Pre-College

Update: April 22, 2020

These are extraordinarily trying times and the past weeks have required MECA to take extraordinary measures and make real sacrifices. The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community remain our top priority.

It is with deep disappointment that we have made the decision to postpone our Summer 2020 Pre-College program to 2021, due to the COVID-19 crisis and the uncertainty surrounding the situation. The Pre-College team is in the process of developing online workshops and webinars for our Pre-College students — while they won’t offer a replacement for our traditional programming, we hope that these workshops will provide a way for our students to remain connected to the Pre-College program at MECA. We will update our students and this webpage once this programming is available.

Until we are able to gather again in Portland, we hope you will follow and use the #mymecacommunity hashtag to contribute to and participate in the MECA community from wherever you are. We will continue to update you on our journey. Please keep in touch, be well, and stay safe.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at cstudy@meca.edu.

Pre-College is open to students who have completed their sophomore, junior or senior year of high school. Students customize their individual Pre-College program by choosing two majors from the following media:

• Animation
• Ceramics
• Illustration: Comics + Graphic Novels
• Fashion + Textile Design
• Metalsmithing + Jewelry Design
• Painting
• Photography: Black + White Dark Room
• Printmaking

Each major is given equal time. All students take a figure drawing class.

Faculty

Pre-College faculty members include dedicated professionals who are practicing studio artists, instructors at Maine College of Art, and other faculty from institutions across the nation. The education and experience of MECA’s instructors reflect the College’s national reputation, its dedication to a solid studio foundation and the strength of its studio majors.

Pre-College Portfolio Scholarship

Maine College of Art offers a merit scholarship of $1500 for all Pre-College participants who are accepted to MECA’s BFA program. All Pre-College students are invited to participate in the Pre-College Portfolio Day, which is held during the last week of the program. Recent high school or personal work may be included. In addition, all participants will receive an application fee waiver to MECA’s BFA Program.

2020 Program Dates

July 5–25, 2020. The program culminates with an exhibition of student work and a reception for students, family and friends.

2020 Application Deadline

Priority Deadline: February 1, 2020 
General Deadline: April 15, 2020

Certain majors fill up quickly. Admitted students whose applications are post-marked by February 1, 2020 will have a better opportunity of getting their major(s) of choice and will be given priority consideration for need-based financial aid.