Dartmouth Precollege
Hanover, United States
About Dartmouth Precollege
Dartmouth Precollege is Dartmouth College's program for high school students who want to try college-level study before they apply anywhere. Its main offering is Summer Scholars, a set of two-week courses taught mostly by Dartmouth faculty, staff, alumni and graduate students. In summer 2027 there are six sessions between 27 June and 13 August 2027, and each student takes one course per session. Courses cover business, engineering, medicine, the humanities and the sciences. Dartmouth runs the teaching, and its partner Summer Discovery handles applications, payments, housing, health and travel logistics. Most courses take place on the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Three introductory courses run at Kimball Union Academy in the Meriden Valley, a short drive away, and that site is the only option for 14-year-olds. A few courses spend part of the two weeks at the AMC Highland Center or Dartmouth's Moosilauke Ravine Lodge in the White Mountains. Dartmouth Precollege also runs online courses, built with its partner Kaplan, for students aged 13 to 19. Summer Scholars itself is young. It began as a pilot in June 2024.
Teaching style
Summer Scholars courses are hands-on and project-based, and they don't carry grades or credit. Each instructor designs their own course around their area of expertise, so the format varies from course to course. Common features include lab work, simulations, field trips around campus and talks from guest speakers. Most courses end with a final presentation, such as a company valuation in Business Foundations or a UN Security Council simulation in Conflict Resolution and International Negotiation. The days are full. The residential FAQ says class starts at about 9 a.m. and runs until about 4:15 p.m., with a lunch break and supervised project time in the afternoon. You take only one course per session, and Dartmouth Precollege says missing a single day is like missing several weeks of a regular semester course. You usually won't have reading or assignments before you arrive, although some instructors share optional reading or a course site in advance.
Reputation & Succeed take
Dartmouth Precollege's Summer Scholars program is new, so its track record is short. Dartmouth announced it as a pilot in January 2024, and the first sessions ran that summer. The program's news page links to a July 2024 story in The Dartmouth, the college's student newspaper, about the inaugural sessions. It also links to an October 2025 story from Dartmouth's Rockefeller Center for Public Policy about the Leadership Institute. Instructor testimonials on the hiring page describe the program as well organized and well supported by staff.
Our take
In Succeed's view, Dartmouth Precollege is a strong option if you want two weeks of college-style teaching from people who work at Dartmouth and your family can cover the full cost. Many courses include lab visits, field trips and a final presentation, which gives you real work to talk about later. The limits are just as clear. There's no credit and no grades, and Dartmouth Precollege says financial aid isn't available for its on-campus programs. Dartmouth also says taking part doesn't affect your chances of admission to Dartmouth. We'd suggest treating it as a way to test a subject you're curious about, not as a step toward an admissions offer. If cost is the obstacle, the online courses are where need-based aid is offered.
Dartmouth Precollege's three main routes differ in setting, age range and cost support. The Hanover campus courses are for students aged 15 to 18, and several have prerequisites. The Meriden Valley courses at Kimball Union Academy accept students from age 14 and need no prior experience. They have a more camp-like feel, with clubs in the afternoons and a day on Dartmouth's campus at weekends. Two-week on-campus courses also have a commuter option, but the Leadership Institute doesn't. Online courses are open to students aged 13 to 19 and need no travel. They're the only route with need-based financial aid. Dartmouth Precollege's hiring page said the online course fee was $1,795 as of 2025.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you're in high school and curious about a field such as medicine, engineering, business or law, and you want to try it at college level for two weeks without grades. It suits students who like learning by doing, working in teams and presenting a final project. It's also a good fit if you want to live in a college residence hall and meet students from other countries. If you're 14 or new to a subject, the Meriden Valley introductory courses are built for you.
Who it may not suit
Who should skip it: students who need college credit, a graded transcript or an advantage in Dartmouth admissions, because Summer Scholars offers none of these. Families who need financial aid for an on-campus program won't find it here, since Dartmouth Precollege offers aid only for its online courses. If you'd rather do a quiet research project with one mentor, a team-based course with group presentations may not suit you. You also can't switch courses once the program starts. The courses that stay at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge have no wifi or cell service for students.
Frequently asked questions
Programs by Dartmouth Precollege
Program
Campus Courses Session
Organized by Dartmouth Precollege
Dates
June to August 2027, 6 sessions
Duration
Two weeks
ProgramDartmouth Leadership Institute
Organized by Dartmouth Precollege
Dates
July to August 2027, 2 sessions
Duration
2 weeks
ProgramPrecollege Summer Scholars
Organized by Dartmouth Precollege
Dates
June to August 2027, 6 sessions
Duration
2 weeks
