Our Review of the Summer Residential Program for Middle School Students at Duke University
For middle schoolers aiming to get an early start on high school-level academics or increase their chances at competitive high schools, summer programs are one way to get ahead. These programs are worth considering if you want to spend your summer on academic exploration and development. However, there are a lot of choices out there for middle schoolers, and it might be difficult for you to decide what programs might be a good fit.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the Summer Residential Program for Middle School Students hosted by Duke University. We’ll review what attendees can study, how to apply, and the logistics of attendance. We’ll finish off with our review of the program so that you can make an informed decision about your or your student’s summer plans!
What are Duke’s middle school Summer Residential Programs?
Duke’s middle school Summer Programs are one- or two-week long sessions for rising 7th and 8th grade students hosted on Duke University’s campus in Durham, North Carolina. You will enroll in specialized courses on a topic of your choice and complete intensive study with university instructors. Structured like an academic summer camp, you will spend most of your time in class, with the rest of your days dedicated to activities with your peers both on campus and in the local community.
What can I study at Duke’s Summer Residential Program for Middle School Students?
Duke’s summer program courses vary year by year. However, Duke’s offerings always include an array of options across disciplines from STEM to humanities and social sciences.
Last year, Duke offered STEM courses on topics such as Aerospace Engineering, Mathematical Logic and Proofs, and Marine Ecology. Social Science options included courses like Politics, Law, and Advocacy, Financial Literacy, and Mock Trial. Humanities courses focused more on visual arts and writing than the study of culture and literature, with offerings such as Podcasts, Environmental Art, and Creative Writing.
You can find the complete list of Summer 2024 Middle School workshops here.
What is the structure of Duke’s Middle School Summer Residential Programs?
Duke’s Middle School Summer Residential Programs are offered in both one- and two-week formats. Be sure to check in advance if your preferred class aligns with your timeline, as not all courses will be offered at both lengths.
For either course length, you will have about 6 hours of class time during weekdays, with an additional two hours of activities including sports, movies, and clubs. On weekends, you might participate in community service projects, visit local attractions, or participate in group activities similar to those on weeknights.
Though the timeline for this year is not yet confirmed, last year’s one-week program sessions were held from June 30 – July 5 and July 21 – 26. Last year’s two-week program dates were June 16 – 28 and July 7 – 19. While the dates may not be exactly the same this year, you can expect the same general time frame as you determine whether you will be able to attend.
How much do Duke’s Summer Residential Programs cost?
The total cost for one-week programs is $2,150. This includes $1,400 in tuition and $750 for room and board.
The total cost for two-week programs is $4,700. This includes $2,800 in tuition and $1,900 for room and board.
Note that this does not cover students’ travel to campus as this will vary person-to-person based on your commute. So if you don’t live within a short driving distance of campus, you may need to set aside an amount for travel in addition to Duke’s fees.
Financial aid is available for attendees, which can cover up to 100% of tuition. However, no coverage is provided for room and board, nor for travel expenses. So be aware that even if you qualify for maximum financial aid, you’d still owe at least $750 for one-week programs or $1,900 for two-week programs on top of any commuting costs.
If you live in the area and are hoping to avoid these extra costs, Duke does permit students to commute to the program each day. So if you’re in the Durham area and want to experience the program as a day camp, consider this option!
Who is eligible for Duke’s Middle School Residential Summer Programs?
For middle school programs, all applicants must be rising 7th or 8th graders. Rising 6th graders are not yet eligible.
For older students, Duke also has analogous programs for high schoolers if you’re interested in the experience. The general timeline, structures, and fees are identical, though high school students will have more challenging coursework and greater autonomy on campus.
All students must have a laptop to participate in summer programming.
How can I apply?
The summer program application is fairly straightforward.
Students must submit their most recent middle school transcript. You can submit a resume, though this is not required. You must also include a 250-500 word essay or a 1-2 minute video answering the following questions:
Why attending Duke Pre-College can help me become a better student leader.
What experience or knowledge I hope to gain by attending Duke Pre-College.
For international students, it’s mandatory to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score to ensure sufficient English proficiency to complete the coursework. The minimum TOEFL score is a 90, and the minimum IELTS score is a 7.0 to be considered for admission.
Duke middle school Summer Programs operate under a rolling admissions policy, meaning that you can apply at any point up until the deadline. Last year, signup closed at the beginning of April. Though applications are not yet open, it will likely be about the same time this year.
Even though admissions are rolling, that doesn’t mean you should wait till the last minute. You’ll have a much better chance of getting a seat in your preferred class if you sign up early!
Duke summer pre-college programs are generally not the most selective; students with an acceptable academic record who apply in a timely manner are very likely to be admitted. More popular programs may fill up more quickly. While these courses can’t be identified in advance, use this as a motivator to apply well in advance to ensure your spot.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Unique coursework: As middle school students are usually limited to standard classes in core subjects, Duke’s summer programs offer a unique opportunity for specialized study that can give you an early look into the classes you’ll be able to take in high school and college.
Exposure to a college campus: Though it’s still quite early for middle schoolers to be thinking about college, it’s still an exciting opportunity to experience college life! Getting to attend courses in college classrooms, stay in dorms, and eat in Duke’s dining halls can be a great way to make a summer learning experience fun.
Cons
High cost: Duke’s pre-college programs are prohibitively expensive for many families, and the lack of aid for room and board can make even those eligible for financial support unable to afford attendance. Since these programs are so brief, it’s worth thinking carefully about the investment in such a program.
Minimal impact for middle schoolers: While Duke’s summer programs are unique learning opportunities, they have minimal strategic benefits. They can potentially show high motivation for students applying to competitive high schools. However, the non-selective nature of admissions and the steep cost does not necessarily indicate academic achievement. There is no impact of middle school programs on college admissions, whether at Duke or other schools.
Our Review
Overall, Duke’s Middle School Summer Residential Programs can be an exciting and unique learning experience for students who want to try out specialized coursework in subjects they might not otherwise have the opportunity to study. Blending the summer camp experience with academic enrichment is a good way to make the summer both fun and productive. However, due to the high price tag and low strategic benefit of these programs, it’s worth carefully considering whether these programs are right for you.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Partnerships, Maya, at maya.novak-herzog@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.