Student Application
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 20, 2026
What does this mean? If you submit by the early bird deadline, there will be ample time for your letter(s) of support and parent/caregiver forms to be submitted and considered with your application. If submitted at the final deadline, you will not have that additional time and we may not be able to get the clearest picture of you as an applicant.
REGULAR DEADLINE: MARCH 4, 2026
WELCOME TO YOUR BAI APPLICATION!!
YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ A LOT OF INFORMATION!
Congratulations!
You have taken the first step in becoming part of the Arts for Learning BAI family! Should you be accepted, you will work up to 36 hours a week and that will include interning at an arts and cultural organization three days a week + participating in professional development two days a week. This year we will have TWO COHORTS who have completely different schedules! You will have the opportunity to share your preference of schedules later in the application. Regardless of which cohort you are in, you will have to sort out your transportation, knowing that we will provide bus passes for all interns who need them AND we are happy to support you in figuring this out.
This program is rigorous AND so fun! Throughout the program, you will develop a digital portfolio that includes: examples of work from the internship, a draft of your college essay, a first stab at your resume, weekly reflections, and a final presentation, among other things! You will also build relationships with peers, artists, and staff that will last well beyond the internship.
This application is a doozy, but is engaging! It will give YOU a chance to get to know the program and it gives US a chance to get to know YOU! Alumni of the program review applications alongside BAI staff.
IMPORTANT INFO!! READ ME!!!
- You will need to upload some things along the way and you will NOT be able to submit the application without those uploads.
- You will need to provide the name and email of a parent/caregiver who will receive an email to complete a simple form that gives us more information about you. Your application is NOT COMPLETE until we receive that from them.
- You will also need to provide the names and contact info of TWO HUMANS who can write you a letter of support. They will also receive an email to complete a simple form that gives us more information about you. Your application is NOT COMPLETE until we receive that from them.
This is what interns who applied last year shared about the application….
If you would like support with your application, please locate the 911 boxes throughout that have the contact information of a BAI Youth Ambassador--a student who went through the program last summer! They are ready to support you!
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Those 911 boxes allow you to reach out to:
Clay (BAI 2025) via text at 410-710-5873
Kayla (BAI 2025) via text at 410-387-3515
Maiya (BAI 2025) via text at 443-942-5675
Moon (BAI 2023) via text at 667-379-1022
Scott (BAI 2025) via text at 443-570-2419
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You can also connect with the Program Director Ms. Kristina at any time (kristina.b@artsforlearningmd.org or 410-952-7003)
AND….Consider joining us at an in person drop in Application Party at Arts for Learning where these ambassadors will be on hand to help! We will provide laptops, snacks and pizza!
- Tuesday, February 17 4:00-7:00 YES! MAKE THAT EARLY BIRD DEADLINE!
- Monday, March 2 4:00-7:00 GETTING CLOSE TO THE FINAL DEADLINE! LAND THAT PLANE!
LET’S DO THIS!
This is a lengthy, yet engaging application, and we know you can do it!
As you know its purpose is twofold: We want to get to know YOU and we want you to get to know the PROGRAM.
Please read the entire application and complete it thoroughly. The application is divided into several sections..
BUT FIRST!!!!! Are you someone who LOVES A CHECKLIST to help you tackle projects like this? We have created THIS CHECKLIST JUST FOR YOU!!!
OK….back to the sections…
- Who are you? General Applicant information + Family Connection: This is general contact information about you AND will ask you to share a parent/caregiver contact via text at the very moment that you are reading the request. We need that info in order to get the Parent/Caregiver Form to them! It is part of YOUR application!
- What’s on your plate? What do you need? Other responsibilities you have, including any current jobs or regular responsibilities. AND a space for you to share any accommodations you would need throughout the program--learning, socializing, dietary, etc.
- A Stroll Down Memory Lane: Getting to Know the Program will ask you to watch several videos and answer questions about what you have learned from them.
- Your Turn! Getting to know YOU! This section will invite you to create your own Playbill bio, share why you are interested in the program + going to college, and rate your skills with various software programs.
- The Written Word and The Spoken Word sections will ask you FIRST to share a piece of your own creative work and write about the process of creating it. THEN will ask you to travel to the future and reflect on your BAI summer, and FINALLY, we will also ask you to create a VERY brief video.
- The Program Calendars section will ask you to review the summer program calendars and demonstrate your understanding of them. You will also be able to share your preference for being in Cohort A or Cohort B. We will also ask your parent/caregiver this so you might want to talk to them first to get on the same page.
- The School Dayz section will ask you to talk to us about your role as a student--grades, attendance, interests, etc.
- The Letter of Support section will ask you to provide the names and email addresses of two adults who know you well. This can be a teacher, guidance counselor, admin from your school, a pastor, a mentor, a work supervisor, etc. It should be someone who has known you for at least ONE year. We need at least one of those adults to write on your behalf! (No family members please…we know they LOVE you and might be a little biased!) Your application is NOT complete without this!
- Final Thoughts will allow us to get some additional deets about you.
And LAST BUT NOT LEAST! You will be asked to officially sign and submit your application!
There are RANDOM QUESTION ALERTS throughout! These are questions designed by our Youth Advisory Council members to make the process a little more fun.
There are also WARNINGS in places where you need to upload documents or videos. Please know that you will not be able to submit your application until everything is uploaded in it.
There are BAI MAGICAL MOMENTS sprinkled throughout as well--they are photographs our alumni have chosen to share!
We have up to 70 spots for students--35 in Cohort A and 35 in Cohort B. Our decision will be based on what we learn about you in your COMPLETED application--this is your space to SHINE! We want to see your culture, genius, wisdom and joy in here!
SOME FINAL AND IMPORTANT NOTES WHEN FILLING OUT YOUR APPLICATION
- We DO NOT RECOMMEND completing this application on your phone!
- We DO recommend reaching out to Ambassadors along the way should you have questions or just need encouragement!
- Please note that you can SAVE your application and come back to it - we know it’s a lot! To do this, click on the square at the bottom of each page that says "Save”. Once you click “Save”, you have the option to create an account or just provide an email. After you have either created an account or provided your email, you will receive an email from Jotform with the link to your saved application.
- You can also see where you are in your application journey by tracking the progress bar at the top of each page!
- You can skip pages and go back to them but you cannot submit unless all of the required sections are complete.
- We want to hear your authentic voice and personality shine through. Avoid relying on outside sources like AI or your family/friends for any essay prompts in the application.
- HOORAY! Once you hit submit, you will receive an email with a copy of your application! No need to reach out to see if we have received it!!!
SAVE THE DATES!
If you are invited to a group interview, interviews will be held on:
- Tuesday, March 24
- Wednesday, March 25
- Thursday, March 26
- Wednesday, April 8
- Thursday, April 9
- Monday, April 13
- Tuesday, April 14
These are VIRTUAL group interviews from 4:30 to 6:30. You will be required to attend one of these, so please put a HOLD on your calendar for those dates now.