Summer Pre-College Programs

Summer Pre-College Programs include virtual and residential sessions of Portfolio Prep, offered to current high school students (grades 9 – 11) interested in building new skills for their creative pursuits. Students will receive personalized training and advice from Stamps faculty and staff on building a competitive portfolio.

Sign up to receive information about our upcoming programs, register for a pre-college info session, or start your application today.

• Early Action Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
• Final Application Deadline: March 15, 2024

Portfolio Prep

Summer Studio for grades 9 – 11; Virtual and Residential Sessions offered

This summer, Stamps will host three sessions of our Portfolio Prep program, including virtual and residential options. Each session is a studio experience for current high school students (grades 9 – 11).

Portfolio Prep is an intensive program focused on developing and curating a competitive portfolio for a college application. This program offers coursework that reflects the structure and rigor of the first year undergraduate experience at Stamps. Under the guidance of Stamps faculty and staff, participants will immerse themselves in studio work and explore a variety of media and methods for producing creative work. Through the expert mentorship of the Stamps Admission team, participants will gain firsthand knowledge about the admission process and learn about the advantages of earning an art and design degree at a world-class university.

Curriculum

Portfolio Prep participants experience four studio classes; Drawing Studio, 2D Studio, 3D Studio and 4D Studio.

Drawing Studio: a studio course that introduces students to the fundamentals of drawing and visual thinking through the act of drawing. This class focuses on the practice of drawing as a core component of visual expression as well as a platform for artistic inquiry and communication.

2D Studio: a studio course that focuses on building basic two-dimensional visual skills. Coursework introduces students to the processes of visual perception and the potential of visual communication. Students learn to work with color, texture and pattern through a series of projects emphasizing the generation, organization, and analysis of pictorial space.

3D Studio: a studio course that focuses on basic three-dimensional composition. Students gain technical skills and knowledge through a series of projects emphasizing the manipulation, organization and analysis of form and structure in space.

4D Studio: a studio course that focuses on developing the basic concepts, tools, vocabulary, and principles used by artists and designers in time-based creative practices. Students have an opportunity to develop technical and aesthetic skills as well as a critical understanding of work that utilizes time as an essential element, including studies in audio, video, and animation, as well as live installation or performance.

Our curriculum is further enhanced through:

• Lessons on portfolio preparation and the college admissions process

• Portfolio reviews with the Stamps Admissions Team

• Peer mentorship from current Stamps undergraduate students

• Tours of the Stamps School of Art & Design and UM’s Central Campus (residential only)

• Field trips to local museums and cultural institutions (residential only)

Deadlines

• Early Action Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
• Final Application Deadline: March 15, 2024

Required Application Materials

The following materials are required for all Summer programs:

• Portfolio of 5 images of your work
• 250 word personal statement
• an unofficial high school transcript

Scholarships are available to select students who have been accepted into the program. Students seeking financial assistance for Stamps Pre-College Studios must complete the ​“Financial Assistance” section of the application with the help of a parent/​guardian and provide all required materials. A limited number of full and partial awards will be provided to students who demonstrate need and merit.

If the application fee presents financial hardship, students may request a fee waiver by emailing us at stamps-​precollege@​umich.​edu.

Michigan residents applying for in-person Portfolio Prep sessions may also apply for the Watson A. Young Scholarship, an initiative supported by the University of Michigan’s Center for Educational Outreach. The Watson A Young scholarship was established to support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U‑M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education.

Please contact us with any questions about our Pre-College programs.