Georgetown Pre-College Online Program: Summer Program Spotlight

January 22, 2024

Calculus, English literature, history, Spanish, biology…if you’re a typical high school student, this is likely a good representation of your academic schedule. However, if you want to dive into a special topic or have a budding curiosity about a particular career path, you might be wondering where to begin. Perhaps your brief study of cellular structure in biology led to a fascination with biomedicine, or that after-school leadership workshop left you with more questions than answers about practical application. If that’s the case, look no further than Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Program. In keeping with its cura personalis (“care for the whole person”) philosophy, Georgetown has created a set of courses that allows students to delve into special topics that are not typically part of the high school curriculum while receiving guidance from mentors with subject-matter expertise. In today’s blog, we’ll explore the program’s many offerings and benefits.

Note: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Georgetown University’s Pre-College Program. We have independently (and enthusiastically) recommended their offerings to our clients for many years. Our site only partners with summer programs that bring significant value to students and the material in this blog is 100% the genuine opinion of College Transitions.

Why should I take a class through the Georgetown Pre-College Online Program?

The Georgetown Pre-College Online Program offers excellent opportunities for academic enrichment in myriad fields. Additionally, it gives you the rare chance to assess your overall inclinations toward a particular subject or multiple subjects. Your chosen course(s) may affirm your interests, introduce you to a new career path that you hadn’t previously considered, or even make it clear that you’d prefer a different direction, all in a low-pressure environment. Engaging in this type of academic and career exploration as a high school student can lead to enhanced focus in college.

Moreover, Georgetown’s program offers an optimal structure for learning, combining various types of multimedia alongside hands-on assignments. There’s also plenty of student choice; depending on the course, students can choose their own topics for final projects and also have full control over how those projects are presented (photography, text, video, etc.). Throughout their course, students also have the opportunity to make personal and professional connections with their course mentors.

Finally, colleges like to see that you’re genuinely pursuing your interest areas in ways that are accessible to you. Engaging in one of Georgetown’s courses is a fantastic way to demonstrate that intellectual curiosity on your application.

What type of courses does the Georgetown Pre-College Online Program offer?

Currently, there are seventeen courses available across a wide spectrum of subject areas:

Health and Medicine

Medicine: An Inside Look at Treating Patients explores the patient journey, healthcare team roles, and treatment plans for three cases. Students learn about complementary vs. integrative medicine techniques and design a healthcare team for either congestive heart failure or thyroid cancer.

Becoming a Surgeon: Skills, Specialties, and Diseases lets students delve into the challenge of diagnosing a disease and treating it through surgery. Students also study abdominal diseases and learn about technologies like robotics and digital scanning.

Medical Research: Clinical Trials Resulting in Medical Discoveries teaches students about the medical research process, including the steps of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), and gives them an opportunity to develop their own studies.

Explore Advanced Practice Nursing introduces students to the skills required for a variety of nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives. Moreover, they’ll learn more about patient treatment.

Related: How to Become a Surgeon

Biology

The Science of Cells and Innovation gives students the ability to delve into cellular structure, disease, and microscopy. Students also learn about emerging technologies in this field.

Anatomy and Physiology

How the Body Works in Harmony introduces students to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal systems. They’ll also explore how these systems interact and impact one another.

Psychology

How the Brain Influences Behavior delves into the ways that psychology impacts our lives, from social media-induced stress to drugs and mental health disorders. Students also learn about neuroscience and how psychologists study human behavior.

Law

How To Think Like an Attorney enables students to dive into the world of legal decision-making, practicing their ability to ask focused questions and analyze evidence. Moreover, they’ll explore legal ethics and gain debate skills.

International Law: Protecting the World’s Interests teaches students about treaty negotiation, the ins and outs of jurisdiction, and how international laws are enforced. Students also consider how issues like climate change and social media will affect the current landscape.

Related: How to Become a Lawyer

International Relations

How the World Works teaches students about international relations, global conflict, and human rights. Students also gain valuable group discussion skills.

Related: Best Colleges for International Relations/Studies

U.S. Politics and Government

In To Form a More Perfect Union, students explore the history of the U.S. Constitution, examine how our political institutions work, and study the political party system. Moreover, they’ll delve into the influence of media and public opinion.

Cybersecurity

Protecting Our Digital Future is a deep dive into the realities of the dark web, allowing students to take a closer look at the history of cyberspace as well as different types of cyberattacks. Furthermore, the course investigates AI’s evolving role in cybersecurity.

Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Finance

Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance teaches students about financial markets, valuation models, and the process of wealth creation. It also covers fintech, such as cryptocurrency.

Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation gives students the opportunity to learn about the history of entrepreneurship, the importance of networking, and different types of business models. Moreover, they’ll develop their business pitch skills.

In Discover the Power of Marketing, students learn about traditional and digital marketing channels as well as how to build a brand, analyze consumer insights, and identify a marketing strategy.

Leadership

Becoming a Leader: Motivate, Inspire, and Persuade teaches students about different leadership styles. It also explores conflict resolution, the basics of motivation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Journalism

Journalism and Media in the Digital Age delves into how to find, research, create, and publish stories. Furthermore, it covers a variety of media platforms, including video, social, and mobile.

What are the courses like?

All courses are completely remote and asynchronous, meaning you can engage in the material on your own schedule—perfect for busy high schoolers in any time zone. As such, there are no live Zoom classes to attend. Instead, courses are delivered through a set of engaging and dynamic video lessons and special assignments. The courses are designed by Georgetown faculty and often feature discussions with experts in the field. Moreover, the curriculum is designed for active learning; all courses conclude with a Final Capstone Project, showcasing all you’ve learned throughout the program.

Who teaches the Georgetown Pre-College Online Program courses?

The courses are fully designed and recorded by Georgetown University professors, and feature experienced guest speakers and professionals who are experts in their respective fields.. For example, Anatomy & Physiology: How the Body Works in Harmony was created by Dr. Elise Orellana, an assistant professor at Georgetown’s School of Medicine with expertise in gross anatomy, histology, and media production. Cybersecurity: Protecting Our Digital Future was designed by Dr. Frederic Lemieux, who is Faculty Director and Professor of the Practice for the Applied Intelligence, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Technology Management, and Information Technology Management programs. He specializes in intelligence, cybersecurity, and disruptive technologies. Rebecca Silderbrand, Professor of the Practice and Director of the Journalism Program, has over twenty years of experience in political and presidential journalism and delivers the course material for Journalism and Media in the Digital Age.

In addition, you’ll have access to a mentor that will support you through the material, be available to answer questions, and help you brainstorm and create your final project.

What can I do with my Final Capstone Project?

First, let’s delve into a sampling of the projects you can create through Georgetown’s courses.

In Becoming a Surgeon: Skills, Specialties, and Diseases, students create videos and models related to abdominal anatomy and conditions, and also design a mock patient quiz.

Summer Program Spotlight (Continued)

In International Law: How the World Works, students analyze a simulation involving military force and recommend specific actions while staying mindful of legality.

In Anatomy and Physiology: How the Body Works in Harmony, students use their newfound knowledge of the body’s systems to create an informational pamphlet for diabetic patients.

Think of your Final Capstone as a way to practice important skills, such as synthesizing and presenting information, while providing you the opportunity to explore a topic of special interest in your own style. Moreover, your project could be the spark for further study of a particular topic, whether through a class at school, like AP Research, or a local internship. You can also list the project on internship and college applications.

What type of time commitment should I expect?

It depends on the length of the course. You can select from courses that are either one week, two weeks, or four weeks long. While all classes require approximately 20-30 hours of instruction and activities, that time will be distributed evenly over the length of the course you select. For a one-week class, expect to commit approximately 20-30 hours of time over the course of the week. For a two-week class, you should expect to spend 10-15 hours per week, and a four-week class would require a 5-7 hour weekly commitment. All courses are the same price, so think about what might fit best into your schedule as well as what might be optimal for your personal learning style. For example, some students prefer to do fast-paced deep dives while others prefer to spread work out over several weeks for maximum absorption.

In addition, while you must complete all required work by your program’s end date, you’ll have access to the virtual lessons and materials for up to a month after the program’s culmination.

How old do I have to be to take a course?

Students as young as 13 can take courses year-round. Although summer is the most popular time for most students to pursue academic enrichment opportunities, it is possible to dive into courses during the school year if that is a better fit for your schedule.

How many courses can I take at one time?

As many as you’d like! That said, keep the recommended time commitment (above) in mind. If you do opt to take multiple courses, consider selecting options that directly complement one another or introduce you to a tangential subject area. For example, aspiring health professionals might choose to explore a range of potential medical careers by taking Becoming a Surgeon: Skills, Specialties, and Diseases alongside Explore Advanced Practice Nursing. Interested in journalism? Other than Journalism and Media in the Digital Age, you might also opt for a course in a subject area that you could see yourself researching or writing about, such as international law or relations. Moreover, the entrepreneurially minded might consider not only Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation but also Discover the Power of Marketing.

How do I apply to the Georgetown Pre-College Online Program?

To apply, you’ll need to provide basic personal information as well as a brief personal statement that discusses why you wish to enroll in your course(s) of choice. The application deadline varies depending on the course start date. However, applications are typically accepted until approximately a week before the course’s start date.

How much does the program cost?

Each course costs up to $1,795, regardless of course length. In other words, a one-week course is the same price as a four-week class—you’ll receive the same amount of instruction and materials, just delivered over a longer time period.

Is there financial aid available?

Yes. Need-based scholarships are available for students with high potential who are unable to pay tuition.

Final Thoughts – Georgetown Pre-College Online Program

If you’re on the hunt for an academic enrichment opportunity that allows you to engage in a specialized learning experience on your own schedule, the Georgetown Pre-College Online Program could be a perfect fit. Moreover, to soak up everything this program has to offer, you should be motivated to commit the recommended amount of time to your studies and be self-disciplined enough to follow through. Hoping to build those skills? This program would be an excellent way to do so in a structured yet supportive environment.

Looking for additional summer program resources? You might consider checking out the following:

2024 Guide to Summer Programs for High School Students

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Summer Program Spotlight

Kelsea Conlin

Kelsea holds a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Tufts University, a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and an MA in Teaching Writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her short fiction is forthcoming in Chautauqua.