• APPLICATION DEADLINES

  1. Application Deadlines:
     • Fall Term Early Action Applicants: November 1
     • Fall Term Regular Priority Applicants: January 15
     • Fall Term Transfer Priority Applicants: April 1
     • Spring Term Priority Applicants: October 15

  APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  All applicants are required to apply online using the Common Application.

  Any additional supporting documents that need to be sent by mail must include an  Application Materials Cover Sheet.

  Some of your required materials will be submitted through  SlideRoom:

  1. In addition to submitting the Common Application, you are required to submit the portfolio and Parsons Challenge through SlideRoom.
  2. Finalize your portfolio and Parsons Challenge at the time you submit your application. Doing this will help prevent any delays in reviewing your application, as we need to receive all required materials before we can place your application under review.
  3. Once you have submitted the required  SlideRoom materials, a confirmation number will be emailed to you. Save this number for your records.

  REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

  1. Application Form: Complete the Common Application. All applicants are required to apply online.
  2. Application Fee: A nonrefundable $50 application fee and a $10 SlideRoom fee, payable as part of the online application.
  3. Official Transcripts:
     All applicants must provide official high school and/or college transcripts. If you are currently in school, submit transcripts for all coursework taken to date. Applicants who have attended multiple high schools may submit only the graduating school’s official transcript as long as courses taken at previous schools are reflected on that transcript.Transfer Applicants: Transfer applicants who have completed fewer than 24 college credits (on a semester system) must submit high school transcript(s) in addition to college transcripts. Students who have completed any college coursework must apply as transfer students, regardless of whether they plan to apply those credits to their studies at Parsons. Applicants are required to report and submit transcripts for all colleges and universities attended. The following majors do not accept juniors: Design and Technology, Fashion, Integrated Design, and Product Design.By Mail: Official transcripts should have an original signature or a raised university seal, and must be in a sealed envelope that has been signed or stamped by the issuing university’s registrar or records office. Applicants can either send official transcripts with an Application Materials Cover Sheet or request that institutions send transcripts directly to The New School. See “Mailing Address for Supplemental Materials” for our mailing address in the Additional Instructions and Information section below.

     Electronic Transcripts (U.S./Domestic Institutions Only): The New School accepts electronic transcripts only from our approved vendors. The New School’s approved vendors, in order of preference, are

     • Naviance
     • Parchment Exchange
     • SCRIP-SAFE International
     • National Student Clearinghouse

     We do not accept electronic transcripts sent directly by a student or school offices. Note: All international academic credentials must be submitted as indicated in the International Academic Credentials sections below.

     High School Equivalency: For GED, TASC, and HiSET, send official test score results by postal mail.

     International Academic Credentials: All transcripts not written in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

     International Academic Credentials with Transfer Credits: Applicants who attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States are required to have their transcript(s) evaluated by  World Education Services (WES) or by another member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES). A course-by-course evaluation must be prepared for each transcript.

  4. Parsons Challenge: Create a new visual work inspired by the theme within a piece submitted in your portfolio.  Support your process by writing one 500 word essay describing how your ideas developed. You may also submit up to two additional visual  pieces that document your process.  All forms of media are acceptable—drawing, video, photography, sculpture, 3D work, collage, and digital images. The Parsons Challenge helps the Admission Committee understand how a prospective student develops ideas, visually communicates those ideas, and defends the work in writing. The Parsons Challenge is completed in SlideRoom along with the portfolio.
  5. Portfolio: The portfolio must be completed in  SlideRoom only. Freshman and transfer applicants must submit a portfolio of eight to 12 images. Portfolios can include a range of media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, fashion design, animation, performance, graphic design, or sketchbook pages. We encourage you to show experimentation and breadth, and the portfolio does not need to specifically address the major to which you are applying.
  6. Essay: The New School brings together a dynamic group of students interested in art, design, performing arts, entrepreneurship and critical thought. We would like to know more about your interest in joining our community and why you would be a good fit for The New School. We are particularly interested in knowing why you have applied to a specific school, college, program, area of study, or campus.
  7. Test Scores:
     SAT and ACT: The New School does not require submission of SAT or ACT scores for applications to be considered complete. Should you feel your SAT or ACT test scores are beneficial to your application, you may submit them for our consideration.  Note: Homeschool applicants must submit standardized test scores from either the SAT or the ACT. Homeschool applicants may submit two standardized subject test results in lieu of the SAT. The SAT institution code is 2638. The ACT code is 2854.TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE: All applicants whose first language is not English must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. The minimum score required for TOEFL (IB) is 92, for IELTS is 7.0, and for PTE is 63. Our TOEFL institution code is 2638.The New School does not require TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores for applicants:
     • Whose native language is English
     • Who have attended a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years attendance)
     • Who have successfully completed two full semesters of non-ESL college-level expository writing
     • Who have earned a four-year degree from a U.S. college/university or from a university where English is the primary language of instruction (minimum of three years attendance)

     Arrange for the testing service to send your test scores directly to The New School using the institution codes listed above. We accept scores from the past two years. If your scores are older, you must retake the test. For more information, visit  TOEFL, IELTS, or  PTE.

     Applicants also have the option of enrolling in The New School English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Students must pass Level 6 to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE requirement. Visit the  ESL website for more information.

  8. Letter of Recommendation: Applicants applying directly from high school must submit the Common Application School Report, one counselor recommendation and one recommendation from a teacher. Students transferring from other colleges or universities must submit one recommendation from a professor with whom they have studied. Recommenders can submit recommendations online; instructions are included with the online application. If preferred, the recommendation form can instead be sent by mail in a signed, sealed envelope. To send by mail, download the PDF recommendation form found in the online application, complete the personal information, save the form, and forward it to the recommender for completion and submission. Applicants can also send signed and sealed recommendations to the Office of Admission using an Application Materials Cover Sheet.

Mailing Address for Supplemental Materials:
Parsons School of Design
Office of Admission (PS 100)
79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor
New York, NY 10003