Pre-College
New York City
Greenwich Village · NYU & The New School
Our flagship campus, for independent, mature students ready for city life. Live in a university residence hall and explore Manhattan.
2027 Sessions
Summer 2027 Pre-College Intensives
Summer Intensives for Creative Teens
SOCAPA is one of the premier visual and performing arts programs for high school teens, ages 14 to 18, in the world. With year-round intensives in New York City and day or residential (sleep-away) programs in Los Angeles and Vermont, SOCAPA has a "life-changing" pre-college experience for you. Nowhere else will you find this level of creative intensity combined with this much fun!
2027 Summer Intensives
Summer Campuses
Every campus offers the same intensive arts training. Choose the summer that fits you: independent pre-college living in New York City, a taste of college life in Los Angeles, or a more traditional sleep-away camp in Vermont.
Summer Camp & Pre-College
Los Angeles
Occidental College · Eagle Rock
A real taste of college life on Occidental's hillside campus: dorms, a meal plan and a good deal of independence, with staff close by. Residential or day.
2027 Sessions
Summer Arts Camp
Vermont
Champlain College · Burlington
A classic sleep-away camp feel overlooking Lake Champlain, great for younger high school students. Meal plan and full residential supervision.
2027 Sessions
2001–2026 · 25 years
Celebrating 25 years creating life‑changing summer experiences
More than 18,000 teens from 94 countries have spent a summer at SOCAPA. Here’s where a few of them went next.
Then · 2010
SOCAPA Fusion Dance Camp, then SOCAPA dance faculty
Dexter Carr
Now: Nike’s first-ever dance instructor
Then · 2013
SOCAPA Music, New York City
Sophie Beem
Now: Signed by Beyoncé to Parkwood Entertainment
Then · 2023
SOCAPA Advanced Acting, New York City
Sunny Sandler & Scarlett Estevez
Now: Starring in Netflix’s Don’t Say Good Luck
Then · 2023
SOCAPA Advanced Acting, New York City
Samantha Lorraine
Now: Stars as Dora in Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado
Rolling admissions
Summer 2027 registration is open
We review applications as they arrive, until each session is full. Tuition goes up after each rates deadline, so apply early for the best rate and the most choice.
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1
Find a program
Compare programs, campuses and session dates in our course finder.
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2
Sign up
Create your parent and student accounts and register for a course.
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3
Submit your materials
Send in your documents and the $50 application deposit. We usually respond within 1 to 2 weeks.
Important dates
Summer 2027- Early Bird Rates Next
- Oct 31 2026
- Early Decision
- Dec 15 2026
- Regular Decision
- Feb 15 2027
- Regular Rates
- Mar 15 2027
- Payment Deadline
- Apr 1 2027
Testimonials
What our families say
Sometimes it's better to hear it from someone else. Read what actual students and parents say about our summer camps and pre-college programs in these verified reviews.
A “Life-Changing” Experience in the Arts
Again and again on their evaluations, our students and families call SOCAPA “life-changing!”
- Happy Alumni
- 18,447
- Countries Represented
- 94
- Years in Education
- 25
The staff was absolutely amazing and they treated the kids like their own!! I can’t believe all that my daughter experienced in 3 weeks. The final showcase was incredible! I wish we would have found this place sooner!!!
Melissa W.
California
The teachers and counselors were mature, creative and inspiring; the other students were friendly, artistic and mutually supportive; the leisure activities were exciting and well-supervised. We are thrilled, so cool!
Molly H.
New York City
Not only are the teachers absolutely incredible, but everyone is overwhelmingly supportive. Everyone here wants the best for you, and sees potential in every last person.
Tommy M.
Florida
OUTSTANDING! Excellent instruction, hands-on learning, in a very professional setting. This is the best program of its kind we have ever encountered.
Thomas P.
Georgia
Have questions?
We’d love to help you choose the right program and campus.