CCA News
CCA's Pre-College Program: 25 Years Preparing Young Adults for College Life!
Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011, by Sarah Owens
Now celebrating its 25th year, CCA's Pre-College Program, administered by the Office of Special Programs, has a long-standing tradition of combining an art college experience with world-class art instruction.
Pre-College students are immersed in art education, yet also steeped in real-world college life—a unique and rewarding combination of benefits that truly makes a student’s transition to college life more successful.
Academic Rigor + Social Engagement
For four weeks each summer, the Pre-College Program affords high school students (who have just completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade) a wide array of academic and social activities that fosters academic prowess and social engagement. Among the many possible activities, Pre-College participants engage in the following:
- Converse with peers about art-related topics and happenings
- See photographs come to life while working in the darkroom
- Tour San Francisco’s historical and modern architectural landscape
- Learn what it takes to become a cinematographer
Students Earn College Credit
In addition to creating work for their college admission portfolio, students can earn up to 3 units of college credit upon completion of the program.
Pre-College enrollees choose from among a selection of 17 studio courses, many of which are taught by CCA faculty. Students choose from such disciplines as design, film, animation, drawing, painting, photography, and creative writing—all of which reflect the quality and interdisciplinarity for which CCA is known.
Facts & Figures
CCA’s Pre-College Program is one of the largest art school college-preparatory programs in the country. Approximately 250 students participate annually, with more than half of the students partaking in CCA residential life.
This one-of-a-kind arts-immersion program instills valuable insight and hands-on college experience in the students. Having common interest in the fine arts, architecture, design, and writing, participants often establish close friendships with each other and gain exposure to myriad cultural backgrounds and different points of view.
About Pre-College Instructors
Pre-College instructors are passionate about teaching. Photography instructor Sean McFarland appreciates his role in the program: "Pre-College is probably my favorite class all year. The intensity is great and the students are super motivated."
Printmaking instructor Jamie Knight expressed his appreciation of his students’ passion and commitment to their education: "It’s been a really good experience for me to teach a group of students truly engaged in being artists."
CCA Faculty Members
The Pre-College Program also boasts some of CCA’s longest-standing and prestigious faculty members:
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Barron Storey, an artist known for his cover illustration for the novel Lord of the Flies and Eisner award-winning work on Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman: Endless Nights
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Jay Baldwin, ecological designer and inventor, who has been a prominent figure in American design’s efforts to incorporate solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy
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Caroline Goodwin is a celebrated poet and former Wallace Stegner Fellow
Evolving Curriculum
As CCA’s curriculum expands to include innovative new programs, additional disciplines are introduced first in the Pre-College Program. Interaction Design, the newest curricular program at the college (to launch fall 2011), will be offered in Pre-College this summer.
Enroll Now!
The priority application deadline for enrollment and housing in CCA’s summer 2011 Pre-College Program is March 18. The scholarship deadline is also March 18.
To learn more and to download an application form, visit the Pre-College Program section on the CCA website.