This summer 425 high school students are on campus and studying abroad through Notre Dame's Pre-College Programs. The four programs include Summer Scholars, Leadership Seminars, and two study abroad programs, one in Ireland and the other in Rome. The programs are designed to give high school students a taste of college life and college-level academics as they learn and live in a campus community.
Students enrolled in the Summer Scholars program were recently on campus for two weeks. They lived in the residence halls, ate at the dining halls, took field trips, and conducted service in the surrounding community. Students chose from 21 different tracks of study, including several new courses: Identity and Popular Culture: Which Hogwarts House Are You?; The Language of Business: Accounting in a Global Society; Marketing and the Common Good; and Russia and the West: Understanding the Modern Russian Soul.
Leadership Seminars students study topics that affect the global community. Participants are encouraged to examine the issues, explore their own conclusions and hone their leadership, communication, and analytical skills. They choose from three tracks: American Arts, Popular Culture, and Social Change; Global Issues: Towards a Just Peace; and Science, Ethics, and Responsibility.
Along with Study Abroad: Ireland and Study Abroad: Rome, these programs broaden students' worldview, teaching them more about world and their place in it. They study under Notre Dame faculty who are experts in their fields, and they become part of an academic community. There are also spiritual and service components to each program.
"Students learn what college level academics require—and they do so in the company of like-minded peers from across the nation and around the world who become lifelong friends," says Associate Director Angie Yugo. "Students return home as more well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the rigor of college coursework and responsibility.”
A Summer Scholars participant, who participated in the World Politics and Power track, says, "I loved experiencing student life and culture at Notre Dame. Everyone here is super welcoming and excited to learn. Summer Scholars was by far the highlight of my summer, as it was a very informative experience in which I grew as an individual."
Learn More
Visit the Pre-College Programs website to learn more about each program. You can also join our mailing list to receive up-to-date information on application deadlines and new program tracks, as well as admissions news.