Summer Challenge: How to Apply
Admissions
If you are academically motivated and entering your sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school in fall 2025, we invite you to apply. Admission decisions take into consideration your high school grades, previous courses, and personal statement.
The application must be completed by the prospective student, not by a parent, guardian, counselor, agent, or other party. Please use the information below to prepare your application ahead of time, as applications cannot be saved and finished later.
Application instructions
- Complete the online application. The following items are required to complete the online application.
- Personal statement: You will be required to submit a personal statement of 500–750 words describing why you want to attend the Summer Challenge program.
- Application fee: A $60 nonrefundable application fee, paid by credit card, is required at the time of submission of the online application.
- Upload supplemental materials. You will receive an upload link via email upon successful submission of your application.
- High school transcript: Your full high school transcript must begin in 9th grade and include your fall 2024 grades (in a quarter system, this includes first and second quarter grades). Applicants currently in 9th grade must submit a transcript from their 8th grade year in addition to their fall 2024 grades. Transcripts do not need to be official; we will accept screenshots of an academic portal as long as the student’s name is visible.
- International documents: International students must upload an additional form and a copy of your passport with the application. We also require proof of English language proficiency, such as scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo, if English is not the sole language of instruction at your high school. For English proficiency test score requirements, please see Information for International Students.
Applications are only reviewed after all of the materials listed above are received.
Note: Email is the primary form of communication during the admissions process. Please be aware that parents or guardians are copied on all correspondence from our office. Therefore, you should ensure that both parent or guardian and student email addresses are entered correctly on the application, and inform our office immediately if there is a change in either email address.
Email: summerhs@bu.edu
Fax: 617-358-0646
Mailing Address:
Boston University Summer Term
Summer Challenge Program
200 Riverway, Suite B14
Boston, MA 02215
Application deadline
We stop accepting applications when all seminars are filled. Seminars fill quickly and students who apply early are more likely to receive the session and seminar selections of their choice.
Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis and only completed applications are reviewed. Once we receive your completed application, we will email you to confirm its receipt.
We begin reviewing applications at the beginning of January. Within three weeks of confirming our receipt of your completed application, an admission decision will be emailed to you.
Contact us
If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact us.