Temple’s summer pre-college programs offer students the opportunity to experience college life and discover their academic passions while creating a pathway to becoming future Owls. 

Each year, hundreds of high school students get a firsthand glimpse of Temple’s immersive college life experience through its pre-college summer programs. The programs also give students entering grades 10, 11 or 12 the opportunity to take undergraduate courses for college credit while exploring potential majors through interactive noncredit workshops, institutes and intensives. Students can participate as either commuters or by living on campus during the program. 

Attendees in the summer program take part in academic sessions from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during a typical day. Beyond just traditional classroom instruction, students explore a wide range of activities, everything from architecture, robotics and 3D printing to filmmaking, music production, and STEM fields such as neuroscience and DNA science, and more.  

“Our summer programs are really accessible and what makes them unique is that they offer many noncredit elements, which allows students to explore all their interests, like for example they can take a neuroscience course in the morning, but then take a ceramics workshop in the afternoon,” said Susan Nicodemus Quinn, director of summer and pre-college programs. 

“No matter what you are studying, you’re interacting with students who are studying across all the disciplines that Temple offers, which makes it a very rich learning environment beyond just learning your specific curriculum content.” 

Quinn added that the program’s College Success Strategies curriculum explores both the social-emotional side of preparing for college, including the application process and how to craft a strong essay, which gives students a leg up when they start applying to colleges. 

Since 2016, the summer pre-college programs have served as a strong pipeline for first-year students to apply to Temple. Overall, 51% of pre-college participants have applied to Temple, and 28% of those applicants have enrolled. Among participants in the four-week Pre-college Summer Academy, 72% have applied to Temple, and 56% of those applicants have enrolled. The program also features a 10-day pre-college study abroad in Rome, where participants can experience life as a student at Temple Rome. 

Roughly 40% of the program’s students are commuters, while the other attendees come from across the country and around the world. This year, students from 13 states and nine countries were represented in the program. Temple pre-college students experience more than courses and workshops—they have an opportunity to explore new interests; make friends; and connect with current Temple students through dining, social activities, study hours and pre-college mentorship.  

One of those mentors is Bronte Short, a current Temple student who first attended the summer program as a high school student before returning to the program as a staff member. She took summer courses in digital filmmaking and street photography. 

“I really liked the access to Temple and the college experience during the summer program,” said Short. “I particularly liked the filmmaking intensive because it exposed me to different elements of composition and narrative, which was really foundational for me, especially since I’m now pursuing a film and history degree. I also enjoyed the street photography class because it allowed me to experiment with techniques like double exposure and explore different neighborhoods in Philly on field trips. 

“Now, as a pre-college mentor, I enjoy guiding students in their classes, serving as a liaison between students and professors, and teaching College Success Strategies,” she added. “What really appeals to me is working with students one-on-one and helping them take what they learn in class and apply it to their different interests.” 

Another current Temple student who serves as a staff member in the program is Solomon Jones, who helps students prepare for college through readiness courses and offers guidance during the intensive and precollege workshops. One of the courses Jones works with is the digital filmmaking intensive, where he helps students operate cameras and shares insight into the industry as they explore their careers. 

“All of the professors in the program have worked as professionals in their fields, so they give the students an idea of what to expect when breaking into their industry, especially by giving them access to modern technology they may encounter in their future careers,” said Jones, a film and media arts major at Temple. 

“We hold labs where students get to work with different cameras and editing software used in the industry, giving them hands-on experience and confidence in pursuing a program at Temple,” he added. “They get to see that the instructors and mentors within the program come from diverse backgrounds, showing them that success in any field that aligns with their interests is possible, regardless of where they come from.” 

“My time at Temple Rome this summer was one of the most unforgettable experiences ever,” said Catherine Mellon, a senior in high school from Wiesbaden, Germany. “You will experience Rome in such a unique way, and you’re bound to meet amazing people.”