BY ELIZABETH HEATH

f you’re applying to a visual or performing arts school, of course your art portfolio, stage reading or musical or dance performance is going to have a huge bearing on whether you get accepted. The creative part of your audition can tell an admissions committee a whole lot about you, it doesn’t tell them everything. In making their decisions, admissions officers need to know each prospective student as a person, not just as an artist or performer. Interview answers factor into final admissions decisions—and can make the difference between a letter of acceptance and a letter that says “thanks anyway.” Interviews also give you a chance to get to know the school and decide if it’s right for you.

Whether your art school interview is via video call or in-person, take some time to prepare. Interview questions vary from school to school, but broadly, they’re designed to help admissions staff understand who you are, what your goals are, and why you’ve chosen to apply to their school.

To help students prepare ahead of time, highly competitive, Boston-based Berklee College of Music posts its admissions interview questions online. Alex Leiva, Assistant Director of Admissions at Berklee, says that the admissions process includes a 15-minute audition with music faculty and a 15-minute interview with admissions staff. “We »

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