University of Rochester Pre-College Programs
Rochester, United States
About University of Rochester Pre-College Programs
The University of Rochester's Office of Pre-College Programs runs courses for high school students, both on its campus in Rochester, New York, and online. There are four main formats. Full-day programs last two or three weeks and focus on health care. Students spend that time with medical professionals and faculty from the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Half-day programs run for one or two weeks, and you can pair one morning program with one afternoon program. College credit courses typically carry two to five credits. Online courses are open year-round to high school students aged 13 and up, and you work through them at your own pace. In-person classes take place on the River Campus and at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The university says its faculty and graduate students teach the classes. You can commute or live in a first-year residence hall, where trained staff who are current University of Rochester students supervise you. For summer 2027, the university lists sessions between 11 July and 31 July 2027. Fees depend on the format. The one-week Session B commuter option costs $515 per class and the residential Mini Medical School costs $8,770.
Teaching style
How much work you'll do depends on the format you pick. The university says its full-day and half-day programs are built around hands-on activities, with little to no homework or grades. In those programs, students learn through research and group projects, discussions and lectures. College credit courses are a step up. They include homework, projects, quizzes and tests that count toward your grade. The professor hands out a syllabus on the first day that sets out the workload. These classes typically run three hours a day, three to five days a week. Online courses use videos from Rochester faculty, and you get access to mentors. There's no fixed schedule, so you study when it suits you.
Reputation & Succeed take
Our take
In Succeed's view, Rochester's Pre-College Programs fit best if you want a short, structured taste of a research university. That's especially true if you're interested in medicine, because the full-day programs put you with School of Medicine and Dentistry faculty. The credit courses are the more demanding choice. They're graded, and the university says the credit transfers to most universities. It's worth knowing the limits before you apply. The university calls its financial aid minimal and awards it first come, first served. The $60 application fee and enrollment deposits are non-refundable. The residence hall has no air conditioning. The university also says plainly that taking part can't guarantee admission to the University of Rochester.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you're a high school student curious about medicine or health care and want two or three weeks with medical faculty. It also works well if you want to try graded college-level coursework in a supervised setting before you leave for college. If you can't travel to Rochester, the online courses are open year-round to students aged 13 and up, and you can study at your own pace.
Who it may not suit
If you'll need substantial financial aid, you may be disappointed, because the university describes its aid as minimal and first come, first served. It's also a poor fit if you want a long summer program or a lot of independence. The in-person sessions run for one to three weeks. Residential students have a nightly curfew and can't leave campus without staff. If you mainly hope to improve your chances of admission to the University of Rochester, the university says it can't guarantee that.
