Conservatory Admission: Admissions Requirements
All applicants are evaluated based on their artistic and academic preparation and on the results of their audition or portfolio review. We are still accepting applications for Fall 2012 admission. Please contact the admissions office for more information: admissions@longy.edu.
Application
All applicants must submit the following:
Longy School of Music
Admissions Office
27 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Additional Materials for Vocal Performance, Opera, and Artist Diploma Applicants
Additional Materials for International Applicants
Auditions are scheduled only after the Admissions Office has received all items listed above.
Requirements by Program
Undergraduate Diploma
- U.S. high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Academic and performance record demonstrating the capacity to excel in full-time studies.
- Previous study of music theory, both written and aural.
- Applicants in performance must present an audition, either in person or, if the applicant lives outside the continental United States or Canada, by recording.
- Applicants in Composition must submit a portfolio of completed compositions demonstrating advanced compositional skills in a variety of media. Recordings of performed works are encouraged.
Master of Music Degree and Graduate Performance Diploma
- Bachelor’s degree, post-secondary conservatory diploma, or demonstrated equivalent.
- Academic and performance record demonstrating the capacity to excel in full-time studies.
- Applicants in performance must present an audition, either in person or, if the applicant lives outside of the continental United States or Canada, by recording.
- Applicants in Composition must submit a portfolio of completed compositions demonstrating advanced compositional skills in a variety of media. Recordings of performed works and analytic or theoretical papers are encouraged.
Dalcroze Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree, post-secondary conservatory diploma, or demonstrated equivalent.
- Applicants must present an audition, either in person or, if the applicant lives outside of the continental United States or Canada, by recording.
Artist Diploma
- Bachelor’s degree, post-secondary conservatory diploma, or demonstrated equivalent.
- Applicants must demonstrate extensive performance experience at a professional level and the intent to pursue a performance career.
Click for Special Procedures for Artist Diploma Applicants
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English Proficiency
All applicants must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. All applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report. Applicants should register early for the TOEFL, as Longy must receive the test results not later than March 1. Completing a full-time degree program at a college or university where English is the language of instruction may be grounds for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement. All students seeking this waiver must submit a written request for a TOEFL wavier and a writing sample to the Director of Admissions, who will then determine if the waiver request is granted. Students who achieve the following scores may enroll without restriction:
|
Paper-based
TOEFL |
Computer-based
TOEFL |
Internet
TOEFL (iBT) |
| Master of Music |
550 |
213 |
79 |
| Undergraduate Diploma |
520 |
190 |
68 |
| Other Programs |
500 |
173 |
61 |
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Deferment of Admission
Applicants requesting a deferment may retain their admission status with the permission of the Director of Admissions, without reauditioning. A deferment form must be submitted along with a nonrefundable tuition deposit in order to preserve both scholarship and admission.
International students who are unable to attend for any reason (including inability to obtain a visa) must formally request a deferment. The rules for deferments apply as stated above. The applicant must provide a new certification of financial support (Bank Letter) for the form I-20 to be issued for a subsequent semester.
Transfer Policies
Longy accepts transfer credits for the Undergraduate Diploma and, in rare instances, the Master of Music Degree programs only. No transfer credit is applicable to the Artist Diploma, the Graduate Performance Diploma, or the Dalcroze Certificate and License. Transfer credits are accepted at the discretion of the Dean of the Conservatory in consultation with appropriate department chairs. Students will be notified of accepted transfer credits after successfully completing their first semester of enrollment at Longy. Transfer credit can be granted only if:
- The coursework was undertaken for credit at the time the student was enrolled;
- The coursework was equivalent in rigor to comparable Longy offerings;
- The grading, subject matter, performance expectations, and class hours conform to Longy academic regulations;
- Previous studies were completed at an accredited (or internationally recognized) post-secondary conservatory, college, or university;
- Previous studies received a grade of "C" or better at the undergraduate level or "B" or better at the graduate level; and
- Previous studies are fully documented with original transcripts.
Additional Transfer Policies for the Undergraduate Diploma
- A maximum of 47 credits from other institutions may be applied toward the completion of the Undergraduate Diploma. A minimum of one-half the total required credits must be completed successfully at Longy.
- Transfer credit for applied music is subject to performance evaluation at the admission audition or a subsequent jury examination.
- For students transferring one year of previous work, transferred ensemble credit will be limited to one-quarter of the total requirement for their program. For students transferring two years of previous work, transferred ensemble credit will be limited to one-half of the total requirement for their program.
- Transfer credit in Music Theory is subject to verification by examination at Longy during New Student Orientation.
Additional Transfer Policies for the Master of Music Degree
- In rare instances, a maximum of 6 credits of graduate coursework completed at another institution may be applied toward the completion of the Master of Music Degree, with the approval of the Dean of the Conservatory, Department Chair, and relevant faculty members.
- Performance credit is not transferable.
- All Master of Music candidates must pass Longy proficiency examinations in Music History, Music Theory, and Secondary Piano, regardless of previous graduate study or examination results.
- Master of Music candidates must complete at least 30 semester credit hours at the Longy School of Music.
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