Parsons Acceptance Rate | Requirements, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA, & Admissions in 2024

Here in this blog post, you will find all the details about the Parsons acceptance rate, including the requirements and how to get in.

With its location in New York City, one of the most dynamic and interesting cities in the world, Parsons is one of the top design schools in the country.

The acceptance rate is the first factor to consider if you want to attend Parsons.

A challenging, multidisciplinary curriculum and a “learn by doing” philosophy benefits students.

Over 90% of classes have less than 20 people, making for a small-group learning atmosphere.

Students applying to Parsons have a good chance of being accepted if they match the admissions criterion because the university has a 35% acceptance rate, which indicates that admissions are slightly selective.

However, applicants should not believe that admission is guaranteed due to the Parsons acceptance rate.

The first-year curriculum at Parsons is one of its benefits.

All BFA applicants take the same course sequence, intended to give students a solid foundation in the methods, skills, and abilities used in all types of art and design.

To choose a major and professional path after Year 1, each student closely collaborates with an advisor. Interior design, product design, and communication design are just a few of the 11 BFA concentrations available to students.

What to know about Parsons

One major factor Parsons boasts about is a degree program that combines creativity and entrepreneurship is the BBA in Strategic Design & Management.

It is especially appealing to pursue a BFA in integrated design.

Urban design, fashion, and service design are topics covered in the classroom.

The program’s graduates start their careers as consultants in their respective fields.

Each Parsons student will have completed a paid or academic internship by completing their BFA.

Students work on various jobs and design projects during their placements at HBO, Nike, the International Rescue Committee, and other well-known companies.

Through these internships, they are equipped to succeed in their careers once they graduate.

Finally, the new school comprises seven colleges, with Parsons being the most populous.

What is the Parsons Acceptance Rate in 2024?

Notably, about 50.7% of applicants are accepted at Parsons. This means 51 applicants are admitted out of 100 applicants.

7,632 undergraduates are enrolled at The New School, the parent institution of Parsons.

Nearly a third of students are international, hailing from more than 115 different nations.

The Admission Committee determines the kind of applicants that Parsons accepts in more ways than one.

Most of the “weight” in the admissions process is placed on a few factors.

In particular, the Common Application essay response receives extra attention from the application readers.

The latter is optional; however, we strongly advise pupils to finish it.

Additionally, Parsons seeks to recruit gifted authors, thinkers, and innovators.

The components of the Parsons Challenge online portfolio, which shall be examined in depth in the coming sections, are heavily weighted in favor of BFA candidates.

While a candidate’s transcripts, test results, and letters of recommendation are unquestionably important, the Admission Committee can better judge a candidate’s potential for success in Parsons’ educational setting by looking at the application’s more creative and open-ended components.

What is Parsons’s Transfer Acceptance Rate in 2024?

Parsons is exceptionally selective due to its commitment to design, with a transfer acceptance rate of just over 15%.

Applications must be accompanied by a high school transcript and SAT or ACT results.

A live audition to showcase the applicant’s design skills must be scheduled at the institution by applicants who have accepted their applications.

The university’s website contains important information and the admissions offices’ locations for those interested.

Due to the 2-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio at Parsons, students receive a personalized, one-on-one education.

Furthermore, there are degrees in design and drawing, including bachelor’s, master’s, and certificates of professional study.

Students are taught drawing, design, and the art of a great design performance in addition to symphonic training, which is still a focus of the institute.

Is Parsons hard to get into?

The Parsons School of Design should be seriously considered by creative students committed to pursuing a profession in design.

Parsons School of Design has a rigorous admissions procedure, so if you meet the requirements, you stand a good chance of being accepted.

The school has the highest national ranking among design schools in the 2021 QS World Rankings!

Approximately 85% of all New School students get financial help, and a sizable portion (more than 2,000) receive work-study grants.

Parsons uses scholarships, grants, fellowships, and stipends to supplement its financial aid offerings.

Additionally, Parsons provides work-study opportunities, grants, loans, and veteran initiatives.

Merit scholarships are available to all accepted students at Parsons automatically.

Because early-action applicants are notified of their admission status many months before regular decision applicants, they can relax a little during their senior year and concentrate on ending the year strong.

Mid-December marks the distribution of fall early action admission notifications, mid-March marks the publication of spring regular decision decisions, and November marks the start of a rolling distribution of fall early action admission notifications.

Does Parsons Require Test Scores in 2024?

No minimum SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to the Parsons School of Design, nor is there a required grade point average.

However, there is some competition for admission, and the institution makes the GPA and test-score range for accepted students public.

Therefore, prospective applicants are advised to take the SAT or ACT if interested in applying to the Parsons School of Design.

More crucially, a compelling application is necessary for success.

Parsons SAT Requirements

Although The New School as a whole and Parsons School of Design have not disaggregated their test scores, we can presume that the test window has similar ranges.

The incoming students’ scores on the combined SAT Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing portions varied from 1150 to 1380.

The New School (and thus, Parsons) does not require the submission of SAT or ACT results as part of the application process.

However, if a student thinks their results will increase the strength of their application, they can still choose to submit them.

Parsons ACT Requirements

Although The New School as a whole and Parsons School of Design have not disaggregated their test scores, we can presume that the test window has similar ranges.

The typical ACT composite range of 25 to 30 is now published by The New School, which is thought to be relatively high yet doable.

What are the Admission Requirements for Parsons in 2024?

The admission requirements for Parsons are stated below;

For domestic applicants in the United States, there is a $50 charge (or $75 for overseas applicants).

Official high school transcripts, two letters of recommendation, one from a teacher and one from a counselor, and any college transcripts (if the student is applying as a transfer).

All applicants whose mother tongue is not English must present their most recent English language competency test results (from the past two years). The TOEFL is usually acceptable.

BFA applicants must present an 8–12 slide portfolio to the admissions committee. Students are encouraged to showcase their breadth of skills and willingness to take creative risks and experiment. The slides can contain a variety of media.

While the portfolio emphasizes past work, the Parsons Challenge encourages applicants to produce fresh visual work motivated by a piece from their portfolios.

A 500-word essay detailing the conceptualization and inspiration behind the new piece should be submitted with it.

Transfer Requirements for Parsons

Every year, Parsons School of Design accepts two transfer undergraduate students.

This is a relatively small amount of transfer, given the school size.

A live in-person design exhibition is one of the transfer requirements for admission to Persons.

As a part of the application process, several departments also ask for “screening material.”

Additional information is available on the “Programs of Study” part of the school’s official website.

Parsons School of Design GPA Requirements in 2024

It is important to note that no required grade point average is necessary for admission to the Parsons School of Design.

However, there is some competition for admission, and the institution makes the GPA and test-score range for accepted students public.

Before enrolling at Parsons School of Design, 31% of accepted students maintained a GPA of 3.75 to 4.0, which equates to receiving As in most, if not all, of their high school courses.

The GPA range for most first-year students who entered Parsons was between 3.25 and 3.75. Only 8% of those accepted had a cumulative GPA in the 2.5 to 2.99 range.

How to Apply to Parsons

Candidates for the Parsons School of Design begin the application process by sending The New School their Common Application.

If a candidate can demonstrate their veteran status, Fulbright Scholar status, or affiliation with organizations like the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and AmeriCorps, to mention a few, a fee of $50 for domestic applicants in the United States (or $75 for international applicants) may be avoided.

The required essays, one of the most important components of the Parsons application, will now be the focus of your attention.

The Admissions Committee mandated two prompts last year.

Students are asked to describe what they like about Parsons and what societal issue or construct they hope to improve through their academic studies at The New School in 200–400 words.

Alternatives to Parsons

Fashion Institute of Technology
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
New York University
School of Visual Arts
University of California, Los Angeles
Otis College of Art and Design

Also Read: Clarkson University Acceptance Rate | Requirements, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA, & Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to get into the Parsons School of Design?

50.7% of applicants are accepted to Parsons, The New School for Design. 51 out of every 100 applications are accepted.
This demonstrates the school’s medium level of selection.
The school is more lenient than other colleges, but they still expect you to satisfy their GPA and SAT/ACT criteria.

Is Parsons a top-tier institution?

This aim is still carried out by the school’s ground-breaking academic programs, which have elevated Parsons to the top design school in the United States and among the top three worldwide.

Precisely what makes Parsons unique?

With the aid of its 41 university labs and research centers, the institution has generated cutting-edge scholarship for over a century.
Fashion design, interior design, advertising, graphic design, and lighting design are just a few of the fields in which Parsons was the first to offer courses.

What is the status of Parsons?

According to the QS World Rankings, the undisputed global guide to the best universities and colleges, Parsons is currently the best art and design school in the nation and ranks #3 globally for the fifth consecutive year.
This energy permeates real-world learning across disciplines.

Where do students at Parsons hang out?

Students typically date outside of school. You can attend an art gallery opening on a Saturday night, watch a movie, shop in Times Square or Soho (which is particularly lively at night), and hang out in Union Square.
Union Square is where everyone usually congregates, two blocks from the Parsons building and some dorms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Parsons School of Design should be seriously considered by creative students who are committed to pursuing a profession in design.

Considering that the school has the highest national ranking among design schools in the 2021 QS World Rankings.

This should be one of the main factors before sending an application.

Approximately 85% of all New School students get financial help, and a sizable portion (more than 2,000) receive work-study grants.

Additionally, Parsons provides work-study opportunities, loans, military programs, and grants.

Merit scholarships are given to every student accepted to Parsons.

Due to their early action program, Parsons is another school for creative students to consider applying to.

Therefore, applying to Parsons is a no-brainer, given what the vibrant New York City region offers its creatively inclined students!

Parsons Acceptance Rate | Requirements, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA, & Admissions