WashU Pre-College Programs
St. Louis, United States
About WashU Pre-College Programs
WashU Pre-College Programs is the pre-college office of the College of Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU). It has run programs for middle and high school students since 1984, and The College Office runs it. Students can choose credit or noncredit options in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The programs run all year. In summer, WashU offers residential, commuter and online programs, and the residential ones are for high school students only. During the fall and spring semesters, it runs online Exploration Courses, the online Future Scholars Academy and the Early College Scholars Program. The Early College Scholars Program lets St. Louis area juniors and seniors take undergraduate courses for credit. Students can keep taking part until they graduate from high school. Two programs carry college credit, the High School Summer Scholars Program and the Early College Scholars Program. In both, pre-college students take regular undergraduate courses alongside WashU undergraduates.
Teaching style
Classes are designed to feel like college. WashU says courses include lectures, discussions, exams, presentations, readings and out-of-class assignments. Instructors are WashU-affiliated faculty, graduate students, postdocs and adjuncts. Groups are fairly small. WashU says programs range from 15 to 40 students and individual courses from 5 to 20 students. Attendance matters. The Code of Conduct says more than three unexcused absences may lead to dismissal. Online students who are inactive in Canvas for more than five consecutive days may be withdrawn. Early College Scholars receive a letter grade from A to F, with an option to switch to pass/no pass, and their grades become part of a WashU record.
Reputation & Succeed take
The praise WashU publishes comes from its own students. Testimonials on its site describe engaging, challenging courses, professors who were willing to help and a mix of classmates from across the US and abroad. Each summer, WashU also names a small group of Student Excellence Award winners. WashU picked these quotes itself, so they show what the programs aim for rather than an independent rating.
Our take
In Succeed's view, WashU Pre-College Programs is a solid choice if you want a realistic taste of college work at WashU and you're comfortable with strict rules. Its strongest feature is the teaching. WashU-affiliated instructors teach the courses, classes are small, and the two credit programs put you in real undergraduate courses with grades on a WashU transcript. Keep the limits in view. Another university counts your credit only if its own policy accepts it. WashU says taking part doesn't guarantee any admission outcome, although it counts toward demonstrated interest and comes with a fee waiver for WashU's undergraduate application. In the High School Summer Scholars Program, WashU doesn't hold course seats for pre-college students, so you can't be sure of getting a specific course. We'd suggest looking at the Future Scholars Academy before you commit money. It's free and online, and it takes about 5 hours a week for four weeks. It ends with a digital badge, not credit.
Who this provider suits
Who should choose them
This may suit you if you want to try college-style courses, with lectures, exams, papers and grades, before you finish high school. It's a natural fit if you're already thinking about WashU. WashU counts a pre-college program as part of demonstrated interest and gives participants a fee waiver for its undergraduate application. St. Louis area juniors and seniors with strong grades can take credit-bearing undergraduate courses during the school year through the Early College Scholars Program. If you'd like a residential summer with a set routine, staff living in your residence hall and planned activities, the summer programs offer that too.
Who it may not suit
Who should skip it: students who want a loose, independent summer. Residential students must be in the residence hall by 9:00 pm and in their rooms by 11:00 pm. They can leave campus only in groups of two or more, and they can't use rideshare during the program without specific authorization. It's also a poor fit if you can't commit to the full program, because WashU says students won't be excused from classes for other commitments. Families should budget for travel. Need-based scholarships don't cover it, and WashU doesn't run airport shuttles. If you need specially prepared kosher or halal meals, check before you apply, because WashU says these may be limited in summer. Routine medical care isn't available on campus during the summer.
