Gabi Mechaber: Pre-College Success
Gabi Mechaber (BFA ‘22) is fresh out of undergrad and working as a designer at Friendly Design Co., a social impact design studio. But she first got her head start at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design while still a high schooler.
In this Q&A, Mechaber reflects on her time in the Stamps Pre-College Summer Program in 2017 – an experience that she says contributes to her accomplishments today.
To learn more about the Pre-College Program and how to apply, visit stamps.umich.edu/pre-college.
What made you decide to take part in the Pre-College Program?
I have always been an artist and attended a design magnet high school. I knew graphic design was what I wanted to study. Stamps was one of my top programs that I was applying to for college, and I thought the Pre-College Program would be a great way to see what the school was like. I also felt that Michigan would be the best fit in a college experience for me overall, so I wanted to prioritize experiencing the Stamps curriculum!
How was it adjusting to the college environment away from home?
I’m from Miami, Florida, so I came from out of state, but I didn’t find it hard to adjust at all. I really loved Ann Arbor!
Do you think being in Pre-College helped you acclimate to U‑M once you enrolled?
It definitely was easier navigating the Stamps building since I had just spent time there the summer before. I felt familiar with campus already, too.
What was your favorite thing about Pre-College?
Making friends! Many of us ended up at Stamps for college, so I already knew some people going into the school year. Building my portfolio was also great. I ended up with a few pieces that I used for my application.
Do you have a specific project from Pre-College that you were especially proud of?
My favorite project was the big project I made towards the end of the session for our exhibition. I made a giant quilt by collecting patterns in my environment and turning them into digital illustrations!
Would you recommend Pre-College to high school students?
The Pre-College Program is definitely a great experience if you’re able to go! It was great to meet the administration and learn more about the school and the curriculum ahead of time. I was probably more prepared for what foundation year is like because of it.
Do you take anything you learned in Pre-College to your current career? Did it give you an edge?
The biggest takeaway I had from the Pre-College Program was learning how to manage my time in a studio setting. We were given large projects that required a lot of studio time to finish, and it prepared me for how to navigate my class projects once I got to school. I’ve definitely taken this into my current career, as I’m working with client deadlines. They require a lot of time management while I’m in between multiple projects at a time.
For more information about Gabi Mechaber and her work, visit her portfolio at gabimechaber.com.
Story by Katelyn Stuck.