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.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Contest is one of the most accessible nationwide competitions for creative high school students who focus on art and writing. With 28 categories, 17 categories for the arts and 11 categories for writing, there is a category for almost every form of art. On the visual arts side this includes architecture and industrial design, ceramics, jewelry, animation, short film, as well as the traditional fine arts. On the writing side the categories range from poetry to science fiction to fantasy.

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.

Knowing the difference between semesters and quarters and making the right decision on which is best for you can have a positive impact on your college experience.

University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is a conservatory based program for both high school and college students interested in studying filmmaking, drama, dance, music, and design & production (the high school program also offers a concentration in visual arts). It is one of the most collaborative programs we have visited.

Northwestern University is a premier liberal arts university where creative students interested in performing arts will have the opportunity to study their craft as it intersects with the liberal arts.

DePaul University is a great option for students who want a liberal arts university in a fun, less hectic city environment of Lincoln Park but would also like to study film, performing arts, animation and other creative areas in a downtown city environment of the Loop Campus.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is one of the few truly multidisciplinary art schools in the US. Students do not select a major rather they select coursework, with the guidance of an advisor, in one of about 20 “areas of study” and pursue individualized courses of study. It is also specifically tied programmatically to one of the largest museums in the country, the Art Institute of Chicago, to which students are encouraged to visit often.

Columbia College Chicago is has a full range of majors and minors at both the BFA and BA/BS level to study everything from Animation to Film to Sound Design to Writing for Television, all while you are immersed in Chicago’s artistic community.

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is a small but vibrant visual arts college with an urban feel in a small midwestern city. Most majors are design oriented, while many minors are connected to the humanities appealing to a wide range of students.

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is a small visual arts college, perfect for a student looking for an urban campus outside of large metropolitan cities. They offer majors in both fine arts and design so most students will find an area of study that interests them.

Entertainment Arts majors are for students who like to envision a concept from start to finish and want to be involved in the development of the entertainment venue from start to finish, students who like to physically build and make things, students who like to build in the virtual world and enjoy technology, and students want to focus on the business aspect of entertainment.

University of Miami offers all that you’d expect at a large school, but it is a gem for creative students as it houses the Frost School of Music, majors and minors in the Department of Cinematic Arts, and BArch degree from the School of Architecture. Worth considering if you’re looking for a school in a lively, international city.

Ringling College has a top five Computer Animation program but do you know about some of their other programs? They’re pretty spectacular too.

Rollins College is an exceptional small liberal arts college outside Orlando Florida. They house an on campus art museum, have D2 sports, and over 35 majors including a 3+2 BA/MBA program. It’s a hidden gem in Florida.

We all hate bragging about ourselves, but sometimes you have to do it. Here are four great tips for writing a brag sheet and getting strong counselor recommendations, and ideas for your personal statement! A win-win for you!

Many school we think of as having traditional arts and humanities majors actually have some very interesting majors which connect art and STEM or humanities subjects. Read this post to see some of the cool majors which have interested our students.

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. This checklist tells you what you should focus on and when as you apply to college.

Visual arts portfolios are often judged based on: concept, use of color, craftsmanship, composition/design, and observational drawing. Each college has their specific requirements for portfolios based on these characteristics.

There are good reasons to set up a college specific email to allow you to read important emails related to your applications, however, you have to remember to check it. If you don’t want to manage two separate emails then you might be better sticking with just one.