Pre-college summer humanities programs provide high school students with the opportunity to study such subjects as literature, history, philosophy, journalism, and the arts in a sampling of college life on campus or virtually. These programs are taught by experienced faculty members, entail serious academic rigor, and are conducted amidst a community of curious intellectual peers. Enrolling in an intensive summer course in humanities not only improves your knowledge of the subject but also enhances your college application by proving interest in learning and critical thinking. Listed below are some of the most competitive pre-college summer programs for students of humanities:
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Presented by Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan, TASS is highly competitive and one of the most esteemed among the most selective humanities programs for high school sophomores and juniors. With its six-week fully funded residential program emphasizing critical thinking, democratic community, and rigorous exploration of subjects such as race, power, and privilege in society, all expenses such as tuition, room, board, and books are paid for, making it accessible to students of any background who are talented.
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
The three-week residential Stanford University program welcomes incoming juniors and seniors to delve into the humongous questions of the humanities, including philosophy, literature, and history, through college-level seminars and discussion. Students are engaged in rigorous discussion, independent study, and off-campus excursions, all while living on campus with students from across the globe.
Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
For low-income high-achieving juniors, PSJP provides a challenging, year-round college prep and journalism class in which the program concludes with a 10-day residential at Princeton. The students are taught by working journalists, go through workshops, and create original reporting, learning essential writing and media literacy skills.
Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, and Economics
YYGS's Politics, Law, and Economics session is a two-week summer session at Yale that unites high-achieving students from all over the globe. Students get lectures and seminars on subjects such as public policy, international relations, and legal systems interrupted by debates and group projects. The session focuses on building critical thinking, research, and world-mindedness and provides students with an authentic taste of Yale's academic experience and exposure to fellow students with varied backgrounds.
University of Pennsylvania Penn Arts and Sciences High School Summer Academies
UPenn Summer Academies are residential three-week academies in which students spend their summer learning about topics like Global Culture and Media or Social Justice Research. Under the tutelage of university faculty, students are introduced to seminars, workshops, and group projects that acclimate them to college-level humanities courses. Campus life and exposure to the academic resources of Penn add to the bargain and make it a pleasant flavor of university academics.
Iowa Young Writers' Studio
The Iowa Young Writers' Studio, sponsored by the University of Iowa, is a two-week, on-campus writing camp for young writers who want to write about poetry, fiction, creative writing, television, or playwriting. Daily writing classes with critiques by experienced instructors and immersion in a thriving community of young writers are all part of it. The program is well known for honing the students' skills and motivating them through other writers.
Harvard Pre-College Program
The Pre-College Program at Harvard consists of on-campus two-week courses in the humanities such as philosophy, literature, and history where students experience being at Harvard by living in dorms, taking seminar-style classes, and engaging in extra-curricular activities with other students from around the world. The goal is to foster academic curiosity and to prepare for success at college.
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