Are you ready for Conway?  We look for applicants with a well-rounded background, able to perform at a graduate level, balancing design theory with concrete site analysis to develop sustainable solutions.

Who should apply?

Conway students come from very diverse backgrounds, encompass a wide age range, and bring a passionate commitment to sustainable design. There is no prerequisite field of study.  However, applicants should show ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and to achieve, after instruction, competent design expression through drawings and presentations. Good writing skills are also required. Since the program involves a great deal of public speaking, applicants must be fluent in English.

Entering Conway students must have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, and must show capability to work in an accelerated program by documenting maturity and success in both academic and work situations.

Conway attracts self-directed learners who learn best in an applied program structured around real projects at range of scales. Our collaborative and rigorous curriculum requires highly motivated students who are willing to engage in team work, have a profound respect for the natural world and the human beings who inhabit it, and are eager to put their personal values into positive action during the school year and afterward.

There are no part-time students at Conway; those who attend must be able to immerse themselves fully for ten months. Our concentrated ten-month graduate degree is very attractive to those with backgrounds in the natural sciences who want to work in landscape restoration, and to those who are practicing architects, planners, and engineers who want to design more sensitively with the land.

How to apply

Because of the intimate scale and intensive nature of the Conway program, the application procedure requires a substantial commitment of time from both the applicant and school staff.

Your application must include:

• The application form and written responses to seven essay questions;
• Official academic transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning;
• Three letters of reference;
• Current resume; and
• $50 application fee.

You may include a design portfolio, but that is optional. Conway will schedule a personal interview with faculty at the school once the application is complete.

Our application form can be filled out on-line and submitted by email.

When to apply

Conway accepts students through a rolling admissions process.  The application deadline is March 15 for admission the following fall, but decisions can be made well prior to that deadline. Applications received after that date will be considered if the class has not been filled.

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to visit the school, either during a scheduled information session or at another time, before taking the time to complete the written application. This provides an opportunity to talk with students, review student work, speak with faculty and learn about school philosophy and operations. Interviews may be scheduled subsequently.

Notification of acceptance

Conway will notify the applicant of the admissions decision by mail, usually within several weeks of the interview. If an application is received after the next class is filled, it will be held for review in the event that a vacancy occurs, or the application can be applied to the following academic year.

Once accepted, we send an enrollment agreement to be signed by the prospective student. This agreement, accompanied by a deposit, admits the applicant to full participation in the activities of the school for the school year. The academic term begins the day after Labor Day, and classes are held through late June (with the exception of a two-week break in late December and a two-week spring break). Students must complete all academic and project work before graduation.