Apply now
Apply early. Space in the program is limited.
At a glance
Dates:
June 23–August 10, 2012
Cost:
$10,370, which includes tuition (two 4-credit courses), housing, and health insurance (if needed)
Also see the Estimated Budget
About the area:
Important deadlines
- If applying for financial aid, last date to complete the SSP application is March 21.
- If not applying for financial aid, last date to complete the SSP application is May 7.
- Request housing as soon as possible. The last day students may request housing is May 21.
- By May 21 students must be paid in full, registered for courses, and requested housing (if planning to live on campus) or they will be withdrawn from the program.
Common questions
- Will attending the Secondary School Program guarantee admission to Harvard?
- Is financial aid available?
- Browse other Frequently Asked Questions
SSPeaking about
SSPeaking about
For Parents and Guardians of Secondary School Program Students
A letter from the program director
Academics
The Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP) provides a unique opportunity for high school students to study at Harvard University with college students during the summer. While taking rigorous, engaging undergraduate classes, students enjoy interaction with Harvard University faculty and with peers from around the world.
The challenging academics prepare students for advanced studies. And the credits earned are recorded on an official Harvard transcript and are transferable toward a future undergraduate degree at most colleges and universities.
College prep
But the summer session is not just about earning college credit. It’s about preparing students for the next steps beyond high school. We offer a number of college prep activities that will help your student navigate the college selection process. Also, by taking courses with college students and other adults, your student will be able to gain a sense of what to expect after secondary school.
Rest assured that this program also provides many opportunities for your student to have a great time and make new friends. Students are invited to participate in a talent show, a trivia bowl, musical performances, sports, and many other activities. This combination of academics and fun ensures a well-rounded experience that prepares your student for life.
Communication is by e-mail with students
Your student’s e-mail address may be the most crucial piece of information we have on hand. We communicate directly with students, not with parents or other third parties. And our only method of direct communication is e-mail. Keeping one’s e-mail address current is crucial, as is checking it daily. When we send messages, we use the student’s current e-mail address as it is recorded in our database.
Admission and finalizing enrollment
The admission committee looks for mature, academically motivated students who will graduate from high school and enter college in 2012, 2013, or 2014.
Once admitted, students must complete these steps as soon as possible
- Request housing if you plan to live on campus (housing is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis).
- Register for your selected courses (courses with limited enrollment fill quickly).
- Pay in full.
Students must complete these steps right away. If you have not completed these steps by May 21, students will be withdrawn from the program.
See the admitted students to-do list for a complete description of these next steps.
Roommates
On Opening Weekend, SSP students who live on campus traditionally wait until all roommates have arrived before they get together and decide who settles in which bedroom and sleeps in which bed. We have found this to be an excellent way for those who share space with others to begin to get to know one another and establish a pattern of working together constructively. We encourage all SSP students to seek guidance from their proctor if they feel they need help resolving a dispute of any kind.
Safety, accommodations, and supervision
Four SSP assistant deans oversee the proctors who reside in the dorms where your student lives for the summer. Proctors are carefully chosen from an application pool of Harvard undergraduate students, and they lead orientations, are responsible for student safety, and serve as a vital source of information. In addition to being dorm supervisors, proctors organize fun activities and study breaks.
Because high school sophomores—known over the summer as rising juniors—are typically younger than other SSP students, they observe a curfew (11 pm weeknights, 12:30 am weekends) and are housed with a higher ratio of proctors to supervise and assist them.
Students will receive information about where they can expect to live after housing is assigned to students who meet all requirements. They will receive an e-mail directing them to information on move-in procedures, Opening Weekend festivities, disability services, transportation, and other details about living on campus.
Your student should also read the student handbook that they will receive, and the policy section of the website, both of which outline student responsibilities in such areas as conduct, attendance, and academic integrity, and which contain information concerning the SSP’s zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs. Harvard Summer School puts safety first, and SSP rules prohibiting involvement with alcohol and drugs are an important factor in our effort to provide students a positive environment for study in the summer.
Academic counseling
Many academic services are available to high school students during their studies at Harvard. The SSP staff—including the assistant director, the assistant deans, and myself—has extensive experience counseling high school students on course selection and looks forward to doing the same for your student.
For specific course-related matters once classes are under way, a group of talented academic tutors is at hand and eager to help. Students are also encouraged to spend time speaking with faculty and teaching fellows. The SSP assistant deans provide counsel in all areas of student life, personal and academic, as well as oversee student safety and welfare. Learn more about academic advising.
Leaving for the weekend
Going away and sleeping off campus overnight, even with parents or guardians, requires approval of an SSP assistant dean. See Weekends Policy for more information.
Student records and information
Lastly, it’s important to note that Harvard Summer School cannot release to family members or guardians information such as a student’s grades or class schedule. It is Harvard Summer School policy, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, to provide students with certain protections concerning the confidentiality of their educational records. Except for information defined as “directory information,” no other information about SSP students is released outside the University—including to parents, guardians, or family members—without the student’s prior written consent, unless otherwise authorized or required by law. Students have the right to withhold the disclosure of this information. It is our obligation to protect students and their right to privacy. See a complete explanation of FERPA.
After completing the SSP, your student will have grown as a student and as a person. Living like a college student, even for just a summer, will give your student the confidence to succeed as he or she finishes secondary school and moves forward into a bright academic future. We look forward to seeing your student on campus this summer.
Sincerely yours,
William J. Holinger,
Director of the Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School
