The TIMARA Department accepts applications from high school seniors as well as current Oberlin College and Conservatory students. Learn more about the application process for high school seniors. See our ‘Portfolio FAQ’ below to read answers to common questions prospective students have about the creative portfolio required as part of the TIMARA application.
Portfolio FAQ
What is the TIMARA screening portfolio?
The portfolio is a collection of creative projects and research presented with the common application and uploaded to the Audition and Screening Dropbox in the Applicant Portal.
What should I include in my screening portfolio?
Please refer to these guidelines for requirements and upload directions. The TIMARA admissions committee recommends that applicants include documentation (sound recordings, video, scores, visuals) that show a range of creative interests. For example, applicants can include a recording of a piece, a video featuring music for a video, film, or dance, or a recording/video of a music group. The TIMARA committee welcomes and encourages documentation of projects that might be experimental or push beyond the applicant’s current artistic boundaries.
Current Oberlin Students
Current Oberlin College and Conservatory students wishing to major or minor in TIMARA should complete the application process for internal candidates after consulting with the TIMARA department chair. Note that we review internal applicants in the spring. Due to the high volume of external applications we receive, internal applicants may not learn about their status until the end of the spring semester. Internal candidates are therefore encouraged to work with their academic advisors as they register for fall courses to plan for steady degree progress regardless of the outcome of their application.
Interdivisional Minors and Integrative Concentrations
College students can take advantage of TIMARA department resources without changing their major through Oberlin’s interdivisional minors and integrative concentrations, or as a musical studies major with an informal focus in TIMARA.
