Overview                                                              At the Meadows School at SMU, students study the performing, visual, and communication arts, enjoying the benefit of conservatory-style, professional artistic training and the academic rigor of a liberal arts setting. This page will help you navigate the process of applying to SMU and pursuing your major of choice within the Meadows School.

Performing Arts                                                  Any student interested in majoring in dance, music or theatre must schedule an audition for the Meadows School in addition to completing the formal admission application to SMU.  To be admitted to a performing arts program at SMU, a successful audition is required as well as the successful review of the undergraduate application for admission by the Admission Committee (we call this “dual admission”).  Students cannot major in the performing arts without both a successful audition for the  Meadows School of the Arts AND acceptance to SMU by the Office of Undergraduate Admission through the completion and academic review of the application for admission.

The National Common Application Arts Supplement is not a requirement for Admission at SMU.

      Visual Arts                                                   Students wishing to pursue studies in studio art should submit a portfolio to the Meadows School in addition to applying to SMU.  A portfolio is not required for Art History.  Students who intend to major in art and who would like to be considered for artistic scholarship must submit a portfolio of 20 pieces to the Meadows School via smu.slideroom.com in addition to applying to SMU.  Students admitted to the Division of Art through this portfolio process are able to enroll in Foundations, the required first year course for all BFA art majors.  Students who do not submit a portfolio while applying to SMU can still pursue a major (BFA or BA) in art by taking three studio art courses open to all university students and presenting a portfolio of their work from these courses to the Division of Art.

The National Common Application Arts Supplement is not a requirement for Admission at SMU.

Communication Arts                                           The Meadows School offers four different majors in the communication arts: Advertising, Cinema-Television, Journalism, and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. Students wishing to pursue the communication arts at SMU do not need to submit a portfolio to the Meadows School or audition as a prospective student. After their acceptance and enrollment to SMU, students can begin to enroll in courses to complete the requirements for admission to communications majors. To view requirements for admission to Meadows communication arts majors, please visit the Meadows School of the Arts website, www.smu.edu/meadows

The National Common Application Arts Supplement is not a requirement for Admission at SMU.

Additional Information                                Students wishing to transfer to SMU to study performing or visual arts at the Meadows School must also complete an audition/submit a portfolio.

Please take a moment to review these frequently asked questions so that you may better understand the Meadows School and the admission process.  If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your admission counselor or a representative from the Meadows School of the Arts.

FAQs:

What are the audition dates for dance, music and theatre?                                                                To view audition dates at SMU or at a regional venue, please visit the Meadows website at www.smu.edu/meadows Click on your major of interest for information on how to schedule an audition.

What should I prepare for my dance, music or theatre audition?                                                 For information on how to prepare for you audition, please visit the Meadows website at www.smu.edu/meadows Click on your major of interest for information about what to prepare.

What if I cannot attend a Meadows School audition?                                                              An audition is a requirement to be admitted into the performing arts majors in the Meadows School of the Arts.  Though live auditions are greatly preferred, the Meadows School welcomes applicants to submit a recorded audition if they are unable to attend a live audition.  Taped submissions might be followed with a request for additional submission and/or a live audition. More information can be found at www.smu.edu/meadowsunder the audition requirements for each course of study.    

Do I need to submit a portfolio if I plan to major in the visual arts?                                                    Yes, portfolios are required for all students interested in studying visual arts at SMU.  Your portfolio will be used for placement purposes in the Meadows School of the Arts as well as visual arts scholarship consideration. Students must submit their  portfolio through SMU’s online slideroom, smu.slideroom.com.

What is required in the visual arts portfolio?      The portfolio should include 20 pieces and showcase your best work and your range of experiences in art.  Ideally, it will have at least five works (drawings, paintings, sculpture) from observation; work in at least three different media, and work from assignments as well as self-directed projects.  The Division of Art will also offer portfolio days in October and January that provide an opportunity for informal feedback on your portfolio prior to your online submission. For details about the portfolio or upcoming portfolio days, please contact the Meadow School of the Arts.

What should I do first audition or apply?               It is recommended that students apply to SMU before the completion of their audition for the Meadows School however if you complete an audition and submit the university application by the appropriate deadlines you will be considered for both admission and scholarships. 

What are the application requirements and deadlines for university admissions?         Meadows candidates should follow the regular application requirements and deadlines for all students applying to SMU.  It is vital for academic admission, academic scholarship consideration, and timely artistic scholarship consideration that students submit their application to the university by the early action deadline of November 1^st or regular decision deadline of January 15^th.

Please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admission website http://smu.edu/admission/ for application materials, deadlines as well as your admission counselor’s contact information.

How can I be considered for Meadows Scholarship opportunities?                       Performing arts students who complete an audition for the Meadows School will be considered for artistic scholarship.  Visual artists must submit a portfolio via Slideroom to be considered for artistic scholarship. 

Applicants with a high school GPA of 3.5, a minimum SAT composite of 1350 (30 ACT equivalent), and a minimum verbal score of 670 will be considered for the Meadows Scholars program. This program awards scholarship to a select number of outstanding students in every Division of Meadows, including communication arts majors. Students must indicate a performing, visual, or communication arts major as their first-choice major of interest to be considered for the Meadows Scholars program. Visit the Meadows Scholars webpage to learn more http://smu.edu/meadows/admissions/scholars-students.asp.

In addition to artistic scholarships, your application for admission will automatically serve as your application for other academic scholarships through the Office of Undergraduate Admission.  More detailed information can be found at http://smu.edu/admission/financial.asp.  Note: Artistic scholarship cannot be offered until dual admission (academic & merit) is complete and need-based aid forms have been submitted (FAFSA and CSS Profile). Students not wishing to complete need-based forms, but who do seek artistic merit scholarship must submit a need-based aid waiver to MSA Director of Scholarships & Financial Aid, Pam Henderson (pghender@smu.edu). This waiver can be found at http://smu.edu/meadows/pdf/fafsawaiver.pdf.

What do I need to indicate on my application to let the Office of Admission know that I plan to audition/submit a portfolio for the Meadows School of the Arts?                                         Please indicate dance, music, theatre or visual art as your first choice major on you SMU Admission Application. If you have listed another major as your first choice major on the SMU or Common Application, please contact Karoline Kuss at kkuss@smu.edu to update your major of interest as well as your SMU admission counselor who can be found at http://smu.edu/admission/apply_first_meet.asp. 

When will I know if I’ve been admitted to SMU?The dual admission process requires performing arts majors to receive admission from both the Meadows School and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The Office of Admission will typically wait to receive the result of the performing arts audition before rendering an admission decision. As soon as audition is complete and its result is received, the Admission Committee will review the file for university admission. Every so often, the Admission Committee will make an admission decision before the audition process is complete if it is felt that student is exceedingly competitive academically or if the student has clearly demonstrated other areas of academic interest. 

What happens if I indicated an interest in dance, music or theatre on my application but I no longer wish to audition for the Meadows School of Arts? Contact your admission counselor as soon as possible to let them know that you would like to be considered for admission to the university as a non-performing arts major. Your admission counselor contact information can be found at http://smu.edu/admission/apply_first_meet.asp.  Please also contact the Meadows School of the Arts at MeadowsRecruitment@smu.edu.  

What happens if I am not accepted into Meadows School of the Arts, but I would still like to be considered for admission to the university?  Contact your admission counselor as soon as possible and let them know that you would like to be considered for admission as a non-performing arts major.  Your counselor contact information can be found at http://smu.edu/admission/apply_first_meet.asp. 

What happens if I am accepted to the Meadows School of the Arts but denied to SMU through the Office of Undergraduate Admission?           Students interested in majoring in the performing arts must receive admission from the Meadows School and from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The goal of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is always to admit students that will be academically successful at SMU.  If it is determined that SMU is not the right academic fit for an applicant, then they cannot in good faith admit that applicant, regardless of their success in the audition process.  These applicants will be encouraged to look into opportunities at other academic institutions as well as invited to discuss other options and opportunities at SMU in the future.    

Do I need to audition if I plan to minor in music or dance?                                                               Yes, auditions are required for all students interested in minoring in the performing arts at SMU however your application will not go through the “dual admission” process.  An admission decision will be rendered based on your overall academic fit to the university.  You are welcome to audition for the Meadows School as a prospective student or as a current SMU student. Please note there is no minor offered in theatre.  For more information on scheduling an audition, please visit the Meadows website at www.smu.edu/meadows  

Who can I contact with questions?                    Feel free to contact your SMU admission counselor with general question about SMU and the application process.  Your admission counselor contact information can be found at http://smu.edu/admission/apply_first_meet.asp.  If you have general questions about the Meadows School of the Arts or questions about the auditions/portfolio, please contact the Meadows School at MeadowsRecruitment@smu.edu.