Transcripts
School transcripts must show the applicant’s final grades from the previous academic year (if applicable), along with this year’s courses and all available grades. If the transcript is written in a language other than English, it should be translated and signed by a school official, then uploaded as part of the school recommendation form.
Letters of Recommendation
The School Recommendation form should be filled out by a school guidance counselor, registrar, or another school official. The Teacher Recommendation form should be filled out by an academic classroom teacher of English, Math, Science, History, or World Languages. Some programs require a specific type of academic teacher (see the Application Checklist in the Application Portal for details). A Supplemental Recommendation is optional.
Personal Statement
All applicants must include a personal statement as part of the application or upload it in the Application Portal (including previous participants, current Choate students, and applicants for the academic year). This year’s prompt is:
On your own, write a 250-350-word essay in English that will help us know you better. Be sure to answer at least two of the following questions in your essay:
- What two or three things are most important for us to know about you as we review your application?
- What opportunities have you had working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings?
- In what ways do you hope to contribute to and benefit from being part of our Choate Summer Programs community?
- How has the pandemic impacted your education?
Graded Essays
If noted on the Application Checklist in the Application Portal, applicants should upload an essay written for school, preferably for an English, History, or Humanities class, that has been graded by their teacher and includes the teacher’s comments or an attached grading rubric.
Current Choate Academic Year Students
Choate students applying for Summer Programs are only required to submit an application and include a Personal Statement as part of the application or upload it in the Application Portal. If also applying for Financial Aid, the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation need to be uploaded to the Application Portal as well.