Admission

• Access the Online Application

  Apply online here.

• Prescreening & Audition Materials

  To find out if your instrument is prescreened and to see the requirements for your instrument, please refer to our Prescreening & Audition Information page. Prescreening videos are uploaded directly to the Digital Portfolio in your online application, due December 3.

  Current MSM students and Precollege students who are applying directly to another MSM program are exempt from submitting prescreen videos, except for the following areas of study: MSM College students applying to OP Flute, DMA/AD Piano, and the DMA in Jazz Arts.

  If you have already graduated from MSM, you must submit prescreen materials, if required by your major.

• Recommendation Letters

  All applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation. You will be asked to supply your recommender’s name and email address while you are filling out your online application. Once you submit your application, your recommenders will automatically receive an email asking them to write a letter on your behalf that will load directly to your application. Your recommender may also email us their recommendation.

  Recommendation letters must be received by January 15.

  Applicants for Bachelor of Music:

  • One letter from the current teacher of your primary instrument
  • One letter from another musical or academic reference

  Applicants for Master of Music, Professional Studies Certificate, Professional Performance Diploma, Artist Diploma:

  • One letter from the current teacher of your primary instrument
  • One letter from another musical reference

  Applicants for Doctor of Musical Arts:

  • Please include one recommender who is your primary instrument teacher and two other musical or academic recommenders.

• Repertoire Studied

  All applicants (excluding Musical Theatre applicants) are required to upload a repertoire list of musical works you have studied or performed in the past that represent your artistic journey. This list should include the composer and title of the pieces, and the musical collaborators and performance venue, if applicable. Generally, the list will be 1-3 pages in length.

  Sections of the list might include “Orchestral Works,” “Solo Pieces,” “Original Compositions,” “Chamber Performances,” “Theater Productions,” etc.

• Artistic Résumé

  Applicants are required to upload an artistic résumé. The artistic résumé should include: academic study (institutions, dates and degrees awarded), applied/private study (subjects, with whom, dates, where), performance experience, awards, distinctions, festivals, and summer programs. Musical Theatre applicants are required to bring one copy of their résumé with them on audition day.

• Essays

  You will be asked to submit responses to two essay prompts designed to give us a better sense of your unique musical voice as well as your potential non-musical contributions to the MSM creative community.

  Learn how to write your application essays in just 30 minutes by reading this helpful Admission guide.

• Application Fee

  When you are ready to submit your application, you will be asked to pay a $125 application fee. Current MSM and Precollege students, MSM alumni, and applicants to the Barnard/MSM Lesson Exchange Program pay a reduced fee of $50. All application fees are non-refundable.

  Late applicants must be approved by the Admission Office. If approved, late applications will be assessed an additional $50 late fee.

Supplemental Documents:

• Transcripts

  Applicants are required to submit unofficial transcripts via the application portal checklist by January 15. MSM strongly prefers electronic submission of transcripts. You may scan and upload your transcripts directly to your Status Portal, or your school may send the transcript through an electronic transcript service or via email to admission@msmnyc.edu. If your school sends your transcript via postal mail, please allow 7-10 business days for processing.

  If you are offered admission and choose to enroll at MSM, you will be required to provide final official transcripts that include proof of degree conferral and your date of graduation. You do not need to provide official transcripts before this time. Students who have studied at institutions that do not provide documents in English must provide official translations for all documents.

  Applicants for Bachelor of Music

  Please submit transcripts from your current high school as well as any other high schools you have attended.

  Homeschooled applicants will be required to provide MSM with comprehensive transcripts for four years of a high school curriculum, as well as a high school diploma, or its equivalent (e.g. TASC, GED or HiSET). SAT or ACT scores are not required.

  Applicants for Artist Diploma, Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Music or Professional Studies Certificate

  On your application, you will be required to provide your full academic history, including all high schools and colleges that you have attended. You are not required to submit high school transcripts. We do not require the GRE or any other tests for graduate or post-graduate studies.

• GPA

  MSM’s recommended minimum GPA is 3.0 or its equivalent. However, applicants whose GPA does not meet this requirement will still be considered for admission within the context of their full application.

• Personal Photo

  All applicants are asked to submit an informal headshot via the application portal checklist.  This allows the Admission committee and faculty to recognize you on your audition day! Musical Theatre applicants are required to bring one copy of their headshot with them on the day of their audition. 

• Test Scores

  You are not required to submit SAT, ACT, or GRE scores. However, if you feel your test scores positively contribute to your application, we are happy to receive them.