Enrollment Update: Preview and apply for Parsons Summer Intensive Studies courses now. Preview spring courses before registration opens on November 12.

About This Program

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.

Program Dates

Session 1: June 9 - 27, 2025*
*No classes on June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday

Session 2: July 7 - 25, 2025

Application Deadlines

International Students: April 1, 2025

All Other Students: April 24, 2025

Applications are scheduled to open on November 1, 2024. You must apply and be approved in order to register for a course. Registration is scheduled to open on January 6, 2025.

Webinars and Campus Tours

Join us online for an information session about registration, curriculum, and program structure and on campus for a Saturday morning tour of art and design studios, residential life spaces, and more. RSVP for an upcoming webinar or campus tour below!

What You’ll Gain

  • Deeper understanding of fine arts and design in a variety of specialized fields
  • Technical and creative skills necessary for success in future art and design programs
  • Opportunities to engage with fellow students who share a passion for fashion, art, and design
  • Three college credits
  • Portfolio preparation for admission to an art and design college

How You’ll Learn

  • Guidance and critiques from Parsons' renowned faculty
  • Community building through small class sizes
  • Hands-on projects that build skills

Application Requirements

The program is open to all students, regardless of skill level, who meet the age requirements, complete the application, and demonstrate interest in art and design.

Application Overview

All interested students must submit an application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The summer program team will share application statuses within 7-10 business days of submission. Registration opens on January 6, 2025. Early applications are encouraged as capacity is limited. Students who apply early and are approved in November and December will be able to log in and register on January 6, 2025 and secure their seat.

Application Deadlines:

  • International Students: April 1, 2025
  • All Other Students: April 24, 2025

Age Requirement

This program is for students ages 16-18*. We require that students be 16 by the start date of the program. Students who will turn 16 during or after the program will not be permitted to participate in the program, without exception. We recommend students under age 16 explore our non-credit course offerings in our Parsons Summer Academy (Grades 3-12) program.

*Students aged 18 with at least one full year of college enrollment may register for the Parsons New York Summer Intensive Studies (College & Adult) program.

Written Personal Statement (150-200 words)

Parsons New York Summer Intensives is a credit-bearing college experience—not a summer camp—taught by Parsons faculty. All classes in the program challenge students to expand their creative making and thinking skills. Please describe a past time when you were challenged in your creative or academic abilities. What skills or resources did you use to overcome this challenge, and how can you also utilize these skills in a Parsons summer intensive? How do you hope the intensive will evolve your creative skills and work?

Language Requirement

International Students for whom English is not the primary language of instruction at their home institution must demonstrate English language proficiency, as Summer Intensive Studies classes are taught in English. A TOEFL score of 92 or higher on the Internet-based course, an IELTS score of 7 or higher, a PTE score of 63 or higher, a DET score of 115 or higher, or a Cambridge English score of 185 or higher in C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency is required. Visit TOEFL, IELTS, PTEDET, or Cambridge English for more information.

International Students: Visa Requirement

Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents ("Green Card holders") must enter the U.S. to study in this program on a student visa under the appropriate student immigration status. A student visa is required when a student is enrolled in a full-time, credited program, such as Summer Intensive Studies. Please review the International Students & Scholars Services page for details.

Program Requirements

Attendance and Workload

Students attend classes Monday through Friday for six hours a day, with a one-hour break for lunch. Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss more than two (2) class sessions (each day consisting of one morning and one afternoon session) will fail the course, subject to faculty and administrative review. Out-of-class work, which is assigned daily, is a substantial part of the program. Students who do not meet course expectations may be asked to leave the program.

Materials

  • Digital camera (mobile device cameras are suitable)
  • Supplies from class list (estimated cost: $200)
  • Some courses require access to a modern computer laptop in addition to scheduled computer lab times; please check the course description. Students will have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud for students.

Summer 2025 on Parsons' NYC Greenwich Village campus

Full Day On-Campus Sessions (Mondays to Fridays 9:00 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. ET)

Session 1: June 9 - 27, 2025*
*No classes on June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday

Session 2: July 7 - 25, 2025

Registration

All interested students must submit an application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The summer program team will share application statuses within 7-10 business days of submission. Once approved, applicants will be invited to enroll in a course.

Tuition
$5,400 plus $255 university fee

Registration Deadlines:

Session 1:

  • May 1, 2025 (April 1 for international students)

Session 2:

  • May 1, 2025 (April 1 for international students)
  • June 1, 2025 for commuter students

College Credit

Students enrolled in the pre-college and college/adult-level programs in New York earn grades and three college credits upon successful completion of the program. We strongly recommend that participants consult an academic advisor at their home institution for further details of approval, transfer, and fulfillment of graduation requirements.

Academic Transcript Request

The New School has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering via the Web.

Summer Program Refund Policy

Session 1 (June 9 - 27) Refund Schedule

Please note: All refund schedules are effective until 11:59pm ET on a specified date.
Course Drop or Withdrawal Date Percentage of Tuition Refunded
On or before May 1 100% minus $200 cancellation fee
May 2 through May 15 50% minus $200 cancellation fee
May 16 and later 0%

Session 2 (July 7 - 25) Refund Schedule

Please note: All refund schedules are effective until 11:59pm ET on a specified date.
Course Drop or Withdrawal Date Percentage of Tuition Refunded
On or before June 1 100% minus $200 cancellation fee
June 2 through June 15 50% minus $200 cancellation fee
June 16 and later 0%

The New School reserves the right to cancel courses. If a course in which you are enrolled is canceled, you will be notified and asked whether you wish to transfer to a different course or receive a full refund.

Housing Fees for Summer 2025: TBA
(For reference: Pre-College housing fees for Summer 2024 cost $2,086 for three weeks, which included $375 starter meal funds and a $175 Activity and Coordination Fee.)

Parsons Academy offers a limited number of Summer Intensive Studies tuition-only scholarships for pre-college level courses starting in July 2024. We seek applications from motivated students who, for financial reasons, would otherwise be unable to attend. Applicants are required to be between the ages of 16 and 18 by the first day of a program and they must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applications open on Friday, November 1, 2024, at 10:00 am ET and the submission deadline is February 9, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. Applicants must first apply and be approved to enroll in the Summer Intensive Studies program. Applications to this scholarship will only be reviewed if applicants have completed this process before the above deadline.

The following documents are required to complete the application:

  1. Scholarship application form (2025 form to come)
     
  2. A letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to your academic endeavors
     
  3. Proof of income if selected as a finalist
     
  4. Personal essay (300 words maximum) addressing the following points:
    • What interests you about art and design?
    • How do you anticipate this program will help you develop your interests and meet your future goals?
    • Be sure to describe your current awareness and exploration of art and design, your interest in the course you select, and comment on your plans for the immediate and distant future.

The selection of the scholarship recipients is based on the information from the scholarship application, your written essay, financial need, and access to similar programs in your school and geographic area.

As a Parsons scholarship recipient, you will be following in the footsteps of our previous recipients who have used this opportunity to open doors to the art and design industry. Many of our past scholarship recipients are now studying in degree programs at Parsons or other competitive colleges of art and design. Many others are established as successful artists and designers in their chosen fields.

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