APPLICATION MATERIALS
» Pre-College catalog
» Pre-College application form

WHO MAY APPLY

· United States high school students who have finished their sophomore year and who are 16 to 18 years old (born between August 4, 1993 and June 23, 1996)

· international students in the same age range with appropriate visas and a demonstrated proficiency in the English language, as indicated by a TOEFL or IELTS minimum test score of:
>> 93 on the TOEFL Internet-Based (IBT) test,
>> 580 on the TOEFL paper-based (PBT) test,
>> 237 on the TOEFL computer-based (CBT) test,
>> or 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic format) examination.
Note: Should a student be unable to obtain either a TOEFL or IELTS test score in time for application, please refer to International Students for further details.

All applicants who meet the age requirements and demonstrate the ability and desire to benefit from the program, as evidenced by their application materials, are accepted. There are no admission tests or portfolio requirements.

APPLICATION INFORMATION + PROCEDURES

Choosing Majors
Please make your major selection carefully, as changes cannot be accommodated once the application has been received. Majors are assigned in the order of preference indicated by the student on the application form, on a first-come, first-served basis. Because space in majors is limited, first choice selection cannot be guaranteed. Early application increases an applicant's chance of placement in the preferred major.

Applicants are asked to indicate three choices of major. All should be selected with equal care, because an applicant is automatically waitlisted for the first (or subsequent) choice if it is full, and placed in the next available choice. If all three choices are full, the student is notified as quickly as possible and given an opportunity to select another major. The student is also notified if space becomes available in a major for which he or she is waitlisted. If a student forfeits a place in any major when it is offered, whether a first, second or third choice, that decision is final.

VERY IMPORTANT: There can be no changes of major or section once the application has been received.

PROGRAM EXPENSES + FEES

tuition
$4,875 includes basic tuition, but not housing and dining, art supplies or lab, linen, telephone and other special fees.

health services fee
A $150 fee is required for all Pre-College students for access to RISD Health Services. This fee is separate from and unrelated to health insurance. Additional information is available on the Health Services page of the RISD website, or by calling RISD Health Services at 401 454-6625.

housing + dining fee
$2,452 includes residential and dining fees for boarding students.

dining plan for commuters
Commuters are invited to purchase meals individually or in blocks. See Dining Services for details.

program deposit
In order to reserve a seat in the program, all applications postmarked by Monday, April 9 must be accompanied by a nonrefundable deposit of $500 for boarding students or $350 for commuting students. Applications received after April 9 must be accompanied by payment in full. (This amount includes the nonrefundable deposit.)

lab fees
Film/Video and Traditional Photography majors require specific lab fees, to be paid at the time of registration: Film/Video: $200, includes an A/V-rated external FireWire hard drive (that becomes the property of the student). Traditional Photography: $180, includes a $100 deposit for the rental of a darkroom kit, which is refundable upon return of undamaged supplies.

art supplies + presentation materials
Students will need a variety of art supplies and presentation materials (along with appropriate carrying cases) for their courses. Depending on the student's major and approaches taken by different instructors, supplies can sometimes be in excess of $800. Students may wish to bring supplies that they already own to mitigate cost. To this end, a general list of supplies that every student needs will be sent with the student's program forms and documentation. Specific supply lists for classes in the student's major will be sent as soon as they become available. Inevitably, students will need to purchase supplies during the program, and there are several local art supply stores to accommodate these needs. Parents may find it useful to establish a charge account at RISD's own RISD Store, which is located in the heart of campus. Information on charge accounts is included in the program forms and documentation.

other expenses
All costs and fees associated with planned Pre-College Program activities (e.g., museum/venue admissions fees, buses, ferries, etc.) are included with the tuition for the program. However, students are responsible for any sundry purchases during these activities. As with art supplies, all other miscellaneous expenses, such as travel to and from the RISD campus at the start and end of the program (and during excused absences), are the responsibility of the student and their parents or guardians.

SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships (full and partial) are awarded to applicants who can demonstrate significant financial need, artistic and academic ability, potential to contribute to the cultural, intellectual, artistic and other diversity of the program, and interest in and commitment to the program. Scholarship applicants must follow the Scholarship Application requirements and use the Scholarship Application form found on www.risd.edu/pcscholarship. Scholarship applications must be in the mail to the RISD/CE offices, postmarked no later than Friday, March 23.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
RISD welcomes students from around the world to participate in the Pre-College Program. A working knowledge of the English language is required of all students. Therefore, international students whose native language is not English must supply written proof of English proficiency to attend the program - a minimum TOEFL Internet-based (IBT) test score of 93, or 237 on the TOEFL Computer-based (CBT) test, or 580 on the TOEFL Paper-based (PBT) test, or 6.5 on the IELTS Academic format test. If (and only if) a student is unable to obtain either a TOEFL or IELTS test score in time for application, the student must submit a letter, written by one of the student's current teachers or a guidance counselor, on the school's official letterhead, stating that the student's proficiency in English will be sufficient for the Pre-College Program.

All non-US citizens are required to obtain an F-1 student Visa in order to participate in the Pre-College Program. To obtain an F-1 student Visa, all non-US citizens must fill out a Student Visa Information (SVI) form, and must read and sign the International Student Responsibilities (ISR) document (both documents may be downloaded from www.risd.edu/summerinternational). Given this frequently changing area of law, check with the US Consul in your home country to determine the current visa requirements. The SVI form is the first step in applying for the required I-20 certificate and F-1 student visa. The form provides RISD|CE with the information needed to submit an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility which, in turn, is needed for the F-1 student visa. Originals of the completed SVI form and ISR document must accompany complete program application materials and payment in full (including all tuition, fees and housing and dining expenses), and must be received at RISD by April 20. Fill out the forms completely in order to avoid delays in processing. Please see www.risd.edu/summerinternational for FAQ's, forms and application details.

DEADLINE: Given the lengthy processing time within governmental agencies responsible for visas, we strongly encourage you to submit your forms and all required fees as early as possible, before the April 20 deadline. Applicants who miss the deadline risk being denied entry into the United States.

Please contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy with any questions regarding visas. You may also visit the SEVP website, at www.ice.gov/sevis.

APPLICATION + PAYMENT TIMELINE

January: Application processing begins

Friday, March 23: Scholarship application deadline (in the mail and postmarked by this date)

Monday, April 9: Deposit deadline (in the mail and postmarked by this date; after this date, all fees must be paid in full upon application)

Friday, April 20: Student Visa Information form and International Student Responsibilities deadline (for non-US citizens requiring an I-20 certificate and F-1 student Visa)

Monday, May 14: Payment deadline: all balances are due

Applicants who send tuition and housing deposits before Monday, April 9 are billed for the balance. Full payment is due by Monday, May 14. If no statement has arrived as the due date approaches, do not wait for a statement; simply pay the balance due. Applications received after Monday, April 9 must include all tuition and fees in full.

late applications
Late applications are accepted on a space-available basis. Please contact the Pre-College Registration Assistant at 401 454-6204 after May 14 to find out if late applications in particular majors are still being accepted.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

non-scholarship applicants (only) must submit the following:
· a completed Pre-College Application Form, signed by student and parent or guardian
· a 250-word statement written by the student expressing personal reasons for wanting to participate in the program
· one letter of recommendation from a high school art teacher or guidance counselor
· a nonrefundable deposit, due with application: $500 is due from all boarding students; $350 is due from all commuting students
· entire tuition of $4,875 must accompany all applications received after Monday, April 9 (this amount includes the nonrefundable deposit)
· health services fee of $150 must accompany all applications
· entire housing and dining fee of $2,452 must accompany all boarding student applications received after Monday, April 9
Note: Housing request forms are sent once your application is processed.

All non-US citizens must also submit the following:
Note: Forms for non-US citizens and guidelines for submitting materials may be found at www.risd.edu/summerinternational
· a completed Student Visa Information (SVI) form
· a signed International Student Responsibilities (ISR) document
VERY IMPORTANT: Signed originals of these forms are due in our office by April 20, along with all relevant payments and materials.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION
The student and his or her parent or guardian must sign the application form. Applications missing one or both signatures are considered incomplete. Please remember: There can be no changes of major or section once the application has been received.

Applying by Mail
Mail completed application materials and fees to:
Pre-College Applications
RISD|CE
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2787

Payment may be made by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa credit cards We cannot accept debit cards. Make checks payable to RISD|CE. Checks returned for insufficient funds incur a charge of $25.

Applying by Fax
Fax completed application materials to 401 454-6218 (payment by MasterCard or Visa credit cards only).

CONFIRMATION
Confirmations—including confirmation of major—are sent out as applications are determined to be complete and the student has been accepted into the program, usually within several weeks of the receipt of your application. Housing request forms are sent once your application is processed.

PROGRAM FORMS + DOCUMENTATION
All necessary forms, policy documents, check-in details, and other information that is needed prior to the student's arrival on campus will be made available via web download. Students will be notified by email when these items are ready for download. These documents include:

· Student Handbook, containing detailed information about arrival and departure; housing, dining and safety; academic and disciplinary policies and procedures
· Residence halls and food service contracts
· Health Form and Public Safety forms
· Laundry and linen service information
· Checklist of suggested items to bring to campus
· Art supply and purchase permission form

VERY IMPORTANT: All program forms and documentation must be read and responded to prior to the student's arrival on campus for the program. Detailed instructions will be provided with each form. Students cannot attend classes until all forms have been signed and submitted. Course schedules, syllabi and instructor information, as well as information on specific housing and roommate assignments are not available prior to Check-In.