University of Notre Dame Pre-College Programs Gospel of John: Learning To See

Anthony Pagliarini, the course's academic director, is an Associate Teaching Professor in Notre Dame's Department of Theology and its Director of Undergraduate Studies. His courses at Notre Dame include "Johannine Literature" and "Introduction to the New Testament", so this is material he already teaches at university level.

He earned his Ph.D. in Old Testament at Notre Dame in 2015. Before that he completed a licentiate in Sacred Scripture (SSL) and studied at the Angelicum, the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the École Biblique, and he once worked as a guide in the Vatican Necropolis. Notre Dame says it keeps Summer Scholars classes small, though it doesn't give a class size.

You can apply as a current sophomore or junior, as long as you're 16 by 1 August 2027. Notre Dame makes no exceptions to the age rule, citing its insurance and child protection policies. Beyond that it looks for strong grades, solid extracurriculars, maturity and self-discipline, and a sincere wish to be part of the Notre Dame community during the program.

Notre Dame calls the two essays very important, because they're where you explain who you are and why this particular course draws you. It also finds it helpful when the recommendation comes from a teacher who can speak to your interest in the subject. It doesn't give an acceptance rate.

• Documents

  An online application with two essays, your transcript, a counselor report covering your GPA and class rank (if available), and a teacher recommendation.

• Activities

  Use the application's activities section, upload a resume, or do both.

• Test scores

  SAT, ACT or PSAT scores are encouraged but not required.

• English

  If you don't attend an English-speaking high school, you need a TOEFL score of 5.5 or higher, IELTS 7.5, PTE 55 or Duolingo English Test 120.

Summer 2027 costs $5,200 in total, made up of a $300 enrollment fee and a $4,900 balance that covers tuition, room and board, extracurricular activities and class field trips. The $75 application fee comes on top and isn't refunded. Travel to and from campus isn't among the listed inclusions, so budget for getting there, and families pay for any medical or mental healthcare during the program.

Nothing is refundable once paid. Under Notre Dame's conduct rules for summer 2026, a student who was withdrawn from the program got no money back, and the family also paid for the trip home.

Notre Dame has a limited pool of need-based scholarships, from partial to full tuition, and no merit aid. Two grants cover tuition, room and board for students who qualify: the Lilly Endowment grant for Indiana residents and the Philadelphia Grant for students in the Philadelphia area. A parent or guardian files the Financial Aid Request Form by 17 February 2027. Asking for aid doesn't affect the admission decision, and any tuition aid is announced in the admission letter.

Complete all the course requirements and you can receive one transferable college credit from Notre Dame with a Satisfactory (S) grade, and you order the transcript from Notre Dame's registrar. Whether another college counts that credit is up to that college, and Notre Dame doesn't say that taking part helps with admission to Notre Dame itself.

The more lasting gain is the method. The course aims to leave you understanding both John's particular theology and what studying Scripture academically within the Catholic tradition actually involves.

Under the standards Notre Dame set for summer 2026, students couldn't leave campus except on a scheduled, supervised activity or with a staff member or resident counselor as chaperone. The same rules required students to be on time for every class, meal, check-in and scheduled event, banned guests without written approval from the program's directors, kept students out of opposite-gender residence halls and ruled out driving, alcohol, vaping and drugs.

Health is largely the family's job. Parents had to arrange any known medical or mental health needs at least 30 days before the start, staff didn't store or hand out medication, and parents were responsible for their child before check-in and after check-out. Residents also follow Notre Dame's Code of Conduct for Summer High School Residents.

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

1. 1

   Start the online application, which opened for summer 2027 on 19 October 2026.

2. 2

   Ask a teacher to recommend you before you add their name and email, along with your counselor's. Notre Dame then emails them to request the recommendation, transcript, counselor report and school profile, and it's up to you to check that they've received the request.

3. 3

   Upload any SAT, ACT or PSAT scores you want considered by 31 January 2027.

4. 4

   Submit the application, including both essays and the $75 fee, by 17 February 2027, which is also the deadline for your supporting documents. After that date you can't change or add recommenders.

5. 5

   If you're admitted, pay the $300 enrollment fee by 23 April 2027 to hold your place.

6. 6

   Pay the $4,900 balance so it arrives by 14 May 2027.