Events, Info Sessions and Appointments

In-Person Modified Campus Tours: Visit Otis College safely with a one-on-one outdoor tour of our campus! You will have a 30 minute walk through of campus with a Student Ambassador to learn more about our spaces and programs. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the Foundation Department to see examples of student work, and a Residence Hall room to see our on-campus accommodations. Prospective transfer students will also be able to check out their Major department of choice. At the end of the tour, you can get any additional questions answered by an Admissions Counselor. 

Virtual Campus Tours: Our Virtual Campus Tour Experience is available live over zoom. The tour is led by an Otis Student Ambassador. It will feature a  walkthrough of our campus and helpful information about all of our majors, as well as their facilities. At the end, we will give you a brief info session followed by a Q&A session where you can ask questions. Virtual Campus Tours are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm and Saturdays at 10am.  Register here.

Virtual Appointments:  We offer one-on-one virtual appointments with an admissions counselor where you can share your portfolio, get tips on applying and ask any questions. These appointments are also great for accepted students who are seeking guidance on enrolling at the College and have questions about housing, financial aid or anything else. Please sign-up for an upcoming appointment here. You can also request an appointment at a time that is convenient for you by filling out this form. 

También ofrecemos citas virtuales en español con un consejero donde puedes compartir tu portafolio y pedir más información sobre los requisitos de admisión o acerca de la universidad. Estas citas también son beneficiales para estudiantes aceptados que necesiten guía sobre residencia o ayuda financiera. Por favor registrarse aquí.

Virtual Portfolio Development Info Sessions: We offer two different Portfolio Development info sessions. The Virtual Portfolio Development and Majors Info Session will cover our general portfolio development tips. We will also introduce you to the majors Otis offers, and you'll see examples of different portfolios and get insight on the application process. We recommend that you attend this session first, before attending Portfolio Development Part II: Highlighting your technical skills and your creativity!  This session will cover the elements that help you make observational work that is not only skilled, but also conceptually driven. The session features many examples of student work to help illustrate the types of pieces you might include in your portfolio such as still-life, figure drawing, and environmental drawing. Both sessions are one hour, and will close with a Q&A where you can get all of your questions answered. This session will be held over the video conference platform Zoom. Register here.

Virtual Experimental Contour Drawing Workshop: In this 45 minute workshop, we will experiment with 3 different contour drawing techniques. We will be focusing on the process of drawing, hand eye connection, and making drawings that will probably end up looking quite silly (and that is okay)! This is a great workshop for students who are feeling stuck in their art process or looking for a new way to look at their work! This session will be held over the video conference platform Zoom. Sessions will resume in the new year 2022. Register here.

Document Art, Art as a Document: Tips on how to successfully document your artwork!: In this 1 hour workshop, the Photography Lab Manager at Otis will walk you through easy, low-tech lighting to assist you in successfully documenting your artwork! Well-documented work will strengthen your art school applications. This demonstration will help you with the photographic basics to get your best results documenting work. No fancy equipment is needed! If time permits, there will be a quick slideshow expanding the possibility of the photographic. Offered October 27th and January 25th at 5:00pm Pacific time. This session will be held over the video conference platform Zoom. Register here.

Virtual International Student Info Session on Portfolio Development: This special info session is specifically for international students and Americans living in other countries. During this one hour session with Associate Dean of Admissions Courtney Richter, you will get tips and tricks to develop a portfolio to apply to art and design school. You’ll also see examples of different portfolios and get insight on the application process. We will also review the different majors offered at Otis and how you can begin to make work specific to a major. International specific requirements and questions for students coming from outside of the U.S. will be addressed. The session will close with a Q&A where you can ask us anything! Register here.

Virtual Financial Aid Info Session: Offered once per month, this 30 minute session hosted by the Dean of Enrollment Management details the ways that you can fund your Otis education. Upcoming dates: Tuesday, November 9th and Thursday, December 9th. The FAFSA and the application process for financial aid will be discussed in addition to the types of aid that are available. Merit scholarships and the way that Otis evaluates students for them will also be detailed. The session will conclude with a live Q&A where you can get all of your financial aid questions answered. Parents are also encouraged to attend. Register here.

Virtual Transfer Info Session: Offered once per week and led by an Admissions Counselor, prospective transfer students can learn more about the transfer process to Otis. The info session will cover how to select courses for transfer, the majors and minors offered at Otis and how to prepare a transfer application. The I-GETC and articulation agreements with local community colleges will also be covered. Register for this event here.

Student Chats: These live student chats with Otis undergraduates will cover a series of topics from finding community to advice on the application process. Join our students as they get real on topics of interest for prospective students. Each session is meant to be interactive where you can ask your own questions and join in the conversation! Register for student chats here!

MFA Virtual Info Sessions: For prospective students interested in our graduate MFA programs, the MFA Overview and How to Apply Info Session held by our Graduate Admissions Counselor provides information about our application/portfolio requirements, financial aid opportunities and a helpful Q&A session. Register here.

Portfolio Days: The National Portfolio Day schedule for 2021-22 includes both virtual and in-person events. You can view the schedule here. Otis will be attending all of the virtual events, as well as the San Francisco graduate event on October 30th, San Diego undergraduate event on November 7th, and the San Francisco undergraduate event on November 13th. You can also get a portfolio review by signing up for a virtual appointment.  

School Groups:  For teachers looking for virtual visit opportunities, an Otis counselor can visit your class virtually. Submit a request for a virtual visit here.

Find your path to Otis College today. Contact our Admissions department for details or to schedule an appointment with an Otis College representative.

Maps / Locations