Complete Program Application
To apply for admission to the Salt Graduate Certificate, regardless of track interest, please submit the following application materials to the Admissions Office:
- Digital Portfolio
- Personal Essay
- Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
After you submit your application, you can use the Applicant Portal to upload your college transcripts, track your application progress, and if offered admission, make an enrollment decision.
Start or continue your application here.
Application Fee
To submit the application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of $70. The fee can be paid by credit card within the web application.
We offer application fee waivers, no questions asked. Please be in touch with us at GraduateAdmissions@meca.edu for instructions to receive a fee waiver.
Digital Portfolio
Please submit two (2) nonfiction work samples in video, audio, or writing. At least one of your work samples should be produced in the medium of your track interest, and we strongly recommend submitting both work samples in the medium of your track interest to demonstrate program readiness.
We encourage submitting your most recent complete works to demonstrate your skills and interests at the time of application. You may edit an excerpt from a longer work sample for the purpose of the application. If a work sample is not produced with an English-speaking audience in mind, please embed subtitles or submit a corresponding transcript in English.
If the work sample was produced collaboratively, please state your role and involvement via the description box in the application.
Below are requirements for video, audio, and written work samples:
Short Film
3–5 minutes in length.
Radio & Podcasting
3–5 minutes in length.
Writing
1,000–1,500 words.
We do not accept portfolio submissions in other formats such as mailed in CDs, USB drives, or physical slides.
Personal Essay
The Personal Essay for Salt consists of three prompts. Please upload this document as one PDF attachment in your application:
- In about 500 words, please describe your interest in the Salt Graduate Certificate program. Your essay should include an overview of your relationship with storytelling, documentary studies or narrative nonfiction; how your life experiences have shaped your voice in storytelling; and your purpose in pursuing graduate studies with Salt;
- In about 250 words, please submit a story pitch in relation to your own journey. How has your life experience, personal interests, and academic background shaped you as a storyteller? What is a story that interests you personally? Please identify a subject matter, a potential narrative, and at least one person of interest to interview.
- In about 250 words, please submit a second story pitch in relation to Maine. As a professional documentarian, you may be tasked to work in an unfamiliar environment. Show us your research skills and pitch a story about Maine. Please identify a subject matter, a potential narrative, and at least one person of interest to interview.
A strong Personal Essay should place equal emphasis on all of the above, and show a clear understanding of the relationship between your personal journey, your vision, and your goals for graduate study.
Current Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
Please submit a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) that captures your professional and academic history at the time of application.
Please upload this document as a PDF directly in your web application.
References
Please provide contact information for two (2) references. Your references should come from professional or educational relationships who can speak from direct experience about your potential to succeed in a rigorous, hands-on graduate program. Ideally, at least one of your contacts should be able to speak about your storytelling practice.
In the application, you will enter the name, title, email and phone number for each of your two references, as well as the nature of your relationships and how long you have known them. Even if your recommender is a friend, refrain from citing them as such in your application as it introduces bias.
We advise you to extend the courtesy of informing your references so they are prepared to potentially speak to the Salt Admissions Review Committee ahead of an admissions decision.
College Transcripts
The Salt Graduate Certificate can offer admission to non-bachelor degree holders if the Admissions Reviewing Committee determines that the applicant’s work meets the rigor of the Graduate Certificate.
We ask our applicants to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and above from all previous degrees, or their current degree in progress.
Maine College of Art & Design alumni can request a free transcript transfer via email at registrar@meca.edu.
Applicants can either submit unofficial transcripts in the web application as a PDF attachment, or request official college transcripts to be sent to us electronically to admissions@meca.edu, or to the following address:
Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Salt Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Admitted students who enroll must submit all transcripts included in the application as official documents with conferred dates (whenever applicable) either electronically by the issuing institution through a transcript delivery service, or by mail from the issuing institution’s registrar office.
Note: While we are able to offer admission to non-bachelor degree holders, in order to take out a federal graduate student loan, admitted students must have completed at least 72 undergraduate credits. In addition, students cannot take out federal undergraduate student loans at the same time.
International Applicants
Maine College of Art & Design welcomes applications from international students. In addition to the above application process and future communications related to enrollment, there are additional steps required to successfully join us as an international student.
Requirements for International Applicants
Due to the time involved in fulfilling legal requirements, we strongly advise international applicants to complete their applications ahead of the Priority Application deadline. If offered admission, we also advise you to enroll well ahead of the decision due date.
Extended Reading
- To learn more about our Salt program, visit Program Overview. We offer the Radio & Podcasting track in Fall and Spring, and the Short Film track and Writing track in Fall only.
- To learn more about the financial commitment and funding opportunities, visit Gimlet Union Scholarship, Tuition & Fees, and Financial Aid.
- If you are eligible for the US Federal Student Loan, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Our School Code is 011673.
- Applications are reviewed with consideration given to the strength of the portfolio, personal essay, academic achievement, and cohesion across application materials. There are no differences in the application process or evaluation criteria between tracks.
- The Admission Reviewing Committee does not expect distribution-ready works from applicants. Gaining that level of achievement is one reason why people join Salt. We are interested in your potential and your creative vision, so as long as you have hands-on experience with telling stories through audio, video, or writing, we welcome individuals from all walks of life and experience to apply.
Questions?
Contact GraduateAdmissions@meca.edu or call 207.699.5023.