If you haven’t already, please check out my original article on identifying worthwhile summer programs before determining what programs you want to apply to. There are certainly many more programs than the ones listed here, but for the arts, there isn’t a ton of consensus on the quality of certain programs.
I group the art and writing programs together because, quite honestly, there aren’t enough worthwhile programs out there to warrant separate lists. The summer programs here are not nearly as competitive as top programs like RSI or Telluride, so their admissions value comes from the mentorship you receive to put together art or writing pieces for your portfolio. These programs provide students with structured time to work on pieces with guidance so that they can later submit their visual arts or creative writing to literary magazines, Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, or college application art supplements through Slideroom. If students put the work in, they can expect to produce higher-quality pieces that will be more likely to receive recognition through honors and awards.
Many of these programs, especially competitive ones, will require that you submit samples of your work. Make sure you put your best foot forward when applying for the A-Tier programs in particular. For creative writing programs, you can bet that they will look very closely at your application essays and writing portfolios, expecting to see some top-notch writing there.
I’ve tiered the programs into only two categories: A-Tier and B-Tier. None of these are deserving of an S-Tier designation, but we do think that if you can afford the programs, they are worthwhile to attend. As I’ve mentioned in our other summer program articles, I believe that the in-person programs hold more value beyond instruction, but I know that some of the online versions of programs are quite affordable in comparison.
A-Tier: Competitive Programs
Creative Writing
Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
Program Dates: Session 1 — June 15th – 28th, Session 2 — July 13th – 26th, 2025
Application Deadline: February 2nd, 2025
Cost: $2,500 (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer
Program Dates: Session I – June 22nd – July 5th; Session II – July 13th – 26th, 2025
Online – June 15th – 20th, 2025
Application Deadline: In-person – March 1st, 2025; Online – April 14th, 2025
Cost: In-person – $2,575, Online – $995 per week-long course(financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Adroit Journal – Summer Mentorship Program - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: July 24th - July 29th, 2024
Application Deadline: March 31st, 2024
Cost: $450
International Students: Yes
Journalism
Camp Cronkite - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: June 23rd-28th, 2024
Application Deadline: April 1st, 2024
Cost: $699
International Students: Yes
Asian American Journalists Association – JCamp - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: August 3rd – 9th, 2024
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2024
Cost: Free (travel also paid for)
International Students: Yes
Princeton Summer Journalism Program - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: July 26th – August 5th, 2024
Application Deadline: February 15th, 2024 (Opens in December 1st, 2024)
Cost: Free (travel also paid for)
International Students: No
Visual Arts
Otis College of Art and Design – Summer of Art Online
Program Dates: July 7th – August 1st, 2025
Application Deadline: June 23rd, 2025
Cost: 2x/week or 5x/week programs – $1,650-$7,200 + art supplies
International Students: Yes
These programs are all pretty competitive, and they are some of the best art and writing summer experiences you can have.
For creative writing, Iowa’s Young Writers’ Studio is still one of the best. The University of Iowa has one of the best creative writing programs in the country, and they will be offering both in-person and online instruction this summer. The Kenyon Review Young Writers Online is also a great program with themed week-long programs though they are more expensive. If you’re looking for more depth of instruction and time, look to Emerson College’s Creative Writers Pre-College Program, though again, it will come with a higher price tag. The Adroit Summer Mentorship Program deserves a spot on this list because of the value of the price tag compared to the length of the instruction. Just like last year, we don’t see creative writing programs losing too much quality in experience in the virtual format compared to visual arts and journalism, as much of the value in the experience is getting feedback/edits on your writing through online platforms. These programs do expect you to submit your own writing in the form of a writing portfolio, so make sure to put your best foot forward to demonstrate your passion and skill in the craft.
The Walter Cronkite Camp Cronkite Program is well-known, not just because of the name attached to its school/program. Though it is a short experience, students there participate in hands-on experiences from reporting to production to camera work in Arizona State’s state-of-the-art broadcast facilities, as welto learn more about broadcast and digital journalism. JCamp was founded to address the shortage of diversity in the media, emphasizing multicultural perspectives. Students there participate in workshops, field trips, and hands-on instruction from professional journalists in a variety of areas, including writing, photography, broadcasting, and more. Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program is for talented current juniors from low-income households. Students similarly participate in workshops and lectures, tour leading news outlets, and cover real events in preparation for the publication of their own newspaper. One of the best aspects of PSJP is the mentorship that students receive from staff after they return home.
For visual arts, Interlochen and Otis have some of the best experiences. This is certainly debatable, as art itself is quite subjective, but these programs are respected by their peers. Aside from visual arts, Interlochen also has programs in performing arts, creative writing, and music. Otis has a number of programs that culminate in a final exhibition. Visual arts programs are probably the most affected type of summer program in a virtual format, and they are often also some of the most expensive, so you should really evaluate the overall value and cost for you. The arts, unfortunately, are more easily pursued if your family has the means, though each of these programs does have financial aid. Interlochen offers need-based and merit-based financial aid while Otis seems to offer scholarships, though their website detailing these scholarships seems to be down. Just as in real-life, visual art is a pursuit that is easiest to accommodate if your family has the means to support the interest.
B-Tier: Great Experience for Building a Portfolio
Creative Writing
Sewanee Young Writers Conference
Program Dates: June 29th – July 12th, 2025
Application Deadline: February 2025
Cost: $2,575 (2024 cost)
International Students: Yes
University of Massachusetts Amherst – Juniper Institute for Young Writers - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: In-person: Jul 29th-Aug 2nd OR Jul 29th-Aug 9th, 2024; Online: Aug 5th-Aug 9th, 2024
Application Deadline: March 7th, 2024
Cost: $1280-$4950 (online - in-person two weeks) (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Summer Workshop for Young Writers at the Kelly Writers House - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: July 7th-17th, 2024
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2024
Cost: $2,750 (2024 cost)
International Students: Yes
Journalism
Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute
Program Dates: June 29th – July 25th, 2025
Application Deadline: March 6th, 2025
Cost: $5,000 (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Boston University Summer Journalism Academy - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: In-Person: June 24th-July 12th, 2024; Online: Session 1 — June 17th – June 28th; Session 2 — July 1st – July 12th; Session 3 — July 15th – July 26th, 2024
Application Deadline: April 19th, 2024 (Opens December 15th, 2024)
Cost: On campus + R&B – $6,200; Online – $1,500 (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Columbia Scholastic Press Association – Virtual Summer Journalism Workshop - 2025 TBD
Program Dates: In-person: June 23rd-28th, 2024; Online: July 8th-12th; July 15th-19th; July 22nd-26th, 2024
Application Deadline: May 24th, 2024
Cost: $899-$2099 ($300 discount for each additional class)
International Students: Yes
Visual Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts – Visual Arts High School Summer Program
Program Dates: Intensives (1 week) June 14th – June 20th; (3 weeks) Session 1: June 22nd – July 12th; Session 2: July 13th – August 3rd, 2025
Application Deadline: January 15th, 2025
Cost: 1 week programs – $1,950-$6,985 (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
Rhode Island School of Design – Pre-College Residential Program
Program Dates: June 28th – August 2nd, 2025
Application Deadline: TBD
Cost: $8,715-$11,350
International Students: Yes
Parsons Summer Intensive Studies
Program Dates: Session 1: June 9th – 27th, 2025; Session 2: July 7th – 25th, 2025
Application Deadline: Session 1: April 24th, 2025; Session 2: May 1st, 2025
Cost: Online – $5,145 plus $245 university fee; $2,086 room and board (3 credits awarded)
International Students: Yes
School of Art Institute of Chicago – Early College Program Summer Institute
Program Dates: In-person – Session 1 — June 16th – 27th; Session 2 — July 7th – 18th; Session 3 — July 21st – August 1st; Session 4 (4 weeks) – July 7th – August 1st,; Session 5 (1 week) – August 4th – 8th, 2025
Application Deadline: April 15th, 2025
Cost: One week– $1,785; Four weeks– $7,140 plus housing (financial aid available)
International Students: Yes
This next set of programs are generally not quite as competitive as the A-Tier programs, but for this category, the gap is not quite as pronounced. Their placing in B-Tier again is debatable (especially the art programs), but judging by the later or nonexistent application deadlines, you know that they’re not going to be as competitive.
The primary value of these programs will be to carve out time with an experienced mentor to help build your own writing/art portfolio. However, this can also be accomplished with a private tutor or other art academies year-round. They are also still expensive, especially the visual arts programs, and because the programs themselves don’t add a ton of admissions value to your profile, the main thing that matters is that you’re able to produce quality work.
Like always, make sure to weigh the cost of the program with its length and overall cohesion with your Admissions Angle strategy.
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