University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs Exploring the World of Chemistry

Sarah West, an Associate Teaching Professor in Notre Dame's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is the course's academic director. She's been at Notre Dame since 1998, has taught everything from general chemistry to forensics to organic chemistry, and currently teaches the organic chemistry labs for science majors, which suits a course built around lab work. She has also been involved in outreach events such as chemistry demonstration shows and hands-on workshops for younger students.

Class time is split between discussion and experiments in the department's labs, where you'll use modern instruments on a range of chemistry topics. Notre Dame keeps Summer Scholars classes small but doesn't publish a class size, ratio or daily timetable, and it expects students to work together on coursework outside class, as they would in college.

You can, if you complete all the program requirements. Notre Dame then awards one transferable credit with a Satisfactory (S) grade, and you order the transcript from the University Registrar. It's an S grade rather than a letter grade, and Notre Dame doesn't say which colleges accept the credit, so check with any college you plan to attend before you count on it. There's no final project described for the course, so beyond the credit, what you take away is two weeks of lab experience and a feel for how college science classes run.

On top of the grade and age rules, you need one year of high school chemistry. The age rule has no exceptions, which Notre Dame puts down to its insurance and child-protection policies. Notre Dame also looks for strong grades, solid extracurriculars, self-motivation and maturity, along with a sincere wish to be part of the Notre Dame community during the program.

The application asks for two essays, which Notre Dame calls very important, along with your transcript, a counselor report covering your GPA and class rank where available, and a teacher recommendation on your ability to handle college-level work, your maturity, integrity and leadership. SAT, ACT or PSAT scores are optional. Applicants who don't attend an English-speaking high school need a TOEFL (5.5+), IELTS (7.5+), PTE (55+) or Duolingo (120+) score.

An admitted student pays $5,200, which covers tuition, room and board, extracurricular activities and class field trips. Every applicant also pays a $75 application fee, so the total for a student who goes is $5,275. The $5,200 is paid in two parts. A $300 enrollment fee, due by 23 April 2027, holds your place and counts toward the total, and the $4,900 balance is due by 14 May 2027.

None of these fees can be refunded once paid. Travel to campus isn't on Notre Dame's list of what the fee covers, so plan for it separately, and parents pay for any medical care a student needs during the program.

Financial help is limited. Notre Dame offers some need-based scholarships covering anything from part of the tuition to all of it, but no merit aid, and it has grants that pay tuition, room and board for qualifying students who live in Indiana or the Philadelphia area. A parent fills in the Financial Aid Request Form by 17 February 2027, and aid decisions arrive with the admission letter. Asking for aid doesn't affect the admission decision. Application fee waivers are granted rarely, and only in extreme circumstances.

Students live in campus residence halls and can't leave campus outside a scheduled, supervised activity unless a staff member or Resident Counselor goes with them. Notre Dame's conduct rules, last published for summer 2026, also bar guests without written approval from the program's directors, visits to residence halls of the opposite gender, and driving any vehicle.

Health needs take some planning ahead. Staff don't store or hand out medications, so students manage their own, and parents must arrange any known medical or mental health needs at least 30 days before the program starts. Students who break the rules can be sent home without a refund, and their parents pay for the trip home. The full standards and policies are on Notre Dame's site.

You apply through Notre Dame's enrollment portal, where first-time users create an account.

1. 1

   Ask a teacher first

   Get a teacher's agreement before you add their details, ideally one who can speak to your interest in chemistry, since Notre Dame says that's helpful.

2. 2

   Start the application

   Once you add your counselor's and teacher's names and emails, Notre Dame emails them for your transcript, school report, school profile and recommendation, and it's up to you to check they got the request.

3. 3

   Write two essays and list your activities

   Notre Dame suggests having a teacher, counselor or parent proofread the essays, and you can show your activities in the application's activities section, a resume or both.

4. 4

   Send test scores if you want to

   Optional SAT, ACT or PSAT scores need to be in by 31 January 2027.

5. 5

   Submit by 17 February 2027

   Your part of the application and the $75 fee are due then, and you can't change recommenders after that date, although counselors and teachers get one extra week to upload their documents.