We want you to truly experience WashU both inside and outside of the classroom.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide high-quality pre-college experiences that prepare students for college, strengthen academic skills, foster belonging, and promote the holistic well-being of every participant. Guided by this mission, we commit ourselves each year to the following goals:
- Prepare participants for college success by building confidence, skills, and awareness of the undergraduate experience.
Through challenging and innovative programming, participants develop the knowledge, habits, and confidence needed to thrive in college. In addition to academic preparation, we help participants build social and emotional readiness through experiences that encourage exploration, reflection, and independence. - Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative community where participants feel connected, respected, and supported.
All of our participants, whether in person or virtual, become part of a pre-college community of participants and staff from across the country and around the world. In this community, participants learn from one another, appreciate different perspectives, and feel empowered to ask questions and try new things in a supportive environment. - Support participants in strengthening their academic skills, growing their knowledge, and achieving their learning goals.
Whether participants enroll in a for-credit or noncredit program, they gain valuable experience managing time, preparing for assessments, writing papers, and collaborating with peers. Our programs are designed to help participants build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and grow as learners. - Promote the physical, social, and emotional well-being of participants through safe, supportive, and healthy program experiences.
We know that participating in a pre-college program can be exciting and challenging. That is why we provide dedicated support to help meet each participant's individual needs throughout the program. Our staff are available to answer questions, offer guidance, connect participants with campus resources, and promote well-being.
Our Students
Our pre-college participants come from across the country and around the world. They are driven by a desire to learn and grow, eager to challenge themselves in a stimulating environment. They are mature, collaborative, intellectually curious, and creative thinkers. Many have an interest in WashU for undergraduate studies and use their participation in our programs as a way to explore the educational and social experience at WashU.
Most choose to spend just one summer or semester at WashU, but some do return for several semesters. Individuals are welcome to participate in our programs until they graduate from high school.
Classroom Experience
In the classroom, our pre-college students get a genuine preview of the undergraduate experience at WashU. Courses are taught by WashU-affiliated instructors—the same individuals who support our undergraduate students during the academic year. That connection matters because it gives pre-college students direct access to people who know the WashU academic environment inside and out and can offer meaningful guidance along the way.
Classes include the kinds of activities pre-college students can expect in college, such as lectures, discussions, exams, presentations, readings, and out-of-class assignments. With small summer class sizes, students receive personalized feedback and support in a setting designed to help them build confidence and succeed. Just like in college, students also learn how to balance academic responsibilities with social time, gaining practice in managing their time and priorities. Most importantly, they learn not just what college coursework feels like, but how to thrive in it.
