All students in a Parsons BFA program must take a comprehensive Freshman Foundation Year of five courses: Drawing and Imaging, Space and Materiality, Objects as History, Sustainable Systems, and Time. In addition to these courses students also take five additional courses (Inflections) in areas of interest to them. All courses focus on building skills needed for competent designers and the coursework is centered more on technology and becoming proficient using digital tools, and less on hand drawing.

Demonstrated interest can tip the scales in your favor. Learn the six easy ways to show it.

It’s never too early to start visiting colleges, (yes, 8th and 9th graders this is for you too) and I completely recognize how daunting beginning that search is. Here’s the advice I give all my families: Make it easy, start local. Start by visiting schools near you that represent a variety of characteristics.

If you have decided to pursue performing arts in college, you likely have the added stress of perfecting your repertoire and preparing for possible prescreens and impending auditions.