Pre-College Programs for High School Students
This summer, take advantage of one of our four opportunities to learn professional skills from American University's expert faculty! Get to know what AU has to offer and discover your passion!
- Eagle Summer Pre-College
- Community of Scholars
- High School Summer Scholars
- National Student Leadership Conference
- Discover the World of Communication
- Summer Civics Institute on American Principles and Debates
Eagle Summer Pre-College
Eagle Summer is American University's pre-college program for high school students who are ready to think bigger. Set in the heart of Washington, DC — one of the most intellectually stimulating cities in the world — this program puts you on a real university campus, in classes led by the same faculty who teach AU undergraduates. Spend 12 transformative days at American University in Washington, DC — learning from world-class faculty, exploring your passions, and discovering what college is really about. No matter your interest — whether it's global diplomacy, financial markets, brain science, or building a company — Eagle Summer gives you a head start on the degree and the career that's right for you.
Community of Scholars
Step into global leadership with American University’s Community of Scholars pre-college program. Designed for rising juniors and seniors, this immersive experience lets students earn three college credits through a hybrid course taught by AU faculty for two weeks on campus and one week online. Students take their learning into the heart of Washington, DC, visiting government agencies and international organizations to witness global leadership in action.
Learn About Community of Scholars
High School Summer Scholars
Fuel your curiosity this summer with American University’s High School Summer Scholars program! Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors can explore new fields, from international diplomacy to psychology and neuroscience, through a flexible, self-paced online college course. Over four weeks, students engage with stimulating readings, videos, and discussion boards while receiving guidance from expert AU faculty.
National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)
Take your leadership to the next level with American University’s college credit option for NSLC participants. Earn one college credit through a flexible, online course designed to deepen your knowledge in your area of study while complementing your NSLC on-campus experience. With guidance from AU faculty and the freedom to complete assignments at your own pace, this program prepares you for college, strengthens your résumé, and gives you transferable credits, all without interrupting your NSLC experience.
Discover the World of Communication
Discover the World of Communication students learn to build a digital portfolio, script, shoot and edit a film, write news stories, speak with confidence, persuade, inform, educate, and entertain. SOC's professional, hands-on workshops—open to students entering grades 9 through 12—are taught by American University School of Communication (AU SOC) faculty and communication professionals.
Summer Civics Institute on American Principles and Debates
The Lincoln Scholars Program is hosting a FREE week-long college experience seminar for high school students at American University. Students explore major debates and texts in the American political tradition and gain experience in college work. Over seven days, students will meet in small conversation-based seminars with American University faculty and practice skills invaluable to a college career. The program includes seminars each morning with American University faculty and dedicated study time each afternoon, as well as field trips and guest lectures related to Washington, D.C. and American History. Topics of the seminars will include the rights and responsibilities around free expression; the rule of law vs. civil disobedience; wrestling with the Declaration of Independence; intellectual roots of conservatism and progressivism; and American history as a struggle for freedom.