Summer Programs Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants receive an email prompting them to view their decision on their Summer Programs Account Portal.

Admitted applicants for on-campus programming are asked to:

1. Use the Admission Decision Reply Form to accept the admission offer.
    
2. Have all parents/guardians with legal guardianship sign the Enrollment Contract, upload the contract back to the Summer Programs Student Account Portal, and pay a non-refundable $2000 deposit within two weeks of acceptance.
   *Flywire student id #P000099999.
    
3. Refer to the Summer Programs Student Account Portal checklists for required paperwork and forms.
    
4. Register for courses using the Course Registration Form posted in the Registration Checklist on the Summer Programs Student Account Portal. Tuition can be paid in full at the time of registration, with all balances due no later than May 1, 2026. If registering for courses after May 1, tuition payment needs to be paid in full at the time course selection is made. *If the tuition bill or other fees or charges are not paid when due, Choate may assess as a penalty a monthly late fee at the rate of 1.0% per month, or the highest rate permitted by law, until the bill is paid. 

Admitted applicants for Test Prep only are asked to:

1. Use the Admission Decision Reply Form to accept the admission offer. 
    
2. Have all parents with legal guardianship/legal guardians sign the Enrollment Contract, upload the contract back to the portal status page, and pay the non-refundable tuition within two weeks of acceptance.  

Health forms must be received by Choate Health Services by April 15, 2026, for all students enrolled in on-campus programs. If enrolling after April 15, 2026, health forms must be submitted ASAP. Instructions will be in the Summer Student Account Portal once admitted. To contact Health Services with any questions, call (203) 697-2203 or email healthservices@choate.edu. 

Vaccinations 

Choate follows Connecticut Department of Public Health guidelines and state laws on required vaccinations for students. In Connecticut, there are no religious or non-medical exemptions granted. Religious and other non-medical vaccine exemptions from other states cannot be transferred while your student is attending school in Connecticut. As of January 2024 and per the Department of Public Health, required vaccines in Connecticut include: Hepatitis A , Hepatitis B, Tdap and Dtap, Polio, MMR, Varicella, and Meningococcal ACWY. These vaccines are available worldwide. 

Catch-Up Schedule

For students who need vaccines while at Choate to comply with state requirements, the Health Center will determine an appropriate catch-up schedule to ensure compliance with state law. This catch-up schedule will be personalized to the student and informed by the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines on catch-up immunizations. Up to four catch-up immunizations will be administered on one day, and immunizations will be administered at a maximum of three days apart. The catch-up schedule must be started before arriving on campus.

Why does my student need another Meningitis ACWY Dose?

Vaccine effectiveness wanes after 5 years and meningitis can flourish in a boarding school setting, so another dose is required.

Why does my student need a Tdap booster?

To meet Connecticut requirements, children need a booster of Tdap even if they completed the Tdap series in childhood and have had one Td booster. Tdap is not the same as Td.

Can my child get required vaccines at Choate’s Health Center

While the health center does have some vaccines available for students, we do not have a supply that would meet all student needs. We recommend getting the required vaccines from your doctor or pharmacist, or scheduling an appointment at any U.S. pharmacy before coming to campus.

Immunization form and requirements

All students must have valid health insurance that can be used within the United States and the state of Connecticut. Any student (domestic or international) who does not have valid health insurance that can be used in the United States and the state of Connecticut must purchase pro-rated insurance through the school (the enrollment link for insurance is on the checklist in the Application Account Portal and also on the Summer Parents Portal).

Please note that Travel Health Insurance is not accepted.

As part of the process of enrolling, students and families read and sign our Enrollment Contract and pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their spot in the program. Tuition payments can be paid at any time after being admitted, and accounts must be paid in full by May 1, 2026. Please refer to your 2026 Enrollment Contract for details regarding the refund policy.  

Middle School courses are for students who will have completed the U.S. equivalent of grades 6 or 7 before the start of Summer Programs. 

High School courses are for students who will have completed the U.S. equivalent of grades 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12  before the start of Summer Programs. 

Most of our 2-week workshops and programs repeat from Session I to Session II (meaning the same content is offered in each session). There are however some 2-week workshops that may not repeat and are unique to the session they are offered in. 

Yes! You can choose one workshop per 2-week session and create your own 4-week* experience. 

*Boarding students enrolled in consecutive workshops are welcome to stay on campus the weekend between Session I and Session II.

Classes typically range in size from 5-14 students. 

Enrollment in courses and programs takes place on a rolling basis both as students are admitted and when Course Registration goes live in February. Our programs are popular, and classes tend to fill quickly. 

Students are required to attend all classes, meetings, and afternoon weekday activities, and they are required to honor other commitments such as individual appointments with teachers, adviser, deans, and members of the Summer Programs Office. 

Faculty and staff are asked to report all absences and tardies, the Deans’ Office keeps track of attendance, and deans follow up with students who accumulate absences. Though students are not required to participate in weekend trips and activities sponsored by the Student Activities Center, they are encouraged to take advantage of the full array of fun and informative recreational programming provided each summer.

As an academic program, the vast majority of our courses require students to have a laptop, tablet, or other device for completing assignments. We have computers available in our library, but students often find it more helpful to have a device of their own. 

Yes! You can apply to and enroll in more than one age-appropriate program as long as the class periods and/or the dates of the programs do not overlap.

If you received your Summer Programs admission acceptance for the on-campus program and wish to enroll in an additional program, please contact the Choate Summer Programs Office at (203) 697-2365 or choatesummer@choate.edu. 

Yes! Students who are enrolled in on-campus programs as boarders or day students can also enroll in SSAT or SAT Test Prep. 

Test Prep is a 4-week course for all participants whether online or on campus. Students in 4- or 5-week programs on campus take Test Prep courses in person. Students in 2-week programs on campus take Test Prep online (for continuity of instruction when not on campus).  This means that students taking Test Prep online who are also in a Session I workshop continue with Test Prep for two weeks after leaving campus at the end of their workshop, and students taking Test Prep online who are also in a Session II workshop begin Test Prep two weeks prior to arriving on campus for their workshop. 

2026 Schedule

Check out the Campus Life page for examples of class day schedules and more.

Middle School Programs

In general, the guideline for homework for middle school is 60 minutes per night per course. Students enrolled in workshops and multi-class programs which meet for more than one period can expect a comparable amount of homework, based on how many hours their workshop or program meets during the day. Test Prep courses average 60-90 minutes of additional out of class work per week (including 30 minutes of daily Test Prep work leading up to each of the two practice tests). Making good use of nightly Study Hours and daytime Free Periods will enable students to complete their assignments and be prepared for class.  

High School Programs

In general, the guideline for homework for high school is 60 minutes per night per course. Students enrolled in workshops and multi-class programs which meet for more than one period can expect a comparable amount of homework, based on how many hours their workshop or program meets during the day. Test Prep courses average 60-90 minutes of additional out of class work per week. Making good use of nightly Study Hours, daytime Study Halls, and Free Periods will enable students to complete their assignments and be prepared for class. 

Matriculating and current Choate students who sign up for courses that are eligible for Choate diploma credit or which have the potential to satisfy academic year prerequisites may be assigned additional work. This extra requirement ensures that any course taken for the purpose of credit or placement will closely reflect the academic year version of these courses.

H = Honors
HP = High Pass
P = Pass
LP = Low Pass
F = Fail

Note: Students in Immersion Geometry receive a traditional letter grade which will be included on the Summer Transcript for current and matriculating Choate students.

Students who are only enrolled in Session I workshops will receive reports by July 17, 2026.  

Students who are enrolled in the following courses and programs will receive reports by August 7, 2026: 

• 4-week and 5-week courses and programs

• Session II 2-week workshops 

• Both Session I and Session II workshops, i.e., enrolled in 4 weeks of programming on campus  

Students who exhibit exemplary integrity, respect, and compassion are recognized with a Citizenship Award.

This award honors students who foster social relationships and a love of learning which inspire peers and teachers, and whose contributions serve as a model for others while enriching the experience of everyone involved with Choate Summer Programs. 

Health forms must be received by Choate Health Services by April 15, 2026, for all students enrolled in on-campus programs. If enrolling after April 15, 2026, health forms must be submitted ASAP. Instructions will be in the Summer Student Account Portal once admitted. To contact Health Services with any questions, call (203) 697-2203 or email healthservices@choate.edu. 

All students must have valid health insurance that can be used within the United States and the state of Connecticut. Any student (domestic or international) who does not have valid health insurance that can be used in the United States and the state of Connecticut must purchase pro-rated insurance through the school (the enrollment link for insurance is on the checklist in the Application Account Portal and also on the Summer Parents Portal).

Please note that Travel Health Insurance is not accepted.

Soon after students enroll, parents receive access to the Summer Parents Portal where they can find additional information, including:

• Important Announcements
• Parent Calendar
• Student Handbook
• Health Forms
• Virtual Events
• Program Highlights
• Airport Ground Transportation
• What to Bring
• Laundry and Linen Rental
• Music Practice Room Requests
• And more!

The Summer Parents Portal is available to parents of students in the Middle and High School Academic Enrichment Program, and Young Artist Program.  

Summer Parents Portal

Once students who are enrolled have been assigned a Choate Summer email account, they have access to the Summer Student Portal which contains the Student Handbook, dates to remember, school resources, and program highlights.