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Through the Academic Year Immersion program, high schoolers will prepare for the college experience through exploratory online coursework and community activities over ten weekends this fall and spring.
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Choosing from over 30 courses in a dozen subject areas, students select up to four courses per semester for an exploratory examination of different subject areas, but we recommend that students take between one and three courses per semester. Subject Areas include:
FALL COURSES
Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship
Creative Writing and Journalism
Engineering
Humanities and Philosophy
Law and Conflict Resolution
Mathematics
Science and Medicine
Social Impact and Sustainability
Social Sciences and Psychology
Technology and Computer Programming
SPRING COURSES
Arts
Business, Economics, and Entrepreneurship
Creative Writing and Journalism
Engineering
Law and Conflict Resolution
Mathematics
Politics, Public Policy, and International Affairs
Science and Medicine
Social Impact and Sustainability
Social Sciences and Psychology
Technology and Computer Programming
Courses meet for two hours on Saturday or Sunday, either in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Students are normally given a ten-minute break halfway through each class meeting.
Online, live.
Through Columbia's leading online interactive learning platform, which has been a hallmark of our graduate programs for nearly a decade, students across the globe can engage with one another through rigorous curricular instruction, inclusive student life activities, and informative college success events.
The Academic Year Immersion Program for High School Students is academically rigorous; courses do not carry college credits, however.
Grades are not assigned. Rather, upon successful participation in the program, students receive official Columbia University Certifications of Participation and written evaluations from their instructor.
Evaluations and Certifications of Participation are typically issued within 6-8 weeks from the end of the program.
ATTENDANCE
Because learning in our courses is largely based on what takes place in class meetings, it is important that students attend all class sessions. A student who misses multiple class sessions may not receive a Certification of Participation, even if those absences are excused. Unexcused absences can lead to dismissal from the program. Attendance is carefully monitored.
Admission to the Academic Year Immersion program is selective. The admissions committee seeks out academically exceptional students who are eager to contribute original ideas and a spirit of intellectual curiosity to a community of highly motivated learners.
The program is open to students who will be in grades 9 through 12 while the program is in session. Students in grade 8 may apply if they will be in grade 9 when the program starts.
1 - Completed online application form.
Nonrefundable Application Fee. The application fee is $80. Applicants must include credit card information through the online application.
2 - Transcript. An unofficial transcript is required for application review. Candidates offered admission will later be requested to supply official documents prior to enrollment. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to arrange for the submission of official transcripts at the earliest possible stage.
Transcripts must come in PDF format as provided by your school. PDF downloads of unofficial transcripts from student portals can be accepted only if they clearly show your full name, your school’s name, the full name of all courses taken, and all grades achieved in those courses.
If you are unable to obtain an unofficial copy of your transcript, please request to have an official copy sent from your school. It should be emailed from a school official’s professional email to [email protected]. It can also be mailed to our office at the address listed on this page. Note that mailed documents can take several weeks to be processed.
3 - Academic Recommendation. Applicants are required to submit the professional contact information for an instructor who teaches in a field closely related to the applicant's curricular preferences. The recommender is required to submit a form attesting to the student's qualification to engage in concentrated study.
Applicants may submit their online applications in advance of the recommendations.
During the application process you will add your recommender's information (name, title and school-affiliated email). Once you add and save their information, an email will be sent to your recommender with a link to our recommendation form.
The letter of recommendation must be submitted through the online application. Please note that recommendations submitted from non-school affiliated email addresses will not be accepted and must be resubmitted.
4 - Essays submitted through the online application.
General Essay
In 400 words or less, please respond to one of the following essay prompts:
Option 1. Tell us about a topic or social issue for which your opinion has changed. How has your change in perspective influenced your actions?
Option 2. Select one of Columbia's Pre-College Program values that most resonates with you and describe how you have pursued this value in your own life. Our values: Innovation, Critical Thinking, Social & Environmental Responsibility, Leadership, Global Awareness, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Writing Sample for Creative Writing or Journalism
For students enrolling in the Creative Writing or Journalism only. Submit one of the following:
- Two writing samples, 3–7 pages total (longer submissions are acceptable), consisting of poems, short stories, scripts or creative nonfiction.
- Two writing samples, 3–7 pages total (longer submission are acceptable) of any kind of writing demonstrating a command of grammar and punctuation.
5 - Community Standards Consent Form. Community standards are strictly enforced. Failure to abide by the Community Standards Consent Form will result in dismissal from the program.
6 - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students who are proficient in English are welcome to apply to the program. While applicants are not required to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores, students' English proficiency should be equivalent to 90 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL or at least 6.5 on the IELTS.
Deadline
Courses frequently fill up before the application deadline, so students are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications are processed on a rolling basis and will not be reviewed until all application materials have been submitted.
Fall 2023
Fall 2023 Early Registration Deadline - June 29
Fall 2023 Deadline - August 29
Spring 2024
Application Deadline - December 5
Program Cost $2,700.00 per course
Covers course tuition. While students may take up to 4 courses per term, we recommend taking between 1–3 courses per term, as each course requires work between class sessions. Students are responsible for the cost of each course that they enroll into.
Activities Fee $50.00 per term
Covers online co-curricular programming.
Technology Fee $35.00 per term
Covers online learning technology.
Health Services Fee $25.00 per term
APPLICATION FEE
Students are required to pay a nonrefundable $80.00 application fee.
COURSE MATERIALS
Students should budget approximately $50.00 for books and course materials. Some curricular options may require additional materials. Course material requirements are listed toward the bottom of the pertinent course pages.
DEPOSIT & BALANCE DUE
To secure a place in the program, a $500.00 nonrefundable deposit, credited toward tuition, is due upon notification of acceptance to the program. A bill for the balance due will be issued to the student's Columbia University email address prior to the program's start. Before receiving a bill, the student will be sent instructions regarding the option to allow a parent or family member to make a payment through the university's Authorized Payer portal.
Financial Aid
Individual applications for financial aid are not accepted. To learn about outside opportunities for financial assistance, we advise students to speak with their school's guidance counselor for information on how to search for financial aid and scholarship opportunities from outside sources and organizations.
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