Below is the anticipated timeline for Fall 2026 applications. An confirmed timeline will be posted on September 1, 2025. 

* Applicants will be able to schedule auditions past January 15. We will supply a request form to indicate preferred dates and times.
**Please note: Virtual auditions are only offered for RJAM, Composition, and TAC. Requests must be submitted in December and approved in order to attend a virtual audition. Virtual auditions are scheduled on different dates than the live auditions.

Below is the anticipated timeline for Spring 2026 applications. A confirmed timeline will be posted on September 1, 2025. Please note: it is likely that the following areas will not accept applications for Spring entry: Conducting, Opera Studies, Piano Artist Diploma, String and Piano Chamber Music, and all Voice degree programs. This list will be confirmed and updated on September 1.

Application Fee

A $100 non-refundable application fee is required to officially submit your SFCM application, payable by credit/debit card only. 

Application Fee Waivers

*Current SFCM students and alumni must ensure that SFCM is entered under academic history section of their application in order for the system to automatically waive the application fee. If not included, the fee will not be waived.

For Applicants Not Automatically Waived

Additional Fees

A non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit is required of all students accepted to SFCM to secure their spot. This fee is credited toward the first semester bill. For those who may have concerns about affording the deposit, the Admissions team will be available to offer support and guidance after acceptance.

For a full list of fees for enrolled students, including the enrollment deposit due upon accepting admission, please visit the Tuition and Fees section of our Financial Aid and Affordability page.

Note: Tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 academic year will be updated by April 2025.

Degree Prerequisites

GPA Requirements

SFCM does not have an overall GPA minimum for acceptance. However, applicants with a GPA lower than our minimum listed below at their previous institution are offered admission to the Conservatory with Academic Probation status. In order to have the probation status removed, these students will need to maintain the minimum GPA requirements during their first year and receive additional advising/tutoring. 

All applicants must complete an audition and/or submit a portfolio to be considered for admission to SFCM. Please note that many areas require a pre-screening round with materials uploaded into the application. A portfolio of works is required for the Composition and TAC (Technology and Applied Composition) degree programs.

Applicants are encouraged to connect with their area faculty to discuss the program and/or potentially take a sample lesson.

See the Auditions section of this page for full details.

In this section, we cover the following topics:

• Transcript Types: Unofficial, Final Official, and Mid-Year
• Deadlines and Submission Methods
• Requirements by Degree
• International Schools: Language Requirements and Transcript Evaluations
   

Transcript Type Requirements

Deadlines and Submission

Requirements by Degree

International Schools: Language & Evaluations

The following applies to all students who attended a school outside of the United States, including U.S. domestic students.

Video Essay

All applicants must upload a 3 minute or less video essay for the faculty to get to know you. Please introduce yourself, why you chose SFCM and include anything else you want us to know about you! Past students have talked about where they are from, other musical interests, music they are currently working on, other hobbies, etc. Note that this video submission does not have an affect on admission. 

Written Essay

All applicants must choose two of the four essay prompts to include in their application. Essays should be a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 500 words. Applicants for Technology and Applied Composition and the String and Piano Chamber Music program have additional writing prompts. Please visit the audition repertoire pages for more details.

1. Describe your career goals and how you envision attending SFCM will enable you to achieve these ambitions.
2. At SFCM, we bring people together to better the lives of others through music. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc.
3. At SFCM, we value diversity in all forms. Please describe what diversity means to you and how your lived experience has shaped your path.
4. Our core mission is to transform our students: artistically, intellectually, professionally, and individually. Reflect on an experience that has shaped you in one or more of these areas. 

Summary

Recommenders

Accepted Letter Submission

We accept letters of recommendation only through our application-linked recommendation form. We do not accept recommendation letters via email, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment. Recommenders will receive a link to submit their letter once their applicant has entered their information within their SFCM application. 

How to Submit Letters

*High school counselors may submit recommendation letters on behalf of their faculty through the application linked recommendation form. Please enter the counselor’s email address in place of the faculty member’s so your school counselor can receive the link to submit the recommendation letter.

Test Scores

SAT/ACT

We only require SAT or ACT scores from homeschooled Bachelor of Music applicants. The Conservatory's school code for SAT is 4744; the code for the ACT is 0403. We require the ACT-Science portion of the ACT. If you have questions about this requirement, please connect with us at nccyl@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@ylppa .

AP/IB Scores

Students must order scores from College Board and have them sent directly to the Office of Admissions to be considered for transfer credit. Please visit the Transfer Credit page for more details.

English Proficiency Scores

International students whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores for admissions, unless they qualify for a waiver. Visit the International Applicants page for full details. 

Undergraduate 

Transfer applicants should review the full transfer credit and transfer applicant policies here to understand how credits transfer to SFCM. 

Please note, the class level of an undergraduate transfer student is determined by the Office of Academic Affairs at the time of acceptance into SFCM. The musical level of a transfer student is determined by the faculty at the time of the student's audition (e.g., sophomore, junior, etc.). The academic level is determined by the Office of Academic Affairs based on transfer credits and placement exam results. The student’s expected graduation date is determined by the lower of the two class levels.

Graduate/Postgraduate

SFCM does not accept transfer credit for, or from, post-baccalaureate programs (e.g., M.M., etc.). Credit from completed Bachelor's degrees cannot be applied towards the SFCM undergraduate credit load. Transcripts from all colleges attended are still required to determine academic standing and for accreditation purposes. 
 

Audition Dates

Below are the live audition dates for Fall 2025, dates are subject to change. See the Fall 2025 Scheduling Details drop down for more details. 

All live auditions are held in San Francisco on our campus. Live auditions are required for all Artist Diploma programs, as well as Piano and Strings Chamber Music. Composition, TAC, and RJAM have live Zoom auditions for those who cannot attend. 

Audition Time Sign Up

• Audition Sign-Up: During the week of December 16, applicants will select an audition day and tentative time slot through their Application Status Portal scheduling module. The scheduling module will be accessible to all areas by the end of the day on December 20, 2024. Students should not book travel until they have secured an audition slot through their Application Status Portal scheduling module.
• Prescreen Results: Applicants from pre-screened areas will receive their pre-screening decisions by the end of the day on December 20, 2024.
• Confirmation: Times will be confirmed within two weeks of the audition date (see next section).
• Booking Travel: Students should not book travel until they have secured an audition slot through their Application Status Portal scheduling module.

Time Confirmation and Check In 

• Confirmation Email: Within two weeks of the audition date, the Office of Admissions will send each student a confirmation email with their audition time. For live auditions, the email will also include required check-in details, such as arrival time and warm-up assignments.
• Time Changes: Please be aware that audition times may be adjusted up to two hours before or after the selected tentative time slot. 

Arrive and Departure Time

• Arrival Time: Live on-campus students should be prepared to arrive a minimum of 1.25 hours before their confirmed audition time to check in and access a practice room. More details regarding check-in and requirements will be included in the audition confirmation email.
• Departure Time Warning: Due to potential scheduling changes, audition day delays, and navigating San Francisco, students are strongly discouraged from booking travel within five hours after their original tentative time slot.

The following applicants must attend live on-campus auditions: All Artist Diploma programs, Piano Chamber Music and Strings Chamber Music. 

Fall 2025 Applicants

• Requests: Virtual or recorded auditions are available upon request in mid-December when the scheduling module opens, following the pre-screening decision deadline.
• Zoom: TAC, RJAM, and Composition have required Zoom auditions for those who cannot attend live.

Spring 2025 Applicants

For entry in the Spring semester, audition options are arranged individually via email.

Practice rooms are available to applicants on their audition day and during the assigned warm up time. All applicants will receive a minimum of 45 minutes of warm up time, with transition time built into their audition day schedule between check in and movement to the audition holding space/green room. 

Applicants cannot use practice rooms prior to their audition day or earlier than their assigned warm up time. Current SFCM students must also warm up during their assigned warm up time. The Admissions Office suggests looking into the following companies in San Francisco that may offer practice room rentals: Union Music, SF Community Music Center, Music City Rehearsal, Lennon Studios, Little Mission Studio, and Secret Studios.