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Have questions about our 2024 Tufts Pre-College Programs? Then don't miss out on our Tufts Pre-College Virtual Q&A Sessions!

Webinar Recordings

Missed our March Webinar series? Check out all our program webinar recordings on our YouTube channel linked here.

Summer Programs for High School Students Overview


Get a taste of what it is like to study at Tufts University, and try out life as a college student! Enroll in six to eight credits of real Tufts Undergraduate-level courses and gain experience with the excitement, freedom, and challenge of college-level academics. Participate in our hallmark College Prep 101 program each Friday and gain insights from Tufts' staff on how to prepare for the college experience, learn what it's like to be an undergraduate from real Tufts students, and attend campus tours at some of the leading higher education institutions around Boston!

This program is designed to mirror the undergraduate experience, allowing highly motivated students to select their own course schedule and mix college-level study with fun activities and the opportunity to build college and life skills. Balancing the rigorous academic courses, most taught by Tufts faculty, with expert-led workshops, and field trips designed to take advantage of the Boston area, Tufts College Experience can help students prepare for college both academically and socially.

Just five miles northwest of Boston, Tufts University’s Medford/Somerville vibrant campus sits on a hill overlooking the city. Tufts’ location offers the optimal combination of a relaxed and safe campus environment that is close enough to the city.

Join us for your summer studies and share the Tufts experience!

Want to enroll as a commuter student? Learn more.

Summer Pre-College Program Highlights
  • Study at a top-ranked university just minutes from Boston
  • Earn college credit in dozens of undergraduate-level courses, most taught by Tufts faculty
  • Attend our College Essay Writing and College Prep 101 workshops that:
    • Teach you the skills needed to succeed in college (and life)
    • Let you explore some of our country’s leading Universities through Campus Tours (past schools have included: Tufts, Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern, Brown, Amherst, and Brandeis; not all schools are visited each summer)
  • Have fun on weekend field trips, afternoon ice cream socials, and so much more!
Pre-College Program Outcomes
  • Excellent academic experience
  • Earn college credit*
  • Official Tufts transcript upon request
  • Enhanced understanding of studying and life at college
  • Skills to navigate the Undergraduate experience

*Upon passing a course taken for credit

Note: This page represents our best expectations for the program we will deliver, but due to the ever-evolving situation, is subject to change. We will update this page as new information becomes available.

Not for you? Check out one of our other programs.

Meet Your Pre-College Program Staff

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Hannah Jacoby-Brooks

University College

Hannah Jacoby-Brooks is a southern printmaker and interdisciplinary artist currently based in Boston, MA. Jacoby-Brooks has been confronting their ancestral past as a woman from the American Southeast. Being face to face with her own pride and everlasting shame of their heritage, Jacoby-Brooks has been discussing the taboos and unspoken labor of the Appalachian woman [person]. In May of 2023, she will receive her Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Studio from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Currently, Jacoby-Brooks is the Program Lead at TCE & TSA for Tufts Pre-College Programs.

Pre-College Summer Program Details


 

Program Format

Orientation 

The first day of classes for Summer Session 2 is on July 5th. Students will have a TCE Program orientation on July 5th, and it will be recorded for students who have a class conflict. During this required orientation, we will review the overall program schedule, discuss policies and safety, and answer questions. Staff will be on hand to address any issues. Check-in for residential students is on the Monday preceding the program start — see the ‘Residential Student’ dropdown for more information.

Courses

The foundation of the program is the opportunity to take courses at Tufts University. Students have the opportunity to build their own course schedule* from our extensive list of lecture courses, with something for every student! Students may choose from dozens of courses offered in a wide variety of departments in the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering. All students must take between six and eight credits during the program (typically two lecture courses), and the courses must be taken for Tufts credit.

Here is a list of our Summer 2024 courses!

Course Type Description
Undergraduate Lectures These are real Tufts University Undergraduate courses, majority taught by Tufts faculty. TCE students will be in class with Tufts Undergraduate and Graduate students, giving them real exposure to the college learning environment. These courses are offered for credit, each worth between 3 and 5 credits per course. Please note that only students entering Grade 11-12 are eligible to take these courses.
Pre-College Lectures These are college-level courses that are designed specifically for high school students. As rigorous as undergraduate courses, the instructors of these courses are familiar with teaching to high school students and their pedagogical style may offer a bridge for students to a regular Undergraduate course. Pre-College lectures are offered for credit (typically 3 credits) and can be transferred into Tufts University as pre-matriculation credit (akin to the credit you get from AP courses). Students in Grade 10 are eligible to take these courses. See the full list here: Pre-College Lectures
Labs / Recitations Some of the lecture courses - including many of the sciences and humanities - require either labs or recitations (or both). If your lecture course requires a lab or recitation, we will do our best to note it on our course schedule along with their days and times. Typically, these labs and recitations do not offer credit independently of the lecture with which they are associated.

Choosing Courses: During the application process, students will be asked to select the six lecture courses that they are most interested in taking. Our staff is here to help and answer basic questions about courses, scheduling, and more. Ultimately, it is up to students to determine whether they believe they can succeed in a given course environment.

*When the student is admitted to the program, we will tentatively admit them to specific courses based on their preferences, schedule, and availability. Just like with real undergraduates, sometimes courses fill up, are canceled, or scheduling conflicts arise (too many exciting courses at one time). Similarly, after their first class, students often find that they would prefer to make a schedule change. Such changes are permitted through the end of the first week of classes. In all cases, if a change needs to be made to a student's schedule after admission, we will work with that student to find a new lecture course.

Students should consider these changes, including changes outside the six original preferences, as part of their expectations when signing up for the program. Rest assured, while schedule changes occur frequently — for all sorts of reasons — we have always found a way to offer an excellent academic experience for our students!

Program Schedule

Monday-Thursday: Course Work

The Tufts College Experience is designed to reflect the typical experience a Tufts student might have during their freshman year of college. Each day is structured into three blocks: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. Within each block, students will have the option of taking a course (TCE students must take at least 6 credits) or having free time, and can build in meals, workshops, and other activities to their schedule throughout the day.

Once a student has set his/her schedule, attendance at each event on that schedule will be mandatory, including all meals.

Rounding out Your Schedule 

TCE students, just like undergraduates, will have schedules that appear to have a lot of free time built into them! While it is critical that students ensure they have enough time for homework, reading, projects, and other activities related to their courses, we also want to be sure they are living balanced lives while they are here with us. To this end, we offer many other types of activities!

Activity Type Description
College Prep Workshops TCE students have the opportunity to select our College Admissions Essay Writing workshop. This workshop has limited spots available, are open only to students without lectures occurring at the same time, and fill on a first come first served basis. Although this workshop does not offer credit, students will register for and attend as they would any other course. 
Meals The program includes a regular Tufts student dining plan, with access to our main dining facility: Dewick MacPhie. Students should plan trips to the dining hall into their schedule, as not all classrooms are nearby! More on Dining is in the Life at Tufts section below.
Exercise TCE students have access to the exercise equipment at Tufts athletic facilities and may choose to spend their time spinning, running, playing tennis, etc.
Free Time Students can socialize and have fun! Students may study, explore Davis Square, or enjoy the sunshine. Our residential life vendor offers a wide range of activities that students can enjoy during this time as well. If exploring off-campus, students must use the buddy system and check-in with staff during this time. Note: safety measures like check-ins and supervision will be in-place; efforts are made to enable student independence in the context of a safe environment.

Fridays: College Prep 101

Each Friday morning, students will attend our hallmark College Prep 101 workshop during which they will explore topics like career/major planning, interview skills, resume building, and library research with real undergraduate students and field experts. Each afternoon, students will attend a college tour and admissions session at one of the many leading universities in the Boston area. In previous years, colleges visited have included: Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, Brown, Brandeis, and Amherst.

Weekends

Saturday and Sunday are FUNdays, with downtime and exciting field trips. Each year, the schedule of trips off-campus changes. In the past, trips have included visits to Boston, museums, historic sites, Six Flags New England, baseball games, improv shows, and more. See the Activities section below for more information.

Closing Ceremony

The program will culminate with a closing ceremony for our time together. The student-elected speakers are typically the highlight of the event as we hear about your experiences attending the program. We look forward to welcoming you, your peers, and your families, as well as Tufts faculty and staff, to celebrate your Tufts College Experience!

Pre-College Program Sample Schedule

 **Program will conclude by 2 pm, with a closing ceremony for students, parents, and guardians from 1-2 pm on 8/11

Please note: The below represents a sample schedule of one week in the program for a single student. Each student's schedule will vary as they take different classes and plan their open blocks differently. Additionally, the evening and weekend activities that take place as a part of the program are subject to change.

TCE Sample Schedule

 

Pre-College Summer Program Materials & Other Requirements

Materials

Certain courses may require materials such as physical or virtual textbooks or course packets, which you will be able to find closer to the start of the term on your course syllabus or through the Tufts Bookstore website.

Besides this and the technology requirements listed under Technical Needs & Support below, no materials will be necessary for participation in this program. We will, however, be mailing your Certificate of Completion at the end of the program.

Note: If you live internationally, we are not responsible if the materials we mail are delayed (which we will try to avoid) or held in customs.

Other Requirements

Accessing Tufts Email

  • Critical university emails will go to your Tufts email address. You can access your Tufts email through a web‐based email reader used to manage your Tufts email. It includes calendar and contact management tools as well. You must read Tufts University email, since this is the primary way that the university will send you information about registration and payment. Once accepted to the program, students will receive communication from Tufts Student Services regarding email and Tufts account activation.
Pre-College Program Technical Needs & Support

Pre-College Program Technical Needs & Support


 

Technical Needs

Students will need access to the following in order to participate in this program:

  • Computer: either a Mac or PC with the following
    • Mac - running at least OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
    • PC - running Windows 7/8/10. Users on Windows 10 will have to download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.
  • Smart Phone: any phone capable of accessing social media platforms like Instagram
  • Internet Access: A reliable, high-speed (cable or broadband) internet connection is required. Students are expected to log into Zoom and Canvas and to check email daily, and will need regular and reliable access to the internet.
    • If you do not have reliable access to the internet, programs may have internet hotspots available for students with demonstrated financial need. While this cannot be guaranteed and supplies may be limited, please check with your program for availability.
  • Web Camera: either integrated into your computer or external, set up and working
  • Web Browser: one of the following browsers updated for the latest updates:
    • Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Safari.
  • Software*: programs capable of

              *software may vary by program

We will provide you access to other software that is required for your program for the duration of your program. As long as you have technology that meets the above requirements, you should have no trouble accessing the software. Depending on the program, this software may include Zoom and Canvas.

Trial Run: Getting Connected

Most programs will send software in advance with instructions to complete a trial run before the program begins. We will also use orientation time to ensure everyone is connected and comfortable!

Accessing Tufts Email

Critical university emails will go to your Tufts email address. You can access your Tufts email through a web‐based email reader used to manage your Tufts email. It includes calendar and contact management tools as well. Access Tufts Exchange via this link. You can also set up your Tufts email to forward to your personal email account using these instructions.

Getting Help/Support

First, please try contacting the Pre-College staff at 617-627-2926.

If they cannot answer your question, they will pass you along to our technical support team which is available 24/7 to students who are actively enrolled in a program.

Social Activities at Our Pre-College Summer Programs

Social Activities

Many programs are also planning their own program-specific activities, often thematically relevant to the program content itself. Look out for these activities in the program description above and in the information provided after you enroll!

Residential 

Tufts Pre-College Programs staff is developing a series of social activities throughout the program so that students can meet each other across programs and participate outside of program hours. These programs include both on-campus and weekend excursions throughout the city of Boston. In the past, activities have included Duck Tours, movie nights, soccer, guest speakers from a variety of disciplines, lunch & learns on topics such as goal setting, financial literacy, and stress management, as well as trivia nights, wellness courses, and much more! Confirmed social activity details will be provided closer to program start. 

Commuter

Tufts Pre-College Programs will be offering on-campus opportunities for our commuter students once a week. Students will have an opportunity to sign up for these events one week prior to the event's start.

Virtual

Virtual students will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of virtual social engagements with students from different modalities of the program. Students will have an opportunity to sign up for these events one week prior to the event's start.

Life at Tufts as a Pre-College Student


 

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Whether you commute to our program, live with us on-campus, or participate virtually, we strive to make each moment of the student experience at Tufts memorable. From our dorms to our dining halls, and our athletic facilities to our check-in and orientation, all aspects of our programming are designed to inform and enable students to have a healthy, fulfilling, and safe summer.

Just five miles northwest of Boston, Tufts University’s Medford/Somerville tranquil campus sits on a hill overlooking the city. Our location offers a relaxed and safe campus environment with easy access to Boston.
 

Pre-College Programs Guidelines & Access


 

Safety & Campus Access for High School Pre-College Programs

Safety & Campus Access for High School Pre-College Programs


 

University Facilities

Students will have full access to the university’s facilities including the libraries, computer lab, and Student Center. Students will also have full access to Tufts’ Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center, featuring racquet courts, a swimming pool, and cardio and weight-training equipment.

In addition, SMFA Studio Art Intensive students will have access to supervised studios and resources, including the W.Van Alan Clark Library, the media stockroom (where you can borrow any equipment necessary for your art), the School Store, and the computer lab. See more details about our studios.

Health & Wellness

Tufts works hard to ensure the health and well-being of all of its students. Once accepted to the program, Tufts will ask all students to submit information related to their health and will collect details regarding allergies and accessibility concerns. Tufts and Residential Life staff will work together to ensure students’ routine medical needs are met.

Tufts also has procedures in place for students with urgent or emergency needs, illnesses, or injuries. Our procedures combine on-campus and hospital-based care depending on the nature and severity of the issue. A student’s emergency contact will be notified, if one is provided, in the event of an issue.

In any type of health & wellness emergency, students should immediately contact Tufts University Police at (617) 627-6911.

Please note: Medical fees of any kind will be billed to the student and are not included in program fees.

Campus Security

Tufts University is considered very safe among U.S. college campuses. Although crime on campus is unusual, we do have an open campus in a major metropolitan area, and we expect our students to exercise good judgment and responsibility as they navigate the campus. Tufts University maintains its own police department, on the job 24 hours a day, if an emergency arises. Each location is equipped with an emergency blue light phone system, and residence halls require a current and valid Tufts ID card for entry and a mechanical key for access to bedrooms. Emergency processes and protocols will be reviewed during orientation.

For more information, please visit our Campus Safety page.

COVID-19

COVID-19


 

To ensure the safety of our Pre-College students, we are closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, and following local, state, and federal guidance as it pertains to our Pre-College programming.

Please see Tufts' COVID-19 page for specific information regarding Pre-College COVID-19 policies and procedures.

Tufts University is not only a leading institution of higher education and academic research, but it is leading the nation in terms of higher education's response to our public health crisis.

For more information about Tufts' response and action planning regarding COVID-19: Please visit Tufts University's COVID-19 information.

Supervision for High School Pre-College Programs

Supervision for High School Pre-College Programs


 

Tufts takes the safety of its students seriously. All programs are staffed with resources appropriate to care for the size and nature of the program. Tufts makes reasonable efforts to secure background checks and provide Title IX training to every staff person responsible for students in its Pre-College Programs.

Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously. As such, our current policy for Pre-College students states that students cannot be in a lab or leave campus during their program without the supervision of a staff member or explicit parental permission received through official processes.

Some elements of our supervision plan vary depending on how the student is interacting with our campus. Below is a brief overview of where to find information about this. Please note that not all programs offer residential/commuter/virtual options, but the below applies when they do:

  • Residential Students: Safety in the dorms is also paramount. Please see the Residential Students section below for more information about how our Residential Life program is staffed.
  • Commuter Students: The commute to campus and time outside of the program will not be monitored by program staff, although the Tufts University Police Department and other safety protocols (in which students will be trained) are available to Tufts community members at all times. Detailed information about traveling to each of our campuses, including details on parking, can be found here. Please check the course list if you do not know the campus on which your course meets. Please note: Commuter students are not permitted to enter any residence halls on campus.
  • Virtual Students: Students are required to attend all elements of the program schedule, and any expected absences must be communicated to program staff in advance. Tufts takes the safety of its students very seriously, even in the virtual environment. Students who enroll will receive more information about our virtual safety protocols.
Pre-College Program Residential Students

Pre-College Program Residential Students


 

Check-in

Check-in will begin at 9 am on the first Sunday of the program (or Monday, 7/1, for Tufts College Experience & Tufts Summer Research Experience). Students are welcome to arrive on campus and check in on Sunday between 9 am and 5 pm, and between the hours of 12 pm and 3 pm if arriving by car. During check-in, room assignments will be distributed and students will have the opportunity to meet their Residential Coordinator (RC) and roommates and unpack.

For students arriving from out of town on their program's arrival day between 9 am and 5 pm, there is a shuttle service from the airport and train/bus station for students arriving from out of state. All details about arrival and departure travel will be communicated after you have been admitted to the program.

Students arriving outside of the specified window should be in touch with us to discuss what accommodations can be arranged. While we make reasonable efforts to accommodate students who need to arrive early or depart late, we cannot guarantee the same services will be available to students arriving or departing outside of the specified windows.

Residential Life

Residential students will get the full Tufts University experience by living on-campus in one of Tufts' undergraduate dorms! Rooms are air-conditioned with 24/7 security and hospitality; accessible rooms may be available upon request.

Bedrooms will be doubles in a common hall. Halls are divided by gender and age, and students are grouped into smaller communities known as Resident Advisor groups. Roommates and RA groups are determined based on the pre-program housing questionnaire, taking into account age and geographic diversity. Full bedding and towels will be provided and replaced weekly. Wi-Fi is available throughout campus.

Resident Coordinators (RCs) will live in each hall and work to create a strong, supportive residential community. A Resident Coordinator's role is to support students in every aspect of their summer experience while serving as a mentor and active leader.

The residence hall is secured at all times, and students are required to use a current, valid Tufts ID card for entry into the building. Each individual dormitory room is secured with either a mechanical or digital lock.

A dedicated residential staff oversees student safety during the entirety of the program. Students are honor-bound to follow clear safety protocols, whether on campus or in the city, and are required to use the buddy system during free time. Tufts takes the safety of its students seriously. All programs are staffed with resources appropriate to care for the size and nature of the program. Tufts makes reasonable efforts to secure background checks and provide Title IX training to every staff person responsible for students in its Pre-College Programs.

See our policy section for additional information, and please do not hesitate to contact us with questions and concerns.

Residential Staff

Residential staff will support students as they adjust to living in a dormitory and being responsible members of a summer program community. The residence staff will include a director, senior staff, and one resident advisor for every ten students. Prior to the program, residence staff will be trained to lead student groups, manage student conflict and resolution, and oversee all safety aspects of the program. They will begin the program well-prepared to meet the needs of all Tufts Pre-College Program students.

Dining

Residential program fees include three meals per day and brunch/dinner on Sundays. All meals on the Medford/Somerville campus will be at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, conveniently located a few minutes from student housing. Dewick-MacPhie provides a wide variety of menu choices, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and an organic salad bar. All meals on the Boston Fine Arts (SMFA), Boston Health Sciences, or Grafton campuses will be provided through boxed lunches or by Tufts staff. Tufts staff will also provide meals for program-related activities taking place off-campus. Tufts Dining is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions and preferences. Please advise us of dietary needs during the application process.

Activities & Trips

We want your summer to be fun too! It is summer after all! Residential Life staff will be planning trips and activities throughout the summer that will allow students to make friends, build relationships, and relax from the world-class academic work they will be doing in the classroom.

Daily Activities

Daily activities might include ice cream socials, midnight pancakes, trips to local coffee houses for poetry readings, lectures around campus, visits to Davis Square, etc. The cost of most of these activities will be included, however, incidentals like coffee at the coffee house or public transportation fares for an optional activity will not be covered by the program.

Many programs are also planning their own program-specific activities, often thematically relevant to the program content itself. Look out for these activities in the program description above and in the information provided after you enroll!

Trips

Examples of past weekend trips include excursions to Six Flags New England, Crane Beach in Ipswich, Downtown Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Duck Boat tours, Charles River Cruises, and more! Please note that weekend trips vary from year to year and these are only examples of the kinds of trips this program might include. The cost of any such excursions (including transportation, entrance fees, regularly scheduled meals, and supervision) is included in the cost of the program, although souvenirs, extra food, and other incidentals are not.

Pre-College Summer Programs Application & Policies


 

Application Deadlines & Materials

Tufts College Experience students are registering for real undergraduate-level courses, which can fill up quickly during the summer. We highly recommend applying as early as possible to save a spot in your top-choice courses.

Apply Now

Application & Key Enrollment Dates

Priority deadlines may apply. Admission granted on a rolling basis.

Note: all dates are as of 11:59PM ET

Application Opens Deadline: All Materials Deadline: Payment Deadline: Enrollment Forms
Now Open May 1 May 15 June 1

*Applications submitted after the payment deadline will require payment in full on admission to hold their seat.

Program Eligibility

General Requirements

  • Entering high school grades 10-12 *or* a Spring 2024 high school graduate
    • Please note that students entering grade 10 are eligible only to take Pre-College Lecture courses through this program
  • Course-level eligibility and prerequisites may apply and are typically listed in the course description

Residential Students

Students electing to live in the dorms or to attend a residential program must be at least 15 at the start of the program and no older than 19 before the program's end date.

International Students

International students are welcome to apply to and attend. Tufts College Experience is an F-1 eligible program. Upon admission, you may request a Form 1-20 to begin the visa application process. More information is available here.

Non-Native English Speakers

If you indicate that English is not your primary language, you will be asked to submit evidence of English Language proficiency. Please see our How to Apply page for details.

Application Requirements for Pre-College Summer Programs

Step 1: Complete an Online Application

The online application will ask you for the following information:

  • Basic personal information, including parents/guardians and emergency contact (If you are under 18, we will contact a parent for permission to enroll.)
  • Course preferences: Six lecture course preferences in at least two different time blocks; optional indication of preference for College Prep Workshops
  • Contact information for one individual to submit a letter of recommendation — this individual can be a teacher, counselor, or mentor. We will contact this individual on your behalf
  • Test scores (Optional, unless you must submit scores as evidence of English proficiency.)
  • Warrants and signatures

If you need to log back into this application after starting, click here: Return to My Application.

Step 2: Upload Your High School Transcript

During your application process, you will be asked to provide us with contact information for an official from your high school. They will receive an email with further instructions to upload your transcript.

Step 3: Parental Consent and Letter of Recommendation

As a part of your application, you will be asked to provide contact information for both a parent/guardian and a recommender. Once you submit your application, our systems will automatically email the parent/guardian and recommender you listed in the application with instructions for how to fill out the online permission or recommendation form.

Please note your application will not be considered submitted and reviewed until the materials from Step 2 and Step 3 have been received by Tufts Pre-College Programs.

Pre-College Admissions Decision

Once an applicant has submitted an application and all required admissions documents are received, the applicant will be considered for admission by the Tufts Pre-College Programs review committee for the specific program(s) to which they applied.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis, and students will typically receive an official email informing them of their admissions status within 10 business days of Tufts receiving all required materials.

If you do not receive your email within two weeks of all materials being submitted, please contact us at precollege@tufts.edu or 617-627-2926.

Disclaimer: This program is not related to Tufts University Undergraduate Admissions. Participation in this program does not result in admission to a Tufts University degree program. Tufts reserves the right to admit as requested, to deny admission, or to offer provisional admission. The program will not provide feedback to applicants if admission is denied.

Post-Enrollment Materials

Admitted students must do the following prior to the start of the program:

  • Submit a deposit to hold your seat; this program requires a deposit within 10 business days of the date on which the admissions decision was posted
  • Pay your balance in full prior to the stated deadline
  • Complete all enrollment forms and/or follow-up requests prior to the stated deadline

Should the above not be completed prior to the stated deadlines, the student will be automatically withdrawn from the program.

Pre-College Summer Programs Tuition & Fees

Program Fees - Summer 2024

Residential Program Fee: $11,250

Virtual Program Fee: $8,000

  • Includes: all program activities, materials and supplies, bed in a double-room in a Tufts dormitory, 3 meals per day (brunch / dinner on Sundays), use of select campus facilities, included program and residential excursions and daily activities, bed linens, pillow and towels, 24-hour residential care and support, staff-accompanied airport transfer during specified windows.
  • Excludes: airfare/transportation to and from home city, courses and activities shown to have an extra fee, laundry, spending money, souvenirs, meals eaten away from program, airport transfers outside of specified windows, trip cancellation insurance, medical insurance, required vaccinations, medical and dental expenses, any non-program-related transportation needs, and anything not explicitly stated above.

Non-Refundable Program Deposit: $550, applied to the Program Fee

  • A pre-payment on program fees is required to reserve space in the program within 10 business days of admission to the program.
  • This deposit will be applied toward program fees and is not an additional fee.
  • The balance of payment for program fees is due upon notification of charges, no later than May 15.
  • This deposit is non-refundable in the event of withdrawal from the program.

Health Fees - Summer 2024

Health Insurance: TBA, only if evidence of valid U.S.-based health insurance for the entire duration of the program is not presented (Summer 2022: $63)

  • Coverage Dates: TBD
  • Students carrying sufficient, U.S.-based health insurance valid for the entire duration of the program do not need to pay this fee.
  • All high school students enrolled in Tufts Pre-College Programs must carry valid U.S.-based health insurance valid for the entire duration of the program.
  • Students will be asked to provide evidence of sufficient insurance during the enrollment process. If your student has sufficient insurance, no further action will be necessary.
  • Those who do not have sufficient insurance will be automatically enrolled in and billed for a qualifying plan for the duration of the program. If evidence of qualifying insurance is presented by June 15, we will reverse the insurance enrollment and charges.

Vaccinations: TBA, only if evidence of required vaccinations is not presented (Summer 2022: $100-$300 per vaccine)

  • Students who can demonstrate that all required vaccinations were received prior to the program start date do not need to pay these fees.
  • All high school students enrolled in Tufts Pre-College Programs must show evidence of required vaccinations during the enrollment process. If your student has all required vaccinations, no further action will be necessary.
  • Those who do not have all required vaccinations will be asked to provide further documentation or will be required to receive the vaccination, with parental consent, while on campus. If a student receives the vaccination while on campus the student will be responsible for the associated fee and grades / transcripts will be with-held for non-payment. If a student does not provide appropriate documentation or agree to receive the vaccination while on campus, Tufts reserves the right to remove the student from the program.

Other Key Financial Policies

Refund Policies

Billing & Payment Policies

All Policies

Pre-College Program: Financial Aid

Pre-College Program: Financial Aid


 

Availability of Awards

Tufts Pre-College Programs are committed to aiding students from all backgrounds. Although we have only limited need-based financial aid available, we do our best to distribute the funds to students for whom it can make the greatest difference in their ability to attend.

Financial Aid awards are made on a rolling basis to students with demonstrated need. We aim to provide enough aid to eligible students so that they are able to successfully enroll and participate in the program. Seasonal aid awards are as follows:

  • Fall: We currently do not offer aid for the Fall term
  • Spring: We currently do not offer aid for the Spring term
  • Summer: We will typically distribute awards monthly beginning in February and will continue until the enrollment deadline or until aid is fully distributed.

If financial assistance is essential to your ability to attend the program, we recommend that you wait to pay the $550 non-refundable deposit until you have received your financial aid decision. Award decisions will be issued twice per month.

Students with undocumented status are considered for financial aid like any other U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are undocumented or have DACA status and want more information about how to apply for financial aid, please call our office at 617-627-2926.

Please note:

  • International students are not eligible for financial aid at this time. Families should expect to contribute to the remaining portion of the program cost as well as other expenses like travel, books, etc.
  • We currently do not offer aid for students participating in our Leadership for Social Change Intensive.

Process

  1. Complete the Admissions Application for the pre-college program you would like to attend.
  2. During the application process, you will be asked to indicate whether you are interested in being considered for financial aid.
  3. After submission, you will have the option of completing a financial aid application in your student portal.
  4. We will review your financial aid application. Your financial aid application will be considered for the next monthly aid award(s). Award decisions will be issued twice per month.
  5. If you receive an award,
    1. You will be notified by email of the amount of the award.
    2. You will have 10 days (including weekends and holidays) to accept the award by completing your Financial Aid Award Form and submitting your deposit. If you have received a full financial aid scholarship you are not required to pay your deposit, as it is covered by your scholarship.
    3. Tufts Pre-College Programs will then credit your student account with the amount of financial aid you received.
    4. Please note: Your enrollment in the program is still contingent on payment of any remaining balance after the award is applied to your account, and on receiving your enrollment forms.
  6. If you do not receive an award you will be notified via email.
Pre-College Program: Policies

Pre-College Program: Policies


 

Please see the Policies section of this website for a complete list of applicable policies.

Learn more about our summer programs for teens near Boston.