Continuing Your Interlochen Journey

Come to hear about life at Interlochen Arts Academy and learn how to apply. 

Application Nights 

Come to the air-conditioned Admission Office, have some snacks, and work on your application with help from the experts. Laptop computers will be available.

Parent and Family Open Houses

Invite your family to campus to learn more about the transition from Camp to Academy. You'll meet with students, faculty, and admission representatives and learn all the details of applying and enrolling.

Cabin Talks

Admission representatives visit the high school and intermediate divisions periodically to provide information and answer questions about Interlochen Arts Academy for interested students. Check in with your cabin counselor to see when Admission is coming to you. 

Life at Interlochen Arts Academy is a little different than life at Camp. Here’s an example of a typical schedule for an Arts Academy student. 

• 7:30 a.m. - Wake up, shower, and eat breakfast at Stone Cafeteria
• 8:30 a.m. - Classes begin
• 11:30 a.m. - Lunch in Stone Cafeteria
• 1 p.m. - Classes resume
• 5-6 p.m. - Classes end. Spend the evening practicing, working on homework, hanging out with your friends, or participating in residence life programming
• 9 p.m. - Sign-in at your residence hall
• 11 p.m. - Lights out

Arts Academy

The Arts Academy application is separate from the Arts Camp application and will need to be completed for consideration to attend Interlochen Arts Academy.

Step 1: Check Out Our Viewbook

Take a look at our Viewbook to learn more about artistic, academic, and student life programming, financial aid, and more.

Request Viewbook

Step 2: Fill Out Your Application

For Camp students, you can use your account at EDUCATION.INTERLOCHEN.ORG and follow the prompts to start your application. (Note: Student applicants and their parents/guardians should have separate accounts.) We also accept the Standard Application Online (SAO). If you have completed the SAO, you will hear from an admission representative regarding next steps.

The application consists of the following sections:

• Student and family contact information.
• Student writing samples. These are short essays where you will tell us a bit more about yourself and your goals.
• Parent questions. Your answers will help us gain a more holistic understanding of your student.
• Recommendations. Your school principal or guidance counselor must fill out a recommendation form that we will send them. A second recommendation form completed by a non-family member is optional.
• Admission Documents. We will ask you for transcripts from the past three years. You can also choose to share your SSAT scores. If English is not your first language, we may ask you to share results from an English Proficiency exam, such as Duolingo. All application materials should be provided in English, including transcripts.

International students have additional requirements, which may include English Proficiency testing results and translated transcripts.

Step 3: Upload Your Audition/Portfolio

Please review the Audition & Portfolio Requirements carefully before submitting your materials. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the admission office.

Step 4: Review & Submit

Make sure to review your application before submitting it. When you feel it is ready, pay the application fee ($65 for domestic students and $100 for international students; non-refundable) and submit.

Step 5: Apply for Financial Aid

If you are interested in merit- or need-based financial assistance, you must complete the Clarity financial aid application. 

Learn more about Financial Aid

Step 6: Schedule a Time to Connect

Once we have received all of your materials, an admission representative will reach out to schedule a 30-minute one-on-one Zoom call with you. This gives us a chance to learn a bit more about you.

Throughout the summer there will be ample opportunity for students to audition for their chosen program or submit additional portfolio materials.

Financial Aid & Scholarships 

We make every effort to ensure that financial need does not prevent talented students from attending Interlochen. Here’s how we support our community of young artists: 

• 83% of our students receive merit scholarships and need-based financial assistance.
• We award $17.5 million in total financial aid annually.
• Interlochen offers both merit-based scholarships and need-based assistance to domestic and international students.
• Our graduates receive nearly three times more college scholarships than the average public or charter school student. 

If your family chooses to apply for financial aid, our Office of Admission & Financial Aid will work closely with you to guide and support you throughout the process. We take into account your financial situation, cost of living, and other relevant circumstances.

Despite the quick turn-around, each summer dozens of Camp students choose to come to Interlochen Arts Academy in the fall. Typically, applicants receive an admission decision within a week of completing their application.