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Cornish College of the Arts

Admissions FAQ

What is Cornish?

Cornish is a four-year visual and performing arts college offering a Bachelor of Music degree and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in Art, Design, Dance, Theater, and Performance production.

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What Degrees and Majors do you offer?

Cornish College of the Arts offers Bachelor of Music (BM) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in 6 major disciplines.

Students must select their major area of study before they enroll.

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When does the school year start?

The Spring 2008 Semester begins on January 14 and ends on May 3, 2008.

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Is Cornish accredited?

Yes, Cornish is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

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How can I get an application packet and catalog?

Our website is our online catalog resource where you will be able to view our most up-to-date admissions criteria, financial aid information, portfolio review and audition procedures, as well as information about our Art, Design, Dance, Theater, Performance Production, and Music curriculums. If you want a hardcopy of our application packet and catalog you can click Request Viewbook or call us at 800.726.ARTS.

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How do I schedule a campus tour?

We would be glad to schedule you for a campus tour. One easy way to schedule a tour is to click on our Visit Campus link where you can RSVP online for tours or events. If you have more specific needs, we can make special arrangements for you when you call our office toll-free at 800.726.ARTS. Our office is open from 8:00AM to 5:00PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. If you'd prefer email, you can drop us a line at admissions@cornish.edu.

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What are your International Student admissions guidelines?

International students must submit all application requirements in order to be considered for admission to Cornish College of the Arts and for a student visa (F-1). All documents must be submitted in English. Any documents translated into English must be notarized by the translator.

International students must demonstrate English language proficiency through a TOEFL exam score. Minimum scores for admission are: paper test 525; computer test 195; internet based test 70. The Cornish College school code for the TOEFL test is 4801.

The $35 application fee must be in U.S. funds, sent as a bank draft or international money order. International student applicants are required to provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover expenses during the expected period of study. Applicants must complete the International Student Financial Statement and submit a letter of financial guarantee (no more than three months old) from the parents’ or sponsor’s bank certifying the amount of U.S. currency available for the student’s education. Departmental talent-based scholarships are the only form of financial assistance available to international students.

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Do you have a graduate program?

Cornish College of the Arts offers only the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or a Bachelor of Music (BM). We do not offer any graduate programs.

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Do you accept transfer credits from other colleges?

Cornish accepts transfer credit from accredited two and four-year colleges. A maximum of 70 semester credits of Humanities and Science coursework and Studio coursework (determined at the time of the portfolio review or audition), may be granted and applied toward a student's degree. College level, non-remedial course work graded "C" or better, from regionally accredited institutions, will be considered for transfer at the time of application for admission. Applicants will receive formal notification of transfer credit granted when admitted to the College. Learn more about applying as a transfer student here.

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What about things like Running Start and credit for AP exams?

Visit our Application Information page for information about Running Start, AP exams, Transfer Admission, Prior Learning Experience, and other forms admission and transfer credit.

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What should I know about applying to Cornish if I am a U.S. Military Veteran?

Cornish College cooperates with the Veterans Administration to give educational benefits to veterans and any qualifying dependents of veterans whose death or permanent and total disability is service-related. Selected academic programs of study at the College are approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of those eligible to receive benefits under Title 38 and Title 10 of the U.S. Code.

Students should apply for admission and for their VA benefits simultaneously. New students should be prepared to accommodate a possible delay of at least two months between the start of the term and receipt of benefits.

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What are your admissions 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.”

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Are the SAT or ACT required?

The SAT and ACT are not required, but we recommend that you take them. Test scores can be sent to us directly from the testing agency. Cornish's SAT code is 0058 and our ACT code is 4501.

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What is required during a portfolio review / audition?

Students are scheduled for auditions or portfolio reviews after Part-One of their Application for Admission is compelte. Part-One consists of the Application itself, essays and transcripts. Click here to find out more about How to Apply and the audition or portfolio review process.

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What is your application deadline?

Students can apply at any time during the year and admission decisions are mailed on a rolling basis approximately three weeks after the completion of your audition or portfolio review. Our priority deadline for Fall Semester applications is March 1st. In order to guarantee space availability in your major and the maximum possible financial aid award students should complete the following three things by March 1:

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How much is tuition?

Tuition is currently $25,300 for the full academic year. Financial Aid and Scholarships are available for those with financial need. Fall applicants should apply by March 1st to maximize eligibility for financial aid. College fees, department fees, books & supplies, and room & board are not included in the annual tuition. An Admission Counselor can discuss with you current estimates of the total annual cost of attending Cornish College.

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Is Financial Aid available?

Cornish College of the Arts provides numerous programs and services to financially assist students and their families. Through institutional scholarships, federal & state grants, loans and work-study programs, students are able to finance their education at Cornish. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with an Admissions Counselor about their financing options. You can call 800.726.ARTS to schedule an appointment, or access additional information by visiting Financial Aid.

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Are scholarships available?

Cornish College of the Arts offers scholarships to incoming and continuing students based on talent and talent/financial need. These scholarships range from 10% to 40% of tuition and can be combined with other financial assistance programs. Visit Scholarships for more information.

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Do you have on-campus or off-campus housing?

Cornish does not offer on-campus or off-campus housing for students. We do offer information and services to assist new and continuing students in finding housing and roommates. During the summer we will hold two housing workshops and put you in touch with one of our Student Housing Ambassadors. These services are offered through our Office of Student Affairs. Please visit their Housing pages to get started.

What services do you have for students with disabilities?

Please visit the Office of Student Affairs pages for information about the services we offer.

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How does Cornish fit into Seattle's culture and community?

Seattle is a great city for a young emerging artist. Seattle's thriving Arts community can help fuel your creativity, exposing you to a wealth of new experiences. You'll also find a culture that is hungry for new ideas and supports the work that Cornish students are producing. Our new campus is in the heart of downtown Seattle and in proximity to the entire Arts community.

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Do you have a non-degree program if I just want to take a class or two?

Cornish offers a limited selection of non-matriculated, or non-degree seeking classes. These can be taken without an admissions audition or portfolio review and can be for college credit or simply for experience. Contact the Registrar's Office at 206.726.5069 for more information regarding the summer session, course schedules, registration times and dates.

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