WHO ATTENDS? | WHY ATTEND?

Rhode Island School of Design's Pre-College Program is designed to give 16- to 18-year-old high school students a comprehensive introduction to the college art school experience. For six weeks, students follow a college-like studio curriculum and live in RISD residence halls, in a full-immersion encounter with art and design education at the highest level. The program is focused, serious and challenging, as students experience the core elements of a RISD education—critical thinking and artmaking—from foundation drawing and design courses, to critical studies in art history, to focused concentration in one of 20 diverse majors. Throughout the program, students are expected to maintain a high level of initiative and responsibility regarding their work and behavior.

Goals of the Pre-College Program:
· to broaden the artistic horizons of more than 400 high school students
· to empower students as they begin to define themselves both socially and artistically
· to expose students to a wide range of new techniques and media
· to be relevant to both a future career and personal enrichment in the arts
· to challenge students to strengthen both artistic techniques and critical thinking skills
· to expose students to the work of first-rate, professional artists and the criticism of their peers

The Pre-College curriculum succeeds by:
· imparting a strong foundation of drawing and design skills
· developing abilities in critical analysis and expression through studies in art history
· focusing on one of 20 majors in order to gain expertise with specialized techniques and materials
· maintaining a structure that fosters independence while safeguarding students' security

Faculty
RISD Pre-College faculty is comprised of more than 70 artists, designers and educators, some of whom teach in the college’s degree program while others are distinguished visiting experts.

RISD facilities bolster the Pre-College curriculum by including:
· comprehensive and internationally renowned studio facilities
· specialized equipment such as computer labs, darkrooms, kilns, printmaking studios, a woodworking shop and jacquard and computer-design looms
· great accessibility to the RISD Museum, the Fleet Library and the Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab

Multiculturalism is fostered at RISD by:
· exposing students to new and different ideas
· special lectures by guest artists discussing the influence of culture upon their development as artists
· critiques by guest artists in their areas of expertise
· scholarships for outstanding students demonstrating financial need

Student Life
Living as part of a vibrant artists’ community is one of the most stimulating aspects of the RISD Pre-College Program. Students’ security is paramount even while special activities enrich their academic activities. Most students live in campus residence halls, which are accessible only by RISD ID cards and supervised by full-time staff and trained resident assistants. Special rules apply to Pre-College students, including evening curfew and the need for parental permission to leave campus overnight. Evening and weekend social and artistic activities are planned by the office of Continuing Education. Dining Services staff provides meals that cater to the diverse dietary needs and preferences of a student body representing many cultures and religious traditions.

Please note: RISD’s Pre-College Program is oriented toward relatively independent young people. Students need to take initiative both in and outside of the classroom. If parents and their children are seeking a somewhat sheltered environment, they should consider the nature of this program very carefully before applying.

WHO ATTENDS PRE-COLLEGE? [return to top]
High school students who:
· have finished their sophomore year and are 16 to 18 years old (born between August 4, 1993 and June 23, 1996)
· have a limited art background but a strong desire to expand their knowledge of art and design in a college setting
· possess an extensive art background and are committed to an intensive schedule of college-like study
· wish to expand their presentation materials for admission to visual arts colleges
· wish to experience life in a residential New England college setting
· live in the geographic area of the campus and wish to commute
· live abroad and seek an educational experience at a highly ranked arts institution in the United States

WHY ATTEND PRE-COLLEGE? [return to top]
· to develop a strong foundation of art and design skills
· to participate in a college-like curriculum in the visual arts
· to study under the direction of a highly specialized arts faculty
· to build confidence in oneself as an artist, a student, and simply as an individual
· to become adept at using a variety of tools, materials and techniques—from traditional to cutting-edge—in one of 20 different art and design disciplines
· to create additional pieces that may help enhance your college admissions portfolio
· to experience art as part of an intense but short-term program before investing time, effort and money in a college program
· to gather letters of recommendation from a notable arts faculty
· to forge strong bonds with a diverse group of students who share an enthusiasm for art and design