Freshman Applicants: Theatre

For Fall semesters:

For Scholarship Consideration (this is non-binding):
November 1 – Deadline to submit the Common Application and Slideroom portfolio

Regular Freshman Admission:
January 15 – Deadline to submit the Common Application and Slideroom portfolio

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.

For Spring semesters: November 1, 2020

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

Test scores not required for Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 application review and scholarship consideration

Please note: For Spring 2021 and Fall 2021, because of the lack of standardized examinations being offered due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, VCU will review all applications for admissions and scholarship consideration without standardized test scores.

Please consult the VCU Freshmen Application requirements here.

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

For the upcoming Spring and Fall 2021 admissions cycle, all applicants will be eligible for test score optional review, regardless of GPA. Applicants who are able to take a standardized test and would like the scores to be used in our application review may still submit scores. All students will receive a holistic application review.

Please note the following exceptions:

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.

Submission of test scores remains a requirement for all Guaranteed Admission Programs in the Honors College. Students interested in applying to a Guaranteed Admission Program who are unable to test due to the pandemic may contact honors@vcu.edu for additional options in a holistic review without test scores.

As always, the university will select applicants who present the strongest qualifications in scholastic achievement and potential, and through a holistic review of other evidence of potential including the strength of character. Each applicant will continue to be reviewed on an individual basis.

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 upload your video audition will be sent to the email address listed on your application.

All Theatre VCU applicants, including Performance, Design/Technology, Stage Management, will be interviewed by one or more faculty members. The purpose of the interview is to allow faculty members to get to know more about the applicant’s interests, commitment, and communication skills. This interview is an important part of the application process. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their recent theatre activities, career goals, as well as personal goals and experiences.

• Spring Applicants
  • Friday, November 6th, 2020 (only date for Spring 2021 applicants)

  Fall Applicants

  • Friday, January 22nd, 2021 – 1-3 pm
  • Friday, January 29th, 2021 – 1-3 pm
  • Friday, February 5th, 2021 – 1-3 pm
  • Friday, February 12th, 2021 – 1-3 pm

Your video audition will be submitted online through the VCUarts SlideRoom website. We cannot accept physical submissions.

Prepare two contrasting (one comedic and one dramatic) one-minute monologues from published play scripts. Choose something in an appropriate age range that does not contain a dialect. Secure assistance in the preparation of audition materials.

Introduce the audition pieces by only the play’s author, title and the character’s name (background on the scene or plot is not necessary). Maintain a positive attitude, dress professionally yet comfortably and, most importantly – have fun!

We find that the following playwrights are generally overdone or are more difficult for high school seniors to deliver successfully: Mamet, O’Neill, Pinter, Shakespeare, Shepard and Williams.

There are no portfolio requirements for Stage Management or optional portfolios. Please bring your prompt book to the interview.

Your portfolio will be submitted online through the VCUarts SlideRoom website. We cannot accept physical submissions.

Submit 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise as theatre student. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. Drawing from observation is recommended, while copying anime, cartoons, graffiti or tattoos is discouraged.

Images may be submitted in the following formats: .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .TIF, .TIFF, .BMP, .TGA

Videos may be submitted in the following formats: .M4V, .MOV, .MP4, .WMV, .FLV, .ASF, .MPEG, .MPG, .MKV

All videos must be less than 3 minutes.