Take classes in high school that challenge you and give you a broad background in lab sciences, math, social sciences, cultures, languages, and communication. Enroll in classes in your area of interest that are offered at your high school. Be curious, dedicated, and enthusiastic about learning: this is vital for creative thinkers.

Get involved in organizations, sports, clubs, and performances at your high school or in your community. You'll meet a diverse range of people, and you'll discover other abilities to help you succeed as an artist, designer, or performer. Broaden your perspective by volunteering to make your neighborhood or community stronger. Seek an internship to sample careers you may enjoy most. If you have a hard time finding activities and groups at your school or in your community, participate in virtual programs or classes.

Join us for an information session during your visit to campus. We also offer a wide variety of helpful virtual events for prospective students, including an overview of the college with application details, presentations on creative careers, and sessions with tips on improving art and design portfolios and talent submissions for performing arts majors.

Make sure you know the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign admissions requirements, keep track of application deadlines, and get prepared for the talent requirement for majors in the School of Art and Design, the Department of Dance, the School of Music, and the Department of Theatre.

We encourage you to consult with an FAA advisor as early as possible in your community college career so that you can map out a course plan. Some of our degree programs rely on a series of courses that must be taken in order, while others may have a list of suggested classes to take before transferring.

Transfer course equivalencies help you determine what courses transfer to Illinois, while planning guides show you how your transfer credit can be used in an Illinois program of study. Note that these things don't constitute a contract between you and Illinois and that transfer credit for courses focused on art and design skills are subject to an audition and placement exam or portfolio review. Learn what transfers at Transferology.

Check out the application deadlines and requirements. Don't forget to complete the talent requirement if you're applying to a program in the School of Art and Design, the Department of Dance, the School of Music, or the Department of Theatre. The Applying to FAA page has details.