Freshman Applicants: Music

November 1: For Scholarship Consideration (this is non-binding)

January 15: Regular Freshman Admission

VCUarts continues to review applications until all spots are filled. Freshman applicants who submit complete applications by the deadline will receive a decision by April 1st.

Applications to this program are accepted for fall semesters only.

Freshman applicants must apply using the Common Application.

Applicants may only submit one application to ONE major. Admitted students can request additional major/minor(s) during their first semester.

Applications will only be reviewed after ALL components have been received, including transcripts, test scores, and supplemental materials.

Include your Social Security number on your application if you wish to be considered for financial aid or the Hope Scholarship/Lifetime learning tax credit.

Please note: While VCU does not require your Social Security number for admission consideration, it is necessary for applicants who wish to be considered for financial aid and the Hope Scholarship/Lifetime Learning tax credit to provide a Social Security number to the university. To protect your privacy, your Social Security number will not be used as your VCU student identification number.

Request that your high school guidance counselor sends your official transcripts to VCU. Transcripts may be submitted electronically via the Common App or Naviance, or sent in the mail. If sending a hard copy in the mail, please request that your school counselor send your transcript, including:

• Senior-year courses and first-term grades, if available
• Class rank, if available
• High school profile

All foreign transcripts must be official and submitted in the original language. If the original language is not English, an official translation must be submitted along with the transcript.

Transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes signed across the seal by official high school, university or college registrars.

Transcripts should be sent to:

Office of Admissions
PO Box 842526
Richmond, VA 23284-2526

VCU requires freshman applicants younger than 22 years of age to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application to the university. It is recommended that you have your test scores sent to VCU electronically.

Applicants whose native language is one other than English must submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in addition to any other required test scores.

Score Optional Review

Freshman applicants with a minimum high school GPA of 3.3 may request that their application be reviewed without submitting standardized test scores (ACT/SAT). To be considered for admission to the university without submitting test scores, indicate that option on the “questions” section of Common Application. Questions about the test optional review can be directed to ugtestopt@vcu.edu. Please note the following exceptions:

Exceptions to Score Optional Review

Freshman applicants who wish to be considered for VCU’s merit-based scholarships (the Presidential, Provost and Deans scholarships) must submit SAT or ACT scores and cannot request the score optional review. The VCU Honors College also requires that all applicants submit SAT or ACT test scores and may not request to be reviewed without submitting these scores.

Admission to VCU remains a competitive process, and all candidates for admission will be considered on their own merits. Qualifying for application review without submitting standardized test scores does not guarantee admission to VCU.

Request your SAT scores from CollegeBoard (school code: 5570): sat.collegeboard.com

Request your scores from ACT (school code: 4379): actstudent.org/scores/send/

Once your application has been submitted, a link to schedule your audition will be sent to the email address listed on your application.

Music applicants are required to audition for the Department of Music faculty. Applicants should prepare pieces of contrasting styles from the standard repertoire for their instrument.  Sight-reading and an interview will also be part of the audition process.  Instrument-specific requirements can be found here.

Music Audition Dates

Friday, January 24, 2020 – 3:30-7:30pm
This Audition Date is Closed

Saturday, February 1, 2020 – 12pm-7pm
Voice, Guitar, Piano, Strings
No Winds, Brass, Percussion, or Jazz Auditions

Saturday, February 8, 2020 – 10am-5pm
Winds, Brass, Percussion, Jazz, Piano, Guitar, Strings
No Voice Auditions

Monday, February 17, 2020 – 10am-7pm
All Areas

More information about auditions can be found here.

VCUarts applicants are required to have one reference submitted by their recommender of choice. Choose the person best qualified to assess your ability to be successful at VCUarts. You will be prompted to enter your recommender’s email address on the Common Application. You may only submit one recommender via the Common App. The system will then prompt your recommender to submit a letter of recommendation online. Be sure to notify your recommenders that you will list them.

If you feel it is necessary, you may submit up to two additional letters of recommendation. Your additional recommenders should mail their letters to:

VCU Office of Admissions
PO Box 842526
Richmond, VA 23284-2526