Please follow these steps to begin the application process:

1. Launch the Summer College Application: Once you arrive on the Application Management portal, create an account to start a new application. Use your information when creating this account and provide an email address that is checked regularly and accessible when high school is not in session.

2. Log In and Begin: Once you are logged in, click on Start New Application then click on Create Application to begin. 

3. Work your way through the first four sections of the application which require your personal and parent/guardian information, and academic history.

4. The 5th section is titled Sponsoring/Partnering Organization. In this section, you will answer ‘Yes’ to the first question and select ‘Summer Search’ from the dropdown choices of sponsoring/partner organization. You will then need to provide the details for the individual who nominated you for this scholarship opportunity. If you skip this step, you will be prompted to pay the $65 non-refundable application fee.

5. Continue to work through the next section for your essay. This will be 250-500 words. There are three prompts to choose from; you only need to answer one:

   • Do you have a background, interest, or talent that is especially meaningful? If so, please tell us about it

   • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth or a new understanding of yourself or others.

   • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

6. Course Selection: You will select the appropriate course.

7. Continue to work through the next section for your additional information.

8. Scholarship & Discount & Recommendations: This will be the only sections you may skip, as you have been nominated for a partner organization scholarship.

9. Ensure you complete the entire application, provide your digital signature, and note the Review section for detected errors with your application. All errors must be corrected before submission.

After you submit your application, you should receive an admissions decision within two weeks. Within one week of receiving your letter of admission, you must complete an Admit Acceptance Form (which can be found in your Application Student Portal) to confirm your intention to attend Summer College. 14 days after confirming your attendance, you will need to activate your NetID account to access your Syracuse University email address.

All required forms can be accessed through the application portal.

Students applying to this program must be in good academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). You will need to provide a copy of your most recent high school transcript (an unofficial is acceptable), and this must include at least one full year of grades.

A letter of recommendation from a teacher, school counselor, coach, or mentor is required. This letter must address "your maturity, self-discipline, and potential for success in a college-level course." This cannot be from a family member.

There is also a 250-500 word essay requirement. There are three prompts to choose from; you only need to answer one:

• Do you have a background, interest, or talent that is especially meaningful? If so, please tell us about it

• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth or a new understanding of yourself or others.

• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

There are no required orientations or workshops prior to attending this Summer Experience, however, you are highly encouraged to attend an informational session hosted by Syracuse University. These sessions can be found here and on our Events Calendar.

Make sure to attend your Goodbye Group to receive your equipment and travel itinerary, and to meet the other Summer Searchers who will be traveling with the same program!

This is an intensive summer program that will provide you with a college prep experience, allow you to improve your academic skills, and leave you with easily transferrable college credits!

In the classroom, you can look forward to lectures, hands-on activities, guest speakers, and field trips. You will spend between 16 and 30 hours per week, M-F, in the classroom, studio, lab, and/or theater. The remaining time is to be organized around studying, writing papers, working on group projects, doing laundry, rehearsing, socializing, attending optional residential activities, etc.

The course list and programming schedule can be found here. Make sure to register for courses that are available during the 1 and 2-Week Sessions ONLY. You may choose between on-campus, virtual, or on location classes.

Available Sessions:

• 1-Week Session I: July 6 - July 11, 2025

• 1-Week Session II: July 20 - July 25, 2025

• 2-Week Session I: July 6 - July 18, 2025

• 2-Week Session II: July 20 - August 1, 2025

Summer Search will assign you to either a 1- or 2-Week session, but the dates you decide to attend within that parameter is up to you. You will choose the dates you want to register for when you apply. You MUST choose the duration you are assigned to and you may only take one course. Talk to your mentor or reach out to the Summer Team if you have any questions.

For this program, you may choose either the on-campus, virtual, or on-location options for your classes. If you choose virtual or on-location, your programming will take place during the day, and you will return home in the evening; meals will not be provided.

If you choose on-campus, you will be living in the residence halls, eating in the dining halls, and participating in various events and activities.

Residence halls will be exclusively dedicated to Summer College - On Campus students for the duration of this program. You will have 24/7 card swipe access, Residential Security Aids will be posted at each building entrance, and Summer Residential Counselors will occupy rooms on each floor. Residence halls typically contain a large common room and several smaller lounges. Quiet Hours are from 9pm-8am every day. Curfew begins at 11pm, Su-Th, and at 12am F-Sa; you will be required to sign in at the main desk of the residence hall prior to curfew, and then remain in the residence hall each night.

Floors will be gendered and students are not permitted to attend informal or formal gatherings on floors to which they are not assigned. Large bathrooms on each floor are shared. There is air conditioning in the lounges, but not in the dorm rooms.

Rooms typically house two students, however some students may be placed in singles, triples, or suites that accommodate 2-6 students. Each room is equipped with a bed, dresser, desk, chair, a wardrobe per student, and a combination minifridge and microwave (MicroFridge).

Students may request a roommate in the "Roommate Request" field on their Slate application. Both parties must separately request each other as their roommate. If students do not request a roommate, one will be assigned to them. For privacy purposes, roommate information will not be given prior to arrival on campus.

All students are provided with a meal plan and get to eat right on campus. Your meal plan will include 19 meals per week (starting with dinner on the Sunday of your move-in/orientation). There are options for dietary restrictions and food allergies. You will need to contact mealtalk@syr.edu 4+ weeks before arriving to campus with any questions about dietary needs.

This is an open enrollment program, which means non-Summer Searchers will be able to join your group and you’ll meet folks from diverse backgrounds. There may be a couple of other Summer Searchers attending the same program, but most people will probably not know each other!

Phones and other electronic devices are available for use. You may want to bring a laptop if you have one. If you need to borrow one from Summer Search, let your mentor know! There will also be a computer lab at Syracuse University.

You will need to either travel by plane or a shuttle bus to Syracuse. A NY REAL ID is required to fly.

While you may have been chaperoned as a sophomore, juniors are not accompanied by Summer Search to the departure location. Program staff typically meet students at your arrival point and travel with you to your final destination. Program staff will remain with you until you depart for NYC.

We recommend having $35-100 for personal spending. You may want to buy snacks or souvenirs!

See here for your packing list! Syracuse will also provide textbooks and materials like pens/pencils and notebooks.