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Oakland School for the Arts

Oakland School for the Arts

Internal Transfers Information

This process is for current OSA students who wish to switch artistic pathways.
 

OSA Arts Pathway Transfer Process (2025/26)


Requirements: 
  • Audition requirements by pathway are available here
  • TO APPLY - Students must complete the Arts Pathway Internal Transfer Application.  
    • Students must use their oakarts.org email to complete the application. 
  • Internal Transfer Application Submission Window: Nov. 3, 2025 - Nov. 21, 2025

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION: November 21, 2025


Overview and Dates 

Auditions: Wednesday, January 14, 2026. between 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm.*
*Check pathway requirements for portfolio submissions. The deadline to submit a portfolio is January 7th, 2026. 

Basic Transfer Requirements:  if you do not meet these requirements, you may not be eligible to transfer.

  • Must be in good academic and artistic standing.
  • Students attend all current arts classes daily and complete assignments. 
  • Conduct and engagement in the current pathway reflects student’s commitment to the arts program at OSA.
  • Students are scored using a common rubric.
  • Students must be recommended by their current arts faculty.
  • Once offers are accepted or declined, students cannot change until the 26/27 school year.

Shadowing 
If you indicated on your transfer form that you wanted to shadow your desired arts pathway and meet the basic transfer requirements, you will be contacted with the date and time of your shadow. Shadowing is not required.

Questions about the Audition Requirements 
Please make sure to read the audition requirements for the arts sub-pathway and contact the chair of the sub-pathway with any questions. Chair contact information is available here.  If you’re shadowing, you should make sure to touch base with the chair of the arts pathway you’re auditioning for.

Acceptance and Your Spot at OSA 
If you’re accepted into a new arts sub-pathway(and there is space), you’ll begin the new pathway on the first day of the 2026-27 academic year.  You’ll end the current academic year in your current pathway. If you’re not accepted into another pathway,  you stay where you are. However, if you accept a spot in a new arts pathway, you cannot return to your old one without another audition next year.  You must accept or decline by the established deadline.

Denies and Waitlists
Current OSA students are given the highest preference when it comes to enrollment. However, there are two reasons why you may not be able to join your desired pathway: 
  • You did not satisfy the audition requirements, or you did not score high enough in the audition.
  • There is not enough space in that arts pathway and you will be placed on an internal waitlist.

If we have more internal transfers than we have space, we will do a random drawing of students to determine who will get a slot. OSA students who satisfied the audition requirements, but don’t get a space, will be put at the top of that pathway waitlist.  

Questions about the process - email enrollment@oakarts.org