The fastest and most reliable way to apply to SOCAPA is to choose a course and fill out our online application by hitting 'Apply Now.'
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You may also download our paper application and fill it out on your computer (just click on the form fields and type) or fill it out by hand. Please mail the completed application to our New York office: 2020 Dates & Costs (print-friendly)
For details on the application process, please see our How to Apply page.
All applications must be accompanied by:
For details on Required Documents, please see our How to Apply page.
The best way to determine if there is still space in a given program is to choose a course and start the application process.
If you join the waitlist, we recommend completing as much of the application as possible so that we know you are serious about attending. Then, when a spot opens up, you are ready to go!
SOCAPA operates under a rolling admissions policy, meaning that our admissions office reviews and decides on applications as they are received until there are no openings left in the session/program.
Applicants are generally notified of their admissions status within two weeks from the time our office receives a complete application, registration details, report card, Signature Form, and the $500 registration deposit. In past years, we have closed some programs as early as January and yet, due to last minute cancellations, we have had openings in other programs up to two weeks before the start date. We highly recommend early application as space is competitive and limited.
For more details see our How to Apply page.
SOCAPA's Summer Programs are classroom intensive in a residential setting and therefore we want students who want to be in our classrooms during the day and who can abide by our rules at night. Generally, we are looking for students with at least a "B" average with no disciplinary red flags. For applicants with less than a "B" average, we may require additional application materials such as a short essay on why the applicant wants to attend our program and/or a reference from a teacher. We understand that some schools and classes are more difficult than others so we make decisions on a case by case basis.
Basically, we want to ensure that the student is passionate about attending our workshops and that they are not going to be a disciplinary problem.
A Report Card is a document provided by the school that shows the courses the student is taking and the grades/marks/notes that the student is achieving. The document communicates the student's progress and performance in school. It also commonly includes comments and attendance record.
(According to online research ... French: bulletin; Spanish: boleta de calificaciones; Italian: pagella; German: zeugnis(blatt); Norwegian: rapporten kort; Russian: табель; Arabic: بطاقة تقرير; Greek: Έκθεση κάρτα; Japanese: レポート ・ カード; Korean: 성적표; Chinese: 报告卡; Hebrew: כרטיס דיווח.
The report card should be translated. We can read French, Spanish, and Italian report cards, but others should be accompanied by a translation (this does not have to be official).
FILMMAKING & ACTING PROGRAMS:
We do not require or expect students in our introductory (as opposed to advanced) Acting and Filmmaking Programs to have experience in their chosen field. We start from the beginning but we move at an extremely fast pace. We usually split incoming classes into two groups, one for "no experience," and one for "moderate experience." Highly experienced students can apply to our Advanced Programs.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
For Photography, we have Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels at our New York City Campus. For our other campuses, we expect incoming students to have "moderate experience." Please see the individual program pages for more information.
MUSIC:
We do not hold auditions for our music program, but students must have at least one year of musical training. We require an intermediate knowledge of music theory as it relates to major and minor scales, key signatures, and time signatures. While we mainly focus on written chord symbols, a basic knowledge of reading music notes is also helpful. Vocalists should have an understanding of the voice as it relates to breath control and breath support and be able to harmonize and sing melodies by ear. Instrumentalists must be able to play ascending and descending major and minor scales and play melodies and rhythms by ear on their respective instrument. Above all, a deep passion for music and an understanding of basic musicianship is imperative in the life of any aspiring musician.
DANCE:
All dance courses require at least three years of consistent training. For our Core courses, we offer intermediate and advanced levels at our New York City location. Students will be assessed on the first day of the program and split into the appropriate level. The Core programs in Vermont and Los Angeles are intermediate to advanced, and may be split into different levels or share instruction. Advanced dancers interested in pursuing dance in college or professionally may apply to our Dance Conservatory.
As long as there is still space in the program and you are doing well in school, then there is a 99% chance that you will be accepted to the program.
Financial limitations should not discourage you from applying to SOCAPA. We have a limited amount of scholarship monies available on the basis of demonstrated need. Unfortunately, we cannot offer financial assistance to International Students at this time.
Absolutely. Last year, over twenty-five percent of our student body came from outside the United States. A Tourist Visa is all that is required to attend the camp. You do not need to apply for a Student Visa for educational programs less than 6 months in duration.
Language requirement for International Students:
SOCAPA's programs are summer intensives. Regardless of the supervision level or age of the students, the programs run at a fast pace and are taught at a high level. Students must be able to understand the teacher, classmates, and camp staff. They must be able to speak and share their ideas. Students' Listening and Comprehension level should be at least Intermediate - Advanced Intermediate.
Yes! We have recources to compare colleges, get information on college credits, connect with other alumni, and more...
Alumni Resources!
The number one priority at SOCAPA is the safety and well being of our students. SOCAPA has a full staff of qualified supervisors on-duty at all times during the program. All of our counselors and teaching assistants are at least eighteen years of age and have strong leadership skills and experience. Most have degrees in either visual or performing arts from prestigious universities and many have been through Residence Assistant training programs.
For more info see our Supervision Policy page.
Yes. Please send our Admissions Team an email in order to request references for the campus(es) and program(s) that you are interested in.
Alcohol or drugs are strictly prohibited on all our campuses. SOCAPA supervisors have the right to search rooms for illegal substances. Any student who violates this policy will be immediately sent home without a refund.
Students are allowed to bring cell phones to camp but they must be turned off and out of sight during all classes, meetings and camp activities. SOCAPA reserves the right to confiscate a student's cell phones at anytime if our usage guidelines are not being followed.
Last year, we had approximately eighty students per session in New York, and closer to sixty five students per session in Los Angeles and Vermont.
We keep our core class sizes small so each student gets individualized attention. Class sizes range from ten to sixteen students per section. The entire camp convenes after dinner for our daily production meeting followed by the evening activity.
Our staff does airport transfers for students on the first and last days of each session. Airports we service are JFK, LGA & EWR in New York, LAX and Burbank (BUR) in Los Angeles, and Burlington International (BTV) for Vermont. We will greet your child at the flight's baggage claim area (for domestic flights) or outside of customs when they arrive, and drop them off at the airline's check-in counter when they leave; unfortunately, we cannot escort them beyond security. There is an airport transfer fee of $45 for BTV, $85 for LAX, $105 for JFK, $95 for LGA, $115 EWR, and $85 for BUR.
Pick up and Drop off Times:
We do airport pick ups on the FIRST SUNDAY of the program. Please arrange arriving flights between 11am and 3pm.
We do airport drop offs on the LAST SATURDAY of the program. Please arrange departing flights between 11am and 3pm.
Flight times outside this window may incur additional transfer fees and/or may require transfer by a third party car service or taxi.
For VT and LA campuses only, there is an additional fee of $200 roundtrip for students who are registered as unaccompanied minors with their airline. Please be sure to contact our main office if your child is traveling under this designation. Names for Unaccompanied Minor pick up will not be available until a few days before the program start date. This service is not provided at NYC campuses
We accept local day students as well as sleep away overnight students. That is why Tuition and Room & Board are separate charges. Day students attend the program from approximately 9am - 5pm, Mon - Fri. Day students in our Advanced Film and Acting programs may have required activities (film shoots) scheduled on weekends. There is more information about considerations to make when deciding to attend as a day student on our location pages for New York City, Los Angeles, and Burlington, VT.
There are generally two students assigned per room, depending on the campus. We use age and answers to the questions on your application to pair you up.
Yes, although most of our students come to our program not knowing anyone. If you would like to room with someone specific, please email our office after you have applied to make the request. We must receive the request from both parties to honor the roommate request.
Depending on the campus you attend, the Residence Halls are of either of the "traditional corridor style" (LA, VT) or of the more modern "suite style" (NY). They are generally co-ed, with single-sex floors. Residents of a wing, hallway or suite all share a large common bathroom. A room typically is furnished with a desk, chair, bed, mattress, wardrobe/closet and dresser for each student, as well as a set of window drapes. All of our residence halls have air conditioning. Please see specific campus pages for more details about the residence hall.
Yes. Students have access to the internet via campus WiFi at all of our locations. If you bring a laptop, you can access the internet from your room, but we also have computer labs at each location.
Yes. And we recommend that you use them at least once during the program. You'll need approximately $4.00 to wash and dry. Please refer to your to seer if you will need quarters or if the campus uses key cards.
Here at SOCAPA we constantly strive to be the best at what we do, which is provide summer intensives in the arts while engaging students in a fun, productive and enriching summer experience. This is our focus - programs for teenagers. This is all we do, and we build upon our programs each year.
As you compare programs, please ask yourself some of the following questions:
If you can, please compare them to what we do at SOCAPA. Make sure you are comparing work done by students in your age group enrolled in a similar short-term summer program and not work done by adults in a one to four year program. Visit our YouTube page and our Facebook page to see samples of our student work!
At SOCAPA we go to great lengths to make sure each student leaves the program with access to all their summer productions. Film and Photo students bring their own work home with them on the hard drive that they bring to camp. We also host a Portfolio Page for each student, which hosts the final projects of each student. You also have access to a compilation work of your classmates, so if you performed in or crewed on a friend’s film, you have that too.
Do I get to write, direct and edit my own films or do we just make group projects?
At SOCAPA you make one film of your own per week of attendance.
Do I leave the program with a portfolio of my on-camera acting, including a professionally written scene which is photographed and edited by one of my instructors (3 week students)?
Do I get headshots? Do I prepare a monologue or scene for use as an audition piece?
Do I get to use my own camera and enlarger during the program? Can I learn both 35mm and Digital Photography? Do I learn Studio Photography, including lighting? Do I get to work with a camp full of actors, dancers, musicians and filmmakers and build up my entertainment portfolio?
Do I leave the program with a music video that features my dance performances? Do I get headshots? Do I get an opportunity to present my own choreography? Do I get a chance to see professional dance groups and shows?
We hope you will join us!
