You must submit letters of recommendation as part of your application.


Once you create an application account and begin your application to CalArts, you should plan to request letters of recommendation through the application.


Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required for all undergraduate (BFA) programs. At least one recommendation should be written by a person who understands your artistic work, such as a performance instructor or art teacher.

The following graduate (MFA, MA, DMA) programs require three letters of recommendation: MFA Choreography, MFA Film Directing, MFA Theater Directing, and all graduate programs within the School of Music. All other graduate programs require two letters of recommendation. 

Submission of Letters of Recommendation

We request that you submit the requests for your letters of recommendation through the online application, as it will allow you to track when we receive your requested letters.

Only if this is not possible, you may download the Letter of Recommendation Form (pdf) and have your recommender send their letters by mail to the Office of Admissions. Please choose only one method – either through the online application (preferred) or by mail – per recommender. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted via credentialing services such as Parchment or Naviance.

Mailed letters of recommendation should be sent to:

CalArts Office of Admissions
24700 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
United States of America

Please note, letters of recommendation must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translated document.