How To Apply

We accept applications for first year students and transfer students online through Common App. Begin or complete your application here: MECA&D on Common App

Any student graduating from high school or earning the equivalency may apply for admission to MECA&D's Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Whether you are currently enrolled at another college, are not presently in school, or are working full-time, you are welcome to apply to join our community of artists.

Applications are evaluated individually, with special consideration given to the strength of the portfolio, academic achievement, and community engagement and involvement. Every applicant is considered for merit-based scholarships upon acceptance into the College.

The application fee is $70. The application fee is payable by credit card on the Common Application and is non-refundable.

To request a Common App fee waiver, please see the options listed in the Common App Fee Waiver section, which can be found under Profile, then Personal Information.

Please write 500 words answering the questions Why art, why MECA&D? or follow the essay prompts on the Common App. Your essay can be uploaded directly to the Common App.

Your portfolio should consist of 12–20 pieces of recent artwork in any medium, created within the last 18 months.

The work in your portfolio can be done in or outside the classroom, and you can use your portfolio to either show us a range of mediums or to focus on a particular subject or medium. (MECA&D also offers a Pre-College program to help you build your portfolio.)

Learn more about our portfolio requirements.

Please submit your portfolio via SlideRoom and/or your own website. We strongly recommend including the following information for each piece: date, dimensions, medium(s), description of concept or inspiration, and, for drawings (physical or digital), the time spent on each drawing — it's helpful to know if a drawing is a quick two-minute sketch or done over several three-hour sessions.

For a tutorial on photographing work at home, watch the following video for tips on lighting, framing your photograph, and cropping here.

Applications will not be considered complete and ready to review until we receive your portfolio and all other required materials in this checklist.

Applicants can request transcripts to be sent to the Admissions Office through their guidance counselors or other official representative. Transcripts will be considered official if they are sent by the issuing institution through the Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Service, or if they arrive to MECA&D in an envelope that is stamped and sealed by the issuing institution.

Applicants may also opt to send an official scored report of the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET).

Please note that we strongly prefer receiving transcripts digitally through Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse. If they must be mailed, please send them to:

Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Undergraduate Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Applicants can request transcripts to be sent to the Admissions Office through their guidance counselors or other official representative. Transcripts will be considered official if they are sent by the issuing institution through the Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Service, or if they arrive to MECA&D in an envelope that is stamped and sealed by the issuing institution.

We require transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, even if credit was not earned, in order to award you financial aid.

Please note that we strongly prefer receiving transcripts digitally through Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse. If they must be mailed, please send them to:

Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Undergraduate Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Please note that if you have earned 60 credits or fewer, we will request an official copy of your high school transcripts in addition to any and all college transcripts.

Our preference is to receive your letter of recommendation from an art teacher who can speak to your artistic journey and potential in an art college. If you would like to submit additional letters of recommendation, we accept these from guidance counselors, current academic teachers, and/or employers. Letters from family members or friends are not accepted. Please submit letters of recommendation through the Common Application.

Recommendations will be considered official when they are uploaded directly by the recommender to the Common Application; we will also accept official recommendations through Parchment and SCIOR.

Maine College of Art & Design welcomes applications from international students. In addition to the above application process and future communications related to enrollment, below are additional steps required to successfully join us as an international student.

Pay close attention to the following sections. Any delays from filing errors may impact your ability to join our program on time.

Due to the time involved in fulfilling legal requirements, we advise international applicants to complete their applications by the soonest deadline or no less than three months prior to the start of the program. If offered admission, we also advise you to enroll well ahead of the decision due date.

Please note that all dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format, and all currency listed on our documents and website are in US dollars.

Application

In addition to the above application materials, international applicants will also need to have their transcripts evaluated, as well as submit a demonstration of English Proficiency.

Evaluated Transcripts

Applicants who attended postsecondary institutions outside of the United States are required to have their transcript(s) evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credit Evaluation Services (NACES.org), such as World Education Services (WES.org).

All documents must be in English and converted into a 4.0 GPA scale, therefore official evaluations are required.

Demonstration of English Proficiency

If your primary language is not English, you will be required to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English. The following are acceptable forms of documentation and their minimum test scores, if applicable:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • Written TOEFL Test: 550.
  • Internet TOEFL Test: 79.
• Pearson PTE Test: 53.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5.
• Duolingo English Test: 100.
• Graduation from a US high school with at least two (2) years of high school English, not in conjunction with English as a Second Language (ESL), and documentation of a B average or higher.
• Completion of two (2) consecutive semesters of English Composition taken at a regionally accredited US college while carrying a full-time course load and not in conjunction with ESL. A minimum grade of B is required in each semester.
• Completion of the equivalent of two (2) years at an English speaking higher education institution and a minimum 3.0 GPA. A school official should provide a written statement that English is their primary language of instruction as documentation.

Evaluated transcripts, demonstration of English Proficiency, and other documents can be delivered electronically to admissions@meca.edu, or by mail to the following address:

Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Undergraduate Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101

Enrollment

In addition to paying the enrollment fee, accepted international students must also submit a completed Declaration of Finances form, a Verification of Finances document and a scanned copy of the passport you intend to obtain your Student Visa with. These documents are required in order for us to issue your I-20 form. Once you have your I-20 form, you can then apply for a Student Visa (F-1) at your local US consulate or embassy.

Declaration of Finances (DOF)

The United States Citizen and Immigration Service requires that international applicants submit a DOF to MECA&D indicating that the applicant has financial resources adequate to provide for their expenses without resorting to unauthorized employment.

The amount declared in your DOF must be enough to cover the total sum of tuition, fees and living expenses for one academic year of study. The completed DOF must be dated within a year of initial enrollment at MECA&D.

You can download the DOF form here: https://www.meca.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-DOF-Form.pdf

Verification of Finances (VOF)

For your DOF to be processed, all funds declared on the DOF must be supported by a VOF. This can be a bank statement either from your own bank, or your sponsor's bank (e.g. your parents or your partner). All documents must be in English, and the funds declared should be in US dollars or the equivalent under current exchange rates supplied by the bank. The VOF must be dated within a year of initial enrollment at MECA&D.

Scanned Copy of Passport

For your DOF to be processed, we will need a scanned copy of your passport in color. Make sure the entire page is legible and the information matches what you provided in your DOF.

Note: if your mailing address is different from the address provided in the DOF, please let us know so we can properly mail your I-20 form.

To ensure prompt processing, please submit your DOF, VOF and scanned copy of passport directly to your Graduate Admissions Coordinator Joel Tsui at joel.tsui-staff@meca.edu.

If you have any questions about the application and enrollment process as an international student, you can contact our Assistant Director of Admissions and International Student Counselor Emily Brighi at ebrighi@meca.edu.