Pre-college summer programs are short-term, enrichment experiences for high school students hosted on university campuses during the summer months. Programs vary in mission, some offering well-rounded opportunities for discovery while other have very specific objectives around a single academic subject or student group. Many of these opportunities, offered all across the US, are terrific opportunities for international high school students curious about post-secondary opportunities in the States.
🌍🌎🌏 Programs designed for International students
Some are specially designed for international students interested in a college-preparatory program. For example, the Education USA Academy, is a variety of immersive summer college programs hosted at nine different university campuses, including Boston University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Dayton Beach, Florida, and Diablo Valley College in the Silicon Valley.
🎨🔬📖Mix and Match Academic Enrichment Programs
Other programs, like Summer@Brown, focus on offering a wide range of academic programs that students can mix and match in an interdisciplinary fashion, to help them get a taste of different academic fields at a college level. For example, a student might craft a 2-week program to explore archeology classes in the morning and photography in the afternoon, while spending their lunchtime in college essay workshops. Both US and international high school students participate in the Brown summer programs.
Here is a video that shows the Brown campus during the program: Brown Pre-College Summer 2023 Recap
🎯Single-Focus Programs
In these programs students focus on a single area, immersing themselves in various facets of that subject often through collaborative hands-on activities. This kind of focused program is available at the UCLA Precollege Summer Institutes, where students can take a deep dive into International Development, Nanoscience or Acting, among other subjects.
📆Duration
Pre-college summer programs can vary from 1 week to 3 months. In most cases, international students can participate in programs of 7 weeks or less traveling on a tourist visa. International students might be required to obtain a student visa for longer programs, or programs that award college credit. Check with the program about visa requirements.
For high school students in a southern hemisphere calendar, many 2 week programs coincide with the July break.
🧑🦰🧕🧑🏾🦱Campus Experience
Another aspect of pre-college summer programs is the experience of living on a college campus. Students stay in dorms with roommates, and eat together in the college dining halls. These experiences help build lifelong friendships. Programs often include activities to encourage collaboration and team building through fun activities in the university sports and leisure facilities, and students might take part in excursions to museums and cultural events in the surrounding community.
👩🏽💻Applications
Many applications are open from November - February, with deadlines in the early part of the year. They may require transcripts or grade reports, essays, letters of recommendation and application fees. It is important to get started early gathering application materials as your high school might be on vacation while you are planning your application.
English Requirements
Many programs will require a writing sample or essay as part of the application process for all students. Some competitive programs might require an English language proficiency test such as the TOEFL or Duolingo English Test for applicants for whom English is not their first language, or who do not study in a high school where English is the language of instruction.
Selectivity
Most programs are very welcoming to students coming from a variety of learning backgrounds. Admission to students who meet their requirements is first come, first serve. However, there are some advanced-level programs with competitive admission to a very limited number of spots. An example of a very competitive program is the SUMaC Math Camp at Stanford University.
Explorers can help you find a pre college programs that fit your interests and objectives. Don't wait because applications are closing soon.
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