Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Pre-College Art Program at Carnegie Mellon University is designed to challenge students' perceptions of art and provide a college-level studio experience. Through the use of traditional tools and cutting-edge technologies, students develop their conceptual and technical skills, preparing them for opportunities in art studies and careers.

Curriculum

The curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of technical skills and the growth of conceptual thinking, applied to personal artistic practice. Students are introduced to the spirit and substance of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Art through challenging courses, individual critique, stimulating workshops, portfolio development, and interaction with dedicated faculty and peers. Classes are held mornings and afternoons, Monday through Thursday, with elective workshops on Friday.

College-Level Art Courses

Students work in spacious studios in the historic College of Fine Arts building and the School of Art's fabrication facilities. Individual instruction, in-class work sessions, critiques, demonstrations, and lectures are part of the classroom experience. Students attend nightly open studios to complete work outside of class.

Session One [Weeks 1 - 3] Courses:

• Drawing
• Sculpture
• Animation
• Concept Studio

Session Two [Weeks 4 - 6] Courses (6-week students only):

• Painting
• Digital Photography
• Printmaking
• Concept Studio (a continuation of the first three weeks)

Small Classes Led by Accomplished Art Faculty

The Pre-College Art faculty consists of accomplished artists with experience teaching teenagers, as well as college-level undergraduates and graduates. Small class sizes allow students to benefit from individual attention, intense instruction, and constructive feedback. Undergraduate teaching assistants from the School of Art's Bachelor of Fine Arts program support instructors and students.

Concept Studio

Concept Studios are an integral part of the art curriculum at CMU, and all undergraduate students in the School of Art are required to take a series of these courses throughout their four years of study. During the Pre-College experience, students participate in a rigorous two-part introduction designed to assist in the development of personal, non-medium-specific approaches to generating art. Areas of exploration may include:

• the self and the human being
• space and time
• systems and processes
• contextual practice

Instruction in Concept Studio is centered around helping students develop work that focuses less on technique and more on the creative process itself and what artmaking can convey to others. Assignments include readings, short writing projects, collaborative projects, and the completion of individual artworks.

Friday Workshops

Each Friday, students participate in elective workshops, presenting introductions to a wide range of topics and skills. While attendance is required, students are not evaluated on their workshop performance, fostering an atmosphere of experimentation, exploration, trial and error, and freedom.

College Application Preparation

Through exploration in various media, students develop conceptual and technical skills valuable to the college application process and critical to success in a competitive college-level art program. Depending on individual levels of completion and effort, students should expect to create portfolio-quality work in each of their art courses.

Age and Grade Requirements

• Age: Students must be 16 years of age by June 20, 2026.
• Grade: Students must be in high school, between 10th and 11th grade or 11th and 12th grade during the summer of 2026.

Program Length

• 3 Week: June 20 to July 11, 2026
• 6 Week: June 20 to August 1, 2026

Application Deadlines

• Early Deadline: Scholarship and International applications must be submitted by this deadline, with decisions sent on March 15.
• Final Deadline: Fixed admissions, with decisions sent on April 15.

Housing Options

• Resident: Students live on campus in CMU residence halls with full supervision from trained residential staff.
• Commuter: Available for students who live within approximately 30 miles of CMU's campus.

Eligibility & Application Requirements

To be eligible for Pre-College Art, students must:

• Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
• Be a current sophomore or junior in high school at the time of application submission.
• Have a strong interest in art.

The complete application for Pre-College Art consists of:

• Completed online application
• Unofficial transcript
• Standardized test scores (optional)
• One letter of recommendation
• Responses to essay prompts
• Samples of artwork, submitted in one of the following formats (optional but recommended):
  • Video submission, up to three minutes.
  • Five (5) to 10 images of work in a single PDF file.

Application Essay Prompts

Applicants submit responses to one essay prompt and three short answer prompts.

• The required prompt (300-500 words): What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs?
• Short answer prompts (150-200 words each):
  • Why do you want to attend CMU's Pre-College Art Program?
  • What resources do you wish were available in your area to make you a better artist?
  • What artwork do you make outside of assigned school projects, and what excites you about this process of creating?

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can participate? Students must be at least 16 years old by the program start date and currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade.
• What is the goal of the program? The Pre-College Art Program mirrors the structure and intensity of Carnegie Mellon's School of Art undergraduate experience, providing hands-on studio training, critical thinking skills, and portfolio-ready work for college applications.
• How many classes will I take? Each Art student is enrolled in four classes per 3-week session, with classes meeting Monday-Thursday.
• What is the difference between the 3-week program and the 6-week program? The 3-week program culminates in a student exhibition, while the 6-week program includes both sessions for a more comprehensive experience with additional coursework and mentorship.
• What do students study? Classes include Drawing, Sculpture, Animation, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Concept Studio.
• On average, how many hours of work are assigned outside of the classroom each week? Students can expect to spend 8-10 hours per week working on projects outside of class.
• What is the daily schedule like? Students attend classes Monday-Thursday, 9 AM-12 PM and 1 PM-4 PM, with optional Friday workshops and 8-10 hours of independent work each week.
• How much time is spent on portfolio development? All students are invited to participate in one-on-one portfolio reviews with CMU School of Art faculty, and they should expect to create portfolio-quality work in each of their art courses.
• Is the program residential? Yes, students may live on campus in CMU residence halls with full supervision from trained residential staff, or they may commute if they live within approximately 30 miles of CMU's campus.
• What level of artistic experience do I need to have to apply to Pre-College Art? Most students have taken high school art classes or extracurricular art programs, but some students are successful with little experience given they are highly interested and motivated.
• Will I earn college credit from this program? The program is non-credit, but it provides an authentic college-level studio experience and a valuable preview of life as a CMU student.
• How can this program help with college admission? Students leave with a strong, faculty-reviewed portfolio, direct feedback from CMU professors, and a better understanding of art school expectations, all of which strengthen future college applications.

Supplies and Equipment

Students will receive material kits from the CMU Art Store once they arrive on campus, included in the program cost. Additional items not included in the material kit that students are responsible for purchasing and bringing include:

• Personal sketchbooks
• A large portfolio
• Documentation of previous artwork
• A laptop computer (with Adobe Creative Suite) is not required but recommended
• A quality digital camera (DSLR) with manual settings for 6-week students

Student Safety and Support

CMU's Pre-College staff provides 24-hour supervision, including resident advisors, program coordinators, and campus security. Students also have access to on-campus health and wellness services.