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Application and Admissions Procedures

Applications for 2008 admission are now available.   Please click here to download this year's information/application brochure.  This contains all the information on these web pages.

Applicants to the Design program must submit a portfolio representative of their work and interview with Design faculty.  They may mail the portfolio to the School of Drama and interview with a faculty member on the phone.  It is expected that applicants bring it with them when they visit Seattle to interview with Design Faculty and sit in on graduate design classes.   Other required application materials and fees are detailed on the next page. The GRE is not required for any applicant.

The program generally accepts two students in each area every year. While there is always room for the exceptional applicant, it is extremely difficult to gain admission directly out of a BA/BFA program with no other credentials. For questions about the program, contact the head of the program Asst. Professor Geoff Korf at (206)543-2735 or via email at gkorf@u.washington.edu.

Interviews
A personal interview is highly recommended, preferably in Seattle.  Interviews are held in Seattle from mid-January through February, with a limited number scheduled each week.  Interviews are held when possible in the afternoon on Mondays (for lighting applicants) or Wednesdays (for scenic and costume applicants) and applicants are invited to visit classes in the morning before the interview.  Please fill out the MFA Design application form on page 9 completely, and indicate how and when you plan to both submit your portfolio and interview with faculty.  In-person interviews will not be held after February 29, 2008.

Portfolios

Portfolio materials need not be matted nor in a presentation case.  The portfolio may include hand and computer-aided drafting, sketches, renderings, photographs of realized work or of models, and other graphic work. High quality photocopies, blue lines, duplicate slides or CDs are acceptable.  Work should be presented in chronological order and should demonstrate strong graphic skills (including accurate rendering of the human figure) and the ability to devise effective design solutions to the problems posed by a script.  It is particularly desirable for the portfolio to include examples of drawing, painting or lighting not intended as theatre design projects: figure drawing, landscape, architectural sketching or lighting, lighting installations, photography etc.  Again, high quality photocopies are acceptable.

If a portfolio has been mailed in, it will be returned by UPS or first-class mail after review. If a special return is required, or the portfolio is of excessive size or weight, the applicant should enclose a letter with clear shipping instructions and a check or money order to cover the cost. Unless special arrangements are made, portfolios will be returned after the interview, in approximately mid-March.

Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Design program is February 15 , 2008. Application materials postmarked after that date may be reviewed but will not receive priority consideration. Applicants wishing to interview in person should make sure materials are received by the School of Drama in time to allow an interview to be scheduled.

Application Procedures
Applicants submit material to both the Office of Graduate Admissions and the School of Drama. If you have any questions about the application procedure, please contact the School of Drama's graduate program assistant at (206)543-0714 or email uwdrama@u.washington.edu.

The GRE is not required for any applicant. International applicants must meet minimum TOEFL and TSE scores and other Graduate School requirements.

A. Submit to Graduate Programs, School of Drama, Box 353950, Seattle WA 98195-3950:

1. Your portfolio (you can bring this with you if you interview in Seattle).
2. The separate Design application form (packet) and $60 fee. Please note, this fee is separate from the one due to the Office of Graduate Admissions (B below).
3. A current résumé of training and experience in your field.
4. Three letters of recommendation. Each recommendation must state whether the letter is or is not available for review by the applicant. Forms for this purpose are included in the packet. These letters may be sent directly to the School or be included in your application.
5. A statement of purpose including educational and professional goals.
6. A copy of the Application for Admission to the Graduate School.
7. One set of official transcripts.

B.   Applicants for graduate study at the UW also apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions. You may apply on-line at: https://www.grad.washington.edu/application/ Graduate Admissions charges an application fee of $50. 

To see more photos, view our Production Photo Slideshow

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