FAQ

Submit your non-refundable $500 deposit to hold your place in the program by May 1. Students are not guaranteed a place in the program until this deposit has been made.

Full cost of attendance, any additional fees, and supplemental forms are due by May 15. Enrollment is not guaranteed to any applicant whose tuition and fees are unpaid after this date.

Check in
Sunday, July 9th, 2023
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Check out
Friday, July 28th, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

8:15 – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast

9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Class

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch

1:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Class

5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Dinner

7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Evening activities

The Show-Your-Stuff exhibit will be on Friday, July 28, from 9-11 a.m.

Yes. Parking for the duration of the program is $69 per vehicle.

There is a section on the application to specify living preferences, such as hobbies, sleeping hours, etc. Students will be placed in rooms with members of the same gender, who are enrolled in the same course of study, and have similar living preferences.

Full refunds (minus the non-refundable $50 application fee and the $500 deposit) will be made for those who cancel before July 1. No refunds will be available after July 1. Once the student is on campus, refunds will not be made if the student leaves the program early for any reason, or is expelled for disciplinary reasons.

Focused students who demonstrate high levels of initiative and responsibility for their work are encouraged to apply to the VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program. This rigorous program offers a challenging and enriching curriculum. Summer Pre-College Program classes explore art at a level not readily available in high school.

Students who have completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior years in high school, and are serious about improving their artistic abilities, developing portfolios, and/or learning how to audition for college admission are encouraged to apply.

Participants will meet students from across the country and around the world. Through working on common projects and sharing a living space strong bonds are formed among the participants. Many students have formed long-term friendships through the VCUarts Summer Pre-College Program.

$4,150. This includes the cost of the program, meals, and housing. Please note that on-campus parking is available at an additional cost.

At this time, we do not offer scholarships for the Summer Pre-College Program.

The average pre-college class size is 12 students. Smaller classes enable the professors and teaching assistants to provide more one-on-one feedback and support to the students.

We invite some of the most distinguished faculty members from the nationally recognized VCU School of the Arts to work with participants each summer. VCUarts is ranked the #4 arts and design program in the country (US News & World Report). Professors are working artists and designers, selected for their artistic and professional accomplishments as well as for their well-honed teaching and mentoring skills. Students also benefit from the expertise and feedback provided by alumni or graduate students assisting professors.

Student safety and security are top priorities at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the university provides a safe, well-lit environment. Twenty-four hours a day, highly responsive campus police patrol the campus on foot, on bicycles, on scooters, and via automobiles. Additionally, well-trained counselors escort Summer Pre-College Program residential students everywhere they go to and from all meals, classes and all activities. Unless accompanied by program staff, it is expected that students stay on the VCU campus at all times.

Counselors are upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, or teachers who have completed a rigorous application procedure, provide references, and pass a background check. The counselors complete an extensive training program prior to the pre-college program.

Meals are served in the Shafer Court Dining Center. This state-of-the-art dining facility features home-style meals, stir-fry, burgers, pizza, an extensive salad bar, and a build-your-own sandwich section. Shafer Court Dining Center offers a wide range of delicious, high quality options for participants with special needs and allergies, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and diabetic-friendly selections.

Known locally as “RVA,” Richmond offers a wealth of opportunities for cultural, educational, and recreational experiences. Richmond offers easy access to the ocean; mountains; Washington, DC; and Williamsburg, VA. It also offers trendy boutiques and restaurants; opportunities for outdoor pursuits, including one of the nation’s largest river park systems; and a treasure trove of historic landmarks.

VCU’s renowned collegiate athletics programs, as well as its student-featured dance, music, and theatre performances, contribute significantly to Richmond’s cultural and entertainment opportunities. Richmond is also home to the Richmond Ballet, Richmond Symphony, Virginia Opera, professional sports teams, professional theatre companies, and a rich selection of museums.

A typical Richmond summer day has average low temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s and average high temperature in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Richmond tends to be very humid, and students should come prepared for possible thunderstorms.