Summer Academy

Double Discovery Center's Summer Academy

What is Summer Academy?
Summer Academy by the Numbers

About Summer Academy:

The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University's Summer Academy is a 5-week academic enrichment residential program for 9th and 10th grade New York City high school students. It is held on Columbia University's Morningside campus. Students reside on campus throughout the duration of the program, arriving Sunday morning and departing Friday afternoon. Provides an immersive college campus experience with students engaged in academic enrichment courses with an emphasis on reading, writing, and research skills; as well as wellness focused workshops that provide socio-emotional support. This program is free for 9th and 10th grade students enrolled in DDC.

Program Overview:

  • Duration: 5 weeks, from July 1 to August 2, 2024
  • Location: Columbia University's Morningside Campus
  • Features: Academic courses focusing on reading, writing, research, wellness workshops, and a complete campus experience
  • Cost: Free for eligible 9th and 10th graders enrolled in DDC

Eligibility

  • Be in 9th, or 10th grade at a New York City public high school
  • Neither of your parents graduated from college in the U.S. or
  • Meet low-income requirement
  • Have a GPA of 80 and above
    • Submission of High School Transcript & Latest Report Card Required

Priority consideration is given to students who

  • Live in Harlem or Washington Heights or
  • Go to a High School in Harlem or Washington Heights
  • Students who actively and consistently participated in Saturday Academy (Fall and Spring 2024)
  • Students who are students in one of the following high schools
    • Park East High School
    • Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics
    • Community Health Academy of the Heights
    • Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change
    • Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts

For Students - How to Apply

Application Steps:

1. Complete the Application:

  • Students must complete all part of this application with their parents/legal guardians and must be completed in one sitting.
  • This application includes three writing prompts (minimum 250 words each):
    • What do you hope to learn, experience, or gain from participating in Summer Academy?
    • What do you think will be the biggest challenge you will face while participating in Summer Academy?
    • Write a note to your future Summer Academy bestie that reveals something about you or that will help them get to know you better.

2. Interviews:

  • Select students will be invited for an in-person, individual interview with a DDC staff member. (Please note that an interview does not guarantee acceptance in the Summer Academy program.)

3. Final Steps: Detail the final acceptance stage, mandatory orientation, and immunization form submission.

  • Accepted students and their parents/legal guardians will be invited to a mandatory in-person orientation.
    • *Students and/or parents/legal guardians who do not attend orientation will forfeit their spot.*
    • *All finalists must submit all forms provided during the semi-finalist interview, including the Columbia University Immunization Form by the deadline indicated below, signed and stamped by a doctor.*

Key Dates

  • Program Dates: Begins Monday, July 1 and ends Friday, August 2
    • Move-in: Students move-in on June 30, 2024 at 5 pm
    • Move-out: Students move-out August 2, 2024 at 1 pm
    • All students reside on Columbia University - Morningside Campus Sunday evening to Friday afternoon
      • Students check-in every Sunday at 5 pm
      • Students check-out every Friday by 3 pm
        • Week of July 30: Students will check-out on Wednesday, July 3 at 2 pm due to Holiday Weekend
    • As a residential program, all students live on campus and are required to fully participate in all aspects of the program. Therefore, students will not be able to participate in multiple programs (i.e. SYEP, Summer School, etc.)
  • Application Deadline: April 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
  • Semi-finalist Decisions: March 15, 2024 - April 5, 2024 (rolling)
  • Finalist Decisions: Released via email on Monday, May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
    • Confirmation Deadline: Friday, May 15
    • Immunization Form Deadline: Friday, June 7 (in-person)
  • Student and Parent/Legal Guardian Mandatory Orientation: Saturday, June 15 at 10 am

Eligibility

  • Be in 9th, or 10th grade at a New York City public high school
  • Neither of your parents graduated from college in the U.S. *or* - Meet [low-income requirement](https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/incomelevels.html)
  • Have a GPA of 80 and above - Submission of High School Transcript & Latest Report Card Required

*Priority consideration is given to students who*

  • Live in Harlem or Washington Heights or Go to a High School in Harlem or Washington Heights
  • Students who actively and consistently participated in Saturday Academy (Fall and Spring 2024)
  • Students who are students in one of the following high schools
    • Park East High School
    • Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics
    • Community Health Academy of the Heights
    • Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change
    • Urban Assembly School for the Performing Arts