Summer Springboard
Knowledge Base
GENERAL INFORMATION FAQ
GET ANSWERS TO SUMMER SPRINGBOARD'S MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BELOW BY EXPLORING OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE.
General Information FAQ
Summer Springboard’s Knowledge Base is your go-to resource for quick, reliable answers to our most frequently asked questions, saving you time and effort. By exploring it, you’ll gain clarity and confidence, ensuring you have the information you need right at your fingertips.
Please click on the links to browse the FAQs by section:
- How do I get a course catalog?
- Do students receive college credit?
- How long are your programs?
- Is Summer Springboard affiliated with a university, political party or government organization?
- What does a typical day look like at Summer Springboard?
- What is your company’s history?
- What sets Summer Springboard apart from other pre-college summer programs?
- Where are the programs located? Where do I stay?
- Where will I be eating?
- What are college readiness workshops?
- What does it mean if I am waitlisted?
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How Do I Get a Course Catalog?
Requesting a copy of Summer Springboard’s digital program catalog gives you a clear overview of all available courses, campuses, and unique opportunities.
It allows you to compare programs side by side and find the best fit for your academic and personal goals.
With everything in one place, the catalog makes planning your summer experience simple, informed, and exciting.
You can request a catalog here.
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Do Students Receive College Credit?
With the exception of our programs at Cal Poly and NYSID, students do not earn college credit.
At Cal Poly, students are able to earn 1 credit through Cal Poly’s Extended Education. At NYSID, students are able to earn 1 college credit applicable towards an undergraduate degree at NYSID or for inclusion in your future college application.
Students in all programs receive a completion certificate and letter of recommendation completed by their professor upon completion of the program.
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How Long Are Your Programs?
On-Campus
We offer one-week (middle school only) and two-week summer sessions (high school only) from June – August.
Campuses can have up to three different sessions, students are able to choose the length of their program in one to two-week increments with a maximum of 6 weeks.
Online
We offer different program lengths ranging from 5 days for middle school to 9 days for high school.
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Is Summer Springboard Affiliated With a University, Political Party or Government Organization?
No. Summer Springboard is a nonpartisan educational organization.
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners.
With the exception of Summer Springboard @ Cal Poly SLO, universities and their affiliated departments are not responsible for the Summer Springboard program in any way.
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What Does a Typical Day Look Like at Summer Springboard?
At Summer Springboard we believe learning should be inspiring and interactive.
On-campus
We have worked hard to design courses, field trips and guest lectures that reflect the resources of some of the nation’s top universities. Whenever possible, our in-person classes are held outdoors, on-site or in a lab-type setting to allow students as many ’hands on’ opportunities as possible.
Most mornings we break out into small groups based on your academic course selection. During this time, you will dive deep into your subject area of choice with creative, dynamic instructors, engaging professors and professional experts. Field trips and guest speakers take the learning experience beyond the classroom and leverage all that our campus location has to offer.
Most afternoons consist of either an elective class or a guest speaker together as a group, or within your academic track, excursions may also take place during this time as well.
All meals and breaks are built into your schedule each day. In the evenings we will hold fun social activities for all students. Additionally, we’ll enjoy the fun attractions in the vicinity. All excursions are included for Residential students, commuter students can add on weekend excursions for an additional fee.
Online
Our online courses are designed with the same rigor and attention to detail as our in-person courses. In most cases these courses are an adapted version of our in-person curriculum to match a virtual platform. Courses typically take place 3 hours each morning from 9am – 12pm Pacific or Eastern time depending on the course.
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What Is Your Company’s History?
Inspired by our successful sister organizations, Global Leadership Adventures and Discover Corps, with over a decade of experience providing unique and compelling summer experiences for teens.
How do you transform a continent? That’s the question founder, Fred Swaniker, asked in 2003 when he began developing African Leadership Academy , the first iteration and earliest beginnings of Global Leadership Adventures.
A native of Ghana and Stanford MBA who returned to work and travel all over Africa, Fred believes the greatest obstacle to African development was a lack of ethical leadership. In an effort to combat this problem, he began to develop a vision for a long-term solution: A pan-African high school nurturing entrepreneurial leadership and delivering a world-class education.
The school would extend scholarships to youth across the continent, creating a diverse student community and allowing all students the opportunity to attend based on their ambition and potential, rather than income or background. Against all odds, Fred and his co-founders brought the vision to life.
From the success of Global Leadership Adventures and the African Leadership Academy, Summer Springboard was born.
Summer Springboard was founded to give college-bound teens a supportive environment where they can explore their personal and academic passions.
Our innovative pre-college summer programs, offered at some of the world’s leading colleges and universities, combines the benefits of an academically challenging summer experience with tools and frameworks for personal leadership development and self-discovery.
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What Sets Summer Springboard Apart From Other Pre-College Summer Programs?
Summer Springboard is different from other programs. We’ve found a fun and engaging way to give students a strong base foundation to reflect on who they are as an individual and combined it with an exciting academic curriculum where you can learn about and explore new subject areas. From our innovative 2 week in-person programs or our online options, we offer a compelling fusion of academics and self-discovery that gives students the chance to learn, practice and explore their personal and academic interests and passions. You’ll gain personal insight, acquire leadership and success skills, and enjoy a taste of campus living.
With Summer Springboard, you won’t sit in a lecture all day. Our program is very hands-on and interactive and we have a staff that is professional and engaging enough to keep students motivated and excited with dynamic workshops and projects that foster self-discovery and personal leadership development. You’ll spend the summer partnering with like-minded students, working together on stimulating real-world projects, learning from leading industry experts in your field of interest, and exploring careers and personal passions. Students will learn from leading academics and the personal career experiences of industry experts.
In addition, our on-campus students will also be able to experience some of our nation’s most exciting cities, touring cities and excursions to professional sports stadiums and theme parks. Additional events will include guest speakers and social events with the rest of the Summer Springboard students.
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Where Are the Programs Located? Where Do I Stay?
We are proud to locate our program at some of the world’s leading colleges and universities to offer students a rich taste of life on a major campus.
Each campus has been selected based on their reputation for academic excellence and rigor, reputation for safety and comfort, and potential to inspire students to reach their full potential.
Current campus locations include:
- Berkeley
- Yale University
- UCLA
- Georgetown University
- UC San Diego
- UC Santa Barbara
- Cal Poly SLO
- Duke
- Georgia Tech
- Oxford
- Barnard College, Columbia University
- University of Washington
- UW Foster School of Business
- University of Michigan
You and other students and staff will reside at safe and secure on-campus dorm lodging.
Just like a college student, you will share a gender-segregated dorm room with roommates and eat meals in the university dining commons.
Rooms contain an extra-long twin size bed, desks, drawers, mirror and a closet. Bed sheets and linens will be provided.
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Where Will I Be Eating?
Residential students enjoy three meals a day included in the tuition. Most meals will be located at the campus dining hall or cafeteria located conveniently near the dormitories. Meals are buffet style and students will have access to a great variety of menu choices, and can accommodate special diets such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, or specific food allergies.
Commuter students have one meal a day (lunch) included with their tuition cost.
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What Are College Readiness Workshops?
In the afternoons, students attend college readiness workshops that provide useful life skills or a deeper understanding of the college application and admissions process.
Workshops are 90-minute sessions that occur 4 times during the program (generally Tuesday and Thursday of week 1 and Monday and Tuesday of week 2).
Speaking with confidence
- From speaking in front of a class to prepping for a college interview, find your voice and develop your ability to express yourself clearly and confidently.
Finances 101
- Learn fundamental skills in money management like building a budget and responsible spending and how to navigate the financial aid.
Leadership
- Learn how to develop your personal leadership style, foster a collaborative environment, and build self-awareness.
College Admissions
- Unlock the secrets of the daunting college application process and learn from Summer Springboard mentors who have valuable insights. You’ll leave this elective with more knowledge on the college search and your criteria, essay writing, identifying on-campus opportunities, and the admissions process.
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What Does It Mean If I Am Waitlisted?
There are two reasons you would be placed on a waitlist.
- There is no more space available in the course you selected
- There is no more space in the session dates you selected
Once on a waitlist you will stay on the waitlist and will not be charged the deposit or application fee until a spot opens up.
If an enrolled student decides to cancel or switch sessions we will call the next person up on the waitlist to take their spot.
Typically between March-May there is not a lot of movement on the waitlist. We recommend applying to a different campus/session that has availability to ensure you are able to reserve a spot.