William & Mary Pre-College Online Program: Summer Program Spotlight
January 1, 2026
Imagine you’re interested in psychology, but your school only offers an introductory survey course…which you’ve already taken. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, but legal dramas on Netflix are your sole source of career insight. Maybe you’re curious about a profession that can be notoriously difficult to gain exposure to in high school, like venture capital or medicine. But what if there were a way to test-drive your interests—and receive exposure to new ones—all before you ever set foot on a college campus? You’re in luck—the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program enables high school students to do just that. Keep scrolling for an in-depth overview of this program’s faculty, course offerings, curriculum structure, and application process.
Note: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of William & Mary’s Pre-College Online Program. We have independently (and enthusiastically) recommended their offerings to our clients for many years. Our site only partners with programs that bring significant value to students and the material in this blog is 100% the genuine opinion of College Transitions.
What is the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program?
Founded in 1693, William & Mary has always been a strong proponent of curricular exploration and creative thinking. Today, those values live on, most tangibly through the College’s interdisciplinary core curriculum and stipulation that undergraduates complete nearly 40 credits of coursework before declaring a major. Now, William & Mary has extended this highly supportive environment to high school students through their Pre-College Online Program.
William & Mary’s Pre-College Online Program offers students aged 13 and up the opportunity to take courses in business, psychology, medicine, and law, all of which are taught by William & Mary professors and specifically designed for high school students. However, you won’t have to travel to Williamsburg to take advantage—every course is asynchronous. While each two-week or four-week course will require approximately 20 to 30 hours of video lectures, assignments, and projects, you can work through the material on your own schedule, whether on the weekends, before school, or between soccer practice and your part-time job. Moreover, since many courses complement one another, taking multiple courses—whether concurrently or in separate sessions—is an excellent way to fully explore all facets of a given interest.
Finally, the online structure of William & Mary’s Pre-College courses makes them highly accessible to high schoolers across the country and around the world. The benefit? You’ll be surrounded by diverse perspectives that will open your mind and deepen your learning.
Which courses does the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program offer?
Currently, four William & Mary Pre-College courses are available to high school students:
Constitutional Law: We the People
Curious about a career in law, policy, or government? You’ll need to understand how the Constitution underpins the United States court system. Accordingly, this unique course will familiarize you with various methods of Constitutional interpretation, the role of the Bill of Rights, and related conflicts between the state and federal government.
Medicine: Disease, Diagnostics, and Interventions
How do physicians diagnose diseases and create treatment plans? In this course, you’ll learn the ins and outs of that process by studying the features of viral, bacterial, and parasitic microorganisms as well as their effect on the body. Along the way, expect to gain exposure to the role of public health, microbiology, and biotechnology.
Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works
Ever wondered how our brains function? This course will expose you to the foundational concepts of cognitive psychology, a discipline that studies how the brain processes information like language, behavior, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. Since a background in cognitive psych is in high demand for a myriad of careers (think: law, education, and healthcare), you’ll gain incredible value from this course regardless of your professional interests.
Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment
In this course, you’ll study the closely entwined areas of entrepreneurship and venture capital. Topics include everything from the process of raising money and the role of investors to the elements of an unforgettable pitch and the post-pitch due diligence process. Finally, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of the VC ecosystem alongside related majors and career paths.
What is a William & Mary Pre-College Online course like?
For maximum engagement, William & Mary Pre-College Online courses are divided into a series of modules. During each module, you’ll engage with video lectures that have been pre-recorded by William & Mary professors alongside simulations, assignments, and knowledge checks meant to cement your understanding before moving on. Wondering what happens if you don’t understand a particular concept? Luckily, that’s what your course mentor is for. Throughout your course, your mentor will offer subject matter expertise and direction as well as support for your Final Project.
As the culminating experience of your course, the Final Project will be your most important assignment. Moreover, you’ll choose your Final Project’s topic—and delivery—so it should reflect your unique interests and demonstrate your learning. Best of all, it’s a tangible achievement that you can include in portfolios for job, internship, and college applications.
Check out the following examples of what your Final Project might look like:
In Constitutional Law: We the People, you’ll play the role of a Supreme Court Justice as you analyze a past case. You’ll also discuss the outcome of the case using a chosen constitutional interpretation.
In Medicine: Disease, Diagnostics, and Interventions, you’ll create a patient case file using a pathogen covered in the course, explaining the case from diagnosis to treatment.
Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works will require you to create a human brain map that demonstrates how you processed a recent personal decision.
Who will teach my William & Mary Pre-College Online course?
William & Mary ranks highly for the strength of its undergraduate teaching, which is good news for you since faculty members design and deliver all pre-college online courses via pre-recorded video lectures. In addition to their ability to make concepts exciting and accessible, instructors also have extensive academic and professional backgrounds in their course’s subject. Let’s take a look:
Dr. Jennifer A. Stevens, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences and the Neuroscience Program, teaches Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works. She’s also the director of the W&M Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.
Planning to take Constitutional Law: We the People? You’ll benefit from Professor Christine Nemacheck’s expertise. In addition to being an Associate Professor of Government at William & Mary, she has also published several books, received multiple teaching and research awards, and currently co-directs the Dunn Civil Liberties Project.
Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment is led by Graham Henshaw, a clinical associate professor at William & Mary’s School of Business and executive director of the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center. He was also a previous director at a Richmond-based venture capital firm and a strategic consultant to major companies like General Electric, Kraft Foods, and Toyota.
How many courses can I take?
With the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program, the world is your oyster…you can take as many classes as you are interested in! If you do take multiple courses, just be mindful of the 20-30 hours of time involved for each. Otherwise, you are free to build a schedule that works best for you.
For example, if you’re interested in the legal profession (or hoping to build your research skills), you might choose to take Constitutional Law: We the People and Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works. Are you as curious about medicine as you are about finance? Try Medicine: Disease, Diagnostics, and Interventions and Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment. Have tech startup goals? Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment will teach you the ins and outs of bringing on investors while Cognitive Psychology: How the Brain Works will build awareness of your problem-solving and decision-making process.
How much does the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program cost?
Whether you opt for a two-week course or a four-week course, each costs $1,595. The two-week course provides the same amount of instruction, activities, and engagement as the four-week course, just condensed into a faster-paced format.
Moreover, scholarships are available to students with high potential and demonstrated financial need. Once you submit your application, you can indicate scholarship interest.
How do I apply to the William & Mary Pre-College Online Program?
Applying to William & Mary’s program is a simple, 20-30-minute process that does not require transcripts or letters of recommendation. The only two requirements? An online form with basic information and an essay (in written or video form) that details why you’d like to enroll. The essay is the most important part of your application, so be sure to give it an ample amount of time and attention.
Final Thoughts – William & Mary Pre-College Online Program
Exploring your interests as early as possible can reap major benefits, from a more focused undergraduate experience to an increased awareness of career possibilities. With their combination of expert teaching, project-based learning, and significant flexibility, William & Mary’s Pre-College Online courses are sure to deliver the enrichment and challenge that you’ve been searching for.
Looking for additional resources? Consider checking out the following:
