Information for Guidance and College Counselors

Application Deadlines
Where Should the Application and Documents be Mailed?
Application Procedures
Parsons Pre-College Summer Programs
How Can Your Student Schedule an Interview?
What Happens in an Interview?
How to Document the Artwork/Portfolio
Office Hours and Best Times to Call
Checking Application Status
Parsons Visiting Your School
Scheduling Group Visits and Tours


Application Deadlines
Fall 2008 Deadlines

February 1 for BFA and BBA Applicants
This is a priority deadline for students who wish to live in student housing for fall 2008. In addition, while Parsons does have rolling admissions, meeting the application deadline of February 1 is strongly encouraged. Applicants who meet the February 1 deadline are given priority if classes maximum limits.

February 1 for BA/ BFA Applicants
Students who wish to be considered for the BA/BFA dual degree with Eugene Lang College must submit the BA/BFA application with all requirements.

Where Should the Application and Documents be Mailed?
University Admissions (Parsons BFA/BBA), 79 Fifth Avenue, 5th floor, New York, NY 10003.

How Can Your Student Schedule an Interview?
Although interviews are not required of applicants, we encourage students to present their work in person and have the opportunity to ask more in depth questions about their potential program. In order to schedule an interview, a student must have an application on file. This does not mean that they have to have all supporting materials received, but rather just the application itself and the $50 fee. We receive thousands of inquiries per year and therefore this allows us to only meet with students who are seriously considering attending Parsons. Interviews are held throughout the year and students may interview up to one year prior to their potential start term. However, we do expect that students have original work and/or slides or CD ROM with them during the interview.

Student may contact us at 212-229-8989 or parsadm@newschool.edu to schedule an appointment - if they meet the above criteria.

For more information on visiting Parsons, go to: www.parsons.edu/visit.

What Happens in an Interview?
The interviewee will be greeted by his or her counselor and brought into an interview space. The interview spaces are semi-private and the atmosphere is relatively casual. Students will be asked to present their work and explain why Parsons is a good fit for them. We expect that students will be able to speak intelligently not only about their technique, but also about what inspires them as an artist or designer. The counselor will also discuss the student’s academic background, what courses they have taken, what they may plan to take during summers, etc.

The artwork itself does not need to necessarily be presented in a formal manner at the interview, however, it should be neatly assembled and all charcoal, pastels, etc. should be sprayed with a fixative. If the student is ready to submit his or her final portfolio they should do so at the interview in one of the forms outlined below. Otherwise the student may chose to refine their portfolio after the interview and then submit it via mail on or before the deadline. After the interview the counselor will take notes on the interview which will be included in the students file. The counselor will also become the advocate for the student in the decision committee meeting where all Parsons counselors/directors will review the file and come to consensus to determine if a student will be admitted.

Please note: Students who schedule an interview are expected to arrive on time or a few minutes early for their interview. New York City traffic can be difficult and students should always plan for minor delays even if using mass transit.

How to Document the Artwork/Portfolio
Student work should be presented in either slide or CD ROM format. Slides should be taken outdoors using natural light for best results. All slides and/or CD ROM’s should be individually labeled with a student’s name, date of birth and portfolio or exercise as appropriate. CD ROM’s should be sent saved as JPEG or PICT files and should load easily in either a PC or MAC. Digital files should be minimized to a resolution of 72 dpi – 150 dpi. We do not require that students present their work in a specific format but many student present in Powerpoint or similar presentation software.

Office Hours and Best Times to Call
The Parsons Admissions office is open Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm Eastern Standard Time. Counselors are generally available by phone with the following exceptions:

Thursday are decision meetings and therefore very limited availability.
In February and March there are also decision meetings on Wednesdays.
During the fall, mid-September to early December, we are often traveling and it may take us a day or two to get back to you.

The best way to reach us is by email. The best times to call are mid-morning 10am - Noon and late afternoon 3:30pm to 4:30 pm. Our number is 212-229-8989. We are closed on most major US holiday.

Checking Application Status
After submitting an application, students will receive an Application Acknowledgment Letter containing instructions for monitoring the status of their credentials (i.e., checking whether they have been received by the Admissions Office) online. We encourage applicants to check this online database before calling the Admissions Office regarding application statuses. After checking this online database, however, if they have any questions regarding the application materials requested or received, they may contact the Admissions Office at the above number.

Parsons Visiting Your School
Parsons Admissions has counselors/directors who visit high schools, community colleges and attend college fairs throughout the US and many parts of the world. We have an overwhelming number of invitations each year for school-based college fairs. Due limited staff and timing issues we frequently cannot attend the school at the time requested. However we frequently will be in your area at other times during the year and if possible will try to visit then. Because we are part of the National Portfolio Day Association www.npda.org, we frequently pair our school visits with the Portfolio Day in that area. The best time to invite us is in May and June when we are planning our fall and spring travel seasons for the following year.

When an admissions representative visits your school we generally like to meet with someone from guidance as well as the art/design instructors. If time permits we like to do a presentation of programs and student work to your upperclassmen or as appropriate for your population. If time permits we will also do portfolio reviews. Instructors often use our presentation as a way to talk about potential careers in art and design.

Visit here for more information on Parsons on the Road.

Scheduling Group Visits and Tours
Parsons welcomes group visits from prospective students traveling with their counselor(s) and/or art teacher(s). If scheduling permits, we will do a presentation to your students which includes information about the departments, as well as information about portfolio preparation. Due to limited elevator capacity, we are unable to give large group tours. If an instructor or counselor is traveling with a handful of serious prospective students (5 or less) we will make every effort to make a tour possible.

Instructors and/or counselors who are looking to schedule a group visit should contact our office at parsadm@newschool.edu. Please be sure to contact us well in advance of your trip. Visits are not confirmed until you are contacted by a member of the Admissions staff with a specific date and time. Be sure to allow for time for traffic and/or transportation issues.