Overview
As a CPS student participating in the Summer College Bridge program, you will enroll in one course at the University of Chicago during our Summer Session. The course you take will be determined in close consultation with the Director of College Bridge. Tuition, fees and textbooks are paid for by the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement.
Courses
For Summer 2019, Bridge students can take one course in one of the following UChicago Summer Session pre-college programs: Summer College, Summer Language Institute, Immersion, or Pathways. View the Summer 2019 courses page for details about the various programs, including links to the individual course listings. On your application, you will be asked to provide three possible course choices (these can be from any of the programs listed above). Final decisions on course placement will be made by the Director and the Summer Session office after meeting with students for interviews. You should be taking the most advanced courses possible (typically, honors, AP, or IB courses) at your high school in the subject you wish to study (or something similar to it, if your school does not offer courses in that particular subject), with a minimum grade of B. Pay close attention to the prerequisites for each class, if any are mentioned in the course description. If you wish to take a course beyond the introductory level in the Summer Language Institute, you must take a placement test. You will be receiving college credit for the course you take through College Bridge, therefore the course cannot count toward your high school graduation requirements.
Transportation
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Hyde Park campus. Ventra student discount passes are provided by the program.
Eligibility/Selection Process
Rising Seniors in CPS high schools are eligible to apply for Summer Bridge. An unweighted GPA of 3.6 or higher is required. You must also have a 95% attendance rate at your school. You must have met any prerequisites listed on the summer course list. An interview is required for final selection and a parent/guardian must be present at that time.
Requirements Once Admitted
Calendar
Summer Session courses are taught in short blocks. Courses last between three and five weeks long. Courses are spread out throughout the summer from late June to late August. Some subjects may only be available in one or two blocks. The College Bridge Advising Team will discuss your availability and its impact on course choice with you at your interview.
As mentioned above, classes are very short and therefore move very quickly. The class will cover material equivalent to that taught in one quarter (11 weeks) of a regular school year. You will be expected to focus solely on your course while you are participating in College Bridge - you are not permitted to be simultaneously enrolled in another program, and outside commitments should be kept to a minimum.
Meetings
A mandatory orientation will be held prior to the start of Summer Session. Also, students are required to meet weekly with the College Bridge Advising Team.