Presidential Scholars in the Arts
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to audition for the scholarship?
A: Yes. Applicants in Acting and Dance are required to audition. Applicants in Design/Technical
Theatre must participate in an interview and review of their example materials. For details about
the audition/interview process, please see the document entitled Presidential Scholars in the Arts
Audition Process.
Q: If I’m not interested in the scholarship, do I still have to audition?
A: No. Only students who are applying for the scholarship need to audition. There is no audition
required to take classes in the department, or to declare a major or minor in Theatre, Dance, or
Dramatic Literature.
Q: I am a transfer student. Am I eligible to audition for the scholarship?
A: No, transfer students are not eligible for the Presidential Scholars in the Arts. Scholarships are only
awarded to first time entering freshmen.
Q: How do I apply for the scholarship?
A: For details on how to apply for the Presidential Scholars in the Arts program, please see the
separate document entitled Presidential Scholars in the Arts Application Instructions:
Theatre and Dance.
Q: When is the scholarship application due?
A: The Presidential Scholarship in the Arts Audition Form must be postmarked by January 15, 2015,
along with your essay, resume, and photo. Letters of recommendation are due by the day of your
audition. Students may deliver the recommendations in person or they can be mailed, faxed, or
emailed to the department ahead of the audition.
Q: When is the audition?
A: Audition dates are February 7th & 8th, 2015 on the George Washington University campus
in Washington, DC. You need only attend one of the two audition dates.
Q: I cannot attend the auditions in person. Can I audition on another day or send a tape?
A: There are no alternate days for live auditions and we do not conduct auditions in other cities.
Acting/Dance: If you are unable to attend the live auditions, you can submit a recording of your 3minute audition piece (Acting/Dance) via a YouTube link, to be emailed directly to
onstage@gwu.edu. Acting applicants who audition via a YouTube posting may be sent a follow-up
email asking them to respond to a few short questions.
Design/Tech: Applicants in Design/Technical theatre may mail their presentation materials directly
to the Department of Theatre & Dance for review. When possible, a telephone or skype interview
may be arranged.
To be considered, recorded auditions and/or design materials must be received in the Theatre &
Dance Main Office no later than 4pm on Friday, February 6, 2015. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to audition in person whenever possible.
Q: How much is the scholarship?
A: The Presidential Scholarship in the Arts (PSA) is $15,000 per year, renewable annually for a
total of $60,000 over four years.
Q: How many scholarships are awarded?
A: Approximately ten scholarships are awarded each year in the Department of Theatre & Dance.
There are typically four scholarships in Acting, four in Dance, and two in Design/Technical Theatre.
Additional scholarships are awarded through the Departments of Music and Fine Arts.
Q: How many students apply for the scholarship?
A: In a typical year, approximately 100 students apply for the Presidential Scholars in the Arts in
Theatre & Dance. On average, about 40-50 students apply in Acting, and another 40-50 in Dance.
5-10 students usually apply in the field of Design/Technical Theatre.
Q: Is financial need considered in awarding the scholarship?
A: No. The PSA is a merit-based scholarship. Faculty adjudicators for the auditions do not review
information on an applicant’s financial need. The selection process is based on the
audition/interview, and review of the supplemental materials outlined on the Audition Form
(resume, essay, and recommendations).
Q: Does a high ranking at the scholarship audition help influence my admission application?
A: No. Students must meet the requirements for regular freshman admission. Exceptions will not be
made based on the scholarship auditions.
Q: Can I audition in more than one area?
A: Yes! If you are talented in more than one scholarship field we encourage you to apply in multiple
areas. Please note that you can only receive one merit scholarship, but you are welcome to apply
in more than one area to increase your chances of being offered a scholarship. If you are applying
in more than one area, please submit separate Audition Forms specific to each area you are
applying for. Depending on the number and nature of the auditions, applicants in more than one
field may be encouraged to attend both scholarship audition days.
Q: How do I know if my Audition Form has been received?
A: Upon receipt of your Audition Form, the Department of Theatre & Dance will send you a
confirmation email along with details about the audition day. Please look for a message from
onstage@gwu.edu. The confirmation email will also alert you if there are any items missing from
your audition materials. Please keep an eye on your spam folders (particularly AOL users) to make
sure our messages are not accidentally tagged as spam. You may also call the Department of
Theatre & Dance at 202-994-8072 to confirm receipt.
Q: What time will my audition be?
A: Applicants in Acting and Design/Tech will be assigned a specific audition/interview time
during check-in. At the conclusion of the audition/interview applicants are free to leave (although
we encourage you to join us for a complimentary luncheon.) Auditions for dance take place as a
group, and you should expect auditions to continue until about 4pm, including a lunch break.
Q: Is a professional head-shot required?
A: No. We require students auditioning in acting or dance to include a photo with their audition
materials for identification purposes. It does not need to be a professional headshot, but should
clearly show your face. Yearbook photos are fine. We see a large number of applicants over the
weekend. When faculty discuss applicants at the conclusion of the auditions photos are extremely
helpful reference tools. We do not want photos from performances, in costumes or heavy makeup,
or in dance poses.
Q: When will I find out if I am offered a scholarship?
A: Notifications will be sent in late March or early April. If you have applied to the University as a
regular decision applicant (as opposed to early decision) you will be notified of the audition results
at the same time you are notified of your admission status.
Q: Do I have to re-apply for the scholarship every year?
A: No. The scholarship has academic, curricular, and co-curricular requirements that must be
maintained. As long as the requirements are met, the scholarship will automatically renew each
year. A detailed explanation of these requirements can be found at:
http://theatredance.gwu.edu/Current%20Students/psa_info.html
Q: Do I have to major or minor to receive the scholarship?
A: Recipients of a Presidential Scholarship in Acting, Dance, or Design/Technical Theatre must
declare a major or a minor in their scholarship field by the end of the freshman year. Many of our
recipients elect to double major, or to major in another discipline and minor in their scholarship
field.
Q: If I do not receive the scholarship, can I still declare a major or minor?
A: Yes!! The scholarship audition is quite competitive. Only a small percentage of the students
majoring and minoring are receiving the scholarship. Not receiving the scholarship should not be a
deterrent to pursuing your passion for Theatre and/or Dance. We would love to have you!