Pre-College Programs

Below is a list of our Partner programs available to our Summer 2025 Fellows. Please review all below program overviews with dates and links to further information, as well eligible ages for each program. Applicants are asked to list preferred programs on their application and should list only programs suitable to their grade/age.

All tuition dues, necessary supplies, travel fees, and housing fees will be underwritten for (CWC) Fellows.

Immerse yourself in boundless creativity with the Academy of Art University's Pre-College Three-Week Intensive program in San Francisco. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this hands-on, project-based experience is designed to ignite your passion and transform the way you think about art and design. Guided by expert faculty, you'll explore your creative potential through workshops, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions tailored to your skill level. For aspiring fashion designers, this program offers an opportunity to dive into the world of style and innovation. You'll explore foundational skills, sketch live models draped in couture, experiment with dynamic printing techniques, and create your unique creative vision.

PROGRAM DATES: JUNE 16th – JUNE 25th, 2025, ON-CAMPUS

ELIGIBILITY: All current high school students are eligible to apply

*High School seniors graduating before 6/16/2025 are not eligible

 For more information, please visit:

https://www.academyart.edu/academics/pre-college-art-experience/

Situated in the heart of New York City, FIT's pre-college program offers 10-day classes catering to students in grades 9-12. The program is a valuable opportunity for those in the metro New York area, allowing for easy commuting from home or other accommodations. Taught by FIT professors, many of whom are industry professionals and FIT alumni, the curriculum focuses on Accessories Design, Fashion Design ( both sewing and art-based), Fashion Business, and Portfolio Development.

PROGRAM DATES:

- 10-day classes: July 7th - 22nd, 2025

- Remote or In-person options available

HOUSING:

Students are not provided with housing, making it an ideal choice for local students.

ELIGIBILITY:

The program welcomes students from all high school grades, including rising 9th graders and freshly graduated seniors. It's an inclusive opportunity for a diverse range of students.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.fitnyc.edu/academics/precollege/classes/high-school-summer-live/index.php

At Summer of Art, you will have the unique opportunity to develop your artistic skills as you explore specific art and design pathways at one of the nation's top art and design colleges. The program is ideal for experienced young artists interested in deepening their skills, as well as students with minimal or informal art training. This program is held on-campus in Los Angeles California. Coursework includes demonstrations, hands-on learning, lectures, and critiques in a chosen Specialization and/or Drawing Studio. Upon successfully completing the program, students will receive three college credits.

PROGRAM DATES: JULY 7th - AUGUST 1st, 2025, IN-PERSON

HOUSING: Students will be living in Residential Dorms

ELIGIBILITY: Students who are 14.5 to 19 years of age

For more information, please visit:

https://www.otis.edu/summer-art

Join a diverse group of creative thinkers and makers who share a passion for art and design at CCA's Pre-College. The program is open to all interested participants, those with little art and design experience and those with advanced skills. This summer’s Pre-College will offer an interactive in-person residential program on our San Francisco campus. All students will receive 3 college credits for their work during the four-week session. The Fashion Design program includes three design projects, field trips, and guest speakers. The creative fashion design process is introduced and explored through gathering inspiration, developing a dynamic sketchbook, design development through traditional and experimental approaches, fashion illustration, pattern-making, and sewing. At the end of this course, each student has a tactile design portfolio from 2D work and 3D sewn garments based on their own designs.

PROGRAM DATES: July 7th -August 1st, 2025, IN-PERSON (4 WEEKS)

HOUSING: Students can live on campus in CCA’s residential hall, or local students may commute to campus daily.

ELIGIBILITY: Pre-College is a summer art and design program for high school students who have just completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year. Students must be at least 15 by July 12 but not older than 18 by August 2.

For more information: https://www.cca.edu/pre-college

RISD Pre-College offers rising high school juniors and seniors the chance to experience life as a RISD undergrad. For five weeks you’ll follow a college-level curriculum with day-long studio classes, critiques and projects. You’ll work alongside hundreds of other creative, highly motivated students from around the world who will challenge, inspire and encourage you to push your limits and produce your best work. You’ll live like a RISD student, access renowned resources and instructors, strengthen your portfolio and forever change the way you approach art and design.

PROGRAM DATES:

Pre-College: JUNE 28th - AUGUST 2nd, 2025, ON-CAMPUS

ELIGIBILITY: You must be in high school between 10th and 11th grade or 11th and 12th grade during the summer of 2025. Ages 16-18 years old (born between August 1, 2006 and June 28, 2009). Students who are rising juniors and will be 16 years old by October 1, 2025 may still apply.

HOUSING: Students will be living in Residential Dorms

For more information, please visit:

https://precollege.risd.edu/about-pre-college/

This challenging four-week program awards college credit to rising high school seniors who are ready for a university experience. Students enroll in two college-level classes and have the opportunity to build or enhance their portfolios. Whether attending in Atlanta or Savannah, all SCAD Rising Star participants utilize university spaces — from classrooms and computer labs to studios and production suites — in the development and completion of class assignments. By successfully completing these courses, participants earn college credits toward a SCAD degree or may transfer credits to other accepting institutions. Coursework offered in 2025 within Fashion Design includes Introduction to Textiles, Fashion Aesthetics & Style, and Fashion Technology.

PROGRAM DATES: JUNE 29th – JULY 25th, 2025, ON-CAMPUS ATLANTA OR SAVANNAH

HOUSING: Students will be living in Residential Dorms

ELIGIBILITY: Current high school juniors

For more information, please visit:

https://www.scad.edu/academics/pre-college-programs/scad-rising-star

Study art and design with Parsons' world-class faculty while experiencing the creative inspiration of New York City in our academically rigorous and artistically stimulating three-week, three-credit intensive program. Our fully immersive courses are tailored to high-schoolers preparing to apply for college and feature thought-provoking project-based learning, art and design field trips, and industry guest speakers. Whether you reside on campus or commute, you'll have opportunities to participate in supervised extracurricular activities in the evenings and on weekends that focus on fashion, art and design, exploration of the city, and socialization. Parsons Academy features several fashion-focused courses including: Fashion Design: Sewing & Construction, Fashion Design: Visual Communication, and Fashion: Styling. Students will benefit from small class sizes, thought-provoking, skill-building, project-based learning, participation in unique field trips, special guest lectures, and portfolio reviews.

PROGRAM DATES:

New York Summer Intensive Studies :

Session II: JULY 7th - 25th, 2025 ON-CAMPUS

HOUSING: Students will be living in Residential Dorms

ELIGIBILITY: High school students ages 16 through 18

For more information, please visit:

Program Description:

https://cpe.newschool.edu/youth-and-pre-college/parsons-new-york-summer-intensive-studies/