UArts Pre-College for high school students

Summer Institute Scholarships

Scholarships for the Summer Institute are awarded to students in high academic standing with significant creative potential and financial need.

Scholarship awards are competitive. Students are able to apply for either a merit- or need-based scholarship.  

Students may select to apply for a scholarship on their Summer Institute application. They will then log in to the application portal after completing the Summer Institute application to upload their scholarship materials. Scholarship applications will be reviewed and decisions sent within 3 weeks of being received. Students who are already registered for a Pre-College Summer Institute program will be ineligible for a scholarship and retroactive refunds will not be processed. Contact precollege@uarts.edu for more information.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Pre-College awards a limited number of partial tuition scholarships each summer. These awards are first come, first served and awarded to students demonstrating significant creative potential. 

Merit Scholarship Deadline
Summer 2024: priority deadline Saturday, April 13 2024

Once the priority deadline has past but we will continue to award scholarships as long as funds are available.

Review the application requirements listed below. Some items will need to be collected prior to starting the Summer Institute application. 

We recognize many families will not have access to scanners. Requested materials can be shared as photos taken with a mobile device or screenshots from a computer. 

Need-Based Scholarships

Pre-College awards a limited number of need based scholarships each summer. These awards are first come, first served and awarded to students demonstrating significant creative potential, strong academics and financial need. Scholarship awards will vary in amount from partial- to full-tuition. 

These scholarships have been made possible by the generosity of the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation, the Brook J. Lenfest Foundation and other generous foundations.

Families applying for a need-based scholarship should keep in mind the following general yearly income parameters, which the scholarship committee will consider when assessing need.  

Family Size and Income

  • Family of two: $65,000 or less

  • Family of three: $72,000 or less

  • Family of four: $79,000 or less

  • Family of five: $86,000 or less

  • Family of six: $93,000 or less

  • Family of seven: $100,000 or less

  • Family of eight: $107,000 or less

Need-Based Scholarship Deadline

Summer 2024: priority deadline Saturday, April 13 2024

Once the priority deadline has past but we will continue to award scholarships as long as funds are available.

Review the application requirements listed below. Some items will need to be collected prior to starting the Summer Institute application. 

We recognize many families will not have access to scanners. Requested materials can be shared as photos taken with a mobile device or screen shots from a computer. 

Scholarship Application Requirements (Merit- and Need-Based Applicants)

The following items are required for merit- and need-based scholarship applicants.

  • An audition, writing sample or portfolio (Find details for your specific program in the tabs below.)

  • A Personal Statement

    • ​​​​​​Describe yourself as completely as you can in 140 characters or less. 

  • A letter of recommendation or a high school transcript

    • Transcripts should show grades for a minimum of three marking periods. If transcripts are not available, students can share copies or photos of report cards. Transcripts can be unofficial.

    • The letter of recommendation can be from a teacher, counselor, employer or person who knows the student in a setting outside the home. Recommendations should include information about how the recommender knows the student and why they think the student would benefit from a scholarship to the Pre-College Summer Institute. 

  • An optional statement of special circumstances 

    • Please share any information you would like the scholarship committee to take into consideration when making a scholarship decision.

  • Need-based scholarship applicants only: A copy of your parent/guardian’s most recent federal income tax return. The committee will only need IRS Form 1040, which is typically the first two pages of a tax return.

Audition, Portfolio & Writing Sample Requirements

See the audition, portfolio or writing sample requirements for your desired program in the tabs below.

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Art, Media & Design; Filmmaking Portfolio

Portfolio

Includes 4–8 pieces of artwork. Your portfolio can include 2-D, 3-D or time-based media. For time-based media, include a YouTube or Vimeo link.

Creative Writing; Screenwriting

Writing Sample

Upload a piece of written work (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction or screenwriting) completed within the last year. This piece should not exceed three pages in length and can be an excerpt from a longer work.

Dance

Audition

All applicants must submit a pre-recorded audition. 

  • Up to five minutes of technical demonstration at the barre and/or center

  • A two-minute solo performance

Music

Audition 

All applicants must submit a pre-recorded audition. Your audition should include a prepared one- to two-minute piece that demonstrates a range of technical and improvisational abilities and a sight-reading exercise.
 
Instrumentalists
The following pieces are required in your recorded video audition.

  • An introduction including your name, school, grade, city and state, and what you will be playing.

  • A prepared selection of one of the following works. You should play at a medium tempo with standard or alternate chord changes. The accompaniment may be live or recorded. You may play an optional three to four choruses of improvisation.

    • “Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker*

    • “Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonius Monk*

    • “Sandu” by Clifford Brown*

*Bassists must also walk a bass line for two choruses.
*Pianists, guitarists and vibraphonists must also comp for two choruses.
*Drummers must play time for two choruses. ​​​​​​

Vocalists
The following pieces are required in your recorded video audition.

  1. An introduction including your name, school, grade, city and state, and what you will be playing.

  2. A prepared selection

    • Select two musical selections of different styles and perform the melody. Improvisation is optional.

  3. A sight reading exercise: Click on the sight reading exercise below.

Music Composition & Songwriting

Audition

  • Submit two original music compositions or songs 

  • Compositions should be presented as notated scores, either by hand or by using computerized notation, and in hard copy or digital format. 

  • If submitting songs, a lyric or a lead sheet can be submitted in place of notated scores. 

  • Recordings should be available online (for example on Soundcloud, YouTube, personal website, etc.). Pieces can be vocal, instrumental or MIDI.

Music Industry

Essay    

Upload a one-page essay responding to the following question.

  • How do you imagine this program will benefit your current interests and future endeavors?

Theater

Audition

All applicants must submit a pre-recorded audition. Directing, Playwriting & Production students can choose to submit a portfolio in place of an audition.

  • An introduction including your name, school, grade, city and state, and what you will be performing

  • At least two of the following: a comedic piece, a dramatic piece or 16 bars of music (no more than four minutes)

    • You must be recognizable. Avoid masks, heavy makeup or costumes.

  • Portfolio (Directing, Playwriting & Production only)

    • Your portfolio should include at least two examples and/or documentation of your theater interest. Your portfolio can include but is not limited to set designs, performance experience, creative writing etc. 

 

Other Scholarship Opportunities

The Ellis Trust for Girls

The Ellis Trust for Girls helps young women of limited financial means, living in single-parent homes, enhance their high school experience and prepare for post-secondary success. They foster academic and personal growth by offering meaningful, high-impact opportunities for young women. Each year they award grants to eligible young women residing in Philadelphia to support their education and life goals by providing funds for education-related expenses and academic and personal development programs for students attending public & charter high schools. For more information, please call 215.790.1666, ext. 442 or go to ellistrust.org.

Learn more

Questions?

Request more info

Contact Pre-College
precollege@uarts.edu
Pre-College Programs
211 S. Broad St, Terra Hall 9th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 717 - 6430

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