Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers for OCSA submissions.
How do I submit an application?
Applicants must create an Applicant Portal in OCSA’s Admissions System. Families with multiple students applying must use an individual, unique email address for each applicant. When creating your account, please enter the student applicant’s first and last name, but the parent’s or guardian’s email address. All admissions information will be sent via email to the primary email address associated with the application. Once an application is submitted, log in to your Applicant Portal to view your status.
What is the application deadline for the 2024-2025 school year?
The deadline to apply for the 2024-2025 school year is January 17, 2024.
How do I check on the status of my child’s application?
Applicant status information can be viewed in your Applicant Portal. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted via email. The email address used to set up your Applicant Portal is the primary email and will be used for all communication from the Admissions Office. Please use a parent's or guardian's email address when setting up your Applicant Portal.
What documentation do I need to include with my application?
OCSA will not request that prospective students submit any student records, including transcripts, grades, birth certificates, individualized education plans, or 504 plans prior to admission at OCSA. For Placement Activities, depending on the conservatory for which you are applying, a prospective student may submit an art portfolio or YouTube link(s), along with the application submission. Please carefully review the Conservatory Placement Activity Guidelines prior to submitting your application.
What document file types can be included in the application submission?
Only PDF, JPEG, and PNG document file types may be included in the application submission. All other file types must be converted into one of these file types to successfully upload into the application. If you need assistance converting a document, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@ocsarts.net or 714.560.0900 ext. 5510 as soon as possible. Please do not wait until the application deadline to request assistance.
How many students apply and how many are offered admission each year?
OCSA currently receives more than 2,000 applications annually. The school is forecasting capacity for approximately 500 new students for the 2024-2025 school year. The majority of available openings are in grades 7 and 9.
Do you offer admission to students mid-year?
Depending on available classroom space, students may be offered admission mid-year. Mid-year offers of admission may be extended to applicants currently on the OCSA waitlist.
Does OCSA provide I-20 paperwork for international students?
No. OCSA does not provide I-20 paperwork necessary to support student visas.
After my child is enrolled at OCSA, will they have to complete the admissions process every year?
No. As long as the student wishes to remain in their current conservatory, they will not have to complete the admission process again.
How will I be notified of my child’s schedule for any in-person components of their conservatory placement activity?
Applicants applying to a conservatory with an in-person Placement Activity component will be scheduled into the first available Placement Activity appointment by the Admissions Office. An email confirming the date, time, and location of the Placement Activity will be sent to the primary email address used to create the Applicant Portal. A reminder email will be sent a few days prior to the appointment. Please be sure to monitor the primary email address used to create your Applicant Portal for important Conservatory Placement Activity information. Please also regularly check spam and junk folders.
Why does my submitted application show “Documents Not Received” highlighted with a Red X?
As part of application processing, all submitted documents must be confirmed as meeting the Placement Activity Guidelines. Checklist Items, such as submitted artwork and YouTube videos, will initially show as “Not Received,” highlighted with a red X. Once the submitted materials have been confirmed as meeting the Placement Activity Guidelines, these Checklist Items will show as “Received,” highlighted with a green checkmark. Placement Activity participation will be recorded and included with the Checklist Items shown in the Applicant Portal. Please be sure your application submission contains all necessary materials listed on the Conservatory Placement Activity Guideline sheet.
What does the conservatory placement activity process entail?
Conservatory Placement Activities provide applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate their art form. Upon completion of the Conservatory Placement Activity, applicants will receive a scored rubric with helpful feedback and a proficiency level from the conservatory staff. Applicants should carefully examine the specific Placement Activity Guidelines for each conservatory. If submissions do not match the Placement Activity Guideline requirements, the final rubric score will be affected. Conservatory Placement Activities may include an in- person experience or a submission of digital materials. In-person Placement Activities may include showcasing prepared materials or prepared performance pieces. When guidelines specify that materials are to be submitted digitally, those materials should be included when the application is submitted on or before January 17, 2024. With the exception of the Arts & Enterprise Conservatory (which does not require a Placement Activity), applicants will only be able to add an entry into the lottery for a conservatory in which they have completed a Placement Activity and met the minimum proficiency level.
Source: OCSA
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