Transfer Admissions

Transfer Students (click on the category below to expand with explanation):

• You are considered a transfer student if: (click here)

  • You have already graduated from or have left high school, and
  • You will have completed at least 12+ college credits for fall admission or 24+ credits spring admission and
  • You will not have completed a bachelor's degree.

• Mason Gross offers the following program options for transfer applicants: (click here)

  • Dance Performance (Bachelor of Fine Arts/B.F.A.)
  • Dance Five-Year Dual Performance and Education (B.F.A./Ed.M.)
  • Music Performance (Bachelor of Music/B.M)- voice, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, piano, organ
  • Music Education (Bachelor of Music/B.M)- vocal, instrumental or jazz concentrations
  • Music Jazz (Bachelor of Music/B.M)- saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, electric bass, acoustic bass, drums, guitar
  • Music Composition (Bachelor of Music/B.M)
  • Music Performance and American Language Certificate Program (M.P.C./P.A.L.S.) - voice, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, piano, organ
  • Theater Acting (Bachelor of Fine Arts/B.F.A.)
  • Theater Design (Bachelor of Fine Arts/B.F.A.)
  • Theater Production/Technical Direction (Bachelor of Fine Arts/B.F.A.)
  • Visual Arts/Fine Arts (Bachelor of Fine Arts/B.F.A.) - drawing, graphic design, media, painting, print, sculpture.

  *The School of Arts and Sciences also offers general Bachelor of Arts/B.A. degree programs in the major areas of Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts.  An application to the School of Arts and Sciences is required in order to considered for admission to the B.A. arts programs.

• Academic Entrance Requirements for Mason Gross School of the Arts: (click here)

  Transfer students applying for entrance to the Mason Gross School of the Arts must submit an official transcript of any college credit they received equaling at least 24 credits. Students who have not completed any college courses in the artistic area they wish to pursue may be required to start as a first-year student in a Mason Gross Degree program regardless of the number of credits they have earned.

  Transfer students must also submit an official high school transcript or its equivalent to the office of admissions which demonstrates proof of graduation and also fulfillment of these academic requirements:
  • English: four years
  • Foreign Language: none required; two years of one language recommended
  • Mathematics: three years, including algebra I, geometry, algebra II
  • Science: none required
  • Other courses: nine other academic courses - such as history, humanities, science, foreign languages, etc.
  • Total: 16 academic courses
  Certain High School courses not completed can be substituted for courses completed in college if demonstrated on the applicant’s college transcript.
  New Jersey community college transfer students may consult NJTransfer.org for information about transfer credit.
  For more information about how Rutgers University evaluates transfer students for admission please visit: http://admissions.rutgers.edu/Transfers/TransfersMain.aspx
  *Academic requirements for other Rutgers colleges may be found here.

• Application Checklist: (click here)

  Undergraduate Application for admission
  • $65 nonrefundable application fee. We must receive the fee or a fee waiver before we will review your submitted application. For more information, click here.
  TRANSCRIPTS - ALL OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS SHOULD BE MAILED TO THE RUTGERS, NEW BRUNSWICK OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS IN PISCATAWAY, NJ - Click here For the Mailing Address 
  • Official High School Transcript - All students are required to submit a high school transcript. High school transcript must include all courses and final grades earned from grade 9 through graduation or leaving. Your transcript should certify any diplomas you have earned. International students or students who were educated outside the U.S. must submit their official high school/secondary transcript with all courses and final grades or an official copy of their finishing certificate, e.g. O-Level, CXC, IGCSE.
  • GED Results – Students who have earned a GED, official results are required. A transcript of any high school work attempted is required, even if the applicant has a GED. < br/>
  • Official College Transcript(s) - Official college transcripts from each college attended including all courses attempted and grades earned through the Application Due Date. If the student is currently enrolled in college, a list of courses in progress is also required. International students or students educated outside the U.S. must submit all required documents.
  SAT/ACT scores
  • not all transfer students are required to submit test scores. CLICK HERE to see the requirements and if test scores would be required for you to submit.
  English Proficiency Examination requirements (for any nonnative speakers of English) - click here to see if you need to submit an English proficiency exam.
  Personal statement - recommended, not required. to read more click here
  Schedule and complete your audition, interview or submit your portfolio. For more information click here

  **In addition to supplemental material needed for admission to Mason Gross, Rutgers University requires all applicants to submit the items listed above. Some items such as personal statements and fees may be required to submit to both Rutgers University and Mason Gross School of the Arts. Click here for instructions and a detailed list of Rutgers University's Required Credentials. 

• How we make decisions: (click here)

  Admissions decisions for applicants to the Mason Gross School of the Arts are based upon our our faculty's evaluation of talent and comprehensive review of the entire application. Our first emphasis is placed on the audition, interview or portfolio and then on the student’s academic promise as demonstrated by:
  • strength of academic program
  • grade trends
  • weighted grade-point average(s)cumulative grade-point-average (GPA)
  • number of credits completed and types of courses taken
  • English Proficiency Examination results, for non-native English speakers
  We also consider such qualitative factors as:
  • community, volunteer, or U.S. military service
  • employment history
  • special talents
  • essay
  • family obligations
  • special talents
  • socioeconomic background

  Mason Gross School of the Arts does not follow minimum SAT or ACT score standards nor do we adhere to minimum GPA or class ranks to determine a students eligibility for admission. When reviewing academics the admissions committee looks at students holistically. We consider how the student performs throughout their entire academic and professional career focusing on the subject areas which most closely relate to the artistic and academic skills needed to complete a Mason Gross degree program. Namely academic performance in the subjects of English, humanities, social sciences is weighted more heavily than performance in math and science. Students should demonstrate strong skills in English composition, comprehension and communication.

  It is recommended that transfer students have covered basic college level courses in the artistic area to which they are applying. Mason Gross degree programs are intense professional degrees in the arts. Transfer students who wish to enter without college level courses in their major course of study will likely be required to enroll as a first year student.

  The number of applicants Mason Gross admits is determined by the quality of the applicant pool (which changes from year to year and may vary for each Mason Gross Department) as well as the space available in each department.

  We review applications when they are complete with all required credentials submitted by the due dates.

• Important Dates and Admissions Timeline: (click here)

  • September - University Undergraduate Application for following year is posted online.
  • October 1 - Spring Enrollment Regular Action Deadline to Mason Gross Artistic and Rutgers University Academic programs. It is recommended that transfer students wishing to apply to Mason Gross for spring admission have completed at least 24 credits from college courses in their intended artistic area of study at Mason Gross no later than this date.
  • November 1 - Fall Enrollment Early Action Deadline for university academic programs. Mason Gross decisions do not adhere to the early action timeline. Students who apply to Rutgers by November 1 will only receive a decision for academic majors by January 31. Due to the audition/interview and portfolio process Mason Gross applications will NOT post a decision by this date.
  • December 1 - Fall Enrollment Regular Action deadline for all Mason Gross Applicants. Mason Gross highly encourages all students, (first year, transfer and graduate) to submit their application and all supporting material no later than December 1. Applications received after December 1 may face difficulty with Audition scheduling and may delay notification of their admissions decision. Students who apply by December 1 will have first choice of audition dates/locations/times and also give themselves the best chance for admission by being part of the first group of applicants reviewed by our faculty and admissions committee.
  • Mid December - March - Spring Enrollment applicants are notified of their admission decision and enrollment deposits are due.
  • December - March - Fall Enrollment Auditions for Music Dance and Theater both on campus and at regional locations. Audition appointments cannot be made until student's submit their application to the University.
  • January - Spring Transfer Enrollment term bills are issued, orientations and placement testing begin and classes start.
  • January 15 - Priority submission deadline for First year and Transfer visual arts portfolios.  Portfolios cannot be submitted until the University Application is received, which is why recommend transfer students apply by December 1 for Fall enrollment.
  • January - April - Admission decision notifications for FALL enrollment sent to applicants on a rolling basis.
  • February 1 - Recommended FAFSA submission deadline.
  • Mid-February - University Housing Application available online.
  • March - Artistic scholarship for Fall enrollment notifications begin to go out.
  • April 1 - Fall Enrollment Notification deadline for all first year students who applied by December 1 and completed their audition, interview or portfolio by the designated dates. students who submit application material later than December 1 are not guaranteed to hear from admissions by April 1.
  • Mid-April - invited open house for admitted students on campus.
  • May 1 - FALL Enrollment deposits due to retain scholarship and opportunity to enroll. Students who deposit after May 1 are no longer guaranteed a spot in our class and risk forfeit of any scholarship they received.
  • Mid-May - FALL Student Orientation begins. All admitted MUSIC students are required to attend orientation date in May to complete placement exams for theory, piano and aural training.
  • Late July - First Term bills are issued for students who have been admitted to Mason Gross for FALL ENROLLMENT.