Deadlines and Requirements
Required for Admission Consideration
Coursework
We look for students who have been successful in a variety of challenging courses, especially those that are above and beyond what’s required for graduation. And we understand every school is different, so we evaluate your transcript specifically against your high school's curriculum.
Prior to high school graduation, we require you to complete a minimum of:
- English: 4 years
- Math: 3 years
- Science: 3 years (2 must be laboratory science)
- Social studies: 3 years
- Foreign language: 2 years
If you're interested in engineering or the sciences, we recommend an additional year of math and laboratory science. Leaning more toward the liberal arts? We’d suggest another year of social studies and foreign language.
Application Essay
All first-year students must complete an essay via the Common App or Coalition with Scoir. What you share in your essay is completely up to you—it should be about conveying who you are to the admission staff. No matter the topic, personalize it. Add a part of you into the piece, and make it genuine.
Arts Supplement
An Arts Supplement is required for music and music education majors and those who are pursuing an Arts Achievement Scholarship in either music or art studio. The Arts Supplement is available but optional to all other applicants. If you intend to submit an arts supplement, be sure to indicate this on your application.
Applicants who are required to submit an Arts Supplement will see this required checklist item on their applicant status portal. Students must upload their portfolio materials using the portfolio updater prior to completing the Arts Supplement. You can access the portfolio uploader by logging into your applicant portal using your CWRU Network ID and clicking Edit Portfolio.
The arts supplement is due 15 days after the application deadline and can be completed via your applicant portal.
For detailed information, see the department’s website:
Scholarship Audition and Portfolio Requirements
Prepare two contrasting monologues, one Shakespeare and one contemporary, not to exceed a total time of four minutes. You may also prepare 16 bars of any song, but this is not required. If possible, please present a headshot and resume at the audition.
Submit a portfolio PowerPoint consisting of 24 pieces of your work. Each image credit line should include the name of the piece, the dimensions, the material, media and the date completed. (For example: Self-Portrait, 18” x 24”, media soft pastel on paper, fall 2021.) If you are showing three-dimensional work, i.e. sculpture or pottery, you may want to show two different views, front and side, etc. You may also want to choose to photograph a specific detail.
If you are applying for the Arts Achievement Award, please also submit the following:
- Autobiography: A short (250-word) essay, citing your course of study in the visual arts. Include any special out-of-school activities, i.e., art camp, working as a teaching assistant doing creative activities, or private art lessons. Describe both your junior high and high school art experiences, courses that you took, and subjects that you studied.
- Program of study: A separate, short (250-word) essay of what you hope to gain participating in our program in art history and art. You may want to consult the Department of Art History and Art website for courses that are available for you to take.
Submit a video and complete an online questionnaire for pre-screening by dance department faculty. The video submission should be 90 seconds to three minutes in length, and you should be clearly visible. Do not submit ensemble footage. Video may be from technique class or performance.
A one-page resume of experience in theater is required. You may also include experience in a related field, such as art, architecture, graphics or photography.
Additionally, a statement of intent—even if that statement is exploratory—should be provided. Other materials may include a portfolio demonstrating skills in theater (renderings, sketches, paperwork, scale drawings, production photos, etc.) and related areas (artwork, photography, drawing, drafting, computer graphics, etc.). The portfolio may be in scrapbook format. Art projects or model-making could substitute or be included with the other requirements. The material should be organized into some kind of cohesive presentation, with identifying labels for references. The interviewer will retain a copy of your resume but will not keep your portfolio. Portfolio is for presentation purposes only.
A portfolio presentation is needed for the directing concentration. Your portfolio should consist of the following:
- A one-page resume documenting your theater experience (directing, acting, playwriting, design, stage management, etc.).
- A one- to two- page director’s concept for a published play or musical that you would be interested in directing, detailing your vision for the show (characters, moods and tones, visual aspects) in addition to what you would want the audience to take away from the production in terms of its central themes and ideas.
- Production photos from previous projects you have directed (if applicable, not required).
- You should be prepared to speak about your interest and passion for directing as well as your previous directing and/or theater experience.
Submit a 20-page sample of your work in either playwriting or screenwriting (or both) at least one week before the interview date. This can include either an excerpt from a full-length work or a combination of shorter pieces, such as 10-minute plays or short-film scripts. While dramatic writing is preferred, you may also submit other examples of your creative writing, such as short stories, poetry, essays, etc.
Bring your stage management binders, copies of scripts you have worked on (with cues written in), paperwork related to the show, and any other evidence of skills related to stage management such as organization, managing/coordinating large groups of people, multitasking and communication.
Decision Terminology
Unsure of what each decision option means? Here's a quick primer:
Early Action: You can apply earlier and get an admission decision and financial aid offer (if applicable) sooner, without being committed to enrolling at Case Western Reserve University.
Early Decision (I and II): If CWRU is your clear top-pick college, Early Decision is the perfect choice. Early Decision is a contract between you and the university: If Case Western Reserve accepts you, you agree to withdraw all other college applications and enroll at CWRU.
Pre-Professional Scholars Program: Be considered for conditional admission to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine—before you even begin undergraduate work. Learn more about the Pre-Professional Scholars Program.
Regular Decision: This follows all of the deadlines and requirements you might expect—no additional application materials or earlier deadline considerations necessary.
Spring Semester: Students can apply to the spring semester as a first-time first-year student, a first-year transfer student or as an upperclass transfer student.
Reapplication: Students who applied to Case Western Reserve in the previous 12 months can submit a reapplication form and do not need to submit an application or an application fee. A final high school transcript is required. A current transcript and College Report, or a statement of current activities, where applicable, is required.
College Credit Plus: Ohio residents in grades 7 to 12 can begin their college education early by enrolling in College Credit Plus at Case Western Reserve University. Earn college credit at CWRU and be a part of our world-renowned community before high school graduation. Learn about College Credit Plus.
Application Deadlines
First-Year Applicant Deadlines
| Decision Option | Application Deadline | Financial Aid Documents Deadline | Anticipated Notification Date | Deadline to Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1 | November 15 | December 19 | May 1 |
| Early Decision I | November 1 | November 15 | December 5 | December 12 |
| Pre-Professional Scholars Program | December 1 | December 15 | January 30 | May 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 15 | January 22 | February 6 | 1 week after admission |
| Regular Decision | January 15 | February 1 | March 20 | May 1 |
| Spring Entry | November 15* | Within 2 weeks of application completion | Within 2 weeks of application completion (Beginning on November 15) | Within 2 weeks of admission |
Transfer and 3/2 Engineering Applicant Deadlines
| Decision Option | Application Deadline | Financial Aid Documents Deadline | Anticipated Notification Date | Deadline to Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester Early Plan | March 15 | April 1 | Starting on April 1 with application completion | June 1 |
| Fall Semester 3/2 Engineering | February 15 | March 1 | Starting on March 1 with application completion | June 1 |
| Fall Semester Regular Plan | July 1 | Within 2 weeks of application completion | Within 2 weeks of application completion (beginning April 1) | Within 2 weeks of admission |
| Spring Semester | November 15* | November 15 | Within 2 weeks of application completion (beginning November 1) | Within 2 weeks of admission |
*Applications received after the November 15 deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.