Summer Academy

Double Discovery Center's Summer Academy

About Summer Academy:

The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University's Summer Academy is a 5-week academic enrichment program for 9th and 10th grade New York City high school students. It is held on Columbia University's Morningside campus. Students are provided an immersive college campus experience with students engaged in academic enrichment courses emphasizing 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 7 to August 1
  • 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.
  • 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 2025)
  • 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:

  • Access the Application  
  • Students must complete all parts of this application with their parents/legal guardians and must complete it in one sitting. This application includes three writing prompts (minimum 250 words each).

2. Interviews:

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

3. Final Steps: Detail the final acceptance stage, mandatory orientation, and 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.*

Key Dates

  • Program Dates: Begins Monday, July 7, and ends Friday, August 1
  • Application Deadline: Monday, April 21 at 9:00 am
  • Finalist Decisions: Released via email on Monday, May 19 at 5:00 pm
    • Confirmation Deadline: noon on Monday, June 2
  • Student and Parent/Legal Guardian Mandatory Orientation: Saturday, June 21
  • Student Mandatory Program Orientation: Tuesday, July 1, 10 am to 3 pm

Frequently Asked Questions

Summer Academy begins on July 7th. And ends on Friday, August 1st.
 

Students will be taking classes in Sociology, Theater, Financial Literacy, Writing, and STEM. 

Your parents must attend the orientation on Saturday June 21 at 10 am. If your parents are not able to attend, your emergency contact must be present. and they must be over the age of 18.

You will know if you have been accepted on May 19 at 5 pm and then you must confirm that you will be attending by 12 pm on June 2, or we will give the opportunity to someone else.

No, this year, we are running a Commuter Program. Students will arrive at Columbia’s Morningside campus by 10:00 AM, daily. All students 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.)

Students must always be accompanied by a DDC staff member. Unless you leave with a parent or guardian, you will not be allowed to leave campus until programming is over at 4:30 PM.

During the academic year, students can participate in Saturday Academy where students participate in college prep workshops and courses like Sociology, Investing, and Ballet. We also do college tours, host college, and career panels, provide tutoring in almost every subject, and guide you through the college application process when you’re a senior.