CRLS students can participate in NuVu for a full semester in either the Fall or Spring semester. In order to participate in NuVu, CRLS students must complete an Interest Application and designate the semester they are interested in participating in NuVu.

By participating in NuVu and passing the one-semester, “NuVu Studio” course, CRLS students will receive 30 credits or the equivalent of three semester-long CRLS courses. Students will receive 10 credits for a Creative Design field course, 10 credits for an Engineering field course, and 10 credits for a Media Technology course or Computer Programming course.

The tuition for attending NuVu is $13,500 per semester. This tuition covers all materials, tools and supplies needed in all the student projects. NuVu is committed to making our program available to all students regardless of means and  a limited number of full and partial scholarships are available each term for students with demonstrated need. Please see the application for more information.

Unlike traditional secondary education, the NuVu curriculum is centered on a collaborative design approach. Students develop projects which integrate applied math, art, engineering, social sciences, music, architecture, industrial design, biology and technology as part of a larger design goal. With the support of NuVu coaches (visiting innovators and experts in their field), students advance their ideas through a critical, iterative design process. NuVu has an average coach to student ratio of 1:6, and each student will receive extensive one-on-one support from coaches.

The program begins with a one-week Genius Camp where students learn the basics of graphic design, drafting, 3d modeling, rapid prototyping, electronics, programming, and various professional software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhino. After completing genius camp, students will participate in seven two-week cross-disciplinary studios. Past studios have included DIY Prosthetics, Hacking Medicine, Nomadic Architecture, Redesigning the Boston T Map, Interactive Fashion, and Health Video Game Design. The semester also includes three-week independent project period where students refine their portfolio and have the opportunity to further develop a project of their choosing.

NuVu’s structure is based on 2-week long Studios. These intensive Studios begin by identifying an issue or point of inspiration, defining the problem, and then engaging in an iterative process toward a solution. Each Studio runs for 2 weeks, culminating in a final review where external reviewers (professors, practitioners, entrepreneurs and designers) are invited to evaluate students’ work. During the Studio period, students and coaches work together at NuVu from 9am to 3pm with the option to stay until 5pm (which happens frequently, especially before the final review). 

Students who participate in the NuVu program leave the program with an extensive online portfolio which can be shared with College Admissions counselors. All students will receive an extensive written evaluation and letters of recommendation are provided upon request. NuVu has contacted over 400 Colleges and Universities who have all expressed positive interest in receiving applications from students who have attended the program and NuVu semester alumni have successfully been admitted to competitive universities such as Stanford, MIT, Smith, University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon.