PROGRAM OVERVIEW
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Harvard’s Pre-College Program for high school students is an intensive two-week summer program designed to give you a glimpse of college life. You will live on the Harvard campus during your two-week session while taking a college-level course with other Pre-College Program students.
89% of past attendees said the courses they completed at Harvard helped them identify what they wanted to study in college, so they organized their courses into Career Pathways as a way to help you choose.
All courses are online and include the following:
4 credit hours required, but can take 8 credit hours (one class is typically 4-credit hours)
Classes are for-credit, graded college courses
All Summer School Students have access to services and opportunities to help them be successful. See support and services available to students such as tutoring and Writing Center access.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is designed for mature, academically motivated students who are interested in exploring a potential major or simply finding out what college is really like.
The Pre-College Program is open to rising juniors and seniors.
To be eligible for Summer 2025, you must meet both of the following criteria:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2026 or 2027.
Are at least 16 years old by June 21, 2025, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2025.
Application Opens Monday, December 2, 2024
Early Application and Priority Financial Aid Deadline — Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Regular Application and Financial Aid Deadline — Wednesday, February 14, 2025
Late Application Deadline — Wednesday, April 9, 2025
2025 Session I
June 22-July 3, 2025
2025 Session II
July 6-18, 2025
2025 Session III
July 20-August 1, 2025
Complete an online application and provide supplemental materials, including:
Fee: $75 nonrefundable application fee
Counselor report: You can request a link be sent to your counselor in the application.
Transcripts from 9th grade to fall 2023 grades: This can include progress reports, report cards, and educational summaries from your high school
Rules and Media Release online form: A link be sent to your parent or legal guardian in the application to sign the Media Release online form.
If English is not your native language, submit scores from the TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo language proficiency exam along with your application.
The total cost for a Harvard Pre-College Program session in 2025 is $5,800. The cost of the program includes tuition, room and meal plan, the program fee, and an accident and sickness insurance plan for the full two weeks.
Financial Aid: A limited number of scholarships are available to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Awards vary based on need, and a typical award covers a portion of the tuition. If needed, we encourage you to seek other sources of funding as well.
To be eligible as a student, you must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident OR granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
You must complete the application and other requirements on time.
The financial aid application for need-based scholarship is located within the program application portal.
With almost 30 courses to choose from in each session, you’re sure to find a topic that piques your interest among the courses offered to Pre-College Program students.
You take one course during a session, and although courses are non-credit and do not have letter grades, they are rigorous.
At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your instructor, as well as a Harvard transcript with a grade of AR or NM (“requirements met” or “requirements not met”). This is a great way to supplement your college application.
Please note: You need to attend every class in its entirety to receive a passing grade of “Met All Requirements.”
Courses (list may be modified, check with program website)
Speech, Writing and Literature
Psychology, Medicine, and Public Health
Law, Politics, Philosophy, and History
Business and Leadership
Race, Gender, and Ethics
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM)
Use a desktop or laptop when completing your application. You will be asked to write short essays as part of your application. This may be challenging to do on a mobile phone. Therefore, we advise using a desktop or laptop computer to complete your application.
Walk through the application – this video provides guidance on how to fill out the application.
Watch your inbox — you’ll receive an email prompting you to log in to check your application status after you’ve completed your application.