The holidays are over, and performing arts students who want to start classes in the fall need to submit their applications within the next few weeks. Deadlines for some schools have passed already, and several schools have deadlines in late January and early February.

The majority of the remaining colleges' deadlines are set for sometime between now and April 1.

PlaybillEDU.com has the tools to help theatre, music and dance students find the rights school that meets their criteria for location, cost, program offerings and a host of other qualifications.

This handy web tool allows you to search for schools in our database of more than 2,000 programs, compare the results and begin the application process — all on a single website. And, like all Playbill information products, PlaybillEDU is free.

Here is a selection of popular performing arts schools listed with application dates. The dates are for theatre programs only; some schools have different deadlines for the dance and music departments. University of Maryland: Jan. 20
National Theatre School of Canada: Jan. 31
Ithaca: Feb. 1
Indiana University-Bloomington: Feb. 1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Feb. 1
University of Illinois-Chicago: Feb. 16
University of Wisconsin-Madison: March 1
Oberlin: March 15
Wellesley: March 15
Kent State: March 15
University of Arizona: July 1
SUNY Purchase: July 15
Marymount Manhattan University: Rolling Admission

Deadline already passed: Boston University, CalArts, Carnegie-Mellon, Cal State/LA, College Conservatory of Music, Boston University, Dartmouth, Emerson, Harvard, Manhattan School of Music, McGill, New England Conservatory, New School–Eugene Lange College, Northwestern, NYU, Princeton, Syracuse, UCLA, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Texas-Austin, Williams. (Some of these schools will consider late applications if room remains.)

What You Need to Do Now:

Log on to PlaybillEDU.com and create a free account.

Follow directions to search for schools that are in the parts of North America where you want to study, that are in your price range, that have the programs you want, etc. PlaybillEDU will generate a list of schools that meet your requirements.

Prioritize the resulting list of schools.

Apply for financial aid through FAFSA.

Use PlaybillEDU’s “My PlaybillEDU” feature to track your choices and meet deadlines.

On PlaybillEDU, look up requirements for essays, letters of recommendation and fees for each school.

Complete those requirements with the help of counselors, parents and PlaybillEDU itself.

Complete the application and submit online or through the mail. Many schools waive application fees if you apply online.

On PlaybillEDU, look up requirements for auditions and portfolios.

Schedule an audition/portfolio review online or via phone.

Prepare audition and portfolio material.

Perform your audition or portfolio and, where required, your faculty interview.

Apply for financial aid from the individual school.

Wait for acceptance letters or emails to arrive. They generally are sent within one month of submitting an application.

Make your choice and reply within the specified time (generally another month).

Go to college, have a great time, get a great education and make wonderful theatre, music and dance.