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Furthering the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, discovering how to preserve blood, laying the mathematical foundations for the theory of genetic evolution—the University of Chicago is a leader in these and in many other areas of research. This summer, learn the techniques used in cutting-edge biological research and work in person at lab facilities at a premier research university.
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Immerse yourself in biological research
Furthering the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, discovering how to preserve blood, laying the mathematical foundations for the theory of genetic evolution—the University of Chicago is a leader in these and in many other areas of research. This summer, learn the techniques used in cutting-edge biological research and work in person at lab facilities at a premier research university.
This four-week intensive training program is designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research laboratories. Students are immersed in the research experience, giving them a taste of "life at the bench". Using a project-based approach, the course progresses from a survey of basic lab techniques to the application of current molecular techniques in developmental biology and microbiology. Most of a typical day in RIBS is spent in lab. Lectures will also be presented to provide background and introduce new concepts. Since communication skills are important in science, students will keep lab notebooks and they will make several group presentations. The course ends with a research forum in which the students present the results of their projects. Successful completion of the course will give participants the experience and confidence to work in a research laboratory.
This is the most rigorous of the pre-college offerings in Biology, requiring that students have a demonstrated passion for science, with strong performances in high school biology, math, and chemistry (honors or advanced level preferred if available). Students who have completed a significant amount of lab work outside of class may find this course repetitive.
RIBS is a residential program and requires students to live on-campus to complete the program.
Regular class attendance, timely completion of work, and participation are required. Failure to meet these standards may result in probation or dismissal. Students in Immersion, RIBS, and Stones & Bones, are required to take all classes for a quality letter grade and missing more than a day will have a significant impact on your grade for the class. Each Summer Session course is equivalent to 9 weeks of undergraduate coursework. Because Summer courses are condensed, 1-2 days of class is equivalent to an entire week of instruction during the regular academic year, so attendance and timely completion of work is critical. Summer Session courses and grades are recorded on a UChicago transcript; college applications, including the Common App, will require you to submit this transcript when you apply to colleges.
Course times: 9:00 A.M - 5:00 P.M.
Units: 200 UChicago units, which is equivalent to 2 full-time courses
Current high school sophomores and juniors. Students must complete one year of high school biology by the start of the program. This course is the most rigorous of the pre-college offerings in Biology, requiring that students have a demonstrated passion for science, with strong performances in high school biology, math, and chemistry (honors or advanced level preferred if available).
• Personal Profile
• Program and Course Selection
• Transcript for all years in high school. You must include a transcript for all classes taken in high school for grades 9, 10, and 11, as applicable. A 2022–2023 grade report for current courses is also required if they do not appear on your official transcript. Students currently in 9th grade should also submit their grade report from 8th grade.
• Test Scores, including the PSAT, PreACT, SAT, ACT, and any AP scores are optional, but encouraged if you have taken one of these tests.
International students are required to submit TOEFL, DET, or IELTS scores (see International Students page for details). A copy of the entire report should be provided, not just the final score.
International students who are applying to any of the Enrichment Programs are encouraged to submit proof of English proficiency from any exam (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test) if they feel mastery of the English language is not otherwise demonstrated in their application.
• Students applying to Immersion, RIBS, Pre-College Summer Language Institute, Stones and Bones, Summer College, and Summer Online will be asked to respond to these two essays:
Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of the courses you elected. (Limit: 500 words)
Describe your most rewarding academic project or academic experience. (Limit: 250 words).
• Students applying to any multiweek programs must submit a legible copy of one of their essays or research papers which is typed, written in English, and includes their teacher's grade and comments. Students may submit a marked handwritten paper if it is accompanied by a typed copy.
Lab notes or math sets will not be accepted; the writing sample should be English expository prose.
Students who do not have a writing sample that meets these guidelines will need to write a paper and have their teacher review it.
• Financial Aid & Scholarship Program Application, optional
• Up to 3 Letters of Recommendation from teacher(s) related to courses for which you are applying
• Parent Confirmation Response
• Application Fee
Deadline
THE DEADLINE TO APPLY SUMMER SESSION COURSES HAS PASSED FOR SUMMER 2023!
Cost includes housing and dining.
Students admitted to any Multi-Week Program must confirm attendance by submitting a $1,000 non-refundable program deposit within seven days of the release of their admissions decision. Students will not be registered for courses or programs until this initial deposit is received. Students admitted to any Scholarship Program will have the enrollment deposit automatically waived.
The full program fee will be due four weeks after students are admitted; students who fail to pay the program fee will forfeit their spot in their program.
Application fees and the enrollment deposit are nonrefundable.
Financial Aid
High school students are eligible for a number of scholarships and aid.
Need-based aid
UChicago offers need-based aid to students interested in participating in Summer College.
In order to be considered for need-based aid to support students with demonstrated financial need, students must complete the additional information requested in the application.
Aid varies based on need and program cost; students typically receive between the following amounts: $500 - $9,000.
UChicago Scholarship Programs
In addition to this aid, UChicago also hosts scholarship programs for rural students, students engaged in Hispanic/Latino communities, students who identify as Black/African American, students whose parents are police officers or firefighters, and students who are currently enrolled in any of the United World Colleges, to provide enhanced financial, academic, and social support in our Summer College programs.
Students selected for each of the scholarship programs will be able to participate in a Summer College course free of charge. All costs will be covered by the scholarship
The application fee will be waived for anyone applying to a scholarship program.
External Scholarships
Students who apply through external scholarship partners will have varied scholarship opportunities and will not have to pay an application fee or submit a Financial Aid Application.
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