Frequently Asked Questions
- What year do I need to be entering in 2009 to participate in Summer Challenge?
You need to be entering your sophomore, junior, or senior year.
- Is Summer Challenge a commuter or residential program?
Students must live in the dorms on campus to participate in the Summer Challenge program.
- Can I earn college credit by participating in Summer Challenge?
No. Summer Challenge is non-credit.
- What does the program fee include?
The program fee includes tuition, housing, meals, scheduled activities, and textbooks.
- Can international students participate in Summer Challenge?
Yes. International students can participate. They should attend on a student visa. Please visit the International High School Students page for more information.
- How do I apply for Summer Challenge?
You can find application instructions on the How to Apply page.
- It's after May 1; do I need to send full payment with my application?
Yes, full payment must be sent with your application after May 1.
- What are the admissions criteria?
We are looking for good high school students who are taking a college preparatory curriculum.
- Is there any financial aid?
There is no financial aid for the Summer Challenge program.
- How long should it take for me to receive a decision on my application?
It usually takes two to three weeks after we receive your completed application. We encourage students to call our office to confirm that we have received your completed application.
- What classes are offered as part of Summer Challenge?
Summer Challenge students enroll in two Boston University seminars. Click here for a list of seminars.
- How many students are in each session?
The number varies by session, ranging from about 60 to over 200 students.
- How many students are in each class?
There are about 20 students in each class.
- Is there a curfew?
Yes. The curfew is 11 p.m. during the week and midnight on weekends.
- Are students free to leave campus?
All planned activities are mandatory. However, during free time students can leave campus as long as they have at least one other student with them, and they let a staff member know they are leaving.
- What is the schedule of activities for Summer Challenge?
You can a sample schedule of activities on the Program Events page.
- Can a parent visit a student during the program?
If a parent or guardian is in town and would like to spend time with his/her son or daughter, they must schedule it during the student’s free time when there are no activities planned. Students may not miss scheduled activities.The parent or guardian needs to send written permission to the Summer Term office forty-eight hours before taking the student off-campus. The parent or guardian can either email or fax a letter of permission including details such as the time when the student will leave and return to campus and the cell phone number of parent or guardian to buhssumr@bu.edu or 617-353-5532.
- Can a student visit relatives or family friends in the Boston area during the program?
Students are able to visit relatives or family friends in the area only with written permission from a parent received forty-eight hours before and only during scheduled free time. Students may not miss scheduled activities. The parent should either email or fax a letter of permission including details such as names and contact information of who the student will be visiting, the location, and the time of when the student will leave and return to campus to buhssumr@bu.edu or 617-353-5532.
