Here’s the best part:
If you complete the program and later enroll at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ as a full-time undergraduate student, you’ll receive a $2,000 scholarship toward your tuition. In other words, this program could effectively be a free preview of ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ if you become a Nor’easter. Either way, it’s a solid investment in your future and will get noticed on any college application!
Live and Learn on ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s Coastal Maine Campus
Are you ready to get a taste of college life, dive into real-world innovative projects, and build a high school resume that stands out? Join the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s NextWave Pre-College Experience: a week-long residential summer program where students in grades 10–12 can explore, collaborate, and innovate together on our stunning waterfront campus.
Working with ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s expert faculty, you’ll conduct original research, brainstorm innovative solutions to real-world problems, and create a final presentation to pitch your findings to industry decision-makers. Immerse yourself in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment that blends environmental, social, technological, and economic sustainability themes — all while celebrating Maine’s unique food culture, making valuable connections, and experiencing peak summer on the coast.
Dates: Sunday, July 5, to Saturday, July 11
Format: Fully residential on ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s coastal campus
Program Fee: $2,000; a $100 deposit is required to secure your spot.
Capacity: 40 students
Program Details
This summer’s ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ NextWave Pre-College Experience will run from Sunday, July 5, to Saturday, July 11, 2026. Supervised by counselors and staff, participants will live in ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ residence halls and experience college life through hands-on academic sessions, dining hall meals with a water view, fun team-building activities, and access to our beautiful campus facilities, including fitness centers, the library, and our on-campus beach.
The admission process for the NextWave Pre-College Experience is simple and stress-free. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Let us know you’re interested by filling out a quick application.
Once you fill out this initial form with your contact info, you will hear from nextwave@une.edu within one week about application details.
Complete your application by submitting a few required materials.
Applications must be submitted within two weeks after receiving our confirmation email. Learn more about the easy application below.
Receive your admission decision.
Your application will be reviewed by our Pre-College Programs Committee, with admission decisions made on a rolling basis. You and your parents/guardians should receive an official email regarding your admission status within 10 business days of submitting a completed application.
If you and your parent do not receive an email within two weeks of applying, please contact program director Golshan Madraki, Ph.D., at gmadraki@une.edu for assistance.
The comprehensive program fee for the NextWave Pre-College Experience is $2,000. If you complete the program and later enroll at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ as a full-time undergraduate student, you’ll receive a $2,000 scholarship to put toward tuition — essentially making the program free!
If you are accepted into the program, a $100 deposit is required to secure your spot. The remaining $1,900 must be paid in full by May 30, 2026.
What the Comprehensive Program Fee Covers
- Welcome reception for students and their families
- Award and certification ceremony at the end of the week (all families are invited)
- Professional housing and security staff on call 24/7
- Academic sessions taught by real ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ professors who are experts in their fields
- Evening team-building events and fun/educational activities
- Site visits to relevant businesses and locations
- All dining hall meals, snacks, and housing in ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ residence halls
- T-shirt with program logo
- Access to ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s Biddeford Campus facilities, including the gym, library, etc.
Travel costs to ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ are not covered.
As part of the , you’ll be asked to submit an unofficial high school transcript (screenshots acceptable) and a short letter of interest (no more than 250 words) to nextwave@une.edu.
In your letter, we want to learn a little more about you, your goals, and why you’re interested in NextWave. Here are a few starting points to guide you:
- Explain why you are interested in a pre-college experience and what excites you about ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s NextWave program.
- Share what you hope to gain from this opportunity and how it aligns with your future academic and career aspirations.
- You’re also welcome to include additional information that highlights your passion and motivation for going to college and participating in the program, your major(s) of interest, or anything else you think we should know.
The itinerary for the Summer 2026 NextWave summer program is coming soon. Please see the 2025 itinerary below as an example.
2025 Itinerary
Sunday, July 6 | Arrival and Welcome
- 4 p.m.: Student and family arrival
- Welcome reception for students and their family members
- Campus tour and introduction session
- Welcome Dinner and icebreaker activities
Monday, July 7
- 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Academic sessions (faculty lectures and guest speakers)
- Evening Activity Options
- Mini-golf and Ice Cream Night (weather permitting), or
- Bowling and Laser Tag
Tuesday, July 8
- 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Academic sessions (faculty lectures and guest speakers)
- Team brainstorming sessions begin
- Hands-on experiential session in the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ Teaching Kitchen
- Evening activity: Beach Night with bonfire, tie-dye, volleyball, and Spikeball
Wednesday, July 9
- 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Academic sessions (faculty lectures and guest speakers)
- Team research and project development
- Lunch with current ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ research students
- Evening activity: Sea Dogs baseball game and dinner (Taylor Swift Night!)
Thursday, July 10
- 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.: Boat trip on the research vessel (R/V) Sakohki GMSC
- Exploration of seafood and marine resources
- Visit to the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ Seaweed Farm
- 1– 4:30 p.m.: Academic sessions (project development and presentation preparation)
- Evening activity: Waterfront Night (kayaking and other recreational activities)
Friday, July 11
- 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.: Academic sessions
- Teams finalize projects with faculty mentors
- Professional presentation skills workshop
- Evening activity: Dive-In Movie Night at the pool
Saturday, July 12 | Closing Ceremony and Final Presentations
- 9–10 a.m.: Final preparation
- 10 a.m.–12p.m.: Student presentations to a panel of faculty judges and family members
All snacks, beverages, meals, game equipment, and general admission fees are included in the program cost. No additional charges will be expected.
The itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions and availability.
Why Choose ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ NextWave for Your Pre-College Experience
This is one unforgettable week that you’ll be talking about for the rest of the summer! During NextWave, you will:
- Learn from expert faculty across business, science, mathematics, health care, education, and more.
- Tackle complex issues using critical thinking and creativity from multiple perspectives.
- Conduct research, collaborate in teams, and present your ideas at the college level.
- Stay on ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥â€™s beautiful Biddeford Campus and get a taste of college life.
- Connect with new friends and grow your professional network.
- Level up your resume and college applications with a program certificate and recommendation letters from faculty.
- Present your work during a final ceremony and celebrate your achievements with your family.
- Earn a $2,000 scholarship if you choose to enroll at ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ later as an undergrad (essentially making the program free of cost).
Summer 2026 Challenge
Designing a Food Business for Maine’s Future
In this year’s program, you’ll collaborate with a small team to design a sustainable and innovative food-focused business that could thrive in Maine’s vibrant culinary landscape. Known for its fresh seafood, farm-to-table movement, and thriving foodie scene, Maine offers a unique setting to tackle one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: sustainable food practices.
Food trucks and markets are integral to Maine’s economy and culture, yet they face challenges related to food waste, resource inefficiency, and environmental impact. The problem is multifaceted:
- Food waste: Approximately 30%–40% of food is wasted in the U.S. annually, representing billions of dollars lost and significant environmental harm.
- Sustainability practices: Many food businesses struggle to balance sustainability with profitability.
- Consumer awareness: While consumers value sustainability, they often lack the tools or knowledge to make eco-friendly food choices.
How might we design a sustainable food truck that reflects Maine’s values, appeals to tourists and locals, and addresses these challenges?
This summer, you’ll be challenged to design a sustainable and innovative food truck that could thrive in Maine’s vibrant culinary landscape. Your proposal should integrate environmental, social, technological, and economic sustainability while celebrating Maine’s unique food culture.
Throughout the program, you’ll work alongside ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ professors and local experts in sustainability, business, environmental science, marine science, and food systems to develop creative solutions. At the end of the program, you’ll present your proposals to a panel of ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥ faculty, community leaders, and industry professionals.
From your research and collaboration, you will:
- Develop an innovative concept: Create a food truck model that integrates Maine’s culinary identity with sustainability principles.
- Reduce food waste: Propose actionable solutions for sourcing local ingredients, minimizing waste, and managing resources efficiently.
- Understand consumer behavior: Analyze the preferences and motivations of target audiences, including tourists and locals. Establish branding strategies and technological requirements.
- Incorporate sustainability: Apply environmental, social, and financial considerations in your proposed design by:
- Utilizing decision-making techniques.
- Leveraging data analytics approaches.
- Conducting investment and return-on-investment (ROI) analyses.
Contact
If you have any questions, please use our general email address (nextwave@une.edu), or contact NextWave Program Director Golshan Madraki, Ph.D., at gmadraki@une.edu. We are happy to help and look forward to hearing from you!