U-M does not participate in Early Decision. While some other schools and colleges at U-M have Early Action consideration, SMTD does not participate in Early Action. Dual Degree applicants to SMTD and one of the participating U-M schools or colleges may elect to be considered under Early Action for the other school/college, but the admissions timeline for SMTD will not change.  If you only see the dual degree option on your Common Application and are not planning to apply for a dual degree, you need to change your admission timeline from “Early Action” to “Regular Decision.” 

SMTD applicants typically apply for the Fall term, with possible openings in Winter term for our certain programs. Programs accepting Winter term applications this year are listed on the Admission Guidelines page.

We do not accept undergraduate applications to begin study in Spring or Summer terms.

Apply early

Auditions and interviews are scheduled after a successful review of an applicant’s complete application materials, no later than the application deadline. All audition invitations will be sent via email on a rolling basis.

Submit all required materials

Where requested, upload all materials to the Common Application or to your Artistic Profile. Submit official transcripts and test scores (if taken) directly to the U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions at [email protected]. Double-check the Online Application Materials and Artistic Profile Materials menus below for a list of all the requirements. Check your application status on Enrollment Connect.

Help filling out the Common Application

Here is a reference guide that will hopefully be of use: Common App Tips & Tricks.

All transfer applicants must complete the Common Application, including the U-M supplement. In addition, please submit the following:

• A final high school transcript showing diploma earned and graduation date.
• Registrar’s Report—The University of Michigan does not require the registrar’s report for transfer applicants. However, the Common Application will request the name of your college/university registrar or appropriate dean/college official who can verify your enrollment and academic standing.
• College transcripts showing any college coursework in progress and/or all college coursework completed. Submit your official college transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions electronically at [email protected].
  • If you are a first-semester college student and do not have college course grades by the December 1 application deadline, provide an unofficial transcript showing your current college course enrollment in your Artistic Profile, send a final high school transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, then as soon as your grades are finalized have your college send a transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Be advised that we may not be able to send you an audition invitation until after the college transcript with grades has been processed.
    The University strongly prefers all documents be submitted electronically to [email protected]. However if you need to submit physical copies please mail them to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at:

    U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions
    515 East Jefferson Street
    1220 Student Activities Building
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316

• A non-artistic teacher recommendation is optional unless requested.

In addition, please visit our Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information about transfer credit.

An artistic resumé is a great way to tell us a lot about your background. Include the items below so we get a full and accurate picture of your previous training and experience going no farther back than the 9th grade.

General Information to Include

• Your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, U-M ID number (if known), and the program(s) to which you are applying.
• A list of activities and awards related to academics, athletics, or leadership within your school or community, any community service in which you have participated, and a list of any work experience you have had while in school.

Arts Specific Information to Include

• Dance Applicants
  • All dance training you have undertaken including years of study in particular styles, teachers or studios, and any intensive summer workshops or institutes.
  • All roles or company experience including school, community, or professional dance organizations.
  • Awards or recognition you have received based on your dancing including school, local, state, and national level awards.
  • All experience in acting or music including musical and non-musical theatre, participation in music organizations (bands, choirs, or orchestras), and any formal training in voice or other instruments.
  • Related experience such as choreography, teaching, gymnastics, or community service arts programs that you feel completes the picture of you as a dancer.
• Music Applicants
  • The name(s) of your current and most recent private teachers. Include the dates you studied with them, and their contact information, if known.
  • A list of all music organizations with which you perform, and the dates of your participation. This can include school ensembles, youth organizations, and ad hoc ensembles you formed yourself.
  • A list of any music competitions in which you participated and all related awards or recognition you have received while in high school. This can include school, local, state, and national level awards.
  • A list of any related experience, such as ensemble officer or manager, teaching, theatre or dance experience, or community service arts programs that you feel completes the picture of you as a musician.
  • Applicants to Performing Arts Technology should also list the following:
    • All mathematics and computer science courses taken.
    • A comprehensive list of all software and hardware skills.
    • Any experience in sound recording.
• Theatre & Musical Theatre Applicants
  • All roles you have had and the production company for which you performed. Include both musical and non-musical theatre, film or television experience, and other related theatre activities. Include all school, community, and professional theatre experience.
  • Any technical theatre experience, including directing. For students interested in performance, this can be a simple list of activities. Students interested in directing or design and production should include a comprehensive list of these activities.
  • All formal training in acting, dance, or music. Include particular years of classes and styles of dance studied, years of training in voice and/or other instruments, and acting classes or workshops. Include the names of teachers with whom you have worked and the dates you studied with them.
  • Related experience such as playwriting, production work, teaching, or community service theatre that you feel completes the picture of you as a theatrical person.

All applicants to music programs (not including Musical Theatre) are required to submit a comprehensive list of repertoire studied on their principal instrument or voice. This is optional for those applying to the BFA in Performing Arts Technology or the BS in Sound Engineering.

A repertoire list is a complete list of the musical works you have studied and/or performed on your principal instrument, which allows us to see the array of music you’ve studied so far. This list is different from the list of repertoire you will bring to the audition. Include the following information on your comprehensive repertoire list:

• All major works you have studied on your principal instrument listed in alphabetical order by composer. You may also include any major works you have studied on a secondary or related instrument. Include ensemble pieces in which you had featured solos. Label those pieces you have performed from memory with “M” following the title, and “P” if you performed the piece in public.
• Focus on those pieces studied during high school and college (when applicable), although you may include earlier works if they represent significant milestones in your artistic development.

New first-year applicants are expected to provide contact information for the following recommenders:

1. A high school counselor (via the Common Application)
2. A second recommendation letter from a non-relative, preferably someone who has been an instructor of some kind (via the Common Application)
3. An artistic instructor (via the Artistic Profile)
   • This recommender can fulfill both the second Common App recommendation letter and the Artistic Profile artistic recommendation letter. We ask that they upload their letter to both applications so that it can be read by all relevant staff and/or faculty evaluators. Artistic recommendations, as with Common Application letters, must be from non-relatives.

Artistic recommendation information—You are required to provide the name and email address for a teacher in an appropriate arts area who will submit a recommendation through your Artistic Profile. Only one letter is required although you may choose up to three.

Hard copy recommendation letters–Recommenders may elect to submit hard copies of their letter rather than submitting electronically. Artistic recommenders should use the Undergraduate Arts-Related Recommendation Form and mail their letter to SMTD Admissions. High school counselor and non-artistic teacher recommendations should be mailed directly to the U-M Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Be sure your recommender includes your full name and the program(s) to which you’re applying.

All first-year and external transfer undergraduate applicants should upload a copy of the Personal Essay you wrote for your Common Application. We ask that students upload this to their Artistic Profile in addition to your Common Application so that all relevant faculty and staff have access to this essay.

Audition date preferences—After advancing to the virtual audition/interview stage of the application process (see your program’s pre-screening and audition requirements for details), you will be asked to select an audition/interview date. More information will be released as we continue working with faculty to determine the logistics.

Studio teacher preferences—Applicants applying to certain music programs will be asked to note their first, second, and third studio preferences (if known). Faculty bios & information may be found on our Faculty & Staff Directory.

For details on the pre-screening or portfolio requirements for your program of interest, please see the Auditions & Interviews section.

Unedited means that the recordings have not received any sort of ‘enhancement’.

Allowable Edits

• Global adjustment of balance or levels (to ensure that the volume is acceptable and that the stereo is balanced).
• Trimming the start or end of a recording to remove pauses.
• For videos, adjustment to the image quality–color correction, white balance correction, and image stabilization–are all acceptable.

Not Allowed (not applicable to Composition portfolio submissions; Composition applicants may disregard)

• Reverb, chorus, auto-tune, rhythm correction, or any other effects.
• Any sort of splicing.

For technical support with your Artistic Profile, please email [email protected].