What is a semester school?   

At Maine Coast Semester, we view our role to be an exciting addition to a students’ secondary education.  We see ourselves as an enrichment program to the education that our students are getting at their sending schools.  We work in partnership with our sending schools to provide an academically rigorous experience for the students who choose to study with us. Semester schools, in general, are similar to the college-level “junior year abroad” but for high school students.   The semester school provides a boarding-school-like atmosphere with students living in cabins with their peers and attending classes together as well. Students are drawn to MCS because our school provides an opportunity for a semester of teaching and learning different from but complementary to that which they experience in their sending schools. We find that students who attend MCS return to their own high schools with a renewed sense of ownership for their education.

What makes Maine Coast Semester special?

MCS offers students from both public and private schools the opportunity to live and learn with 39 other students from across the US on 400 acres of land on the coast of Maine.  At MCS, students are able to study in a small, hands-on classroom setting with other motivated and engaging students.  Students can take advantage of the many opportunities that surround them.  With the mountains and the water located near our campus, the possibilities are endless; students can harvest at the farm, go sea kayaking on the Sheepscot River or go for a hike in the Camden Hills State Park.  At the end of the day, they retire to their cabins and spend the evening laughing and talking with 6-7 other individuals who have also chosen to experience MCS. At Maine Coast Semester, students can also take advantage of the resources from our larger organization, The Chewonki Foundation.  Students at MCS have the opportunity to work alongside members of the larger Chewonki Community on a regular basis.  A students may find herself feeding animals in the Outreach Lab, helping to produce Biodiesel during work program, learning about our Hydrogen Project during the weekly Renewable Energy Talk,  or doing service work on one of the coastal islands that is owned by The Chewonki Foundation.

What is the average class size?          

With only 40 students per semester at Maine Coast Semester, the class sizes are small.  The average class size is eight or less each semester.

How many classes do students take at MCS?                       

Students studying at MCS take 5 classes.  Science and English are required courses and students may choose from the following to fill the other three course slots:  Mathematics (multiple levels), American History, Environmental Issues and Ethics, Art and the Natural World, French and Spanish (multiple levels). In addition, by individual arrangement and at an additional cost, we have been able to arrange instruction in Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and German.

How many students live in each cabin?       

Typically six to eight boys or girls live in each cabin per semester.  Each cabin is heated by a wood stove and it is the responsibility of the students in each cabin to maintain the stove and keep the fire burning.

Can I visit Maine Coast Semester to explore the campus?  

Because our school attracts students from across the country, we do not require personal interviews with students.  However, we welcome students and their families traveling in the area to visit our campus.  Please contact the Admissions Office if you would like to schedule a visit.

What do students do on the weekends?        

Weekends are filled with a variety of activities, which largely depend on the season.  Saturday mornings in the fall, students may find themselves on a hike in the Camden Hills State Park, picking apples at a local orchard, raking for blueberries, canoeing on the Sheepscot River or attending the Common Ground Fair in Unity. 

During the Spring semester, students may enjoy ice skating on the rink on our Quad, snowshoeing at Eaton Farm, skiing at a local mountain, a college visit to Bates or Bowdoin, or a trip to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland.

Each Saturday night, students prepare dinner and organize an evening activity along with several faculty members. We place a premium on creative, interactive and inclusive events. Past Saturdays have included a coffeehouse performance night, a murder mystery with everyone in character, contra dancing or salsa dancing, an “iron-chef” bakeoff, and capture the flag.

Sundays are typically a day for rest and getting ahead on academic work. Students interested in religious services may attend that morning (or on other days as needed).

Is financial aid available?     

Maine Coast Semester offers need-based aid.  We have established a program that is based on grants, which do not have to be repaid.  Financial Aid is intended to cover the cost of tuition, room and board which is $19,600, for the 2008-2009 school year. In a typical year, we allocate almost 13% of our total income for financial aid.  Please contact the Admissions Office to request more information regarding Financial Aid and an application.

My school has never sent a student to Maine Coast Semester.  How do I begin the process of explaining MCS to the teachers and administrators at my school? 

 It is best to start by requesting a viewbook from the MCS Admissions Office and sharing the materials with your advisor, guidance counselor, or Dean of Studies.  Encourage the teachers and administrators that you approach to contact the Director of Admissions if they have any questions.  We look forward to speaking with them and telling them about our school.

What sports can I play at Maine Coast Semester?  

While MCS does not have any organized athletic teams that participate with other schools, there are plenty of opportunities to stay active.  Students have access to tennis courts, our trails which are great for hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, the waterfront for canoeing and sea kayaking and swimming.  In the winter months, we create an ice rink in the center of our quad for skating and hockey and students often bring bikes for riding into town. Four hours a week, students are active on work program and each semester has at least one multi-day Wilderness Trip.