Freedom and Citizenship College Seminar and Academic Enrichment at Columbia University
The Freedom and Citizenship college seminar and academic enrichment program began in 2009 as a partnership between Columbia’s Double Discovery Center and the Center for American Studies. Our goal is to introduce dedicated high school students to college-level work in the humanities and prepare them for lives as informed, responsible citizens.
Students attend a free four-week residential program in July where they take an intensive seminar course on political philosophy taught by Ivy League professors. The summer program is followed by a year-long civic leadership project where students research contemporary political issues and develop advocacy initiatives under the supervision of undergraduate teaching assistants.
In the autumn, students also benefit from college application guidance from the Double Discovery Center and mentoring from Columbia College undergraduates. Successful students receive letters of recommendation from their summer professors to accompany their college applications.
Location(s)
- Columbia University, New York, New York
Schedule
- Summer Dates: June 29 - July 24, 2026
- Academic Year: September 3, 2026 - May 3, 2027
Cost/Compensation
- $2,500 stipend
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must live or attend high school in New York City to participate in Freedom and Citizenship.
- Must be a rising senior
- All participants must be vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella
- We prioritize students who are low-income, and/or of the first generation in their family to attend college in the United States.
- Students must be ready to take part in the full summer and academic year program. During the summer, students are with the program Sunday - Friday June 29 - July 25 and may not be excused except for essential medical appointments.
- During the academic year, students meet 2x a month with their college mentor (about 30 minutes per meeting), and 2x a month with their civic leadership groups on campus (about 2 hours per meeting). Civic meetings are held on weekdays after school.
Deadline
- Early Decision: March 2, 2026
- Regular Decision: March 30, 2026
Application or Entry Requirements
- A completed application
- High school transcript or counselor's name and email address
- We can email your counselor for you and ask them to submit your transcript directly to us.
- Recommender name and email address (optional)
- If you'd like a teacher to submit a letter on your behalf we'll email your recommender with instructions for submitting letters.
- 3 essays:
Notifications of Decisions
- Early Hearback: March 20, 2026
- Regular Hearback: April 11, 2026
- Early Hearback: March 20, 2026
- Regular Hearback: April 11, 2026
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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Columbia University, located in New York City, is a major private Ivy League research university and one of the most selective in the world. Founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England, it is the oldest higher learning institution in New York, the fifth oldest in the U.S., and counts Alexander Hamilton among its first students. It is also home to the third-largest private research library in the U.S. Columbia is made up of twenty schools, with four undergraduate schools and sixteen graduate schools. Its undergraduate schools are Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, Barnard College, and the School of General Studies. Among its graduate schools, the Business School, Law School, College of Physicians and Surgeons, College of Dental Medicine, and Journalism School are some of the highest ranked of their kind in the country. The University administers the prestigious Pulitzer Prize literary and music awards presented annually.
