Summer School For High School Students

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News

Summer College for High School Students Alumni Nabs Rhodes and Truman Scholarships

Shadrack “Shad” Tucker, a former student in the UM Summer College for High School Students was named the University of Mississippi’s 25th Rhodes Scholar last fall and is the first to receive both the prestigious Rhodes and Truman scholarships.Click here to read the full article.

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Visiting High School Students ‘Amazed’ on Field Trip to Ackerman Mine and Power Plant

Fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones is unearthing some magnificent discoveries on the silver screen this summer, but some high school students visiting the University of Mississippi recently found a similar real-life treasure trove just hours from campus.Click here to read the full article.

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What is the Summer College for High School Students @ Ole Miss?

For the past 29 years, the University of Mississippi has been bringing academically gifted high school juniors (and some sophomores) to its beautiful campus for a unique summer experience. 

• Students get a head-start on their college careers by taking two courses (in a variety of subject areas).
• Students earn an average 6 hours of credit transferable to any accredited college or university.
• Courses are taught by University faculty.
• In most cases Summer College students are enrolled in courses with Ole Miss freshmen and sophomores.
• Students participate in SCHS 101 Exploring Sessions, a non-credit course designed to help them explore academic and career interests as well as to learn what to expect in the college selection process.  SCHS 101 also offers tips on the college admission process and financial aid. 
• By living in an Ole Miss residence hall and eating at one of the campus dining areas, Summer College students experience what day-to-day life on campus is like. 
• Summer College students even have the opportunity to participate in intramural activities! 
• The Summer College experience helps participating students build long-lasting relationships with peers in the program.

Why should you attend Summer College @ Ole Miss?

Preparation for college should start early.

Face some of the challenges of college life, but in a closely monitored environment. 
You will be housed in a residence hall designated specifically for you with counselors chosen from the Ole Miss student body.  These counselors are selected using a rigorous process and are trained to serve as mentors to Summer College participants.  They act as big brothers and big sisters to you, answering questions and providing support.

The professional staff is also available to you 24 hours a day to counsel, to act as a liaison with college professors, to monitor student progress, and to act in lieu of a parent when a parent is needed. 
The entire focus of the staff is to ensure a positive experience for you in your first encounter with a college environment.  While in the care of the Summer College, you must abide by certain rules and regulations designed to give your parents the knowledge that you are safe at all times.  Thus, as a Summer College student, you will have a strong support structure here at Ole Miss that allows us to guarantee a positive experience for both you and your parents.

Summer College is not a camp. Participants are fully admitted to the University. 
Students not only get a taste of the freedom they will soon be experiencing as freshmen; they get a taste of expectations and responsibilities of being a college student.  Through this process, you will learn a lot about yourself and your abilities.

What is Summer College @ Ole Miss like?

A Typical Day

A Summer College student’s day is constructed to approximate the busy schedule of a college freshman during the regular semester.  After all, learning to budget time and to meet all obligations is a part of being successful in college.  Most Summer College students are in class for approximately 4 hours per day, but time in class can vary. 

During the afternoons, students attend SCHS 101 Exploring Sessions and participate in the SCHS Intramural League (creative, academic, and athletic activities). 

Time outside class and outside Summer College activities is used for studying, visiting the library, spending time in the computer center, etc.  The University’s recreational facilities are also available for SCHS students to swim, play racquetball, run, lift weights, work out, play tennis, etc.  Other students prefer to just hang out in the Student Union or spend time in the Grove (the 10-acre park at the center of campus) with friends.

Weekends

Some activities are planned on the weekends to entertain, as well as to inform, students.  Past events have included trips to museums, exhibitions, and even a Memphis Redbird’s baseball game.  It’s not uncommon for the group to take a trip to the Mississippi River to catch a ride on the Memphis Queen Riverboat for a dinner cruise or to stay in Oxford and go to a nearby lake for Frisbee Golf and barbeque.  Summer College staff can also make arrangements for students to attend the worship services of their choice at one of our local churches (Oxford has a mosque, but it does not have a synagogue).

Who May Apply?

Students wishing to attend the Summer College for High School Students at the University of Mississippi must meet or exceed the following admissions criteria:

• Applicant must be a student in good academic and conduct standing in the tenth or eleventh grade (Senior Classes of 2010 and 2011) at the time of admission.  The school can be public, private, parochial or even home-educated.
• Applicant must have permission to attend from his/her principal (indicated by principal’s signature on the application packet).
• Applicant must have two recommendation forms from teachers (recommendation forms are included in the application packet).
• In addition to the requirements listed here, certain ‘Programs’ require a minimum ACT/SAT score (noted in the individual program descriptions).  ‘Institutes’ do not require a minimum ACT/SAT score.
• Applicants must satisfy one of the three admission options listed below:
  • Option 1: The applicant must have 15 high school credits* (or show proof he/she will have 15 credits by the end of the current school year) and a minimum 3.2 GPA.
  • Option 2: If the applicant has at least a 25 on the ACT, or an 1140 on the SAT, and at least a 3.5 GPA, the applicant can be admitted with only 10 high school credits*.
  • Option 3: Mississippi residents seeking Dual Credit (college credit and high school credit) can be admitted if they have at least a 2.5 GPA on 14 high school credits*. In order to use this method of admission, an applicant’s high school must send a letter with the student’s application stating that the school has agreed to accept the courses to be taken for dual credit. Applicants using this option cannot enroll in a program with a minimum ACT/SAT score unless they meet the minimum score.

*The University of Mississippi counts high school credits that are part of the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC). Most academic courses (including all core classes) fit this description. Examples of credit that are not counted include credit for sports and certain vocational courses. If you are unclear about what UM considers as the College Preparatory Curriculum, please visit the Admissions website for more information

Who comes to the Summer College?

Geographically speaking, the Summer College draws students from all across the globe, not just Mississippi and the Southeast. Last summer, students from as far away as Rhode Island and Greece participated in the program.

Academically speaking, all Summer College students are classified as ‘high-ability’ students with varied interests: we have star athletes, talented musicians, great orators, computer geniuses, and much more. Our students are future lawyers, doctors, engineers, writers, politicians, scientists, teachers, business owners, etc. The common thread among Summer College students is a desire to succeed.

What are the dates for Summer College 2009?

The Summer College for High School Students offers two sessions. Students may attend either session. However, students should note that some Institutes and Programs are available during one session only. The dates below indicate the check-in date and the check-out date; classes actually begin the day after check-in, and the check-out date is the last day of finals).

Session I: May 25-June 23
Session II: June 24-July 24

How do I Apply?

E-mail your mailing address to umsummer@olemiss.edu - OR- call us with your mailing information at 662-915-7621.

Download the application now.

Notification of Acceptance

When the application review process is completed, the Summer College Office will notify students of acceptance, along with instructions for completing the enrollment process.  Admission is made on a rolling basis, with the first round of acceptance usually made in February.  Students will continue to be accepted on a first-come basis as long as there is space available.  Each program/institute is limited in enrollment except the Liberal Arts Institute, which has no limit, but individual courses may fill up.

What if I’m too far away to be dropped off by my parents?

Students who must fly into Memphis International Airport should make reservations for the check-in date (May 25 or June 24). If possible, flights should land prior to 1:00 p.m. If this is not possible, students should contact our office before booking reservations. The airport is an hour and a half away from the University. We can send a University shuttle ($50 for both pick-up and drop-off) if notified no later than a week before the start of the session.

Students arriving by bus or train should contact our office prior to making reservations so arrangements can be made for the best arrival location and for pick-up from the station (charges vary by pick-up location).

How much does Summer College cost?

There is no cost to apply. Once admitted, every Summer College applicant must pay a nonrefundable application/activity fee. This fee covers the University of Mississippi’s one-time application fee and reserves a student’s place in the Summer College.

Other costs include tuition, housing, books, course fees, and a required meal plan. Additionally, students will need money for weekend meals and miscellaneous costs while living on campus (laundry, snacks, etc.).

The following is a breakdown of cost for the 6 hours of college credit Programs and Institutes (all programs are 6 hours except the Health Professions Institute and Engineering Program; books and course fees are made available in May):

Cost	In-State (MS Resident)	Out-of-State (Non-Resident)
SCHS Application/Activity Fee (Nonrefundable)	$100	$100
Tuition	$1,276.50	$1,276.50
Non-Resident Fee	NA	$894
Housing	$365	$365
Meal Plan	$335	$335
Subtotal	$2,076.50	$2,970.50
Scholarship*	-$638.25	-$1085.25
Total	$1,438.25	$1,885.25

* All Summer College participants receive a half-tuition scholarship (valued at $638.25 for Mississippi residents and $1,085.25 for non-residents in the 6 hour program example above).

Financial Aid

There are two types of financial aid available to Summer College participants: need-based aid and academic achievement scholarships. Students interested in need-based aid should complete the financial aid form in the application packet. Finances should not prevent a qualified student from applying to the Summer College.

Academic achievement scholarships are awarded based on standardized test scores (see chart below) and participation in Ole Miss Academic Competitions.  Students must take the ACT or SAT and have their scores on their high school transcripts (or send a copy of their score report to our office) in order to receive an academic achievement scholarship.  Students offered a scholarship through the Office of Academic Competitions, or eligible for an academic achievement scholarship, are not required to complete the financial aid application unless seeking additional need-based aid.

ACT Scores	SAT Scores	Academic Achievement Scholarship *
33-36	1460-1600	Full Tuition, Housing, and Meal Plan
30-32	1320-1450	Full Tuition and Housing
27-29	1210-1310	Full Tuition
All remaining admitted students		Half-Tuition

*These are scholarships based on academics alone.  In addition to academic scholarships, we offer need based aid; our policy is that no deserving student who wishes to attend should be excluded because of family finances.

What can I study?

Go to the Available Programs page.