Experience college life at an Ivy League institution

If you want to experience the academic rigor and rich tradition that comes with attending an Ivy League institution, Summer Discovery’s University of Pennsylvania pre-college academic programs might be the perfect fit for your summer. Academically-driven high school students who want to explore topics in philosophy, math, biology, economics and more will flourish in our challenging, yet intensely fun pre-college programs. Whether you choose to stay on campus for two or six weeks, you’ll get a true taste of college life, have access to leading faculty and build meaningful connections with your new peers.  

Want to learn more about exactly what you’ll get at Summer Discovery at Penn? Here are all the details you need to make the right decision for your summer!   

An authentic Ivy League experience 

When you decide to enroll in Summer Discovery at Penn, choose from two different types of programs that can help you prepare for a bright future.  

1. 6-week College Credit: Exceptional students completing grades 10 and 11 can apply to spend 6 weeks on campus taking college courses alongside Penn undergraduate students. Classes in STEM, humanities, and more meet 2-5 times a week and likely assign homework, research papers and exams. Plus, earn college credit while living and learning like a real Penn student! 
2. 2-week College Prep: Take advantage of Penn’s liberal arts and sciences curriculum and choose two undergraduate level modules to explore this summer. You can select two totally different modules for your morning and afternoon sessions – imagine taking Genomics and Bioinformatics in the morning and Literature, Film, and Environmental Justice in the afternoon. Or if you’re passionate about making a difference in the world, pair Digital Media, Inequality, and Cyber-Civil Rights with Pathogens, Pathology, and the Next Pandemic. Learn from top Penn professors and collaborate with like-minded peers with our shorter, yet impactful college prep program. 

Venture off campus and into historical Philadelphia 

When you’re not in class or hanging out on Penn’s stunning campus, you’ll practically become a Philadelphia native as you explore American historical sites, check out art museums and dine your way through this exciting city! Take in the scenic views overlooking the Delaware River, visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell or cheer for the Phillies at a major league baseball game. Plus, explore the best of the Northeast with special trips to Times Square in New York City or the Jersey Shore. Between rigorous courses and thrilling off-campus adventures, Summer Discovery at Penn students learn how to balance their academic and social lives like pros! 

Explore our other Penn programs 

If you’re interested in management, engineering or business, you may want to consider Penn's Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) or Wharton Global Youth Program. M&TSI offers rising high school juniors and seniors a challenging program that focuses on innovation and management in a rapidly changing technological landscape, while the Wharton Global Youth Program guides students in the first steps to becoming global business leaders and entrepreneurs who will one day transform the economy.