Frequently Asked Questions - Middle School & High School Academic Program

1. Submit an Interest Form
2. Follow the instructions to create your Summer Programs Account; 
3. Complete and Submit the Application. 

Transcripts and Current Grades

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. Note that in addition to the required academic information provided by the school official, applicants are also welcome to upload copies of their transcript and current grades. 

Letters of Recommendation

The School Official Recommendation form should be filled out by a school guidance counselor, registrar, or other school official (e.g. Principal, Assistant Principal, Head of School, Assistant Head of School, etc). The Teacher Recommendation form should be filled out by an academic classroom teacher of English, Math, Science, History, or World Languages. If applying for Immersion Geometry, the Teacher Recommendation form should be completed by a current math teacher. A Supplemental Recommendation is optional.

Personal Statement

Applicants must include a personal statement as part of their application for Summer Programs. This includes current Choate students, applicants for the academic year, and all previous Summer Programs students except those who participated in Academic Enrichment courses and programs on campus in Summer 2022. The personal statement for this year:

On your own, write a 300-400-word essay in English that will help us know you better. Be sure to answer at least two of the following prompts in your essay:

1. What two or three things are most important for us to know about you as we review your application?
    

2. What accomplishments are you most proud of as you think about your growth in recent years as a person and as a student? 
    

3. Please share a formative experience you had living, studying, or working in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings.
    

4.  In what ways do you hope to contribute to and benefit from being part of our Choate Summer Programs community?
    

5. If applying for Immersion Geometry, please share with us your motivation and goals for accelerating your study of math by taking a full year's worth of geometry in 5 weeks at Choate. 

Graded Essays

All applicants are welcome to 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. Applicants who attend schools where English is not the primary language of instruction, or for whom English is not a first language, are strongly encouraged to upload a graded essay to help ensure proper program placement. 

Students who only intend to enroll in Test Prep are not required to submit transcripts, current grades, a Personal Statement, or recommendations. The Summer Programs Application and application fee are still required. In the personal statement text box, applicants should enter “Test Prep Only.”

Please contact the Summer Programs Office by phone at (203) 697-2365 or by email at choatesummer@choate.edu to waive the materials not required. 

Applicants who completed our Academic Enrichment program in 2022 have a simplified application process and are only required to:

1. Verify 2022 information prepopulated on the application form and fill in any other updates;
    
2. Indicate which 2023 courses and programs are of interest;
    
3. Upload transcript (with Current Grades or program of study);
    
4. Pay Application Fee if applying after December 15, 2022. The $100 application fee is waived for students who completed our 2022 Academic Enrichment Program and who submit their 2023 application by December 15, 2022. 
    
5. If applying for financial aid, 2022 Academic Enrichment participants must complete and upload the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation. 

Applicants who participated in Summer Programs prior to 2022 are required to submit the following:

1. The application form and application fee
2. Personal Statement
3. School Official Recommendation
4. Transcript (with Current Grades)

Past participants do not need to submit Teacher Recommendations, Supplemental Recommendations, or upload additional information. If applying for financial aid, past participants must complete and upload the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation.

Current Choate students applying for Summer Programs admission are only required to submit the Summer Programs application and Personal Statement (they do not need to pay an application fee, request recommendations, or upload transcripts).

If applying for Summer Programs Financial Aid, current Choate students need to upload the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation to the Summer Programs Application Portal. 

Note: Matriculating and current Choate students who wish to take an eligible course to fulfill an academic year Choate diploma requirement, or a prerequisite for the academic year, must first notify the Registrar, Catherine Velez (cvelez@choate.edu), as part of the application and enrollment process for Summer Programs, and must then comply with all attendance and course expectations. The Registrar will determine final eligibility, as applicable, for diploma credit and prerequisite fulfillment based upon the student’s successful completion of the course. 

Summer Programs applicants who are also applicants to Choate for the academic year need to submit the Summer Programs Application, application fee, and Personal Statement (we can obtain transcripts, current grades, and recommendations from the Admission Office). 

If also applying for Summer Programs Financial Aid, the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation need to be uploaded to the Summer Programs Application Portal (financial information is not shared between the two offices). 

Summer Programs Financial Aid is available for Middle and High School Academic Enrichment Program students.

The priority deadline is February 14, 2023. 

Students may still submit the Choate Summer Programs Financial Aid application and upload IRS documents with their application after the priority deadline for consideration of any funds which remain available. 

Please note that financial aid helps cover on-campus fees, but does not cover transportation costs and is not available for Test Prep, Young Artist, Summer Music Festival, or Athletics Advantage. Current Choate students who receive aid during the academic year, and academic year applicants who have applied for financial aid with the Choate Admission Office, still need to complete and upload the Summer Programs Financial Aid application and supporting IRS documentation. This information is not shared between the two offices.

Also note: because of limited funds, financial aid is primarily available to U.S. residents filing IRS income tax returns.

TOEFL & Duolingo Scores

English Language Proficiency Scores:  TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, Duolingo

For applicants who attend schools where English is not the primary language of instruction or for whom English is not their first language, the TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, or Duolingo Test in English is recommended for the English Language Institute (ELI) and required for all other courses and programs.

For everything other than ELI, a TOEFL score of 80 or above, Duolingo score of 105 or above, or TOEFL Junior score within Level 5 is required.

If an applicant does not have a TOEFL or Duolingo score but would still like to be considered for admission, our directors will review transcripts and supporting documents and make a recommendation on which program and course placement would be most appropriate. A graded essay written in English for school can be submitted to help supplement the information on which a decision will be made. 

TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, and Duolingo scores should be uploaded through the Account Portal.

Previous Choate Summer Programs attendees are welcome to upload new TOEFL, TOEFL Jr, or Duolingo scores as part of their application, but are not required to.

Please check with the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country for the requirements to obtain a B-1/B-2 Visa (tourist visa) to enter the U.S. for our program. You do not need an I-20 or an F1-Visa (student visa) to attend Choate Summer Programs. We recommend starting the B-1/B-2 Visa process at the same time you start the application for our program.

Visa Appointment Wait Times

Admission Decisions

Once an applicant's file is complete, we review the file and provide a decision in the Summer Programs Account Portal. Accepted students receive within their acceptance letter links for submitting the Enrollment Reply Form and paying the non-refundable deposit. Admission to Choate Summer Programs is on a rolling basis and courses and programs fill quickly, so we encourage students to apply and enroll early while spaces remain. 

Financial Aid Decisions

Financial Aid decisions are made soon after the February 14, 2023 priority deadline. Applicants whose admission and financial aid applications are complete by the priority aid deadline are notified of their admission and aid decision in the Summer Programs Account Portal. Accepted students will see their financial aid award in their acceptance letter and on the Course Registration Form.

Waitlisted Students

Students who are offered a place on the Waitlist receive a link to the Waitlist Reply Form in their decision letter. Those who choose to remain on the Waitlist are notified of any opportunities to enroll as spaces become available. 

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 Enrollment Reply Form to accept the admission offer.
2. Have all legal parents/guardians sign the Enrollment Contract, upload the contract back to the Summer Programs Account portal, and pay a non-refundable $1500 deposit within two weeks of acceptance.
3. Refer to the Summer Programs Account Portal checklists for required paperwork and forms.
4. Register for courses using the Course Registration Form posted on the Summer Programs Account Portal. Tuition can be paid in full at the time of registration, with all balances due no later May 1, 2023. If registering for courses after May 1, tuition payment needs to be paid in full at the time course selection is made

Admitted applicants for online Test Prep only are asked to:

1. Use the Enrollment Reply Form to accept the admission offer.
2. Have all legal parents/guardians sign the Enrollment Contract, upload the contract back to the portal status page, and pay a non-refundable $1500 deposit within two weeks of acceptance. 
3. Register for Test Prep using the Course Registration Form posted on the status page of the Summer Programs Account Portal.

Health forms must be received by Choate Health Services by April 15, 2023, for all students enrolled in on-campus programs. If enrolling after April 15, health forms must be submitted ASAP. Please email health documents to healthservices@choate.edu or fax to (203) 697-2294. To contact Health Services with any questions, call (203) 697-2203 or email healthservices@choate.edu.

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, 2023.  Please refer to your 2023 Enrollment Contract for details regarding the refund policy.  

• 50% of the paid tuition balance will be refunded if the student withdraws on or before May 26, 2023
   
• 30% of the paid tuition balance will be refunded if the student withdraws on or before June 2, 2023
   
• There is no tuition refund if the student withdraws after June 2, 2023

Middle School courses are for students who will have completed the U.S. equivalent of grades 6 or 7 prior to 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 prior to 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 which do not repeat and are unique to the session they are offered in. (A Biologist’s World, for example, is only offered in Session I and the KEC Environmental Science Workshop is only offered in Session II.)

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.

The average class size range is 5-12 students.

Enrollment in courses and programs takes place on a rolling basis, and classes do 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 or 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.

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 courses (as boarders or day students) can also take the online Test Prep courses offered in the early evening during Period 6 (6:45-7:45 p.m. EDT Mondays and Thursdays for High School students and 6:30-7:30 p.m. EDT for Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Middle School students).

Daily Schedule
5-Week Program

Daily Schedule
2-Week Workshops

Copied below is an outline of a typical week in the life of a summer student (the Saturday schedule is slightly different with shorter classes, no meetings, and lots of afternoon fun!). Immersion Geometry, Theater Arts Institute, and 2-week Workshop programs follow their own schedule of class periods and lunch, but still include built-in time for Adviser Meetings, School Meetings, Conferences, Wellness Programming, Sports Athletics and Activities, and Study Hours.

Academic Enrichment Middle School student with 3 classes

Academic Enrichment High School student with 3 classes

Academic Enrichment - 2 Week Workshop, Middle School Student 

Academic Enrichment - 2 Week Workshop High School Student 

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 a day 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. 

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 a day can expect a comparable amount of homework, based on how many hours their workshop or program meets. 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 closely reflects 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 enrolled only in Session I courses and programs will receive reports by July 17, 2023. 

Students who are enrolled in the following courses and programs will receive reports by August 7, 2023:

• 4-week and 5-week courses and programs 
• Session II 2-week courses and programs
• Both Session I and Session II courses and programs, i.e., 4-week courses and programs

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 inspires peers and teachers, and whose contributions serve as a model for others while enriching the experience of everyone involved with Choate Summer Programs. 

Informed by the School’s mission and the guiding principles to create the most Choate-like experience possible—academically, residentially, and professionally—our policies regarding COVID-19 are built upon the understanding that the safety and well-being of our community are of utmost importance. Science, technology, education, and partnership are the cornerstones of how we live and learn together safely. Our planning for Summer 2023 is predicated on the fact that COVID-19 vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Those participating in Summer Programs are required to have received either the initial COVID-19 vaccine series + one booster dose (any kind) OR at least one dose of a COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) prior to their arrival on campus. We recognize that this is not a possibility in every country.  If a student is unable to access this dose, we will make arrangements for the student to receive the vaccine soon after arrival. Requiring vaccination for our students, faculty, and staff is the most powerful tool we have for protecting our community and creating a normal summer programs environment.

Choate will continue to follow local, state, and federal public health guidelines related to COVID-19. Students and families will receive detailed information about how to submit required health forms and vaccination records, as well as information related to campus health protocols, via the Summer Programs Account Portal shortly after being admitted to Summer Programs 2023.

Health forms must be received by Choate Health Services by April 15, 2023, for all students enrolled in on-campus programs. If enrolling after April 15, health forms must be submitted ASAP. Please email health documents to healthservices@choate.edu or fax to (203) 697-2294. To contact Health Services with any questions, call (203) 697-2203 or email healthservices@choate.edu.

Yes. All middle school and high school boarding students at Choate Summer Programs are required, and all middle school and high school day students are encouraged, to have a cell phone with SMS (text messaging) capability.

The SIM card for the cell phone must be a United States or Canadian number. Any type of phone that can receive telephone calls and SMS messages is acceptable (including inexpensive pay-as-you-go disposable phones).

For the overall safety of the Choate community, a cell phone is required for emergency notifications and two-factor authentication of Choate applications.

Students are asked to carry the phone with them at all times during the class day and whenever appropriate for sports and other activities.

When traveling off campus, students are required to have their cell phone with them in case the School or the student need to be in contact with one another.

As part of the arrival process for Summer Programs 2023, each student cell phone will be verified and the phone number recorded into the student's electronic record.
 

Once a student is enrolled, parents will be notified of a password to access the Summer Parents Portal on our website. This is where parents and families can find important additional information about our program, including virtual events, dates to remember, and program highlights.

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

Summer Parents Portal

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

Please refer to the Move-In Checklist. 

There will be information in the Summer Parents Portal about how to sign up and pay for airport transportation if needed. Unaccompanied minors who are traveling internationally and using Choate transportation can arrive on the afternoon of June 24, 2023. All other international students and all domestic students should arrive on June 25, 2023. 

The ChoateCard, the school's official identification card, serves three primary functions: access to dormitory and building entrances, access to personal ChoateCard debit accounts, and identification.

The barcode at the bottom of the ChoateCard allows students to make purchases at the School Store, Tuck Shop, Mailroom, and Paul Mellon Arts Center. Students can also withdraw funds in cash from their account balance at the Student Services Kiosk during regular business hours. The ChoateCard account is a debit account, and, students are not permitted to carry a negative balance. If a student's balance is insufficient to complete a transaction, the transaction will be canceled until funds are added.

When it is available, please see the Summer Parents Portal for information on how to deposit money on the ChoateCard.

All students have access to free laundry machines on the Choate campus. Full laundry service for 4-week and 5-week program participants is also available for an additional fee through E&R Laundry. Sign-up will be available on the Summer Parents’ Portal.

All day students have access to locker space on campus.