program overview

• Current high school juniors, enrolled in high school in the United States, and who are at least 15 years old, are invited to apply. 

• Students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, undocumented, or who have DACA status are eligible. 

1. July 9 – July 14

• First session: July 10

• Final session: July 14

2. Arrive on-Campus: July 9

3. Closing session and move-out: July 14

Applicants must complete the Summer Session Application, and all the related requirements which can be reviewed in the How To Apply section.

Application materials include:

• Online application

• Transcript (official or unofficial)

• Supplement & essays

• At least one teacher recommendation

• At least one parent confirmation email received

Applicants will be asked to respond to the following essay questions in the application:

• Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of the courses you elected. (Limit: 500 words)

• “Since its founding, the University has been committed to the idea that a culture of rigorous inquiry requires an environment where diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas inform and stimulate intellectual exchange, challenge, and engagement.” -UChicago Office of the Provost. How does your perspective, experience or background contribute to this culture of inquiry in this program? What do you hope to gain or learn by engaging with peers from all over the U.S. or from different parts of the world? (Limit: 300 words)

Review the Application Overview pages for more detailed information.

The instructions below apply for Pre-College students. Visiting Undergraduate students can learn more about applying here. Your online application is considered complete when the following materials have been received:

Personal Profile and Program & Course Selection

1. Personal Profile

2. Program and Course Selection based upon eligibility. You will be asked to indicate your current grade level. Based upon your current grade level, the application will provide you with programs you are eligible to apply for.

3. You may choose up to four program selections with one course under each program selection to be considered for.

• Order matters! 

• Your selections will be read in order of your program and course preferences. 

• We will consider the first program you list to be your top choice, and the first course you list to be your preferred course in that program.

4. If you wish to be considered for RIBS or any Enrichment Program, you must select the program as your first-choice program. 

• You will not be able to apply to RIBS or any Enrichment Programs if you do not choose one of them as your first choice.

• You may apply to other Summer Session programs or other Enrichment Programs. 

• If you wish to be considered for admission to a non-Enrichment Program, but know that you will need financial aid, you must complete the Financial Aid Application.

Transcript

• Transcript for all years in high school. You must include a transcript for all classes taken in high school for grades 9, 10, and 11, as applicable. A 2022–2023 grade report for current courses is also required if they do not appear on your official transcript. Students currently in 9th grade should also submit their grade report from 8th grade.  

Test Scores

• Test Scores, including the PSAT, PreACT, SAT, ACT, and any AP scores are optional, but encouraged if you have taken one of these tests.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Program Application

• Financial Aid & Scholarship Program Application with supporting materials (if applying for need-based aid).

• If you need financial aid, you must apply on the application and upload financial documentation in support of your application. Financial aid cannot be awarded after an admissions decision is received.

• If you are only applying for a Enrichment Program, then you do not need to separately apply for need-based financial aid.

Supplement Essays and Writing Sample

1. Supplement Essays

• Students applying to Immersion, RIBS, Pre-College Summer Language Institute, Stones and Bones, Summer College, and Summer Online will be asked to respond to these two essays:

• Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of the courses you elected. (Limit: 500 words) 

• Describe your most rewarding academic project or academic experience. (Limit: 250 words).

2. Students applying to any Enrichment Program will respond to these two questions:

• Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of the courses you elected. (Limit: 500 words) 

• “Since its founding, the University has been committed to the idea that a culture of rigorous inquiry requires an environment where diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas inform and stimulate intellectual exchange, challenge, and engagement.” -UChicago Office of the Provost. How does your perspective, experience or background contribute to this culture of inquiry in this program? What do you hope to gain or learn by engaging with peers from all over the U.S. or from different parts of the world? (Limit: 300 words)

3. Writing Sample

• Students applying to any multiweek programs must submit a legible copy of one of their essays or research papers which is typed, written in English, and includes their teacher's grade and comments. Students may submit a marked handwritten paper if it is accompanied by a typed copy. 

• Lab notes or math sets will not be accepted; the writing sample should be English expository prose.

• Students who do not have a writing sample that meets these guidelines will need to write a paper and have their teacher review it.

• Please note that Immersion's Creative Writing course applicants should also submit a piece of fiction, which does not need to be graded.

• No writing sample is required for students applying for Enrichment Programs. 

Additional Academic Information

• Additional Academic Information is required for applications to programs or courses in Computer Science, Creative Writing, Data Science, Economics, Math, Physics, Quantum, and related fields of study. 

Letter of Recommendation

• Letter of Recommendation from a teacher in a subject related to the course(s) for which you are applying. You can request up to 3 letters from teachers.

• If a Counselor or Teacher nomination is optional or recommended for your program, please use the form that is directly linked on the program page.

  • • • • Do not send a recommendation link to your counselor or teacher via the application. Enrichment programs that have the nomination form include the following: Emerging Rural Leaders I, Latin American Phoenix Scholars, Parrhesia Pre-College Forum on Free Expression, Quantum Quickstart, and Voltage Scholars.

Parent Confirmation Emails

• Parent Confirmation emails will be sent to the parent on file for all pre-college applicants. Your application is not considered complete until we receive the Parent Confirmation Email, and we will not review your application until we receive a response from your parent.