How to Apply

Otis College accepts undergraduate applications for the fall and spring semesters. Admission is rolling after the priority deadline as space remains available. 

Fall Semester Entry

• Students can enter into the Foundation, Sophomore, Junior level
• Application Opens: August 1
• Early Action Deadline: December 1*
• Priority Deadline: February 15 (with Rolling admission after)
• *Early Action applicants who submit their application and all materials by December 1st will receive an early decision by mid-January and an early financial aid award estimate (requires submission of the FAFSA).

Spring Semester Entry

• Students can enter as first-semester Foundation. Transfer students can enter as a second-semester sophomore with the appropriate credits.
• Application Opens: August 1
• Priority Deadline: November 1 (with Rolling admission after)

1. 1. Online Application: First-year (Foundation) applicants can apply on the CommonApp or the Otis Online Application. Transfer applications should apply using the Transfer Common App or Otis Online Application. 
   2. $50 application fee: Otis College grants fee waivers to veterans, Summer of Art, Portfolio Prep, CSSSA and Ryman Arts alums. The application fee is waived for Transfer applicants and for First-year (Foundation) applicants using the Otis Online Application. 
   3. Portfolio: Otis has two options for Portfolio Requirements.  The portfolio is free to submit with the online application or Common App. If applying through the Otis application, you will see the Portfolio tab where you can upload your images, videos or other media. If applying on the Common App, you will receive an email the day after submission with a link to submit your portfolio. No applications will be reviewed for admission without a portfolio.
   4. Personal Statement: In at least 500 words, describe your background and interest in studying art and design. For first-year applicants, if you are applying via the Common App, you can select one Common App essay prompt to complete your personal statement. 
   5. Transcripts
      • Official transcripts are required showing all completed work to date. Please note, admitted high school students must also submit a final official high school transcript after graduation. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted to review your application for admission.
      • Transfer students are required to submit final official high school transcripts (with the graduation date) and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Unofficial college transcripts will be accepted to review your application for admission.
      • International students are required to submit official translations for transcripts not in English. Please submit both the translation and the official transcript.
      • International transfer applicants: Transfer students who have studied outside the US (other than Japan and Korea) are required to submit an evaluation of their post-secondary (college or university) transcript(s).  This evaluation may be done by any evaluation agency recommended by NACES.org. Options for evaluation services include Span Tran, WES, Josef Silny & Associates, IEE, ECE, and Global Credential Evaluators. The document must be officially translated into English by a certified translation service before submitting to any evaluation agency recommended by NACES or any other reputable education evaluation service, e.g., your embassy. Otis asks for a course-by-course evaluation.
      • Otis College considers home schooled applicants with appropriate documentation and requires examination results for enrollment. Home school transcripts should be complete for all high school coursework including subject names and grades.  If the student attended another high school or college in addition to being home schooled, transcripts must also be submitted from these schools. Homeschool applicants must obtain and submit the General Educational Development (GED) examination or a comparable regional test such as the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE). The HiSET and TASC exams are also accepted.
   6. SAT/ACT Test Scores
      • SAT or ACT test scores are not required. Submitting test scores is optional. 
   7. English Proficiency Exam
      • International applicants whose primary/native language is not English should take one of the four tests recognized by Otis College: TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English, or the Duolingo English Test (SAT/ACT scores not required). The minimum scores required for BFA admission are a 79 on the TOEFL ibt, 6.5 on the IELTS, 58 on the Pearson Test of English or 105 on the Duolingo English Test. Our TOEFL institution code is 4394.
      • If you have attended an accredited high school or college where English is the primary language of instruction, you may be considered proficient if you submit a transcript documenting completion of non-ESL coursework in English or Literature. Contact the Admissions office at admissions@otis.edu or 310.665.6820 for additional information.
      • The English proficiency requirement may not be required for native English speakers who are citizens of any of the following countries and attend schools where English is the primary language of instruction: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, India, South Africa and Common Wealth Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago).