Hey everyone!
I was accepted into the Design and Production Pre-College program for this summer, and I am so excited!
Does anyone know…
- What specifically I should bring with me? I know I need clothes, bedding, and toiletries, but what else? Do you need to bring your own laundry detergent? Snacks? How much stuff is too much?
- How hot do the dorms get? (The website says there is no air conditioning)
- What is a typical Pre-College itinerary like? If you know the specifics for D&P that would be awesome!
- What school supplies do students usually need?
- Can parents visit on days other than the specified parent weekend?
- What are some of the bigger assignments students in drama have gotten in the past?
- What are some tips for being away from home so long? I've never been without my family for more than a week and a half, so any advice on how to handle homesickness/independence would be greatly appreciated! :)
Thank you! 
I went to AP/EA precollege a few years back and it was a great experience, without a doubt the best summer I’ve ever had.
- You'll see people with a varying amount of stuff. Some people go pretty bare-bones, others bring a lot. You do need your own laundry detergent (I suggest Tide pods). It's a great idea to have snacks on hand in your dorm, especially since there's a curfew so you can't leave your floor to buy food after 11 or 12 at night. Your definition of "too much" is subjective; bring whatever you feel like you'll need to be comfortable. I highly recommend a mattress pad.
- I was in Morewood Gardens and it did get pretty hot. I got medical authorization and paid an extra fee for a window AC unit because I have allergies, which made my room a haven from the heat. It's not unbearable, but hot enough that people will be sweaty on some days and wear cool clothing. I fondly remember hanging out on the boys' floors on the hotter days... ;)
- Since I was in AP/EA I don't know about the drama program, but from what I saw, those students were kept reasonably busy. Not backbreaking work, but not easy or boring.
- Again, not sure what you'll need for drama. Probably just bring a couple folders/notebooks/pens and see what you need from there.
- Yes, of course! My parents visited me twice- once for parents' weekend and once for my birthday
- Not sure of this
- I was very excited for precollege for like two years before I went lol. I only experienced homesickness once, honestly. You're kept really busy and there are so many people around and opportunities for socialization that it's hard to feel homesick if you're happy to be there. We whined about curfew and the other restrictions put on us during PreC, but I feel like those measures are very appropriate and allow PreC students (who are mostly minors) to have fun and enjoy a new level of freedom while also having a support system in place. Things never got too crazy, but there were plenty of shenanigans, as one might expect from a bunch of teens away from their parents for an extended time frame. That said, don't forget to call your parents! They'll really appreciate it.
Have fun at PreCollege!