QUICK ANSWER
A list of “key Parsons professors” goes out of date quickly, and it is not what Parsons asks applicants to show. Parsons is a large school, with about 5,100 degree-seeking students and 35% international students, organised into five schools within The New School. Faculty research matters in one specific place: the second Parsons essay, which asks why The New School and your programme fit you.
So research faculty the way the essay needs it: through the current programme and school pages, by the work they make and the courses they teach, not by a name to drop.
FIVE SCHOOLS · 1
Where Faculty Research Fits the Application
| Part of the application | Role of faculty research |
|---|---|
| Portfolio (8–12 pieces) | Indirect: shows the direction a programme’s teaching would develop |
| Essay 1 (300–400 words) | An issue or system you want to work on; faculty work can show who works on it |
| Essay 2 (300–400 words) | Why The New School and your programme; the place to show you know what the programme teaches |
| Scholarship review | Made from the application itself; no separate form |
From Parsons How to Apply and The New School pages, checked October 2026.
FIVE SCHOOLS · 2
How to Research Parsons Faculty
- Start from your programme page and the school it belongs to, for example the School of Fashion or the School of Art, Media, and Technology.
- Look at what faculty make and publish, not titles or rankings.
- Read current course listings, which show what is taught this year.
- Connect one idea, not one name, to your own work in Essay 2.
- Check the date on any faculty list; staff change from year to year.
FOR KOREAN STUDENTS
An essay that names a professor without engaging their work reads as research done for show. Write about the programme’s approach and how your work fits it. See building a Parsons portfolio and the same approach for CalArts.
FIVE SCHOOLS · 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I name a Parsons professor in my essay?
Only if their work genuinely connects to yours; Essay 2 asks why the programme fits you, not who teaches there.
Where can I find current Parsons faculty?
On the programme and school pages of The New School website.
How big is Parsons?
Parsons reports about 5,100 degree-seeking students, 35% of them international.
What do the Parsons essays ask?
Two essays of 300–400 words: an issue or system you want to work on, and why The New School and your programme.
Does faculty research affect scholarships?
Parsons reviews scholarships from the whole application; a well-researched Essay 2 is part of that application.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students, including 63 at Parsons. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
From Parsons “About” and How to Apply pages at The New School. Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Parsons Portfolio Guide · CalArts Faculty · Parsons Aid · Parsons and The New School · Royal Blue Results