleven or twelve equal monthly installments throughout the year based on individual family budget requirements. It is administered for the University by Academic Management Services (AMS). To enroll by telephone, call 800.635.0120. The fee to cover administration of the plan is $50. The deadline for enrollment is June 21. Application forms will be mailed to all students. For additional information, please contact AMS at the number above or visit their Web site at http://www.tuitionpay.com/.

Bills
A student may not register for any term unless all bills due for that and for any prior term are paid in full.

Bills for tuition, room, and board are mailed to the student during the first week of July, due and payable by August 1 for the fall term; and during the first week of November, due and payable by December 1 for the spring term. The Office of Student Financial Services will impose a late charge if any part of the term bill, less Yale-administered loans and scholarships that have been applied for on a timely basis, is not paid when due. The late charge will be imposed as follows:

Nonpayment of bills and failure to complete and submit financial aid application packages on a timely basis may result in the student's involuntary withdrawal from the University.

No degrees will be conferred and no transcripts will be furnished until all bills due the University are paid in full. In addition, transcripts will not be furnished to any student or former student who is in default on the payment of a student loan.

Charge for Returned Checks
A processing charge of $20 will be assessed for checks returned for any reason by the bank on which they were drawn. In addition, the following penalties may apply if a check is returned:

1. If the check was in payment of a term bill, a $110 late fee will be charged for the period the bill was unpaid.

2. If the check was in payment of a term bill to permit registration, the student's registration may be revoked.

3. If the check was given in payment of an unpaid balance in order to receive a diploma, the University may refer the account to an attorney for collection.

Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy
Because of changes in federal regulations governing the return of federal student aid (Title IV) funds for withdrawn students, the tuition rebate and refund policy has changed from that of recent years. The following rules became effective on July 1, 2000.

1. For purposes of determining the refund of federal student aid funds, any student who withdraws from the Institute of Sacred Music for any reason during the first 60 percent of the term will be subject to a pro rata schedule that will be used to determine the amount of Title IV funds the student has earned at the time of withdrawal. A student who withdraws after the 60 percent point has earned 100 percent of the Title IV funds. In 2002–2003, the last days for refunding federal student aid funds are November 7 in the fall term and March 30 in the spring term.

2. For purposes of determining the refund of institutional aid funds and for students who have not received financial aid:

a. 100 percent of tuition will be rebated for withdrawals that occur on or before the end of the first 10 percent of the term (September 14, 2002 in the fall term and January 22, 2003 in the spring term).

b. A rebate of one-half (50 percent) of tuition will be granted for withdrawals that occur after the first 10 percent but on or before the last day of the first quarter of the term (September 30, 2002 in the fall term and February 6, 2003 in the spring term).

c. A rebate of one-quarter (25 percent) of tuition will be granted for withdrawals that occur after the first quarter of the term but on or before the day of midterm (October 27, 2002 in the fall term and March 4, 2003 in the spring term).

d. Students who withdraw for any reason after midterm will not receive a rebate of any portion of tuition.

3. The death of a student shall cancel charges for tuition as of the date of death and the bursar will adjust the tuition on a pro rata basis.

4. If the student has received student loans or other forms of financial aid, rebates will be refunded in the order prescribed by federal regulations; namely, first to the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford and/or Subsidized Federal Stafford loans, if any; then to Federal Perkins loan; next to any other federal, state, private, or institutional scholarships and loans; and, finally, any remaining balance to the student.

5. Loan recipients (Stafford, Perkins, or Yale Student Loan) who withdraw are required to have an exit interview before leaving Yale, and should contact the Student Loan Collection Office at 246 Church Street (432.2727) to determine where the interview will take place.

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