Everything You Need to Know about Registering for Summer of Art at Otis College

The pre-college program runs July 6-31, 2026, and is open for registration now.

Otis College’s Summer of Art is a four-week pre-college program geared for high school students ages 14.5 to 19. Students explore college-level courses in art and design, improve their skills, and build their portfolios in studio classrooms. They are taught by award-winning instructors who are practicing artists and designers, many of whom also teach in Otis’s degree programs.

The range of courses offered in Summer of Art ensures that artists and designers of all skill levels can partake in this rigorous but rewarding program, even earning college credit in the process. This guide breaks down the steps to register for a Summer of Art program that will complement every student. 

1. Get to Know the Course Options

There are two types of classes students can take during Summer of Art: Drawing Studios and Specialization Courses. Which classes a student chooses depends on their interests, skill level, and time commitment. 

Drawing Studios (3.5 hours)

There are four Drawing Studio options. In all of them, students work in graphite, coal, and ink to experiment with linework, shape, form, texture, perspective, and shading. 

Beginning Drawing is for students who are new to drawing or wish to improve their basic skills. Intermediate Drawing is for those who have a foundational understanding of drawing and wish to learn advanced techniques. Both Beginning and Intermedia Drawing Studios utilize still-life and imagined subjects. 

In Life Drawing, by contrast, students learn to draw the human figure using live, unclothed models. This studio emphasizes anatomy, proportion, gesture, and the effects of light and shadow on the human form. In Drawing from the Costumed Model, observational drawing skills are developed, focusing on the human figure clothed in various fabrics and costumes. Students work from live models, exploring the forms of drapery, texture, and the dynamic movement of fabric. 

Drawing Studios cover fundamental skills required of all art and design fields, such as fashion, painting, photography, digital media, toy design, and others. Classes meet five days a week for either morning or afternoon sessions.

Specialization Courses (3.5 or 7.75 hours) 

Specialization Courses provide an in-depth exploration of a variety of art and design fields. Character Development and Design, Illustration, Product and Toy Design, Fashion Design, and Painting meet five days a week for either morning or afternoon sessions. Four classes meet for a full day: Ceramics and Sculpture, 2D and 3D Animation, Graphic Design and Screenprinting, and Photography and Digital Filmmaking.

All Drawing Studio and Specialization Courses include demonstrations, hands-on learning, lectures, and critiques, culminating in a Summer of Art Final Exhibition, during which friends and family are invited to celebrate their students’ hard work and growth. The exhibition allows the students to gain invaluable experience presenting their work in a professional, public, and supportive setting. 

2. Attend an Information Session 

In early spring 2026, Otis Extension will host several Summer of Art information sessions, providing an opportunity to learn more about the program and course offerings and ask questions of Otis faculty and staff. Sessions are held virtually and in-person and are recommended for students, parents, art teachers, counselors, and anyone who wants to know more about the program. The first information session is scheduled for February 10, 2026, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Follow Otis Extension on Eventbrite to learn when registrations open for more 2026 information sessions.

3. Pick Your Program 

Before registering for Summer of Art, students must first decide if they want to sign up for a full- or half-day schedule. Full-day can include two 3.5-hour courses—usually a Drawing Studio plus a Specialization Course—or one of the four, all-day Specialization Courses. Summer of Art staff members are on-hand to answer questions and help guide students and their parents to the appropriate courses at soa@otis.edu. 

Students who enroll in a full-day schedule can earn up to three college credits. In Otis College’s BFA program, these credits count toward a class requirement in the Foundation year.

The Summer of Art Course web page lists all of the class options, which, when selected, open a registration page that displays course descriptions, schedules, instructors, tuition costs, and other information.

“The advice I would give to a student or parent who is unsure about enrolling in Summer of Art is to at least try it once. If you are trying to see what it is like to be at Otis College or any art college in general, then Summer of Art is the right program. Not only do you learn about college-level coursework, but you are able to get used to campus life as well.” —Zoe Asis (’27 Animation)

4. Decide on Housing

For a full college experience, Summer of Art students can choose to live in Otis College’s Residential Hall for the duration of the program. Residence Life and Housing staff members host community-building programs like field trips and movie nights, and are assisted by Otis undergraduate Resident Assistants, who live on the dorm floors with the Summer of Art students. The Residence Hall has free laundry facilities, as well as lounges, studio space, and a communal kitchen. 

All residential Summer of Art students receive a meal plan to be used in Elaine’s Dining Hall that includes three meals a day, Monday through Friday, and two meals a day on weekends. Students also are a five-minute walk away from shopping centers, parks, and grocery stores.

There are a limited number of Residence Hall spaces available to Summer of Art students, and rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. 

5. Pay Tuition and Fees

Class selections are made by adding them to a cart on the Summer of Art registration website, at which point new students will be asked to create a student profile. The housing option is added when checking out and selecting the appropriate box on the Summer of Art Registration Form. 

Tuition and fees can be paid in full or through a payment plan, which involves a $200 nonrefundable registration fee to secure the student’s place in the program. For the full Summer of Art program—a Drawing Studio plus Specialization Course—the tuition is $4,390. The half-day option (Drawing Studio or Specialization Course) is $2,690. Housing with dining costs an additional $2,800. 

There is a $200 early enrollment discount for Summer of Art students who register by April 25, 2026. (Other important dates)

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available to Summer of Art students that help cover tuition costs (they do not cover supplies, transportation, housing, and/or meals unless otherwise stated). Scholarships are based on financial need, student portfolio, personal statement, and academic achievement. Interested students can apply for a Summer of Art scholarship by the April 14, 2025 deadline. 

6. Look out for Confirmation Emails

Students receive a welcome letter via email from Otis Extension confirming their registration, as well as links to the Student Handbook and mandatory forms that must be completed before the start of class.

Students who requested housing are contacted by Residence Life staff to complete a housing application and pay the necessary fees online. A completed application and payment must be received before a dorm space can be confirmed. 

7. Purchase Art Supplies 

Approximately one month before Summer of Art starts, students receive supply lists from instructors, which will cost anywhere between $200 and $400 per class. The art supply store Graphaids, which has a location on Otis’s campus, prepares specially-priced supply kits for many Summer of Art courses that are available to purchase in-store or online. 

8. Get Ready for a Taste of College Life

Summer of Art provides the tools, mentorship, and inspiration to help students grow creatively and prepare for life after high school. Studying with professional artists and designers and engaging in hands-on projects gives Summer of Art students a glimpse into what it’s like to be a student at one of the nation’s top art and design colleges. 

Says Summer of Art alum Ari Matthews (’28 Illustration): “I attended Summer of Art for the overall experience of getting a feel for college life and the work that came with it, as I had no idea what to expect. Going into it I assumed that the program would help ease any anxieties I had towards the next step in my academic career, and it did.”

Learn More About Summer of Art

Related News