How to Apply

Participants should be age 14 or older, and must be entering 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in Fall 2026.

While a strong academic profile is normally needed for acceptance, students may be accepted into courses where they have already demonstrated a strong background or ability in a specific field or subject. Apply early to reserve your spot and increase the likelihood you will receive your choice of courses.

Acceptance to any pre-college for high school students summer programs does not guarantee admittance to Ithaca College.

To apply, you must submit the following documents within the Pre-College application, so get these ready to submit BEFORE starting the application (as their is no option to save and continue later).

Summer College and Summer Theatre Conservatory Applicants:

Reflection (PDF or RTF format)  Upload your written reflection during the application process in response to the following prompt. Please name the file starting with the applicant's last name, then an underscore character, and then the word "essay" (e.g. Jones_Essay).

• Prompt: What are the three most important things you would gain from participating in the summer pre-college program to which you are applying? 500 words maximum.
   

Summer College Applicants:

Unofficial High School Transcript (PDF or PNG/JPG format) You will need to submit a current high school transcript (scanned or unofficial copies accepted) as an attachment to your application. Please name the file starting with the applicant's last name, then an underscore character, and then the word "transcript" (e.g. Jones_Transcript). Your application will not be complete without a copy of this transcript/grade repot.

Transcripts can be obtained in electronic format from your school. Ask in the main office or from a guidance counselor.

Summer Music Academy:

A link to a video of a solo or excerpt that best represents your playing (typically through a free online program like YouTube or Vimeo).

Summer Piano Institute: 

A link to a video of your piano performance of two contrasting repertoire (typically through a free online program like YouTube or Vimeo).

For Summer Theatre Conservatory

To apply, you must submit the following documents, so get these documents ready to submit BEFORE clicking on the application.

For the Summer Theatre Conservatory application, in addition to the standard application, you must submit an application via Acceptd(a $25 fee applies, fee waiver available, ask here). Please note that the deadline for Summer Theatre Conservatory applications (Standard AND Acceptd) is April 1, 2026. Applicants must submit the following files to Acceptd:

• A brief résumé (.pdf), including theatrical activities in high school, during summers, honors and awards received, leadership activities or offices held, and other significant non-theatrical activities.
• A current headshot or recent photo (.pdf).
• Two contrasting songs: Each video should be 60–90 seconds, One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad (student’s choice). One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
• One dance prescreen is required: 30–60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you are most comfortable with: jazz, ballet, modern, African, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary – do what you love, move the way you love to move.
  • Dance media can be self-choreographed but must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
  • All choreography must be performed to music rather than a cappella dance media.
  • All dance media should be filmed in a “head-to-toe” shot, taking care to keep the applicant’s entire body in the frame at all times.  

Please submit separate video clips for each of the above. These videos can be filmed on a handheld device or phone. It is not necessary to submit professionally filmed or edited video. Simply make sure you can be seen and heard.

If you have questions on this part of the application process, please contact our faculty director for Summer Theatre Conservatory, Priscilla Hummel @ phummel@ithaca.edu.

Application Deadline is April 1, 2026 for all programs 

Once you have gathered your materials, you are ready to apply. Once your application has been submitted, please be patient as we collect and thoroughly review each application. While each program is different, notifications will typically start going out in February on a rolling basis.

Apply

Click here for the Summer 2026 Interest Form The $50.00 application fee is paid during the application process (Fee waived for Foundation Partner applicants). 

Note: If you are applying to the Summer Theatre Conservatory, please note that there is a second step in the application process on Accept'd (see the section for more information) and an additional $25 application fee associated with that system.

You will typically be notified of your application status within 2-6 weeks after the submission of a completed application and all accompanying documents. Please try to be patient as we collect and thoroughly review our applications. Additional time for application review may be needed by some of our program offerings, like our Summer Theatre Conservatory or Summer Piano Institute. Please reach out to the faculty director of each program if you have questions about your application status.

• Joslyn Brenton - Summer College for High School Students
• Benjamin Rochford - Summer Music Academy
• Priscila Hummel - Summer Theatre Conservatory
• Deborah Martin - Summer Piano Institute 

Upon acceptance into one of our pre-college programs, you will need to set up your participant record in our Campminder system. Parents/Guardians must create a Campminder account and complete the information on behalf of the applicant. Remember this log-in information as you will need it for future submission of payments and forms. Upon being accepted into our program, a parent/guardian will be required to set up your participation record in Campminder and upload various forms with parent/guardian and participant signatures. You will be notified of this process upon acceptance into the program or can review our CampMinder Overview page. All forms will be delivered and received via the parent/guardian Campminder account so make sure to record your login information for Campminder. All forms must be completed and received by Ithaca College at least 3 weeks before the start of the program. The forms you will need to complete are:

1. Health Forms
   1. Immunization Record (PDF)
   2. Health History Form (Form in Campminder)
   3. Mental Health Form (Form in Campminder)
2. Policy Forms
   1. Consent to Treat
   2. Policy Sign-Off Forms
      1. Rules and Regulations
      2. Photographic Consent and Release Form
      3. Medication Administration Policy and Understanding
      4. Parental Consent Form and Liability Release
3. Room and Activities Form
4. Transportation Form

All forms must be completed in order to participate in our program.