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Required Application Materials

  • The Application for Admission form must be submitted with a non-refundable application fee of $45.
    Download Application Now (pdf format)


  • Secondary School Transcripts must be submitted by all candidates seeking admission to the AFA degree program who have not completed 24 college level credits prior to applying. Candidates must receive a high school diploma (or equivalent) prior to their attendance at the Corcoran. Official copies of all high school transcripts, including work in progress, must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions. In addition, final high school transcripts are required to finalize admission to the Corcoran.


  • College Transcripts are required of candidates who have completed any post-secondary coursework, regardless of whether or not they intend to seek credits for the work. Official transcripts must be requested from each institution attended.


  • SAT I/ACT Test Scores are required if the applicant has not earned a C or above in a college level English class.


  • A personal statement is required of all candidates. Candidates should provide a complete list of activities or employment conducted during any period not enrolled at an educational institution.


  • All candidates are invited to visit the Corcoran for a portfolio review and interview. A Portfolio should demonstrate the candidate's technical and perceptual skills, personal initiative, artistic interests and creative imagination. The portfolio is used to assess the candidate's talent, training, motivation and self-discipline. Portfolios should contain 12-20 finished pieces of artwork. For students applying as Fine Art majors, half of the artwork included should be done from life (not from photographs, other paintings or drawings, or imagination). Work should show knowledge of a variety of media.
Candidates may submit CD’s, slides or actual artwork. Large or fragile pieces should be presented in standard 35mm slide form. Each slide must be labeled with the candidate's name, the artwork's title, size, medium, year produced; and an arrow indicating the top of the piece. An inventory sheet should accompany the portfolio. Upon request, the slides will be returned. Candidates with questions about this requirement may contact the Office of Admissions in advance of submitting their portfolio.

Provisional Matriculation
Students who have a strong interest in pursuing their artistic passion but have not had time to develop a full portfolio may apply to the AFA degree as a provisionally matriculated student. All procedures for provisional matriculation are the same as for full matriculation except for the portfolio requirement. Provisional Matriculation portfolios should contain 6-10 finished pieces of artwork. Candidates with questions about this requirement may contact the Office of Admissions in advance of submitting their portfolio as well as for other conditions pertaining to provisional enrollment.

NOTE: Students opting for provisional matriculation will be required to earn a grade of "B" or higher in two required classes and must not fail any required courses in their first 12 credits at the Corcoran. If this standard is met, students will automatically receive full matriculation status. However, if this standard is not met by the end of the first 12 credits, students will be automatically placed on academic probation. To remove themselves from academic probation, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and must pass all required courses with a "C" or better for the next 12 credits. Failure to meet this standard may result in academic dismissal.

Optional Materials

  • Advanced Placement Credit may be awarded to students who take Advanced Placement (AP) examinations offered by The College Board. Candidates are encouraged to have official results of the AP exams forwarded to the Office of Admissions for credit evaluation.


  • Two Letters of Recommendation from teachers or professors qualified to evaluate the candidate's academic, artistic, or personal qualities. The full name of the candidate must appear on each letter of recommendation submitted to the Office of Admissions. Letters should be written on official letterhead.


  • Additional Material that enhances the ability of the Corcoran to evaluate a candidate's application for admission is welcomed. Candidates are reminded to focus on the quality, not quantity, of this material to add to the other items that have been submitted in support of their application for admission to the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

When possible or required, the Corcoran evaluates personal qualities through a review of letters of recommendation, the admissions essay, personal statements, extracurricular activities, and other similar information. Students, faculty, and staff at the Corcoran College of Art + Design work very closely throughout a student's tenure at the College. Therefore, evidence of personal contributions to the community is valued in addition to a candidate's academic and artistic talent.

Transfer Students
The AFA Program Transfer standing is determined through a transcript and portfolio review.

After completing the written application form and sending all college transcripts, a candidate should schedule an appointment for a tour, interview, and portfolio review. In lieu of a personal visit, candidates may schedule a phone interview to discuss transfer credits and review of the portfolio.

Transfer credit is granted after official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended have been submitted. Only grades of "C" and above from fully accredited institutions are considered for credit. Transfer credit evaluations prior to enrollment are approved by the Office of Admissions. Students may petition to change these evaluations only during their first two semesters of enrollment at the Corcoran. Students transferring into the AFA program from other institutions must meet the Corcoran's residency requirement of 30 studio credits and 15 academic studies credits to receive the AFA degree.

Students transferring into the AFA program from the Corcoran BFA program may not transfer after their second year. These students also will be required to complete a minimum of 20 studio credits and 9 academic studies credits in order to receive the AFA degree.

The AFA Program Students may transfer into the BFA program in two ways.

  • Transfer into the second year of the BFA program is automatic on completion of the AFA program if a student maintains a GPA of 2.0 or better and a grade of "C" or better in all required studio courses. All students who meet this requirement also will be able to petition the College to accept them into the third year. The department heads of the respective majors will consider requests for admittance into the third year of the BFA.


  • Students entering the AFA program with a serious desire to enter our BFA program may transfer at the end of their first year. Acceptance into the second year will be contingent on a successful portfolio review and the student maintaining a GPA of 2.0 and a grade of "C" or better in their required studio courses.
Acceptance
Candidates are usually advised of the admissions decision within two weeks of completing application requirements. When notified of acceptance, candidates must inform the Office of Admissions whether they intend to accept, delay, or decline the offer of admission within two weeks and no later than two weeks before the start of the semester.

Tuition
Tuition for students is based on a per course rate. Three credit courses are $2,430 and 1.5 credit courses are $1,215 for the 2006-2007 academic year. Many courses also have lab fees that vary from course to course.

Financial Aid
For information about financial aid opportunities for AFA program candidates contact the Student Financial Services Office at 202.639.1818.


 

Admission Criteria

Admission to the AFA program is based on the review and evaluation of the candidate’s application materials, portfolio, and high school or college transcripts. All required items must be submitted before an application will be considered.

Important considerations of the Admissions Committee are:
  • The applicant's artistic potential, as demonstrated through the presentation of a portfolio of art and/or design work and through grades achieved in studio art classes


  • The applicant's ability to succeed in a scholastic environment, as measured by the applicant's academic records. Standardized test scores are also reviewed and evaluated as a part of the academic record.


  • Personal qualities and achievements are taken into consideration when documented through letters of recommendation from counselors and teachers, listings of extracurricular activities and other similar forms of information. Applicants may submit a short essay or personal statement describing their interests, activities and educational goals.