PROCEDURES

Please follow the procedures described on the following pages carefully. All steps and deadlines in the application process are required for admission. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. The entire process includes the following:

1. Deliver an application to Oakland School for the Arts by (or before) 5:00 p.m. on the day of the application deadline. Applications sent by U.S. Mail must be postmarked by the date of the deadline. EARLY SUBMISSION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. After receipt of the application and verification that the student has met the minimum admission requirement, the student will be scheduled and notified of an audition time.

2. Audition preparation guidelines are listed under AUDITION REQUIREMENTS and should be carefully followed. If a student becomes ill and is unable to audition, please contact the school immediately. Written verification documenting the illness from a doctor must be presented to the school within three (3) business days of the student’s originally scheduled audition date. A new audition date and time will be scheduled for the student by the school ONLY if there are additional audition dates and times available.

3. Audition results will be sent no later than two weeks after the audition date. When all available spaces have been filled, the names of students who qualify for reconsideration will be placed on an applicant waiting list in the event that additional openings become available at a later date. You will be notified if your student is on this list.

4. A parent/guardian may request the opportunity to appeal an admission decision by submitting a written request to the Executive Director no more than ten (10) business days after the date on the decision letter. The committee will only hear an appeal if the basis of the appeal is determined to be an inequity or technical problem that occurred during the audition. An appeal against the panel’s judgment of artistic merit will not be heard.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

1. You may download an application from the website www.oakarts.org or pick up an application at OSA, 530 18th Street Oakland CA 94612.
2. Applications must be received (if hand-delivered or sent through the CPS mail run) or postmarked (if sent by U.S. mail) no later than 5:00p.m. on the date of the deadline at the following address:
Oakland School for the Arts, 530 18th Street, Oakland CA 94612
3. All information on the application must be complete, current, and accurate. The parent or guardian must sign the application in order for the student to audition.
4. Applicants may audition for no more than TWO areas. If a student applies for more than one arts area, 2 applications should be submitted per student.
5. The following materials must be submitted before a student will be eligible to audition:
A    Application For Admission available here or online here.
B    Recent photograph of applicant
C    Essay
D    Arts Teacher Recommendation (available here)

The recommendation form is to be filled out by a teacher chosen by the student applicant. The teacher should be familiar with the student’s artistic potential and the degree of his/her commitment to the art form. The completed form should be placed in an envelope, sealed, and signed across the seal. The student should bring the sealed envelope with them to their audition, if it was not submitted with the full application.

Parents are welcome to accompany their auditioning child on the scheduled date; however, parents will not be allowed in the audition or interview room. Specific audition requirements for each arts discipline are described in the AUDITION REQUIREMENTS to ensure the student will be fully prepared for his/her audition. Each requirement must be met. Auditions are scored using a rubric, and an incomplete audition presentation will result in a loss of points.
The audition adjudication panel for each arts discipline includes, but is not limited to, at least one of each of the following: a community arts partner, and two OSA representatives.

On our Audition Day:

Step 1- Registration
Step 2- Holding and warm up room
Step 3- The audition and interview

Notification of results:

•    Within 2-3 weeks, student will be contacted by mail with an admissions decision.
•    Applicants are conditionally accepted, waitlisted, or denied.
•    Accepted students confirm their space in the class by returning the Student-Parent-School contract and the letter of intent.

Final Acceptance

•    Accepted students will be scheduled for an enrollment meeting and placement test to discuss the school’s goals and expectations and to allow families to ask specific questions.
•    Completion of registration forms.
•    Completion of class schedule.