Parsons Pre-College China Program (Ages 14-18)

The program features two noncredit pre-college classes that develop students' art and design skills. 

The classes will run from February 19 to May 14, with three hours of creative programming each Sunday morning. The online sessions are taught by Parsons faculty from 9:00 to 11:50 a.m. China Standard Time. Class will not be held on March 19 or April 30 due to holidays in China and the United States.

In addition to the online class content, the program includes several virtual webinars offering content designed to help students prepare for college admission and study. Webinars will be led by New School offices, along with counselors from the Parsons Admission team. All students will have the option of completing a one-on-one portfolio review with a Parsons Admission counselor, in which they will receive feedback on their work.

Spring Pre-College Program in China (February 19–May 14)

You can register for one course for the spring session on our website. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations are accepted in the order in which they are received. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Registration Begins: December 1

Tuition: $4,500

Fees: $40

Total: $4,540

Academic Transcript Request

The New School has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering via the Web. During the pandemic, only official PDF copies of New School transcripts will be issued. Official PDF transcripts are free of charge.

After you request your transcript from the National Student Clearinghouse, your transcript will be mailed electronically to you or another recipient, such as a university, that you have designated. If you are sending your transcript to a college or university, make sure the school accepts electronic PDF transcripts as official, and keep in mind the following when ordering:

• The transcript link for the requester has a 30-day time limit.
• Once the transcript is downloaded, there's no expiration date.
• Unlimited views are allowed.
• Printing is allowed.
• Copying is not allowed.

Fashion Styling, Ages 14–18

In this class, students master the fundamentals of wardrobe styling. They learn about the core requirements of being a stylist, including imagination, research, communication, and collaboration. They develop skill in processing ideas to build mood boards and have the chance to see some of their ideas come to life. This leads to firsthand experiences that teach students how to creatively and technically adjust for both on- and off-figure styling. The class features discussions on trend forecasting, social narratives, and professional practices. Students research and document their creative process and communicate their point of view in both verbal and written formats. Ultimately students explore how to use clothing as a vehicle for storytelling.

Graphic Design, Ages 14–18

Learn the fundamentals of graphic design in this design studio. Graphic design is all around you—on applications, websites, print materials, and clothing. It is the medium in which words and images combine to communicate messages effectively. In this class, students focus on learning analog and digital creative problem-solving techniques and the basics of graphic form and expressive typography. Assignments offer students the opportunity for maximum creative input while challenging them to be innovative thinkers and successful problem solvers. All assignments are framed within the graphic design methodology of research, concept development, critique, analog and digital production methods, professional output, and presentation. This course requires access to an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (not included).

Refund Schedule

Spring Parsons Pre-College China Program (February 19–May 14)

Please note: All refund schedules are effective until 11:59 p.m. EST on a specified date.

Course Drop or Withdrawal Date    Percentage of Tuition Refunded

Before January 22      100

Before February 21            75

After February 22           0

The New School reserves the right to cancel courses. If a course in which you are enrolled is canceled, you will be notified.

What You'll Need

• A modern computer and mouse
• Headphones, a microphone, and a webcam
• A stable high-speed Internet connection
• A digital camera (mobile device cameras are suitable)
• Supplies on class list (estimated cost: $150)
• Some courses require access to Adobe Creative Cloud; please check the course description. To purchase a subscription, go to Adobe Creative Cloud for Students. 

Attendance and Workload

Online classes convene on Sunday mornings for 11 weeks; students participate in the live three-hour sessions using Zoom video conferencing. 

Students can miss only two of the online sessions in order to successfully complete the program. Students are expected to complete assignments each week, and they can receive support for these during the supplemental tutoring sessions with a design mentor.

Students' success in Parsons pre-college courses depends on their attendance and motivation. Students will enhance their sense of achievement by regularly attending and actively participating in the program. 

Students taking a course toward the Parsons Academy Certificate cannot miss more than two online classes with the faculty. Certificate students who miss class more than two times or fail to participate fully in class or the group making sessions will fail the course and may be asked to leave the program.

Students are expected to be on time for every class. Student participation in class is essential, and arriving late is disruptive to the entire class.

Courses are supplemented by special guest lectures, events with the Parsons Admission team, and portfolio reviews.

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate English language proficiency, as classes are taught in English. Students who attend a high school in which English is the primary language of instruction can submit a transcript or a letter from a school administrator confirming the language of instruction. 

Alternatively, students can submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 79 or higher on the Internet-based course, an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 or higher, a PTE (Pearson Test of English) score of 53 or higher, or a DET (Duolingo English Test) score of 115 or higher. Visit TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET for more information.

The Parsons Academy Certificate is a noncredit program for students in grades 9 through 12 who plan to apply to art and design colleges. Our curriculum and culture help students create a college admission portfolio that reflects and strengthens their ideas, skills, and understanding of technique.