Becoming a Cornish Student
Applying for Admission
Cornish College of the Arts welcomes undergraduate students of all ages who have a passion for their art. Within the active Cornish artistic community, you will have a continuing opportunity to develop both technical expertise and creative thinking skills. You will explore your chosen art form as a working artist while deepening your knowledge of its history and cultural significance. Students at Cornish demonstrate a strong interest in creativity, as well as in developing their skill and technique within a challenging academic and artistic environment.
In the Application for Admission, we look for demonstrated academic achievement, which is primarily shown through transcripts. We also look for written expression of artistic and professional goals. In the portfolio or audition, we look for experience, technical skill, and creative thought. The portfolio review/audition may also include an interview with the department chair or faculty member. This interview provides applicants an opportunity to discuss their work, experience, and professional goals in more detail. The portfolio review/audition carries the most weight in the admission process. More information about the nature and expectations of portfolio reviews and auditions can be found in the section entitled Audition and Portfolio Review Procedures, or by contacting the Office of Admission.
To prepare for study at Cornish College, high school students should follow a college preparatory program, including courses in the visual or performing arts whenever possible. Transfer students should follow a rigorous, broad-based curriculum that includes coursework in their artistic discipline.
Applying for admission to Cornish College of the Arts is a two-step process:
1. All applicants must submit an Application for Admission to the Office of Admission. An Application for Admission consists of:
- The Application for Admission, in either paper or online format
- Two essays, as instructed on the Application
- Official high school transcript or, if applicable, GED certificate
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- A $35 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver.
- International students must submit an official TOEFL Score Report and documentation of financial resources.
- Submitting SAT or ACT exam scores, though not required, is strongly encouraged.
2. Applicants must sit for a portfolio review or audition with the chair or faculty member of the department to which they are applying.
Admission Requirements
All prospective students wishing to pursue a degree at Cornish must have graduated from high school with a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average (on a 4-point scale) or have passed the General Education Development (GED) Test.
Home schooled applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis. Applicants should supply as much information as possible about their home school experience. At minimum, transcripts, descriptions of all courses, with reading lists, should be submitted to the Office of Admission. If courses have been taken at a local high school or college, transcripts must be submitted. Whereas Cornish does not require SAT, ACT, or other standardized tests as part of the admission process for home schooled students, these tests are particularly valuable for determining whether a student will be successful in the Cornish program. Therefore, we strongly recommend students submit test scores.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and the ability to pay the annual comprehensive cost of attending school. For more information, see the section below under “International Students.”
Admission Questions?
206.726.5016 / 800.726.ARTS
admissions@cornish.edu