FAQ

First year applicants are typically students who have not taken full-time college level coursework in studio art. Many are applying to The New School in their senior year of high school or have not attended another college or university full-time after they have met their high school graduation requirements. Students who have attended college or university full-time, but have not completed 12 semester units of studio art or business coursework should also apply to the first year program.

Transfer applicants who have attended another college or university full-time after graduating from high school or who have completed college level coursework in studio art or business should apply as transfer students.

If you are unsure if you should apply as a first-year applicant or a transfer applicant, please contact us.

Preference is not given to students who apply through Early Action or Early Decision rather than Regular Decision. Early Action and Early Decision are excellent options for students who feel confident about their application, are a good match for the program, and wish to receive an answer about their candidacy early. Students who want us to review their senior year midyear grades are encouraged to apply Regular Decision. The Admission Committee may choose to defer an application from Early Action to Regular Decision if they feel that additional materials are needed from the student to render a decision.

Deadlines vary depending upon the term of interest and student type (first year or transfer). See How to Apply to review deadline information specific to your situation. If you missed a deadline and are still interested in applying, don't hesitate to contact the Office of Admission to see whether we are permitting late applications in your major.

Portfolio requirements vary according to degree program. Please visit the Portfolio Help page for extensive information about the requirements and guidance on how to best showcase your work. All of your portfolio work should be submitted through The New School’s Online Application Center.

All applicants must provide official high school and college transcripts from all institutions attended. Applicants who have attended multiple high schools may submit only the official transcript of the school from which they graduated as long as all prior coursework is listed on that transcript.

The New School does not require submission of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT scores to consider applications complete. If you feel your SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT test scores will strengthen your application, you may submit them for our consideration. The SAT institution code is 2521. The ACT code is 2828.

The Admission Committee considers many factors when reviewing applications. We invite students to share with us their individuality, creativity, and intellectual promise through the application process. We value the strength of each student’s curriculum and their performance in each course taken. We pay close attention to responses to the New School essay prompt as well as the Common Application essay (submission of which is not required but is strongly recommended). We aim to learn about your writing skills as well as your interest in The New School and Parsons in particular. We welcome additional writing samples from applicants who wish to further display their writing talent. Last but certainly not least, for Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates, we hold in high regard each applicant’s technical and conceptual abilities displayed in the visual elements of the application, including the Parsons Challenge online portfolio.

We do not offer interviews as a part of our admission process. Admission counselors are available to meet with you either before or after your campus tour should you have any questions. Don't forget, you can email or speak to an admission counselor over the phone as well, or even meet with us at your high school or at a college fair near you.

All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET scores. Please review our application instructions for minimum score requirements, exemptions, and additional information.

The New School welcomes applications from homeschool students. The Admission Committee does not require advanced preparation in every academic area, but applicants should demonstrate substantial work in English, history, social studies, foreign languages, mathematics, and science.

Homeschool applicants must provide the equivalent of a high school transcript, with course or subject titles, the duration of study for each title, the content of study for each title, and an assessment of performance or "grade" at the time of application. Preferably, the courses completed at home are part of a curriculum developed and evaluated by a nationally recognized diploma-granting organization or agency.

Upon completion of the homeschool curriculum, students must provide proof of high school graduation or an equivalent. We will accept an official transcript from a state homeschool association or sponsoring public high school; GED, TASC, or HiSET exam results; individual homeschool transcripts with date of completion; and certifications of completion recognized by local homeschool associations. Upon review, applicants may be required to submit additional application materials.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon. Find all the information you need to plan your visit to campus.

In many cases, students can receive credit for AP, IB, or other college-level coursework they completed in high school. Please review the Registrar's Office website for more information about having your college-level work evaluated for either advanced standing or transfer credit.

We do not want the application fee to discourage students from applying to The New School. Please contact us for more information regarding an application fee waiver.

The cost of attendance and detailed information about how to apply for financial aid can be found on the Financial Aid website.

All Parsons applicants (including international students) who are offered admission are considered for scholarships on the basis of academic merit. There is no need to fill out a separate application for these scholarships, as we automatically evaluate students upon admittance.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who wish to receive need-based aid must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA determines students' eligibility for federal and state grants, federal loans, and work study. We invite you to learn more about the process of applying for financial aid by visiting our Financial Aid website.

Students are required to buy most of their own art materials. The cost of art supplies for courses can vary greatly. Typical costs are estimated to range from $900 to $2,050 a year depending on your program of study. Parsons works with vendors to provide discounts on supplies when possible.