Stamps Pre-College Programs: Giving High School Art students a gateway to College education

06 Mar 2017

If it wasn’t for the Pre-College Program, I don’t think I would have pursued art…Coming to Stamps, I feel like I was more prepared for how college was set up, […] and the professors encouraged me.” – Yazmon Ector, Stamps BFA ’19, Pre-College Program Participant

Recent data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) suggests that individuals who work in design and the arts report some of the highest levels of job satisfaction, but competitive art and design school entry requirements can sometimes make taking your talent to the next level feel more than a little intimidating. Competitive academic and portfolio requirements often leave artistic students questioning: do I have what it takes? The Stamps School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan (U-M) believes the best way to conquer self-doubt is through focused, skills-based instruction and mentored practice.

“The Pre-College Programs here at Stamps are a college preparatory program that we run for high school students who are interested in pursuing a college degree in art and design,” says Michael Neville, Coordinator of Pre-College Programs at Stamps. “Our students dedicate a large portion of their time on a daily basis in the studio,” he states. “Upwards of eight to nine hours a day is spent actually in the classroom working with Stamps instructors on their art and design work.”

The Stamps School is known to help students think in new and innovative ways, preparing them to undertake a journey as concerned world citizens, while equipping them with skills needed for lifelong achievement. Through the cutting-edge Pre-College Program curricula – which this year include non-residential, afternoon Spring Portfolio Intensives and two Summer Residential Studios – the Stamps School hopes to instil talented high school students with the confidence, competence, passion, and expertise needed to succeed at the elite college level.

“What we help students do is prepare for the specific requirements that the Stamps Undergraduate Program expects of their applicants,” explains Neville. “In terms of giving students a leg-up, you’ll meet the Admissions Counsellors here at Stamps, the entire team in most cases. You’ll know who they are, you’re able to have portfolio reviews with those admissions counsellors, so you’ll be on a first name basis with these people prior to submitting your application to the Undergraduate Program here.”

Spring Portfolio Intensives for Grades 9 – 12

Portfolio Intensive: Drawing for Artists and Designers

A certain level of finesse in illustration is necessary for any practicing artist or designer. With this inspiring Program, students learn the fundamental drawing concepts of contemporary Art and Design. Participants gain knowledge and experience via a range of engaging approaches, covering observational to experiential drawing, and everything in between. Classroom sessions are carefully structured as studio-drawing time, giving you plenty of time to hone your skill and apply refreshing perceptions. Various lectures, demonstrations, handouts and slides enhance all taught material, giving you the best possible platform to launch your creative academic career.

Dates: May 1 – June 14, 2017

Cost: $300 *Financial aid is available to all students who qualify

How do I apply?

Click here to begin your application, then upload the following:

A portfolio containing 5 – 8 images of your original work
A High School Transcript
Financial information if applying for a needs-based scholarship

Image courtesy of the Stamps School at the University of Michigan

Portfolio Intensive: Sculpture/3D Design

If you’re looking to stand out amid a sea of creative potentials, there’s no better way to ensure you shine than to enrich your portfolio with 3D design. In Stamps’ Sculpture and 3D Design Program, students get to experience the basics of all things form and space. Students here gain invaluable hands-on experience as they experiment with different materials, create stirring objects and design unique spaces. Again, class sessions are perfectly split into practical studio time, giving students the chance to build their 3D prowess and establish exciting ideas. This course also boasts the ideal blend of lectures, demonstrations, handouts and slides to set you off on the best possible foot.

Dates: May 2 – June 15, 2017

Cost: $300 *Financial aid is available to all students who qualify

How do I apply?

Click here to begin your application, then upload the following:

A portfolio containing 5 – 8 images of your original work
A High School Transcript
Financial information if applying for a needs-based scholarship

Summer Residential Studios for Grades 9 – 11

BFA Preview

What’s it really like to pursue a BFA degree at a world-class university? Well, the BFA Preview at Stamps is designed to show you just that, with a three-week residential studio catering for current high school freshman, sophomore, and junior-level students. Here, participants live and reside on U-M’s iconic campus, while creating work in their very own studio and having access to high-end facilities. With the guidance and support of experienced Stamps staff, you’ll soon find yourself engrossed in studio projects that explore traditional and experiential media, with students embellishing their unforgettable experience with field trips to the University of Michigan Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit, and the Detroit Institute of Art.

Image courtesy of the Stamps School at the University of Michigan

One of the most beneficial aspects of this program is the chance for students to familiarize themselves with the college admissions process, as well as the diverse career opportunities they’ll soon find open to them, and how to build an irresistible creative portfolio. To conclude the BFA Preview, participants mount an exhibition of their work and host a reception for friends and family.

Dates: July 9 – 29, 2017

Cost: $3,000 *Financial aid is available to all students who qualify

How do I apply?

Click here to begin your application, then upload the following:

A portfolio containing 5 – 8 images of your original work
A High School Transcript
Financial information if applying for a needs-based scholarship

Portfolio Prep

This is a two-week residential studio for current high school freshman, sophomore and junior-level students. Through integrative and multi-disciplinary studio classes, participants gain first-hand experience of the college admission process and learn about the benefits attached to earning a specialized art and design degree at a prestigious university. Here, Stamps’ qualified staff will help you construct a competitive portfolio, revealing hidden potential that helps unleash the artist you never knew you could be.

Again, students live on the U-M campus, relishing in the quirks that come with attending this elite institution. Learning is enhanced as they explore a diverse range of media and techniques, and marvel at masterpieces on display during field trips to surrounding museums. Ultimately, this course grants students a more detailed and sophisticated understanding of creative practice, as they produce an unrivaled creative portfolio.

Dates: July 30 – August 12, 2017

Cost: $2,000 *Financial aid is available to all students who qualify

Click here to begin your application, then upload the following:

A portfolio containing 5 – 8 images of your original work
A High School Transcript
Financial information if applying for a needs-based scholarship

Image courtesy of the Stamps School at the University of Michigan

An unparalleled Pre-College Preparatory experience…

Through distinguished, contemporary teaching, first-rate facilities and an unequalled learning environment, Stamps is bellowing the timid creative flair of its students into a full-blown creative inferno. “Ultimately, through most sessions, I think what I mostly learnt was like, the path is yours to take,” Yazmon Ector, Pre-College Program participant and Stamps BFA ’19 student, concludes. “There’s no right or wrong way to do it,” she adds. “It’s just you, and you have to believe you can do it.”

Without innovative programs such as these, many students might never fully realize the scale of their passion. These are the culture-makers of tomorrow – and Stamps truly understands the importance – to higher ed and the wider world – of nurturing their creative voices.

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