In this guide, I'll be discussing the Boston University Summer Challenge, a summer program for high school students at Boston University. During the program, students take non-credit college-level courses, live on campus, and explore all that BU and Boston have to offer.
While you can read about this program on the BU Summer Challenge website, the information available is somewhat spotty and what is there can be difficult to dissect. For this reason, I spoke to the program coordinators and gathered everything you need to know about the program into this easy-to-read guide. I’ve created a Table of Contents so you can find the specific info you need, but I suggest reading the entire article in order:
The Boston University Summer Challenge is a two-week program for rising high school sophomore, juniors, and seniors that offers a preview of college life. During each of the three summer sessions, between 100 and 300 high school take two non-credit seminars and live on BU’s campus in the dorms.
As a participant, you choose a morning seminar and afternoon seminar. In between your morning and afternoon seminars, you have lunch in one of BU's dining halls. After your afternoon seminar and on weekends, you participate in organized social activities such as exploring areas of Boston, shopping, seeing improv shows, and more. The exact social programming will vary from year to year.
You also have plenty of free time to do your seminar assignments, explore Boston on your own, and explore BU's campus (you'll have free access to the libraries and can purchase a short-term membership to Boston University's Fitness & Recreation Center).
In your seminars, you'll be expected to attend lectures, engage in discussions, attend field trips, and complete individual work, group work, and project-based assignments. The seminars have small class sizes (10 to 24 students) to ensure that you get sufficient attention from your experienced college instructors as you are challenged with the college-level material taught in your seminar. Each seminar ends with a final in-class presentation. At the end of the summer (typically, in August/September), a certificate of completion and letters of evaluation from both seminar instructors will be sent to you.
Listed below are the seminars that were offered in Summer 2015. (Summer 2016 seminars have not yet been announced.)
The basic application requirements for all applicants are:
If you’re an international student, you also must meet the following qualifications:
While these are the only requirements needed to apply, there are more qualifications that will help you get in. Read those below in our Tips on How to Get In section.
The programs dates for Summer 2016 are:
I’d highly recommend doing the Boston University Summer Challenge if you can afford it and it works in your summer schedule. I participated in a similar program at UCLA, and the program helped me figure out whether I was interested in attending UCLA (which I found out I wasn’t) and what kind of coursework I wanted to pursue. I’ve broken down the pros and cons of attending the program below.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning in the January before the summer session. You typically receive a response via email within three weeks of submitting your application. The application deadline for summer 2016 has not yet been posted. It will be posted on the BU Summer Challenge website after December 15th. However, as the website says, students who apply earlier " are more likely to receive the session and seminar selections of their choice," so you should submit your application ASAP.
To apply, you must:
Additionally, international students must:
The fee for the BU Summer Challenge includes tuition, housing, and all meals in the dining hall. It also includes textbooks and all sponsored activities during the two-week program. The program cost for the BU Summer Challenge in 2015 was $3730. This may be changing for Summer 2016, but it hasn’t yet been announced. Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, there is a $50 non-refundable application fee (which will stay the same in 2016).
Unfortunately, there is no financial aid available for this program. However, I have some advice for quick ways to raise money if you're hoping to attend but can't afford tuition:
Tip #1: When you write your explanation on the crowdfunding platform, write your letters to the community, or reach out to civic organizations, make sure you share your personal story and explain why the BU Summer Challenge program is important to you and will help you achieve your future goals. This explanation should be similar to your personal statement for the program (which, as I said above, asks you to describe why you want to attend the BU Summer Challenge Program).
Tip #2: Share your fundraising campaign on social media and ask your friends and family to share your campaign on their social media if they're unable to donate.
Tip #3: Write a thank you note for every donation you receive.
If you’re hoping to attend the Boston University Summer Challenge, your high school transcript and personal statement need to show you off in a positive light.
While there is no specific GPA required for admission, the program coordinators said they preferred applicants with at least a 3.0 unweighted GPA. To have the best shot of being accepted, you should try to get your unweighted GPA at or above a 3.0. While you may not have a lot of time before applying, there are ways to raise your GPA fast.
The BU Summer Challenge Program does not tell the public its acceptance rate, but the program website says they look for " motivated high school students who are taking a college preparatory curriculum. Your high school transcript and personal statement are both taken into account when admission decisions are made." Additionally, I spoke to the program coordinators who indicated that most students with a 3.0 or higher are accepted into the program.
For your personal statement, make sure you show off your personality, explain your love for BU, and explain why you want to be a part of the Summer Challenge. If you need help writing the personal statement, read our other great guide with tips on writing a personal statement.
Learn about other pre-college programs such as the Emory Pre-College Program.
Not sure where you want to go to college? Learn how to do college research right.
Not sure how you'll pay for college? Check out our guide to paying for college.
