Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, United States

Est. 1834

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University is a private liberal arts university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Its Summer Immersion Program gives high school students hands-on, on-campus and online opportunities to explore academic fields and career pathways with access to faculty, researchers, and industry professionals.

Teaching style

Hands-on and experiential, combining workshops, laboratories, fieldwork, simulations, case studies, collaborative projects, presentations, site visits, and interaction with faculty and industry professionals. Online courses are asynchronous and include mentor support.

Reputation & Succeed take

Wake Forest's pre-college offering is university-run and draws on Wake Forest faculty, researchers, undergraduate mentors, professional staff, and industry professionals across a broad range of academic and career fields.

Our take

Wake Forest is a strong option for high school students who want structured career exploration, practical projects, and a taste of university life. Its main differentiators are the breadth of its institute subjects, direct access to academic and industry specialists, and the choice between residential summer institutes and flexible online study. Students should note that the on-campus institutes are short, intensive experiences and do not award secondary school or college credit.

The provider combines one-week residential institutes on a university campus with asynchronous online courses available throughout the year. Its on-campus catalog spans 25 fields and emphasizes career exposure, practical activities, faculty access, mentorship, and campus life rather than academic credit.

Who this provider suits

Who should choose them

Current 9th–12th grade students who want to test an academic subject or career pathway through hands-on activities, meet faculty and professionals, collaborate with peers, and experience university campus life should consider Wake Forest. Its online courses also suit students who need flexible, asynchronous study.

Who it may not suit

Students seeking secondary school or college credit, a semester-length course, or sustained specialization beyond a one-week residential institute may prefer another option. Students who do not want an overnight campus experience should consider Wake Forest's online courses instead.

Contact

summerimmersion@wfu.edu

980.224.9298

Visit Website

Frequently asked questions

Wake Forest offers hands-on on-campus institutes and asynchronous online courses. The on-campus catalog includes 25 institutes across academic and career fields.

The institute pages identify current 9th–12th grade students as eligible to apply.

Institutes run for one week, Sunday through Friday, and students stay overnight in university residence halls.

No. The provider states that institute courses carry no secondary school or college credit, although participants receive a Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.

Academic Leaders, Wake Forest undergraduate student interns, and professional Pre-College staff support participants, and students are supervised throughout their institute.

Programs by Wake Forest University

Program

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute

Organised by Wake Forest University

Artificial IntelligenceComputer Science

Dates

June 2026, 2 sessions

Cost

From $3,500

Duration

1 week

Wake Forest University

About Wake Forest University

Teaching style

Reputation & Succeed take

Who this provider suits

Contact

Frequently asked questions

What types of pre-college learning does Wake Forest offer?

Who can participate in the on-campus institutes?

How long are the on-campus institutes?

Do the institute courses carry academic credit?

Who supports students during the residential program?

Programs by Wake Forest University

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute

Biology Research Institute

Business Institute

Business Strategy Institute

Coding and Computer Science Institute

Debate and Public Advocacy Institute

Engineering Institute

Entrepreneurship Institute

Filmmaking Institute

Finance and Investing Institute

Health and Exercise Science Institute

Law Institute

Medicine Institute

Neuroscience Institute

Policy and Politics Institute

Psychology Institute

Regenerative Medicine Institute

Screenwriting Institute

Sports Business Institute

Sports Marketing Institute

Sports Medicine Institute

Technology Institute

Women’s Health Institute

Writing for Life Institute