Informing your college application journey.
Tips for writing amazing responses to supplemental prompts
The supplemental prompts on college applications can be as important as the personal statement and other materials. Spend the time to write responses that show colleges who you are and that you support their values.
Common Application Explained
The Common Application is the platform used by 900 schools to submit your application. The main components are the personal statement and the activities list, but there are other aspects to submitting your applications which are important as well, all outlined for you in this blog.
Test optional. What does it mean for you?
Submitting test scores is a nuanced decision, depending on where your scores fall with respect to other applicants at a college. There is no right answer, but we give you some thoughts and data from the last few years to help your decision.
Which college application deadline is right for you?
There are many different types of application deadlines: early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling. Determining the best deadline for you means considering all the application requirements including creative supplements, as well as your financial aid requirements as different deadlines have different implications for aid.
College Fit… Knowing your "needs" vs. your "wants" vs. your "does it really matter"
Knowing your "needs" vs. your "wants" vs. your "does it really matter"
You probably hear a lot about "best fit" with respect to building your college list. We encourage families to think about it as a constellation of characteristics that includes academics, culture, geography, career, and affordability.
Merit Scholarships. Here are some tips to maximize your aid.
Learn how to select schools who award merit aid and how to craft your applications to receive this great aid.
A visit to Chapman University — Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the College of Performing Arts
Chapman University home of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and the College of Performing Arts has over 20 majors and minors for aspiring film, animation and theatre students.
The Common Data Set
The Common Data Set provides an array of important information about colleges including acceptance data, graduation statistics, and financial aid information. It is a must have piece of your college research. Read this blog to learn more about it and how to find it for each school.
14 Things Students Should Do Before The Semester Ends
Here are 14 things that students can do to finish the year strong. Juniors and even Sophomores can take these easy steps to set themselves up for strong college applications.
Everything you need to know about applying to film school
Are you hoping to apply to film school? There are some great programs at USC School of Cinematic Arts, Chapman Dodge College, Emerson College, and UCLA. There are also programs at traditional art conservatories such as Rhode Island School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Pratt. Starting early in high school is key to being prepared to submit great applications.
Juniors, here's your timeline for your college applications
This checklist tells you what Juniors should focus on and when as you apply to college. Junior year in high school can be very busy. Creative students need to start researching colleges early as they will need to prepare and submit portfolios and audition materials, in addition to writing many supplemental essays. A downloadable checklist tells you what you should focus on and when as you apply to college.
2025 Pre College Programs
Pre college summer programs are a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills, meet creative students like yourself, and see what it’s like to immerse yourself in a creative environment. This list of pre college programs has links to over 25 programs for students interested in visual arts, animation/film, performing arts, writing, and music.
What are your college deal breakers?
Of course academics are a major consideration when developing your college list, but there are social and financial considerations as well. Here are some things to think about as high school juniors make start researching colleges.
BFA? BS? BA? AA?
BFA/BMA, BS, BA should you choose one over another? What’s the impact of each degree? What’s the difference? Knowing what a college offers integral to making an informed decision about your education.
National Portfolio Day
Attending National Portfolio Day allows high school visual artists to receive invaluable expert critiques of their portfolios before submitting their applications.
Writing Your Artist’s Statement
The ability to write an Artist Statement is important, as it both shows colleges that you are a strong writer, and gives them more insight into you as an individual. Almost all BFA programs in all disciplines require at least one freshman writing seminar, so you need to demonstrate the ability to write a short essay.
Submitting a Great Visual Arts Portfolio
Your portfolio might be the most important part of your BFA college application. Here are some tips for how to create your portfolio so you highlight your personal artistic narrative and stand out from other applicants.
A visit to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
During our RIT campus tour, we explored why art students are drawn to tech schools and delved into the College of Art and Design, as well as the School of Film and Animation. Notably, RIT's support for deaf and hard of hearing students, including those with auditory processing challenges, is impressive, offering generous scholarships to those who qualify.