Ever find yourself daydreaming about spending your summer days walking to class in the warm air among a tree-covered, picturesque, historic campus just minutes from a world-class city?
You’re in luck. Emory University’s summer programs might just be a dream come true. Just minutes outside of Atlanta, Emory is a top-ranked research university that hosts motivated high school students every summer in courses spanning pre-medicine, business, foreign languages, pre-law, and more.
Below we’ll walk you through what you need to know before applying, plus some advice on how to make your application to Emory’s summer programs stand out.
Let’s dive in.
What are the Emory University Summer Programs?
Emory offers three distinct summer programs for high school students:
- Summer College
- Pre-College
- And Pre-Med Institute
Each track is designed with a different type of learner in mind, with one offering the opportunity to earn college credit.
So, whether you’re a future physician eager for a deep dive into health sciences, a student ready for your first taste of college coursework, or just someone who wants to explore a range of subjects while experiencing a real college campus, Emory’s summer programming has an option worth considering.
Emory Summer College Program
Program Details
Emory’s Summer College Program is designed for academically motivated rising juniors and seniors who are eager to experience real college coursework. Participants enroll in actual Emory University courses (pretty cool) alongside undergraduate students, giving them an authentic feel for college academics. Courses span a wide range of disciplines, including social sciences, mathematics, foreign languages, and business.
This is a great program for students who are ready to be challenged, want to dive headfirst into real coursework, and are excited about the possibility of earning transferable college credit.
Program Length
The Emory Summer College Program runs for two six-week sessions, typically from mid-May through June and then from late June through to early August. (Check the website each year for specific dates.)
And if you’re interested in multiple courses and feel like you can’t pin down just one, you’re in luck. While students only take one class per six-week session, they are allowed to enroll in multiple program sessions (so you can keep the fun going all summer long).
Take note: the application deadline for the Summer College Program is about a month before each session’s start date, so you’ll want to be sure that you are leaving yourself enough time to receive and submit your relevant test scores and ask for letters of recommendation.
On Campus vs. Online
The Summer College Program is offered both in-person on Emory’s Atlanta-area campus and online.
One important thing to be clear on—this program is non-residential, meaning housing is not provided. Students must either already live in the Atlanta area and commute to campus, or make their own housing arrangements.
Not based near Atlanta? No problem. The Summer College Program offers plenty of online courses open to both U.S. and international students. These are live, synchronous classes, so you’ll still experience the rigorous instruction and academic discussion of an in-person course—all while working a summer job, pursuing other projects, or just enjoying your summer on your own terms.
Grading Basis
One of the biggest draws of the Summer College Program is the opportunity to earn transferable college credit. Upon successful completion of your course, you’ll receive official Emory University credits that may be accepted at colleges and universities across the country, which could potentially save you serious time and money down the road.
Just like any other for-credit course, students receive a letter grade (A–F) at the end of the session, so you’ll want to bring your best effort to every assignment and class discussion. Think of it as a preview of the real stakes of college academics, and a chance to prove to yourself (and future admissions officers) that you’re ready for them.
Emory Pre-College Program
Program Details
The Emory Pre-College Program is a great way for rising high school juniors and seniors to experience a mix of academics and fun activities designed to prepare attendees for college. The excursions are fun and the courses are not for credit, so you can still gain some of that meaningful college experience without the pressure of earning a letter grade.
This program is potentially a bridge between high school and college—it’s challenging, stimulating, and it gives students a real sense of what higher education has in store.
Students choose from a curated menu of specially designed courses that are taught to be engaging and accessible while still being genuinely rigorous, and your classroom peers are all fellow Pre-College students.
The Pre-College Program also includes extra-curricular programming designed to be impactful and fun. Things like campus tours, college application workshops, and social activities with fellow attendees, all of which will help you develop skills and confidence heading into the college application process.
Program Length
The Pre-College Program typically spans two weeks, with three sessions offered throughout the summer, starting in mid-June and ending in late July. This shorter format makes it an excellent option for students who are eager for a taste of college life but may have other summer commitments.
On Campus vs. Online
If you’re eager to experience dorm life a little early, you’re in luck. Since the Pre-College Program is hosted on-campus, students can live in Emory’s dorms, meet friends from all over the globe, eat in campus dining halls, and feel fully immersed in the rhythms of college life—all while being supported by resident advisors (RAs) and program staff. Basically, it’s the full college experience in a condensed, high school student-friendly package.
Grading Basis
As briefly mentioned above, it’s important to understand that the Emory Pre-College Program is a non-credit program. While students will not earn transferable college credits for their classes, they will receive a certificate of completion and a set of real academic experiences they can discuss in college application essays, interviews, and activity descriptions. It’s also a fantastic way to build relationships with Emory faculty and get a feel for whether Emory, or a similar university, is the right place for you.
Emory Pre-Med Institute
Program Details
For high schoolers with their sights set on a career in medicine, Emory’s Pre-Med Institute offers something far beyond a typical classroom experience. This intensive three-week summer program fully immerses high school students in the foundational sciences and the essential realities of clinical concepts and patient care.
Program Length
The Pre-Med Institute is a three-week program, making it the longest of Emory’s non-credit pre-college offerings. Three weeks may sound like a long time, but those weeks will fly by between site visits, simulation labs, clinical case studies, and so many other fun activities with your peers.
Only one session is offered each summer, typically running from late June to mid-July. Which is just enough time to go deep into the material, build real relationships with faculty, make friends, and get a genuine feel for what a pre-med academic path actually demands, without committing your entire summer to one program.
On Campus vs. Online
The Pre-Med Institute is an exclusively in-person experience, and for good reason. So much of what makes this program valuable happens outside the classroom: hospital site visits, simulation labs, the white coat ceremony, the late-night conversations with peers who share your interests in the medical field.
Students can choose between living on campus in Emory’s residence halls or commuting from a local Atlanta-area address. Either way, you’ll be fully immersed in the Emory campus community for the duration of the program.
Grading Basis
The Pre-Med Institute, like the Pre-College Program, uses a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading basis rather than letter grades, and does not earn college credit. The pro side of that is that you can really focus on enjoying the experience and exploring your interests in the medical field without the pressure that usually comes with graded coursework—freeing you to take intellectual risks without pressure, ask big questions, and discover whether medicine is really the path for you.
Though it’s not graded, at the end of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion and a personalized letter of recommendation. So while you can’t use this experience in place of college credit, you’ll walk away with something meaningful: an endorsement from an Emory faculty member who has seen your work up close and can speak to your potential as a future healthcare professional.
Emory Summer Program Costs
Like many pre-college programs at major universities, Emory’s summer offerings come with a price tag worth planning around. Costs vary by program and whether you decide to reside on campus—more on that below:
- Emory Summer College Program: Tuition for the Summer College Program varies depending on the number of credit hours a student enrolls in, as students are charged at a per-credit-hour rate consistent with Emory’s undergraduate tuition. Whether online or on-campus, tuition for a 6 week, 3 credit course is about $6500, and a 4 credit course runs about $8500.
In addition to the fees, you should also consider the cost of textbooks, a small application fee, a technology fee, and an enrollment fee.
- Emory Pre-College Program: The Pre-College Program has a program fee that covers instruction, housing, meals, and activities. Costs typically fall in the range of about $4000 for commuters to $5500 for those living on campus. As with the Summer College Program, exact pricing is updated each application cycle on Emory’s website, so be sure to check for the most current figures.
- Pre-Med Institute: The Pre-Med Institute is a three-week program, and its pricing reflects the depth and intensity of the experience. Tuition is around $8,000 for residential students and $5,800 for commuters. Remember, the residential option includes housing and a meal plan, so that higher price tag covers a lot more than just the coursework.
Are the programs worth the price? There’s not going to be a universal answer:
While experiencing Emory’s summer programs could be very valuable depending on your goals (and financial status), cost can be a real barrier for many students and families, and in general, pay-to-play programs like these have less of an impact on how an application is read than selective programs (which are often free).
See below for information on financial aid options that may be available to you.
Financial Aid Options
Financial accessibility is an important consideration for any summer program, and Emory’s options vary by program.
For the Summer College Program and the Pre-College Program, limited need-based scholarships may be available. Award amounts can vary from year to year, so the best approach is to reach out directly to Emory’s Pre-College office early in your planning process. Applying early is always a good idea, as funding is limited and awarded on a rolling basis.
If program costs are a barrier for your family, it’s always worth asking. Emory, like many universities, values access and equity, and program coordinators can be willing to work with families to explore options.
To be eligible for financial aid, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (unfortunately, international students do not qualify)
- Submit all application materials, including the $70 application fee
- Complete the Pre-College Financial Aid application and submit a parent’s current tax return
Financial aid is awarded based primarily on demonstrated financial need and reviewed on a rolling basis after acceptance into the program. Full tuition scholarships are unfortunately not available—awards cover a portion of tuition and vary by applicant.
Are you the dependent of an Emory University employee? You may be eligible for the Emory Employee Courtesy Scholarship, which can be applied toward tuition for the six-week Summer College credit course, though fees and textbooks are still your responsibility. Check with Emory Human Resources Benefits to determine your eligibility.
How to Apply—and How to Stand Out
Once you’ve identified which Emory summer program is right for you, it’s time to put your best foot forward with Emory’s application. Each program has its own specific requirements, so be sure to read through the application materials carefully before you start writing. That said, there are a few universal tips that apply across Emory’s summer programs:
- Be specific about why Emory. Don’t just explain why you’re interested in medicine, business, or your chosen subject. Explain why you want to pursue that interest at Emory specifically. What is it about Emory’s faculty, research profile, location, or culture that excites you? Admissions readers can spot a generic answer from a mile away—a specific, thoughtful one will always stand out.
- Show and tell. Instead of writing “I am passionate about medicine,” pull us into the specific moment—the patient interaction, the research paper you fell down a rabbit hole reading, the family experience—that first made you realize healthcare was your calling. Concrete, vivid details make your application memorable in a way that abstract claims simply can’t.
- Connect your past to your future. Strong applicants are able to draw a clear line from their past experiences to their goals for the summer and beyond. If you’re applying to the Pre-Med Institute, talk about the experiences—whether a family health journey, a volunteer shift, or a biology class that sparked something—that have shaped your interest in medicine. If you’re applying to the Summer College or Pre-College Programs, talk about the academic interests or intellectual questions that have been driving your curiosity to learn more.
- Apply early. Summer programs at competitive universities fill quickly, and in many cases, financial aid is awarded on a rolling basis. Getting your application materials in well before any stated deadline is always a smart move.
Want some more guidance on drafting your responses to Emory’s Summer Program application questions? Check out some of CEG’s advice on how to hit shorter essay questions like these out of the park.
Final Thoughts: Are Emory’s Summer Programs Worth It?
The honest answer is: it depends on what you’re looking for—but for the right student, the answer is potentially yes.
Emory’s summer programs are worth it if:
- You are genuinely drawn to the subject matter of the program you’re applying to and want to explore it at a deeper level
- You want to experience college life at a top research university before you commit to your undergraduate path
- You can afford the program without creating meaningful financial hardship for your family, or you qualify for financial aid
- You want to add a genuinely substantive, story-worthy experience to your college application
Emory’s summer programs may not be worth it if:
- You’re primarily doing it because you think it will improve your chances of admission to Emory as an undergraduate (it won’t—these programs are separate from the undergraduate admissions process)
- The cost would create significant financial strain and other free or lower-cost options are available to you
- You’re not particularly interested in the academic content or the specific community the program serves
To further weigh whether a program like this is worth it for you, here’s a guide that talks through some core misunderstandings of the college application process.
If you do decide to apply and are accepted, make the most of it. Engage deeply in your coursework, ask questions in class, connect with your instructors and fellow students, explore Atlanta, and use the experience to reflect on what you’re learning about your interests and your future.
Whether you’re walking through Emory’s beautiful, oak-lined campus on your way to a morning class or staying up late talking with new friends from across the country, these summers have a way of shaping who you become.
And regardless of which program you attend—or whether you attend Emory at all—what matters most is that you spend your summer doing something meaningful to you. Something that helps you grow, learn, and get a little closer to figuring out the kind of person you want to be.
For more summer program ideas and advice on how to spend your summers in high school, check out our guide to summer programs for high school students.
Natalie Hill is passionate about helping students feel heard, appreciated, and seen through their writing. A former high school teacher, she has taught English, World Geography and Culture, U.S. History, and AP Language and Composition. Since 2017, she has guided hundreds of students through the college application process, helping them achieve their post-secondary goals. An AmeriCorps alumna who served in Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhood and a CEG team member since 2021, Natalie’s goal is for every student to feel valued, loved, and empowered. She lives in Milwaukee, where she enjoys volunteering at a local museum, grabbing a cortado, playing with her kids, and watching Nora Ephron movies.
Top Values: Empathy | Equity | Purpose
