University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Notre Dame, a distinguished private Catholic research university in South Bend, Indiana, offers a variety of pre-college programs designed to provide high school students with an immersive college experience. These programs allow students to explore potential college majors, gain valuable academic experience, and get a taste of life on a college campus. Participation in a Notre Dame pre-college program can significantly enhance college applications and prepare students for the challenges of higher education.

Overview of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs

Notre Dame Pre-College delivers a true college experience on campus. Among the pre-college programs offered by the University of Notre Dame, the Summer Scholars program stands out as a unique opportunity for high school students.

Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program: An In-Depth Look

The Notre Dame Summer Scholars program is a competitive, two-week, on-campus pre-college summer program hosted by the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. It offers rising junior and senior high school students the chance to take a challenging college-level course instructed by Notre Dame faculty, earning one transferable college credit upon completion. With small class sizes, students receive personal attention and guidance, offering a genuine preview of college academics. The program is both rigorous and rewarding.

For the upcoming 2024 season, Session I lasts from June 8th to June 22nd, and Session II lasts from June 29th to July 13th. Applications are already open, and close on February 20th, 2024.

Students collaborate on coursework outside of designated class times as they would in any college setting. There is also ample time to enjoy the social facets of college life, especially those unique to Notre Dame.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The University welcomes applications from high school students who meet the following criteria:

Current sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors).
Strong academic standing with solid extracurricular activities. Qualified applicants must be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and demonstrate a high level of maturity. In addition, applicants must express a sincere desire to be part of the Notre Dame community while they are participating in the program.
At least 16 years old by or on August 1, 2024.

Interested students must submit:

Online application.
High school transcript.
Counselor report.
One letter of recommendation from a high school teacher.
If you plan to submit standardized test scores, you may scan a copy of your electronic score report and upload it in the online application when instructed to do so; Scores will be accepted up until February 28, 2024.

Curriculum and Course Offerings

From world politics and social justice, to entrepreneurship and creative AI, to climate change and global health, Notre Dame Summer Scholars offers an expansive array of courses filtered into two Sessions. These college-level courses delve into topics far deeper than your typical hobby-based summer programs. Criminal Justice System, and Them and US: Climate, Conflict, Inequality, and Migration. And, on top of these exceptional course offerings, students also develop critical leadership, conflict resolution, and global literacy skills. As part of the program, students can choose to travel to Italy, Ireland, South Africa, or London. No matter which location you choose, these study abroad programs are a unique opportunity to explore the world, guided by Notre Dame faculty. Through a range of approaches and mindsets, including sustainability, social entrepreneurship, economics, and creative writing, students will explore different methods for comprehending, representing, and evaluating poverty. In addition to theoretical discussions, students will actively engage with the South Bend community to better understand the persistence of poverty and efforts to combat it. In this project-based course, students will develop early-stage concepts, test customer interest, and learn how to pitch their ideas to potential investors.

This two-week virtual program introduces students to college-level academics in a diverse range of fields, and upon completion, students will earn one transferable college credit. Only around 100 students are admitted to the program each year, and upon completion, students are eligible to receive one transferable college credit.

International Leadership, Enrichment, and Development (iLED) Program

Unique to the University of Notre Dame Summer Scholars is its International Leadership, Enrichment, and Development Program (iLED), which is a part of Notre Dame Summer Scholars. On top of their selected course, students participate in workshops on various types of leadership and problem solving, intercultural communication and cultural competence, entrepreneurship, and innovation, as well as interactive discussions with Notre Dame faculty from many different departments- including Undergraduate Admissions.

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The University of Notre Dame’s specialty is its dedication to nurturing a strong sense of responsibility and open-mindedness in its students. The Notre Dame Summer Scholars program distinguishes itself through its community service activities and commitment to not just accepting, but celebrating students’ different backgrounds. Whether you’re a natural leader or a supportive team player, whether you aspire to be an outspoken social justice activist speaking on an international platform or a weekend volunteer at your local community center, Notre Dame Summer Scholars is the best program for those who are passionate about serving and uplifting their communities.

As a Catholic institution, Notre Dame offers optional affiliated Mass and prayer services, but also actively encourages students to explore other faiths and doctrines from around the world-once again showing their commitment to diversity and acceptance.

Daily Life and Social Activities

Every day, students attend classes, lead discussions, broaden their perspectives with guest lectures, collaborate outside of class in group projects, conduct research, and contribute to community service causes of their choice. It would not be a Notre Dame summer program without service opportunities. Students participate in volunteer work at animal shelters, food drives, and/or the community garden, or even get direct experience working with children. Notre Dame Summer Scholars students leave the Notre Dame campus with a renewed sense of responsibility to give back to their own communities and make meaningful impacts in the world.

With a strong sense of community comes many social activities that bond Notre Dame Summer Scholars students together. All Notre Dame summer program participants take part in ice skating, open mic night, Bookstore Basketball, trivia, Capture the Flag, talent show, bonfire, scavenger hunt, movie nights, and countless other social activities. Students build friendships with their peers in other courses of the same session, creating an all-inclusive and tight-knit community.

Additionally, all students stay in the Notre Dame dorms with one other roommate and their respective residential section. Each section is led by Resident Counselors (RCs), who are current Notre Dame undergraduate students. Not only will students bond with their dormmates and learn more about realistic college life from their RCs, but they’ll also learn to live independently and cooperate with a roommate whom they’ve never met before.

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Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and housing fees for Summer Scholars 2024 are $4,425. This amount includes tuition, room and board, extracurricular activities, and class field trips. The tuition and housing cost balance (including any applicable lab fees) must be paid in full online or by check and received by the Office of Pre-College Programs by May 31, 2024.

A non-refundable enrollment fee of $300 must be submitted once a student has been notified of their admission to Summer Scholars. This enrollment fee must be paid no later than May 3, 2024 to secure a place for the student in the program. The enrollment fee will be applied to the total tuition/housing amount.

The Office of Pre-College Programs has very limited financial aid for Summer Scholars who face extreme economic hardship. We encourage students to reach out to their communities to help offset the costs of the program. The Office of Pre-College Programs does not offer any merit-based financial assistance or scholarship. There are grants available to students for the Summer Scholars program.

Application fee waivers are granted rarely and only in extreme circumstances. We have limited need-based partial to full-tuition scholarships available to students who apply for the Summer Scholars program. Please note that submitting a request for financial aid does not guarantee an application fee waiver or scholarship. Application fee waiver decisions will be made on a weekly basis. Decisions regarding admission will be made regardless of financial aid request, and notification of tuition-based financial aid will be included with admission decision letters.

Through the generosity of the Lilly Endowment Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative, the university is able to provide Summer Scholars program expenses (tuition, room, and board) for students living in the state of Indiana who qualify. Through the generosity of donors, they are able to provide Summer Scholars program expenses (tuition, room, and board) for students living in the Philadelphia, PA area who qualify. Through the generosity of KPMG, they are able to provide Summer Scholars and/or Summer Scholars Online program expenses (tuition, room, and board) for students accepted into the Accounting course (on campus and online) who qualify.

Competitiveness and Prestige

Notre Dame Summer Scholars’ acceptance rate from the 2020 season was around 26% (according to student sources) and is well-known as a top recommended prestigious summer program for high schoolers. Applying students must submit a high school transcript, counselor report, and high school teacher recommendation letter along with their online application. Admitted students hail from across the world, but are all high-performing students with strong grades and commitment to their extracurriculars. Notre Dame Summer Scholars looks for students aged 16 and above who are “self-motivated, self-disciplined, and demonstrate a high level of maturity” (read more on Eligibility and Application Requirements). If the University of Notre Dame is one of your top choices for college, then this summer program is for you! Historically, around 50% (according to student sources) of past Notre Dame Summer Scholars students later attended the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame Summer Scholars is not for students casually looking to enjoy their summer pursuing a hobby. With its intense admissions process, Notre Dame’s precollege is an academically rigorous program reserved only for high-caliber students.

However, some factors to beware of are the program’s cost (with very limited financial aid resources and scholarships) and its correlation to competitiveness and prestige.

Costs Breakdown

Here is a breakdown of the costs:

$60 Application Fee
$300 Enrollment Fee
$4,425 Tuition/Room and Board Balance

Some people may judge a program’s prestige based on its price in an inverse relationship due to the question of accessibility-the higher the price, the lower the competition/the lower the prestige. Oftentimes, the best of the best summer programs are fully funded by the University and free of charge/at a low cost to admitted students. Those types of programs are extremely selective, with acceptance rates in the single digits, and consequently would provide a more impressive badge of achievement on your college application. By this criteria, Notre Dame Summer Scholars is less prestigious compared to Notre Dame Leadership Seminars.

Notre Dame Leadership Seminars: A More Competitive Option

Notre Dame Leadership Seminars is the most competitive pre-college summer program offered by the University of Notre Dame. This 10-day, University-funded, on-campus intensive only accepts 100 truly outstanding students each year. Admitted students have demonstrated their exceptional leadership skills by making a significant impact on their respective communities. Students are also in the top 10% of their class, with SAT scores averaging 1400 and ACT scores no lower than 31.

Notre Dame Leadership Seminars cultivate future world leaders by teaching students how to think, lead, and serve, dissect complex current world issues, change the world, and take responsibility for their influential actions. For the 2024 season, this summer program will be held from July 20th to July 31st. Tuition, housing, and meals are fully funded, so students only need to pay a $60 Application Fee, $150 Enrollment Fee, and travel expenses. Whether you’re tackling sustainability and climate issues or social and economic inequities, Notre Dame Leadership Seminars has a course to fit your interests. This program is competitive beyond compare, so you’ll not only walk away with a transferable college credit, but also with a universally acknowledged, prestigious accomplishment to really impress your future college admissions officers.

Financial Aid for Leadership Seminars

Leadership Seminars admitted students will have their tuition, housing, and meals paid for by the University, while students are responsible for travel expenses to and from the University, the $60 application fee, and $150 enrollment fee. Application fee waivers and aid for travel expenses are granted rarely and only in extreme circumstances.

Study Abroad Programs

As part of the Summer Scholars program, students can choose to travel to Italy, Ireland, South Africa, or London. No matter which location you choose, these study abroad programs are a unique opportunity to explore the world, guided by Notre Dame faculty. Through a range of approaches and mindsets, including sustainability, social entrepreneurship, economics, and creative writing, students will explore different methods for comprehending, representing, and evaluating poverty. In addition to theoretical discussions, students will actively engage with the South Bend community to better understand the persistence of poverty and efforts to combat it. In this project-based course, students will develop early-stage concepts, test customer interest, and learn how to pitch their ideas to potential investors.

The university does not currently have funding for any financial aid or scholarships for their study abroad programs. As with Summer Scholars and Leadership Seminars, they encourage students to reach out to their communities to help offset the program costs.

Preparing for Notre Dame Pre-College Programs with Aralia Education

Prepare for the Notre Dame pre-college programs, both Summer Scholars and Leadership Seminars, with Aralia Education! Aralia Education courses are taught by experienced educators who are well-equipped to advance your academic development and set you up for admission into the competitive Notre Dame pre-college summer programs.

Try Aralia’s International Relations course to learn how to conduct research in the social sciences and analyze critical world issues. These skills will help you prepare for Notre Dame Summer Scholars classes like World Politics and Power: An Introduction to International Relations, Public Policymaking: A Primer, and Law.

Aralia’s courses in Business Research or Economics Research are highly customizable depending on your area of interest. Your business or economics research projects would be very helpful in preparing for Notre Dame Summer Scholars programs in Accounting, Entrepreneurial Immersion, and Marketing: For the Common Good.

No matter which of Notre Dame’s summer programs you want to apply for, Aralia has a class in your subject of choice that will subsequently get you ahead of the game!

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