Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for Pre-College summer programs?

General Requirements

• Entering high school grades 10-12 *or* a Spring 2023 high school graduate
  • Please note that students entering grade 10 are eligible for specific courses and programs only. Please see individual program websites for grade-level eligibility requirements. 
• English Language proficiency exam results are required for non-native English speakers. See the table below for score requirements.

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

Both domestic and international students are welcome to apply to and attend our Pre-College Programs, although only Tufts Summer Research Experience and Tufts College Experience are F-1 eligible. You may click here to consult this informational page on the Tufts International Center website for additional information.

Non-Native English Speakers

Please see this policy page for detailed information on proficiency requirements. 

Can homeschooled students apply for Pre-College summer programs?

Yes! Students who have been home-schooled are welcome to apply. We ask that applicants who have been educated primarily or entirely at home provide as many of the application credentials as possible. We understand that the parent/teacher will provide one of the Letters of Recommendation, but (where required) we ask that other non-family adults provide any additional letters. All relevant academic transcripts reflecting educational work outside of the home since 9th grade should be forwarded. A portfolio or summary of information about educational experiences can be useful as well.

Can international students apply for Pre-College Programs?

Yes! We welcome international students who have the educational background, English Language skills, and funding to attend our Tufts Pre-College Programs. Tufts Pre-College welcomes international students in all of its programs. However, visa options and requirements will be different depending on your intended summer program and your current visa situation (if applicable).

Please note that Tufts University is not authorized to sponsor F-1 visas for any of our Pre-College Programs with the exception of the Tufts Summer Research Experience and Tufts College Experience. Visa requirements and options may differ depending on which program you are participating in. See the "How do I get my visa?" section below, which includes visa information for international students.

Note that not all of our programs offer housing. We will be unable to admit an international student into a commuter-only program without consent and waiver indicating that the student has housing and transportation provided by a close relative within 50 miles of Tufts. Both the parent and the close relative must sign the waiver.

Is financial aid available for international students?

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer financial aid to international applicants for our Pre-College Programs.

How do I get my visa?

University College welcomes international students in all of its programs. However, visa options and requirements will be different depending on your intended summer program and your current visa situation (if applicable).

Please note that Tufts University is not authorized to sponsor F-1 visas for any of our Pre-College Programs with the exception of the Tufts Summer Research Experience (TRSE) and Tufts College Experience (TCE). 

After you are admitted and have submitted a program deposit to TRSE or TCE, you will receive further instructions to request your Form I-20, which is required for your F-1 visa application. 

International students interested in Pre-College Programs may have other visa options. The Tufts International Center can advise you on your individual situation. Please click here to consult this informational page on the International Center website for more details, or email the International Center directly at  icenter.summer@tufts.edu.

What are the language requirements for non-native English speakers?

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 during the application process. The following are our eligibility standards:

What if my visa is delayed or denied?

Students assume all responsibility in the visa process. Regardless of what type of visa you are pursuing, it is important to research the amount of time it will take to process/ get an interview appointment. 

Visa delays or denials are not recognized reasons for refunds on deposits or tuition. 

Where can I start (or return to) my Pre-College Program application?

First, read our "How to Apply" page.

Start an application by clicking this button: 

Start an Application

Return to your application by clicking this button:

Return to your Application

How do I access the Parent Permission Form?

As a part of your application, you will be asked to provide your parent/guardian name and contact information. Once you submit your application, our systems will email the parent/guardian you listed in the application with instructions for how to fill out the online Parent Permission Form. So be sure to enter an email address that your parent checks regularly!

Can I send my transcript via email?

You are welcome to have your high school transcript sent via email. However, in order for your transcript to be marked as official, the transcript needs to be sent by a representative of your high school. You will be prompted during the application process to provide the contact information of a school official who will upload your transcript on your behalf. Once your transcript has been received, Tufts Pre-College Programs Staff will mark it as such on your online application portal.

How do I make my application stronger?

Tufts Pre-College Program Staff will consider the materials you provide in your application as a whole. Be yourself!

Can parents access their Pre-College students’ educational records?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. For students enrolled in a university, regardless of their age, the privacy rights under FERPA are held by them.

Enrolled University College students may authorize the release of their educational records by filing a Consent to Disclose Student Information form with the University.

The FERPA policy for most Tufts Pre-College Programs is available by clicking here. It includes when the schools may disclose information from a student’s educational record.

Prior to enrollment, Tufts Pre-College Programs may include parents in communications concerning progress in admission. Note that it is Tufts Pre-College Programs’ policy to require parent/guardian permission to apply to our program.

How will Tufts communicate with my student?

Email is the University’s primary method of communication with applicants and enrolled students. Please make sure your student checks email regularly to be certain that all communications from Tufts University are read and responded to in a timely way. Overlooking emails can result in delays, increased costs, etc.

The application will ask for a parent’s email address. Be sure the parent email address listed is one that is commonly checked, as Tufts will also send important information to the parents via email, such as the Parent Permission Form, enrollment forms, etc.

Upon enrollment in one of our Academic Year or 6-week programs (Tufts College Experience, Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers, and Tufts Research Experience, Tufts Summer Research Experience), University College students are asked to set up a Tufts email account as part of a Tufts network login profile. This email address will be used to log into Tufts’ Student Information System and CANVAS, the site on which faculty will post course materials. However, the University College administration will continue to use students’ personal email addresses for communications throughout the program.

Please note that students enrolling in workshops or pre-college intensives will not receive a Tufts email address.

Can I earn Tufts credit?

The ability to earn credit varies by program. Please see the table below for the credit options within each program.

Will this credit transfer?

Each college and university has policies and procedures that determine whether or not they will accept college credit earned elsewhere and, importantly, what the credit counts for. Earning credit at Tufts is not a guarantee that the course will transfer; however, most students report success in transferring their credit.

How does my student transfer the credit earned at Tufts?

After your student’s course or program is complete, an academic transcript can be requested from Tufts Student Services. With this document, your student can request transfer credit at the college or University he or she will attend.

If your student attends Tufts as an undergraduate, he or she can speak with his or her academic dean to see how the credit that was earned in a Tufts Pre-College Program can be added to their plan of study.

Remember, each college and university has policies and procedures that determine whether or not they will accept college credit earned elsewhere. Earning credit at Tufts is not a guarantee that the course will transfer. However, we have seldom heard of a situation in which Tufts credit has not been accepted at another higher education institution.

Will this credit transfer to my high school?

Tufts cannot guarantee that these courses or programs can be used at your high school. Students should be in touch with their schools to determine what is possible. Tufts is happy to provide a transcript upon request.

Is there financial aid available?

Tufts Pre-College Programs are committed to welcoming students from all backgrounds to Tufts’ campus. Although we have only a limited amount of 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.

Many of the programs offer a very limited number of scholarships, typically covering 75-100% of the program fee based on demonstrated need. Award decisions will be issued twice per month. For more information, please consult the information on the program pages.

Programs offering financial aid:

• Tufts College Experience
• Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers (summer only)
• Tufts Research Experience
• Tufts Summer Research Experience
• Tufts Summer Accelerator
• Lab Science Investigations
• Tufts Pre-College Intensives:
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Essentials of Marketing
  • Climate Resilience Institute
  • Coding Academy
  • Engineering Design Lab
  • Engineering Investigations
  • International Relations
  • Mini-Med School
  • SMFA Graphic Design Bootcamp
  • SMFA Studio Art

How is tuition billed and paid?

For most programs, once you have accepted your spot in the program, you will be charged a deposit that will appear on your online application portal. You can pay your bill through the application portal. Once you have paid your deposit, you will be charged the remaining tuition for the program, which will also be payable via the application portal. For more information regarding billing and payment, click here.

For Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers, please see our Billing and Payment page.

Please be on the lookout for communication from precollege@tufts.edu once you have accepted your place in the program for more details.

Can I get a refund?

Students who officially withdraw from a course are eligible for a tuition refund based on the date of withdrawal (when the official request to withdraw was received). The refund schedules vary based on the length of the course/program type. Most programs have a refund deadline of May 15th. 

Please go to the Refund Policy page to learn more.

Is housing available for high school students?

The availability of housing depends on the program. If a program offers a residential option, students will have access to an air-conditioned double room in Carmichael or Houston Hall, overseen by RAs and a ResLife team. If a program is listed as commuter or virtual, no housing or related support is available. Please see the table below for more details:

Are meal plans available for high school students?

Yes! Students in residential programs will have a meal plan as a part of their program fees.

Commuter students in our intensives, in Tufts College Experience, and in Tufts Summer Research Experience will have lunch provided for them.

Meals are not included for Commuter students in Tufts Research Experience and Courses at Tufts; these students have the option of purchasing a multi-week meal plan from our Dining Services team; please click here for more details. 

If your student has an allergy, you will have the opportunity to notify the program during the registration process.

How will my child receive care if they need medical attention while on your programs?

Please see our Health & Wellness sections on program pages for details about treatment for acute illness or emergencies. Note that should your child need to receive unexpected medical care during one of our programs, their emergency contact will be notified if provided.

Students in our residential programs will be asked to provide details regarding specific, ongoing medical conditions (e.g., allergies), and our residential partner will assist in addressing these concerns.

COVID-19

Students will be tested via an antigen test for COVID-19 upon arrival. Any student who tests positive at any point in the program will be moved to an isolation room and will need to be picked up within 24 hours (48 if international). Additional details about vaccines, testing, masking, and more may be found on the COVID policy page.

What precautions do you take to ensure my child will be safe on this program?

Tufts University takes the safety of its students very seriously. More information can be found on each program page and the Campus Safety page.

Regardless of the program, all of our classroom courses take place on Tufts’ campuses (with the exception of any course-sponsored field trips). Tufts makes reasonable efforts to ensure that instructors of programs or courses that are open to high school students and program staff who will spend significant time with high school students receive a background check and attend Title IX training to participate in the program.

Our residential programs maintain strict chaperone and RA-to-student ratios of 1:10 and provide ample training to ensure students remain safe during the program.

Can I take a course online?

High school students are welcome to take online courses in several of our programs— however, the format for taking an online course differs depending on which program you choose:

If you are a student who only wants to take a course or two without having to come onto campus, you should register for the online course of your choice via Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers. You can take an online course from anywhere in the world — provided you have a reliable internet connection. Online courses are still high-engagement courses that will allow you greater flexibility within your summer schedule.

If you are interested in an online course but would like to have the experience of living on campus, you should register for the Tufts College Experience or Tufts Summer Accelerator. Within the Tufts College Experience program, you will take two courses — and one or both of them can be online courses. While online courses will not involve attending a lecture in a classroom, your time to engage in the course will still be structured as a part of the Tufts College Experience.

For more information on the Tufts College Experience schedule, please click here.

What should my student bring to Tufts?

Please review our Admitted Students page for the packing list. Program-specific supply lists will be sent out in May as well.

Please note: for students enrolled in Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers or Tufts College Experience, there may be textbooks required for the courses you will be taking at Tufts. Textbooks are not included in the price of the program and can be purchased at the Tufts Bookstore upon arrival on campus.

Is the campus accessible by public transportation?

Yes! Please visit our Parking & Transportation page for additional details by campus. Please be sure to carefully check the campus location of the course or program that your student will be attending.

Is it possible to go on vacation during my program?

Absence from class is not permitted. It is our expectation that students will attend every meeting of their course or program.