UndergraduateAdmission

Source: https://drama.cmu.edu/admission/undergraduate-admission/ Parent: https://www.cmu.edu/admission/admission/college-of-fine-arts-applicants

Undergraduate Admission

How to Apply

Both the Common Application and a Supplementary Material Application submitted through Acceptd are required for all School of Drama undergraduate programs.

The Common Application opens on August 1 and is due for Drama programs on December 1.

Supplementary Material Applications should be submitted through Acceptd. The Acceptd application opens September 1 and is due on December 1.

Common Application Acceptd Application

Pre-screening videos are required for Acting and Acting/Music Theater. Portfolios and additional materials are required for Design/Production and Dramaturgy. You must complete this process in order to be considered for the School of Drama programs.

Details on each program’s specific submission requirements can be found below.

Acting

PRE-SCREEN GUIDELINES

You must complete this pre-screen process in order to be considered for a live (in-person or virtual) audition. Live auditions are by invitation only.

NOTE: All applicants interested in auditioning for both the Music Theater and Acting programs should submit a pre-screening for Music Theater only. This one pre-screening will be sufficient to address the needs and requirements of both programs.

Visit Acceptd to upload the following between SEPTEMBER 1 and DECEMBER 1:

Resume including any training and experience in theater, film, music, and dance as well as academic achievements, work experience, and community service.
Headshot
Two contrasting monologues:
One classical monologue from a published play with an emphasis on heightened language (preferably Shakespeare).
One contemporary monologue from a published play.
Monologues should be excerpted from a published play and not from a musical.
Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length.
One of your monologues should be framed with a “½ body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your waistline). Your other monologue should be framed with a “¾ body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your knees) or a “full body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your feet on the floor).
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. Students are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices that are available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc).
There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.\

INVITED AUDITION GUIDELINES:

If you are invited, you will register for your live in-person or virtual audition at getacceptd.com/cmudrama. We cannot accommodate “walk-ins.”

Prepare two contrasting monologues. These monologues can be the same as your pre-screen monologues or different.

One classical monologue from a published play with an emphasis on heightened language (preferably Shakespeare).
One contemporary monologue from a published play.
Each monologue must be 60-90 seconds in length.
Read the entire play from which the monologue is excerpted so you can demonstrate an understanding of the character and situation.
Be prepared to perform a third monologue if asked.

Suggested: Choose monologues within your natural age range (teens and 20s).

Music Theater

PRE-SCREEN GUIDELINES

You must complete this pre-screen process in order to be considered for a live (in-person or virtual) audition. Live auditions are by invitation only.

Visit Acceptd to upload the following between SEPTEMBER 1 and DECEMBER 1:

Resume including any training and experience in theater, film, music, and dance as well as academic achievements, work experience, and community service.
Headshot
Two contrasting songs:
One song written before 1970. This song can be an uptempo or a ballad (student’s choice).
One song written after 1970, which contrasts the style & tempo of the first selection.
One song should be a ballad and one song should be uptempo.
Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds).
Students should sing to musical accompaniment, including live or pre-recorded accompaniment.
Songs should be framed in landscape orientation. (Close-up, ¾, or full-body framing is acceptable.)
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. Students are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices that are available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc).
There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the title, and the show in which it appears.
Two contrasting monologues:
One classical monologue from a published play with an emphasis on heightened language (preferably Shakespeare).
One contemporary monologue from a published play.
Monologues should be excerpted from a published play and not from a musical.
Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length.
One of your monologues should be framed with a “½ body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your waistline). Your other monologue should be framed with a “¾ body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your knees) or “full body” shot (meaning from the top of your head to your feet on the floor).
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. Students are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices that are available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc).
*There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. The proper slate for a monologue is to share *your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.****

INVITED AUDITION GUIDELINES:

If invited, you will register for your live in-person or virtual audition at getacceptd.com/cmudrama. We cannot accommodate “walk-ins.”

Please prepare two contrasting songs. You are welcome to sing the same material that you submitted or you may bring in new material.

One song written before 1970. This song can be an uptempo or a ballad (student’s choice).
One song written after 1970, which contrasts the style & tempo of the first selection.
One song should be a ballad and one song should be uptempo.
Each song should be 60-90 seconds in length.
Students will sing with live musical accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided for in-person auditions. Virtual auditions must have their own recorded accompaniment.
Please bring your entire repertoire book, as you may be asked to sing additional selections during your audition.

Prepare two contrasting monologues. These monologues can be the same as your pre-screen monologues or different.

One classical monologue from a published play with an emphasis on heightened language (preferably Shakespeare).
One contemporary monologue from a published play.
Each monologue must be 60-90 seconds in length.
Read the entire play from which the monologue is excerpted so you are able to demonstrate an understanding of the character and situation.
Be prepared to perform a third monologue if asked.
Suggested: Choose monologues within your natural age range (teens and 20s).

Design/Production

Applicants to Design and Production Technology & Management programs must have some practical experience in theater and be able to demonstrate basic proficiency in areas of design, project planning, and/or creative execution by submitting a digital portfolio via Get Acceptd by December 1.

Watch this video for tips and tricks on assembling your portfolio!

PORTFOLIO GUIDELINES:

The portfolio should include about 15 items of work in several media and techniques, as well as a résumé or CV. Not all samples of work have to pertain to theater. Examples of creative work could include:

Use of color, line drawing, painting, drafting, mechanical drawing
Photography, including photographs of your productions
Models, costume pieces, masks
Sculpture or installation art
Sound cues or recordings containing original recordings or music (no more than five and no more than one minute in length each)
Video or media files containing original work (no more than five and no more than two minutes in length each)
Plots, ground plans, elevations and other production paperwork you may have produced for a show
Organizational paperwork developed for production, such as schedules, reports, budgets, estimates, etc.
Photos of work

Applicants should concentrate on showing creative process, not just finished product.

Dramaturgy

The Dramaturgy program provides a rigorous academic and artistic training sequence, emphasizing criticism, history, and practical skills. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the necessary research and writing skills to succeed in this environment.

The following items should be submitted via Get Acceptd by December 1:

Résumé or curriculum vitae
A brief (less than 750 word) letter that addresses the question: “Why are you interested in studying dramaturgy, and what experience do you bring to the area of study?”
Two (2) letters of recommendation from sources familiar with your research and writing skills. Please note letters of recommendation should be submitted with your Common Application.
Two (2) samples of original argumentative writing that are approximately 1,000 words each. These writing samples should demonstrate your ability to use evidence to support a thesis: e.g., an analysis of a work of literature or art or of an event in history. You should feel free to submit work that was written for a recent high school- or college-level humanities course.
There is no in-person interview required, but the School of Drama faculty may contact applicants via phone or email to obtain further information after January 18.

The John Wells Directing Program

The Undergraduate Directing program is not accepting applications for Fall 2026.

Financial Aid Information

APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS

Application fee waivers can be obtained by contacting Acceptd at support@getacceptd.com for students who meet one of the indicators of economic need as outlined on the Common Application:

I’ve received or am eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
I’m enrolled in or am eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
My annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
I’m enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
My family receives public assistance.
I live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or am homeless.
I’m a ward of the state or an orphan.
I can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID

No matter what your situation, a Carnegie Mellon education can be surprisingly affordable. Visit CMU’s Aid & Affordability page to learn more.

If you’re a US citizen or permanent resident, the FAFSA is required to be considered for federal and state financial aid programs. The CSS PROFILE, along with the FAFSA, is required to be considered for all institutional grant and scholarship programs. Regardless of need, we encourage you to complete these documents in order to be considered for any type of funding. Follow instructions from the Office of Undergraduate Admission. Deadline: February 15.

Audition and Interview Information

Pre-screening videos are required for Acting and Acting/Music Theater. Pre-screening portfolios are required for Design/Production. You must complete this pre-screening process via Acceptd in order to be considered for an invitation to audition or interview.

For applicants invited to audition or interview, registration dates and appointment times will be made available through our Acceptd portal. We honor these appointments by invitation only following the pre-screening process on a first-come, first-serve basis, for Carnegie Mellon applicants only.

SCHEDULING YOUR AUDITION OR INTERVIEW

The School of Drama will hold all invited interviews virtually for Fall 2026 admission. Design/Production interviews will occur on Fridays and Saturdays in January and February with specific dates posted in mid-December. Dramaturgy interviews will occur in February.

The School of Drama will offer EITHER virtual OR in-person auditions for Acting and Acting/Music Theater for Fall 2026 admission. Applicants who successfully pass the pre-screening application will receive an invitation to select whichever option (virtual or in-person) works best for them.

In-person auditions will be held in Pittsburgh, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles in January and February. Specific schedules with availability will show within an invited applicant’s Acceptd account.