Students from all over the country and across the globe traveled to Sarasota this summer to attend Ringling College of Art and Design’s PreCollege program. From June 23-July 20, 179 students came from 12 countries outside the United States and 35 different states.
PreCollege gives college bound high school students a chance to work on their portfolios and to get a small taste of what it is like to attend an art college. They work with Ringling faculty and current Ringling College students who give them a glimpse of life at Ringling College.
Students all participated in four core classes that make up the greater structure of Ringling’s majors: 2D Design, 3D Design, 4D Design, and Figure Drawing, for a total of 40 hours (10 hours each). In addition to the core classes, students have the opportunity to encounter more targeted immersions, which make up the bulk of their program. These immersions push students to explore mediums and methods that they haven’t experienced before.
PreCollege Program Director Nathan Skiles reflected, “It’s always rewarding though to see students explore new avenues of art making and for them to discover new interests.”
Miniworkshops and immersions give students the opportunity to explore courses tied to all 13 of Ringling’s majors. Each student enrolls in two immersions, which range from Entertainment Design: Themed Environments to Film: Directing, and Fine Arts: Conceptual Practices, courses that mirror Ringling College’s regular curricula, reduced to a four week timespan. Almost 50 percent of PreCollege attendees enroll at Ringling College to pursue their four-year degrees.
High school students aged 16-18 can apply to the 4-week summer residential program. Applications for PreCollege 2025 open on November 1, 2024. For information about the summer program, visit the PreCollege web page. Space and financial assistance are limited, and those interested are encouraged to apply early.
