Admissions Guidelines

Download a pdf of the 2009 Admissions guidelines

Admission to Yale School of Drama is only for full-time graduate study beginning in the fall term. There is no rolling admission. There is no summer session. Transfer or part-time students are not accepted. The School of Drama Admissions Committee carefully evaluates all applications, and admission decisions are determined on or before April 1. Please refer to each department’s more detailed requirements.

Deadlines

Applications for admission must be received by the following dates:

  • January 3, 2009: Acting, Directing, Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, and Playwriting.
  • February 1, 2009: All Other Departments and Special Research Fellow.
  • February 15, 2009: Financial Aid.

Application Fees

  • $100 - All departments; Special Student status; Special Research Fellow
  • $50 - Technical Internship Certificate

The nonrefundable application fee can be paid online by Master Card, Visa, American Express, or Discover Card.

Contact Us

Registrar’s office: 203.432.1507, fax: 203.432.9668, ysd.admissions@yale.edu

Mailing via: U.S. Postal Service/Air Mail
Registrar’s Office, Yale School of Drama
P.O. Box 208325
New Haven, CT 06520-8325

Mailing via: Express/Courier Services
Registrar’s Office, Yale School of Drama
149 York Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Application Materials

An applicant should carefully read the additional department admission requirement sections that follow. In general, an applicant submits the following materials:

  • application form
  • current resumé
  • statement of purpose
  • application fee
  • three letters of recommendation except for Design (set, costume, and lighting)
  • one official transcript from the undergraduate institution granting the bachelor’s degree
  • GRE scores (general test) required only for Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management
  • TOEFL (iBT) if first language is not English or if applicant has graduated from a non-English speaking institution

Audition Dates/Department Application Review Procedures

  • Acting auditions in 2009 are scheduled only in the following cities; dates are subject to
    change depending upon the Committee’s availability:

    • January 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
    • February 1; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
    • February 3, 4, 5; Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago
    • February 7, 8, 9; American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco
    • February 28; March 1, 2; Final acting callback session; Yale School of Drama, New Haven
  • Design in-person portfolio reviews are scheduled at Yale School of Drama. Phone the Design department’s administrative office (203.432.1579) to schedule a review. If unable to appear in person, mail portfolio by March 13, 2009 to Design Department, Yale School of Drama, P.O. Box 208244, New Haven, CT 06520.
  • Sound Design applicants must contact David Budries, Chair, Sound Design program (david.budries@yale.edu; 203.432.8825) to schedule a preliminary phone interview.
  • Directing interviews for invited applicants are scheduled in Chicago, San Francisco, and New Haven according to the Committee’s availability. Selected candidates are contacted by email and phone. Upon the completion of all interviews, a limited number of finalists are invited to a directing callback in New Haven. Final directing callback dates: March 2, 3, 4, 2009. Refer to Directing application requirements for more details.
  • The Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism Admissions Committee invites qualified applicants for an in-person interview at Yale School of Drama after a review of the application materials has been completed. Interviewees are contacted by email and phone in late February or early March. Refer to Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism application requirements for more details.
  • The Playwriting Admissions Committee invites finalists via email and phone for an interview in New Haven. Interviews for finalists living abroad are conducted wherever possible. Additional writing samples may be requested of a finalist.
  • The Stage Management Admissions Committee invites qualified applicants for an in-person interview at Yale School of Drama after a review of the application materials has been completed. Interviewees are contacted by email and phone. Refer to Stage Management application requirements for more details.
  • The Technical Design and Production Admissions Committee invites promising applicants to schedule an interview either at Yale School of Drama during late February and early March, or at the national USITT conference (www.usitt.org) usually in March. Refer to Technical Design and Production application requirements for more details.
  • The Theater Management Admissions Committee schedules in-person interviews at yale school of drama for qualified applicants during February and March. Refer to Theater Management application requirements for more details.
  • Promising applicants for the Technical Internship Certificate program are invited to interview either at Yale School of Drama during late February and early March, or at the national USITT conference (www.usitt.org) usually in March. Refer to Technical Internship application requirements for more details.

Recommendation Letters

All departments require three letters of recommendation except the Design department (Refer to Design application requirements). The recommender is providing an appraisal of the applicant on the basis of his or her past performance in a professional and/or academic setting, perception of the applicant’s talent, experience, potential for a career in theatre, commitment to his or her craft, and how the applicant can benefit from a concentrated three-year training program. Dossiers submitted by placement services are acceptable.

Transcript

Master of Fine Arts, Special Student, and Special Research Fellow applicants must submit one official copy of their transcript from the institution granting the bachelor’s degree.

The transcript is mailed directly to the Registrar’s office at Yale School of Drama. In the absence of a transcript from an international university, attested copies of the diploma or certificate, or a formal description of work completed, signed by an official of the institution, must be included with the application. A credential not issued in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.

The Certificate in Drama applicant should submit an official transcript if he or she has completed any undergraduate coursework.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

General (GRE) test scores are required only by the following departments: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism, Stage Management, Technical Design and Production, and Theater Management

Web site: gre.org

GRE Yale School of Drama code: R3988

Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

  • TOEFL (iBT) is required of an applicant whose first language is not English or who has graduated from a non-English speaking institution.

Web site: toefl.org

TOEFL Yale School of Drama code: 3988

Reapplication Procedures

The following information pertains to reapplying for admission to Yale School of Drama:

  • Files retained by Admissions office: Acting department – three years; all other departments – two years
  • Previously submitted supporting documents (i.e., recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) become part of 2009 application
  • Submit: online application for 2009; fee, current resumé, transcript if different from prior year; one new letter of recommendation
  • Writing Sample: Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism department – one new sample; Playwriting department – one new play
  • Statement of Purpose may be amended
  • Acting applicants need to present new audition monologues