Get a taste of college life for one exciting week. Delve into fascinating subjects. Make new friends. Explore the fun, vibrant city of Boston.
Our Summer Preview program offers rising eighth, ninth, and tenth graders a choice of three different weeklong, noncredit seminars. It’s a great opportunity for you to dig into an area of academic interest or become familiar with an entirely new subject.
Summer Preview combines academic and social opportunities. In your chosen seminar, you’ll attend lectures alongside a small group of motivated peers and gain exposure to a specific area of academic interest.
Along with your studies, you’ll experience college life and start friendships with students from around the world. Each summer, a variety of group social activities are planned to introduce you to BU and the city of Boston.
You’ll also benefit from a college admissions workshop designed to help maximize your high school studies, so you’re prepared to fill out those college applications when the time comes.
Summer Preview is open to both commuter and residential students. Please note: You must be 14 years of age or older by the start of the program to live in the dorm. All rising eighth graders must commute to Summer Preview.
Location(s)
- Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Schedule
- Residential: June 15th - 20th, 2025
- Commuter: June 16th - 20th, 2025
Cost/Compensation
- Residential Tuition: $2,296
- Commuter Tuition: $1808.50
Eligibility Requirements
- Rising 8th, 9th, and 10th graders
- Students must be 14 years of age or older by the start of the program to live in the dorm. All rising eighth graders must commute to Summer Preview.
Deadline
- Applications can be submitted up to two weeks prior to the start of the program. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applications will begin review in early January.
Application or Entry Requirements
- Personal statement: You will be required to submit a personal statement of 500–750 words describing why you want to attend the Summer Preview program.
- Application fee: A nonrefundable application fee, paid by credit card, is required at the time of submission of the online application.
- Supplemental materials (you will receive an upload link via email).
- Transcript: Upload a copy of your transcript from your previous two years of school (6th, 7th, 8th, and/or 9th grades). Your full transcript must include your fall 2024 grades (in a quarter system, this includes first and second quarter grades).
- International documents: International students must upload an additional form and a copy of your passport with the application. If English is not the primary language of instruction at your high school, you must upload supplemental information to demonstrate English proficiency.
Notifications of Decisions
- Within three weeks of confirming receipt of a completed application, an admission decision will be emailed.
Financial Aid Details
There is no financial aid available for the Summer Preview program.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Application opens December 15, 2025
Have other questions?
Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1839 and is one of the largest universities in the city, with over 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students. BU offers over 300 programs and is home to 12 schools and colleges: College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Arvind and Chandan Nandlal Kilachand Honors College, Questrom School of Business, School of Hospitality Administration, and Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. BU is also home to several research centers, including the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL), which conducts research on diseases such as Ebola and the Zika virus. The university places a strong emphasis on international education, offering over 90 study abroad programs in 30 countries.
