Application

Candidates are asked to answer three of the following essay prompts. All candidates will be asked to answer Prompt #1. Each candidate can choose their other two prompts to answer. Candidates should choose prompts that best allow them to introduce themselves to our admissions team. Essay answers will be submitted as part of the application process in the application portal.

Prompt #1

ASMSA is a community of academically and artistically motivated young people from throughout the state. What do you hope to get from the ASMSA experience? How do you plan to contribute to the ASMSA community through your interests, background, or experiences?

Prompt #2

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, were you able to ask for help, and what did you learn from the experience?

Prompt #3

Felicia Day tells us “Your qualification for finding a place to belong is enthusiasm and passion…No one should feel lonely or embarrassed about liking something.” (Felicia Day, You're Never Weird on the Internet) What is something you are deeply interested in?

Prompt #4

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Prompt #5

What song or piece of art would best represent your life story? Why?

ASMSA's application process requires the submission of online forms by the student's current teachers and counselor. The student is able to email each of these forms to the appropriate individual through the online application portal. Each form should require less than ten minutes to complete.

Applicants must request three teacher recommendations, one each from the student's current or most recent math, science, and English teachers, as well as a school discipline and attendance form to be completed by the student's current counselor or principal. Students interested in applying to the Visual Arts and Design Program of Distinction (P.O.D.) are also encouraged to have an art teacher submit a teacher recommendation form.

Please ensure you provide these individuals with sufficient notice so that their portions of the application can be completed in a timely manner.

We appreciate the time and insights of these educators as we work together to ensure Arkansas students receive appropriately challenging learning opportunities.

ASMSA's application process requires the submission of the student's transcript including first semester of the current school year. At the start of the second semester, the student is able to email instructions for uploading the transcript to their school counselor through the online application portal.

Students must also submit an ACT or SAT score report with a qualifying score. Students are able to submit their ACT score to ASMSA through their MY ACT account by using our ACT code of 8112. Students may also take a picture or screenshot of their score report from the ACT/SAT website and upload it into the application portal. Please ensure the report clearly displays the student's full name, test date, and subscores.

Application

Join Our Community of Learning

Instructions for the Applicant

Essay Prompts

Online Recommendation Forms

Uploading Student's Transcript and ACT Score Report

Additional Information

Important Dates