APPLICATION + CATALOG
>> download Pre-College application form
>> download Pre-College catalog

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 8, 1990 and June 27, 1993)
· international students in the same age range with appropriate visas and a demonstrated proficiency in the English language, as indicated by a score of 580 or better on the TOEFL written test, at least 237 on the TOEFL computer-based (CBT) test, or a minimum score of 93 on the TOEFL internet-based (iBT) test. Should a student be unable to obtain a TOEFL 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 AND 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 once registration is completed.

PROGRAM EXPENSES + FEES

tuition
$4,250 includes basic tuition, but not housing and dining, art supplies or lab, linen, telephone and other special fees. (Note: Returning students see “returning student tuition”, below, for special tuition discount.)

housing + dining fee
$2,235 includes residential and dining fees for boarding students.

dining plan for commuters
Commuters are invited to purchase a dining plan, which entitles them to 30 meals (5 meals per week). See Dining Services for details.

program deposit
In order to reserve a seat in the program, all applications postmarked by Friday, April 10 must be accompanied by a nonrefundable deposit of $500 for boarding students or $350 for commuting students. Applications received after April 10 must be accompanied by the entire tuition of $4,250. (This amount includes the nonrefundable deposit.)

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

I-20 certificate fee
International students requiring an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility, which is needed to secure an F-1 student visa, must include a $150 administration fee. (See International Students for details.)

art supplies
Students should be prepared to purchase art supplies for their courses, sometimes in excess of $800, depending on the approaches taken in their particular courses of study. Instructors provide a supply list to be picked up at Check-In or distributed at the first class. Supply lists are not available before the program begins, as individual instructors approach their specific classes differently. However, students should use common sense in selecting basic supplies to bring with them. Parents may find it useful to establish a charge account at the RISD Store. Information on charge accounts is included in the confirmation materials.

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.

returning student tuition
Students who have successfully completed the Pre-College Program in a previous year and meet all requirements for the 2009 program are eligible to participate at last year’s tuition rate of $3,975. Please check the “Returning Pre-College Student” box on the application form and note the 2008 tuition where indicated on the back of the form. Note: All other rates and fees in effect for 2009 (e.g., housing, dining, etc.) remain as listed. Tuition is the ONLY fee eligible for this special offer.

SCHOLARSHIPS
A limited number of scholarships (full and partial) are made possible by generous contributions from the L.G. Balfour Foundation, the Eliza Radeke Fund, and by RISD itself. These scholarships 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. A portion of these scholarship funds is reserved for Rhode Island residents.

For scholarship information and application forms, go to www.risd.edu/pcscholarship, call 401 454-6201 or write
Pre-College Scholarship Program
RISD|CE
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2787

DEADLINE: All scholarship applications (along with all of the appropriate support materials) must be in the mail to the RISD/CE offices, postmarked no later than Friday, April 3. Only applications with all required documentation (see scholarship applicants on the Application Checklist) will be accepted for review. There are no exceptions.

These scholarships are extremely competitive and funds are limited. While we welcome applications for scholarships without a deposit, scholarship applicants must understand that if they would like to reserve a space in the program in the event that a scholarship is not awarded, a deposit must be submitted. (See Program Expenses + Fees for program deposit amounts.)

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 written test score of 580, or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test, or 93 on the TOEFL iBT test. If (and only if) a student is unable to obtain a TOEFL 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 letterhead, stating that the student’s proficiency in English will be sufficient for the Pre-College Program.

All non-US citizens must fill out a Student Visa Information (SVI) form. 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 an F-1 student visa, which is required because the Pre-College program exceeds 18 hours per week. The form provides RISD|CE with the information needed to submit an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility which, in turn, is needed for the visa. The completed SVI form must accompany complete program application materials and payment in full (including all tuition, fees and housing and dining expenses), and must be received before April 1. Fill out the form completely in order to avoid delays in processing your paperwork. Students requiring an I-20 certificate must also pay a $150 administrative fee.
>> download the Student Visa Information Form

DEADLINE: We estimate that April 1 is an adequate deadline, but given the lengthy processing time for visas, we strongly encourage you to submit your forms and all required fees as early as possible. Applicants who miss the deadline risk being denied entry into the United States.

Please contact the International Student Advisor in the International Programs Office at 401 277-4832 with any questions or concerns regarding visas.

APPLICATION + PAYMENT TIMELINE

Monday, January 12: Registration opens, application processing begins

Wednesday, April 1: Student Visa Information Form deadline (if applicable)

Friday, April 3: Scholarship application deadline (in the mail and postmarked by this date)

Friday, April 10: Deposit deadline (in the mail and postmarked by this date; after this date, all fees must be paid in full upon application)

Friday, May 8: Payment deadline: all balances are due

Applicants who send tuition and housing deposits before Friday, April 10 are billed for the balance. Full payment is due by Friday, May 8. If no statement has arrived as the due date approaches, do not wait for a statement; simply pay the balance due. Applications received after Friday, April 10 must include all tuition and fees in full.

late applications
Late applications are accepted on occasion. Please contact the Pre-College Registration Assistant at 401 454-6204 after May 8 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 $4,250 must accompany all applications received after Friday, April 10 (this amount includes the nonrefundable deposit)

scholarship applicants (only) must submit the following:
· a completed Pre-College ScholarshipApplication Form, including all required financial documentation
· 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 disc of five (5) artwork samples that best represent the student’s artistic abilities (see www.risd.edu/pcscholarship for specific file and disc formatting requirements)
· your high school transcript
· a nonrefundable deposit, , only if you plan to attend the program even if a scholarship is not awarded: $500 is due from all boarding students; $350 is due from all commuting students

In addition to the above Non-Scholarship and Scholarship Applicant checklists:

All boarding students must also submit the following:
· entire housing and dining fee of $2,235. (This is due for all residential applications received after Friday, April 10.)

All non-US citizens must also submit the following:
· a completed Student Visa Information Form (this form is due in our office by April 1, 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 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, Visa or MasterCard. 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 Visa or MasterCard only).

LETTERS OF RECEIPT + CONFIRMATION
Please do not call the office to verify our receipt of applications or payments, as this only delays application processing. A letter of receipt is mailed within several weeks of the receipt of your application. This informs you that your application has arrived and will soon be processed. It does not confirm the completeness of your application or your acceptance into the program.

Confirmation letters are sent out as applications are determined to be complete and the student has been accepted into the program. This letter includes instructions for locating and downloading confirmation materials from the internet. Confirmation materials contain confirmation of major, check-in details, and all necessary forms, policy statements and other information that is needed prior to the student’s arrival on campus, including:

· 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 confirmation materials 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 syllabi and supply lists, as well as information on specific housing and roommate assignments are not available prior to Check-In.