An Insider’s Look at an Ivy-League Summer with Penn

Penn Summer Prep Program

The Penn Summer Prep Program allows students to explore college-level academics without the pressure of earning college credit. The highlight of the Prep Program is its courses. Students enroll in modules where they take one course in the morning and one in the afternoon for two weeks. Students can explore Penn’s broad liberal arts and sciences curriculum within these courses while applying their learning to current events. In the morning, you might discuss education and inequality, then in the afternoon, discover music of the Arabs in their historical, political, and cultural contexts. Combining thought-evoking courses with living on Penn’s vibrant campus prepares students to be better global citizens when they pack up to return home. Students in grades 9-11 are eligible for this on-campus summer program. 

American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Academy 

The only academy offered online this summer introduces students to ASL and provides an overview of topics integral to the experiences of members of the deaf community. Like immersing yourself in a new culture and language, students are taught entirely in ASL and by the end of the program, they can communicate relevant information about themselves and their surroundings. Where Penn differentiates this program from others like it, however, is incorporating relevant topics of members of the deaf community into the curriculum. Students will examine current events and will also participate in interactive panels with Philadelphia deaf community professionals. By having another lens through which to examine the world around them, students will sharpen their practical skills as well as their empathy and understanding. 

Global Culture and Communication Academy 

Offered as a residential only academy that is exclusively open to current 10th and 11th graders, students will build a foundation for understanding the intricate relationships between language, culture, and how we communicate. Have you ever shared your thoughts on your favorite song to have someone else criticize your opinion or offer a different perspective you didn’t agree with? Aimed at providing students the skills they need to be better global citizens, this academy will promote active learning, self-reflection, and teamwork to push students to understand the biases and nuances they bring to a global society and learn to communicate in ways that are respectful and offer mutual understanding. You’ll also take multiple trips around Philadelphia each week for cultural immersion and practical applications. 

Social Justice Research Academy 

Another residential only academy, students from around the world are brought together to dive deep into the past, present, and future of social justice. Designed to encourage discussion and critical thinking about the political, historical, and cultural context of inequality and resistance, the program welcomes students with a variety of academic interests across the social sciences, humanities, and arts to bring their unique perspectives and approaches to a multitude of topics and issues. Students will explore significant historical struggles as well as those that define our recent past and present, and develop leadership and research skills along the way. Along with large and small group discussions, students will also have service learning opportunities and truly grow through a program of discussion, learning, and changing lenses through which they see the world.

Pre-College Program at Penn

The Pre-College Program at Penn is designed for students looking for a true undergraduate college experience. Current 10th or 11th grade students participating in this Penn summer program reside in campus residence halls and are enrolled in summer courses alongside Penn undergraduates. The program offers undergraduate courses in a variety of disciplines and are taught by Penn faculty, staff, and visiting scholars. Students can either take a course on campus as a residential participant, or they can take these courses completely online from the comfort of home. During the experience, students will work with Penn’s academic advisors to select and enroll in their courses, just like a real college student, and can earn up to 2-course units, which equates to EIGHT college credit hours on an official Penn transcript. The courses offered through the Pre-College Program are all essential core curriculum courses needed for undergraduate students, including Intro to Microeconomics, Calculus, and Art History, helping make the transition to college even easier. 

Seats in many of the summer programs at Penn are full or are close to no longer accepting new applications! 

If you want an Ivy-League summer, click the button below and Apply Today!