Emerson LA applications are open during the fall semester, typically between September and mid-December for the Fall and Spring semesters of the following academic year. Applicants will typically receive notification of their acceptance status in early to mid-February. (Please note: Applicants must have a minimum of 48 credits completed to apply.)
- Undergraduate applicants apply in the fall of their junior year for admission during their senior year, or the fall of their sophomore year for admission during their junior year. Seniors will be given preference over juniors, regardless of major or GPA.
- Qualifications: The Los Angeles Program is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students in good academic standing. Students must expect to have a minimum of 64 credits completed by the time they attend ELA. The minimum required cumulative grade point average to enroll in the ELA program and to participate in internships for credit is 2.7.
- Evaluation Criteria: The ELA application is a merit based application system. An applicant's GPA and class standing will be taken into consideration, as well as online recommendations given by at least 2 Emerson professors of the student's choosing and an prompted essay written by the student.
- Application: Student applications will be evaluated based on:
- The applicant's GPA and class standing
- A cover letter and resume about the student’s preparation and reasons for attending ELA
- A brief reflection on the student’s commitment and involvement in the College’s Equity, Access, and Social Justice (EASJ) initiatives
- Two recommendations (at least one from an Emerson professor)
- Selection Committee: Applications are evaluated by a committee of staff from both the Boston and Los Angeles campuses.
- Cover Letter and Resume: Each applicant should take the time to compose a professional resume that provides a comprehensive overview of their educational background, work experience, skills, and accomplishments. Additionally, applicants will be asked to use a series of prompts to compose a one-page cover letter introducing themselves and discussing their interest in and preparedness for the ELA program, as well as their plans if accepted. There should be no grammar or spelling errors. Students will be evaluated on the quality of thought and expression demonstrated in each document submitted.
- Recommendations: 2-3 Emerson College professors, chosen by the applicant, will answer a series of questions pertaining to the student on an online recommendation form.
- Term: Applicants may apply for one semester only: Applying for multiple semesters is not an option. Make sure you apply for the correct semester, as changing terms at a later date will move your application to the bottom of the waitlist for that term.
- Decisions: will be announced by February 1st.
- Program Deposit: Admitted students must submit a nonrefundable and nontransferable program deposit of $300 within two weeks of notification of acceptance. After the deposit deadline, spaces are not held for admitted applicants without a confirmation deposit.
Tips for a Successful Application
Cover Letter and Resume
- Familiarize yourself as best you can with the ELA program and the kinds of courses and internships that will be available to you. Academic Advising is an excellent resource.
- Review previous ELA course offerings to prepare your academic plan for ELA
- Read the prompt carefully, multiple times. Make sure you understand what it is asking before you begin your response.
- Take ample time to compose and revise your response.
- Logically organize your response and make sure it addresses each part of the prompt thoughtfully and thoroughly.
- Use specific examples from your time at Emerson to support your answers in each part of the prompt.
- Proofread your response carefully and fix any spelling or grammatical errors before submitting.
Recommendations
Two recommenders, chosen by the applicant, will provide a brief evaluation of student performance through an online recommendation form. At least one recommendation must be from an Emerson College professor who can speak to the applicant’s academic aptitude and performance. Other recommenders can include:
- Student employment supervisors
- Internship supervisors
- Organization faculty advisors
Request your recommendations early and follow up to make sure they are completed by the application deadline. It is students’ responsibility to make sure recommendations are completed on time. Applications with missing recommendations are considered incomplete.
New Transfer Student Applicants
Because you do not yet have a cumulative GPA at Emerson, you may not be able to access the online application form. Please email la [at] emerson.edu (la[at]emerson[dot]edu) if you encounter this difficulty.
New transfer students may choose an instructor from their previous institution as one of their recommenders. The second recommender must be from Emerson College (faculty or staff).
New transfer students will also need to submit an official copy of their previous college transcripts to the Education Abroad and Domestic Programs Office. Please request that it be mailed to:
Education Abroad and Domestic Programs
Emerson College
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
International Applicants
In order to pursue a course of study at a U.S. institution of higher education, you need to maintain an appropriate immigration status. Please consult with the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) at oisa [at] emerson.edu (oisa[at]emerson[dot]edu) for requirements and procedures.