ADMISSIONS
Few decisions in life are as important as selecting the right college. The school chosen should offer opportunities for artistic, intellectual and social growth. The school should employ excellent faculty, and enroll committed students. Dedicated faculties will not only have a great impact upon a student's education, but may become a life-long friend as well. More importantly, the school should be a place where a student is comfortable, in a community that offers support.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts admissions
process is designed to familiarize students with the Academy and reveal
to the staff and faculty any exceptional abilities and interests of the
applicant. Students are welcome to pursue the Academy's program of study
on a full-time or part-time basis. It is with these objectives in
mind that we encourage an application to the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts.
Materials Required for a Complete Application
To begin the Application process, please fill out our Online Application. To complete the application process, the following credentials must be information when necessary):
A) Application Form: The online form must be filled out completely, and submitted to the Admissions Office.
B) Application Fee: A non-refundable Application fee of $35 must accompany the Application Form and will be paid upon submission of the Application. A waiver of this fee will be considered in cases of financial hardship substantiated by a letter from a guidance counselor or like professional.
C) Transcripts: All applicants must have received a high school diploma or the equivalent prior to entering the Academy. Official copies of all high school and college transcripts must be forwarded to the Admissions Office. High School students should ensure that all standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), if available, are included on transcripts. (Students who have completed two years of college may omit the high school record.)
D) Two Letters of Recommendation: All applicants must request two letters of recommendation be forwarded to the Academy Admissions Office. At least one letter should be from a current or recent art instructor.
E) Portfolio Review/Interview: All applicants living within a 200-mile radius of Old Lyme will be expected to have a portfolio review/interview at the Academy. For a description of the portfolio, please see the instructions found under the heading Portfolio Presentation below. The staff of the school feels that a visit to the Academy is one of the most important aspects of the admissions process. In addition to providing the Academy the chance to assess the applicant's potential for further study at the school, it gives the student the opportunity to observe the school first hand and in a way not possible through other presentations. Applicants living beyond 200 miles are encouraged to have a personal interview, but may choose to forward a slide portfolio to the Admissions Office in accordance with the instructions found under the heading Portfolio Presentation.
The application process for international students continues with F through H below.
F) Official records from all secondary and post-secondary institutions attended. The records must be sent directly from the institutions and be translated into English.
G) A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) report with a minimum score of 550. TOEFL reports should be sent directly to the Academy. The Academy does not offer instruction in English.
H) Notarized affidavit of Support: Documentation must demonstrate the applicant's ability to pay tuition and living expenses. International students do not qualify for Academy, state or federal scholarship funds.
A transfer student with little or no art background in their previous colleges will be considered for admission to the first year Foundation program. Students with between 15 and 20 transferable studio credits in courses paralleling the Lyme Academy's first year curriculum will be considered for advanced standing. Transfer students will be placed in the program based on the quality of the portfolio presented. For credit to be granted, official transcripts must be presented; grades of "C" or better must have been received and the courses must have been taken at a school, college or university recognized by the appropriate accrediting body or state agency. Even if a grade of “C” has been received, the Academy reserves the right to not accept the course for transfer credit based on the quality of work presented.
Students, parents, and art educators are welcome for tours of the facilities and to meet the faculty. Because of the busy schedule in the Admissions Office, we suggest that you call ahead (860) 434-5232, ex. 122 to make an appointment for a specific date and time, at least one week in advance of the visit.
The Lyme Academy, similar to other art schools has a rolling admissions policy. That is, applications are reviewed when they are complete and notifications are sent to applicants continually from late fall until early summer. However, a firm deadline applies for all Lyme Academy Scholarship applicants: All admissions material for those who wish to be considered for Lyme Academy scholarship must be received no later than March 1st and the student must be accepted in order to participate in the Lyme Academy Scholarship process. The deadline for application for Lyme Academy Scholarship is March 15th .
The portfolio serves as a method of evaluating student work to determine the appropriateness of the student to the Lyme Academy. In all cases the primary concern is the student's potential for further study and development. The presence of commitment and evidence of motivation to pursue traditional training in drawing, painting and sculpture can be clear in the work presented. Portfolios are also required for the purpose of advisement and placement.
Portfolios should be neat, reflecting the student’s concern for their work. Students presenting their work in person need not mount, mat or frame their work. The Academy is more interested in the work itself than in its surroundings. The presentation should reflect what students can do, what they like to do, and what they feel strongly about. Sketchbooks are most helpful in understanding what interests the student, and can be a critical factor in admissions.
If you cannot present your portfolio in person, please send slides or transparencies. Carefully identify each slide with your name and phone number, title, size, medium, and year the piece was completed. Please use an arrow to indicate which direction is up. Use standard 35mm Ektachrome or Kodachrome slides and submit an inventory sheet with the portfolio. (Clear, color photographs may be sent instead of slides.)
Flat plastic slide sheets, rather than boxes, are the
safest, easiest way to send a slide portfolio. Please provide the Admissions
Office with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return. For general
peace of mind and for the Admission’s staff ease of handling, do not mail
original work to the Academy. We cannot be responsible for the safety and
return of original work.
FIRST YEAR FOUNDATION APPLICANTS
Applicants should submit a portfolio of fifteen to twenty examples of work. We recommend that drawings (pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, etc.) make up half of the work presented. Although no particular subjects are required, it is recommended that all work be done from life: figure, portrait, landscape, still life. The remainder of the portfolio should be a variety of works of the applicant’s choice.
ADVANCED STANDING AND TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students who are applying to the second year of Painting
or Sculpture are encouraged to submit a portfolio that reflects their current
skills, coursework, and any experience in their intended major.
Portfolios
should include at least fifteen pieces of work.
The Academy has a Special Student category for those students who are professional artists and have already earned BA, BFA, MA, or MFA Degrees from other accredited colleges. After a review of the portfolio, the student and faculty organize a specific curriculum for the Special Student's needs. All other full-time students must enroll in all required courses.
The application is the same for Special Students (non-degree seeking full-time students, who have earned undergraduate degrees).
Students who have been accepted to the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and who have paid the $300 enrollment deposit may defer their entrance to the Academy for up to one year by notifying the Academy in writing. The $300 deposit is not refundable if a student does not enter the Academy within one year following acceptance for admission.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts does not accept first-time students (those without prior college course work) for entrance in the spring semester. Qualified transfer students with applicable transfer credit in first semester courses will be considered for admission second semester.
Students who have previously attended the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, subsequently withdrew in good academic standing, and have been gone for less than two semesters, may request re-admission to the Academy by contacting the Registrar. Students who have been away from the Academy for more than two semesters must reapply for admission following the procedure outlined in the Admissions requirements. Transcripts of any college work completed during the intervening years must be submitted at the time of reapplication.
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE AND TUITION DEPOSIT
Applications take a minimum of four weeks to process.
When notified of acceptance to the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, students
are expected to submit a tuition deposit of $300, a signed Enrollment Agreement
and a Health and Proof of Immunization Form. The deposit and agreement
should reach the Academy no later than two weeks after the date of acceptance
or May 1st, whichever comes later. The deposit is nonrefundable and
is applied towards the tuition charge for the student's first semester.
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is committed to assisting student with their educational expenses. Sixty percent of our full-time students receive some form of financial aid. However, students must be admitted to the Academy before eligibility can be determined.
LYME ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS GRANTS
Financial support is awarded in three categories: Grants, Work Exchange and Monitorships. This support is awarded annually on the basis of artistic and academic merit as well as financial need.
Grants are gifts and do not have to be repaid. The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts Grants are awarded to students with outstanding portfolios, high academic standing, and financial need. These grants range from $100 to $4000.00.
R.K. Chandler Fund Lynch Fund Brundage
Fund
C. D. Batchelor Fund Southwick Fund Adlai
Hardin Fund
Pinchbeck Fund Lennon-Conrad Fund Platt Fund
Reichenbach Fund Keller Fund Wiggins Fund
Kitchings Fund Colby-Danly Fund John Stobart Fellowship
(Post Graduate)
FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID
FEDERAL LOANS
The Academy participates in Stafford and PLUS federal loan programs.
FEDERAL PELL GRANTS
Federal Pell Grants serve as building blocks for other federal financial aid programs. Eligibility requirements are set by the U.S. Congress and are based on financial need. A student must be enrolled as a degree candidate to be eligible. The maximum Pell Grant for 1999-00 is $3,125. Students with prior baccalaureate degrees are ineligible.
FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL OPPORTUNITY GRANTS
Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) are federally and institutionally funded to assist needy students. Priority consideration is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients. These grants are awarded to those students with the lowest family contribution as calculated by the federal formula and are available to students seeking a first baccalaureate degree. Grants averaged $1,400 for the 1998-99 academic year.
FEDERAL WORK-STUDY GRANTS
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts participates in The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program. The FWS is both federally and institutionally funded and is awarded to qualified students to help pay educational expenses. Students are primarily placed in on-campus jobs, along with some community service work. Students complete a weekly time card and are paid once a month.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT FINANCIAL AID
Connecticut Independent College Student Grant (CICS).
The Academy participates in the CICS program which means
that if you are a Connecticut state resident, and if you are Federally
eligible (fill out and send in the FAFSA form) and you have financial
need, you are eligible to receive grant aid. For the New England states,
most grants are transferable to Connecticut, and the Lyme Academy.
The average Connecticut State grant in 1998-99 was $1,600.
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FINANCIAL AID
VETERANS BENEFITS
The Veterans Administration (VA), Reserves and Armed Forces offer a variety of educational benefits primarily in grant form for those who qualify. Please call 1-800-827-1000, for information.
OTHER FORMS OF AID
Additional grants and scholarships are often available through private organizations (clubs, churches, employers, etc.) Students are encouraged to investigate sources from family affiliations.
Further, numerous Academy students earn tuition credit each year through the Academy's Work-Study Program, which can include monitorships. Check the Internet, your high school guidance office and your local library.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants for financial aid must submit the following
to the Academy for consideration:
For Lyme Academy Aid only:
1) Lyme Academy Financial Aid Application - You must first complete the Admission's application and be an accepted student. Complete the Academy's financial aid application before March 15.
2) PROFILE financial aid form - Apply by February 1 if possible, your taxes must be complete. Available at most United States high schools and colleges, call 1-800-778-6888, or to register via the internet: www.collegeboard.org Registrations are accepted beginning September 15th for the following year. There is a fee for this form. Please use the Academy code #1236 in order to authorize CSS to send your information to the Academy.
3) Portfolio: Each applicant should submit at least
15 slides of original work to the Scholarship Committee, care of the
Academy.
Please make sure each entry is properly labeled with name, address, and
date of completion, size and media.
Please send a self addressed, stamped envelope for the
return of the work. The Academy is not responsible for work left
unclaimed for more than one month.
4) Income Tax returns: We need a copy of your 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ federal tax return for the previous year as well as copies of your W2 forms (or your parent's tax return, if you are dependent according to federal regulations). If a form was not filed, an explanation of the reason for not filing must be provided to the Academy Financial Aid Office. Please send tax returns directly to the Academy - not to the College Scholarship Service.
For Federal PELL, SEOG, WORK STUDY including the STATE CICS:
1) FAFSA (Free application for federal student aid) Complete
this form (available at most high schools and colleges) before the first
day of February. Lyme Academy Code # 030794. Eligibility is
determined by using a needs analysis formula which was passed into law
by Congress. In this formula, the student and/or family's income
and assets are weighed against allowances for basic living costs, number
in the household and resources for retirement to calculate an Expected
Family Contribution (EFC). Special circumstances of the family should
be put in writing and submitted to the director of financial aid for
review.
An educational budget is then constructed by the Academy that represents
educational costs including tuition, fees, books, art supplies and living
expenses. The difference between the estimated budget and the EFC
is the financial need of the student.
After mailing the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid
Report (SAR) reporting your eligibility. If there are no corrections
needed, you may submit the report to the Academy. *
2) PROFILE financial aid form: Submission deadline is February 1 for federal aid at the Academy. Lyme Academy Code #1236.
3) Income tax returns: See #4 above. *
4) Financial Aid Transcripts: Transfer students only, must request financial aid transcripts from each post secondary school attended be mailed to the Academy, even if aid was not received.
More information is available. Please telephone the Financial Aid Officer at (860) 434-5232, ex.121, or write to Financial Aid Officer, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, 84 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Connecticut, 06371. For more information on federal programs call 1-800-433-3243 or write to Federal Student Aid Information Center, PO Box 84, Washington, D.C. 20044.
*Needed for State CICS eligibility.
Any student applying for federal loans of any kind must
meet with the financial aid officer for an entrance interview before the
loan application will be sent. Students with federal loans leaving the
Academy must have an exit interview.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR A COMPLETE
APPLICATION
The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is a Fine Arts only college offering a Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree and Certificate in Painting or Sculpture. We provide a
structured disciplined foundation program in Drawing, Composition and Anatomy
as well as Painting and Sculpture for creating realistic representational art
reflecting the academic traditions of the masters.
It is the applicant's responsibility to complete this package which includes
the following five items:
If you have questions you may call Admissions at 860-434-5232, ext. 122.
Email:admissions@lymeacademy.edu
Application Menu
Chris Rose
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management
Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
84 Lyme Street
Old Lyme, CT 06378
860-434-5232, ex. 122
FAX 860-434-5232
E-Mail: crose@lymeacademy.edu