Summer Pre-College Programs

Portfolio-building summer programs for high school students interested in art and design.

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. This summer, students can also sign up for BioDesign Studio, a new four-week commuter program that brings together materials science, engineering, and creative expression.

Applications for Summer 2026 Pre-College Programs are now closed. Sign up to receive information about our upcoming programs, register for a pre-college info session, or enroll in our new Stamps Pre-College Anytime online course today!

Portfolio Prep

Summer Sessions 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.

Online

Virtual Portfolio Prep is an online version of our intensive, two-week Portfolio Prep program. Participants will attend online classes, complete projects, and receive valuable mentorship and training — all from the comfort of their own homes.

Online
Dates: June 15 — June 26, 2026
Cost: $750
Early Action Deadline: February 1, 2026
Application Deadline: March 1, 2026

Online Curriculum
Virtual Portfolio Prep participants experience six classes; Drawing Studio, 2D Studio, 3D Studio and 4D Studio, Portfolio Studio and Admissions Studio.

Drawing Studio: a studio 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 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 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 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.

Portfolio Studio: a seminar that focuses on building a competitive portfolio for college admission. Coursework introduces students to effective visual communication techniques and is structured around exercises in photo documentation, written descriptions, and portfolio curation.

Admissions Studio: a seminar that introduces students to opportunities at the Stamps School of Art & Design and the University of Michigan. Students receive an in-depth information session detailing all aspects of the undergraduate program at Stamps. Students also discuss strategies for preparing a strong application to Stamps, focusing particularly on writing compelling college essays.

Our curriculum is further enhanced through:
- Portfolio reviews with Stamps Admissions Team
- Peer mentorship from current Stamps undergraduate students
Online Sample Schedule

View a sample schedule for Virtual Portfolio Prep below. Please note that a finalized schedule will be shared before the start of the program.
Online Costs and Fees

Virtual Portfolio Prep - $750

This program fee includes instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

Financial assistance is available.

Upon acceptance to the program, a $100 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

Residential

In our intensive, 2‑week Residential Portfolio Prep program, students build new skills while living and working on the University of Michigan campus. Two different sessions are available:

Portfolio Prep Session 1
In-Person
Dates: July 12 — July 25, 2026
Cost: $6000

Portfolio Prep Session 2
In-Person
Dates: July 26 — August 8, 2026
Cost: $6000

Early Action Deadline: February 1, 2026
Application Deadline: March 1, 2026

Residential Curriculum
Portfolio Prep - Session 1 & 2 participants experience six classes; Drawing Studio, 2D Studio, 3D Studio and 4D Studio, Portfolio Studio and Admissions Studio.

Drawing Studio: a studio 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 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 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 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.

Portfolio Studio: a seminar that focuses on building a competitive portfolio for college admission. Coursework introduces students to effective visual communication techniques and is structured around exercises in photo documentation, written descriptions, and portfolio curation.

Admissions Studio: a seminar that introduces students to opportunities at the Stamps School of Art & Design and the University of Michigan. Students receive an in-depth information session detailing all aspects of the undergraduate program at Stamps. Students also discuss strategies for preparing a strong application to Stamps, focusing particularly on writing compelling college essays.

Our curriculum is further enhanced through:
- Portfolio reviews with 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)
Residential Sample Schedule

View a sample schedule for Portfolio Prep - Session 1 & 2 below. Please note that a finalized schedule will be shared before the start of the program.
Residential Costs & Fees

Portfolio Prep, Session 1 or 2 - $6000

Residential program fees include tuition, room, board (3 meals a day), field trips, instructional materials and shipping costs. Please note that we will not ship instructional materials internationally.

Financial assistance is available.

Upon acceptance to the program, a $1000 nonrefundable deposit will be required to confirm your attendance and reserve your space in the program. This deposit is included in the overall program fee. If you withdraw from the program after classes begin, no portion of your tuition will be refunded.

Students are encouraged to bring extra spending money for snacks, laundry, entertainment and souvenirs.
Residential Housing & Dining

Portfolio Prep - Session 1 & 2 participants live just a short distance away from Stamps in Baits II. Located on North Campus, Baits II is a mixed-gender residence hall featuring laundry facilities, floor lounges, and music practice rooms. Baits II features “suite” style units. Each unit features 2 bedrooms and 1 adjoining bathroom. 4 students are assigned per unit.

Bursley Hall is the primary dining facility for Portfolio Prep - Session 1 & 2. Learn more about the delicious and nutritious offerings at Bursley here.

BioDesign Studio

Commuter Program for grades 10 – 11

Are you a high school student curious about the intersection of science and art?

This summer, explore the exciting crossroads of materials science, engineering, and creative expression in our four-week BioDesign Studio. Stamps Pre-College will invite a small, close-knit group of students to participate in this one-of-a-kind educational experience.

This immersive summer commuter program is perfect for students ready to unlock their creativity, collaborate with experts, and explore how art and science can make a real-world impact. Ready for a summer where creativity meets discovery?

Program Focus

Studies show that integrating the arts with STEM leads to improved critical thinking, problem-solving, and learning engagement — here’s your chance to experience it!

BioDesign Studio highlights materials science and engineering through an artistic lens, inspired by the innovative research of Dr. Jouha Min, a faculty member in the U‑M’s College of Engineering.

Collaborate with Researchers

When people need medical implants, like artificial joints or heart devices, infections can cause serious problems for patients, including implant failure and even amputation. Traditional methods to fight these infections mostly target bacteria, but often ignore how the body’s immune system reacts to the implant itself. Dr. Min’s research aims to design new biomaterials that help keep infections away by working with the body’s natural immunological defenses.

Her team is exploring how the tiny patterns on the surfaces of implants (like peaks and valleys you’d see under a microscope) can influence both immune cells and bacteria. By studying these patterns in 2D and 3D, the research hopes to find better ways to prevent infections before they even start. This innovative work could lead to safer implants, better outcomes for patients, and new breakthroughs in medical science.

What You’ll Do

Join a small cohort of students and receive individualized attention and mentorship
Collaborate closely with Dr. Min’s research group and gain college-level research exposure
Design, fabricate, and analyze 2D and 3D surface topographies with experimental shapes and patterns
Use Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to capture intricate micro- and nano-scale details
Enhance SEM images in Photoshop, adding artistic elements for a creative twist
Submit your science-inspired artwork to the BioArtography program, where pieces are displayed and sold to support public science education

Details

Modality: Commuter / In-Person
Dates: July 13 — Aug 6
Day/Time: Monday — Thursday, 9 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. ET
Timezone: Eastern Time
Location: Stamps School of Art & Design

Application

Early Action Deadline: February 1, 2026
Application Deadline: March 1, 2026

The following materials are required:

Portfolio of 5 images of your work
250 word personal statement
Unofficial high school transcript

Cost

This grant-funded program is free for participants. Participants are provided with daily lunch, local field trips and instructional materials.

Schedule

TBD (a sample schedule will be published soon)

Materials

All instructional materials are provided by the Stamps School of Art & Design for this program.

Questions

Application Information

Financial Assistance

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

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.

Questions

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