Study great works of philosophy, art, political science, and theology with nationally known faculty—as you simultaneously meet new friends and experience what collegiate academic life is like.
Discover what college is like by spending a week living in a college dorm with other students and participating in classroom seminars and discussions with nationally known professors of philosophy, political science, art history, and theology.
The Summer 2026 program dates will be announced soon.
Application Deadline is June 8, 2026.
This pre-college summer program is open to rising juniors and seniors in high school who want to participate in a competitive, academically oriented taste of being a college student. You will live in a college dormitory alongside current Assumption students and meet each day with faculty members to discuss readings in philosophy, political science, art history, and theology. Participating students meet new friends, learn to address challenging ideas and questions in a mature way, and gain the confidence that they can thrive in a college setting. This week-long program includes a trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. In recent years, most participants have come from New England and the mid-Atlantic region, but we welcome any student who is eager to take part in intellectual conversations in the company of friends.
“My week in the Core Texts and Enduring Questions program was unforgettable.
I made new friends, new discoveries, and found myself feeling at home on campus. All of the classes were eye-opening and invigorating, and the professors who taught them were amazing at helping us understand the readings. The discussions held after every class were so helpful and allowed . . . [us] to bounce ideas off of each other and obtain more knowledge than I ever would have thought I could absorb in just one week.”
Jilleen Barrett, former CTEQ Summer Program student
What did students from the summer 2025 program have to say when asked: If a friend asked about the program, what would you say?
It was absolutely amazing, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone I know. The knowledge and friendships built were truly incredible, and I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to go there.
I would tell them it was a really good experience, I learned a lot, and it made me think about the deeper meanings of many different things. I also met a lot of great people and had some fun!
I would say it was an amazing experience where I had the privilege of not only finding amazing friends that I still talk to, but also being able to have deep philosophical discussions with some very knowledgeable teachers and RAs.
This program is an engaging program which helps individuals to think outside the box. Also, the program is very amazing where individuals are able to learn to be responsible, meet new people and see what college classes are like.
I would 100% recommend it to you! You’ll make friends, connections, and learn some interesting topics.
It was honestly life changing.
I would say that I loved it, way more than I was expecting. It’s definitely not all work, and sometimes I even got carried away with having fun. However, I did learn a lot from the readings, but most of all from the people I met. This program made a lasting impact on me, and I hope that future students will consider applying.
I would say it’s a great and recommended humanities-centered program that literally gives you a glimpse of college life, both in terms of social and academic aspects. College before college!
About the Program
High school students spend a week living in a college dormitory and attending classes and discussion meetings with college professors and other students based on short readings. Meals are provided in the dining hall. Outside of classroom hours, many campus facilities are available for exercise, movies, and other social activities.
Assumption University professors from the departments of Philosophy, Theology, Political Science, and Art History will select short readings that will be distributed to you in advance of the program. In recent years, the topics addressed have focused on the nature of love and friendship and on the relation of religion and politics.
You will encounter authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Montaigne (among others). You may never have read these kinds of texts before, but your professors will help you learn how to read them and think along with them. Current Assumption students will also be involved in discussing these texts with you.
The program begins on Sunday afternoon, on the campus of Assumption University.
Most days involve a morning class followed by a discussion session and an afternoon class followed by another discussion session. On Thursday instead of classes there is a trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are available at the campus dining hall during fixed times. On Thursday evening, we have a dinner to which all of the participating faculty are invited along with the students in the program.
Each day incorporates some free time and opportunities to read. Activities like movies and games are planned for the evenings.
The program ends on Friday with a lunch to which your families are invited along with the faculty.
Assumption University’s Core Texts & Enduring Questions Program is supported by a generous Assumption donor. This allows us to make this week-long program available for just $500.00 per student. The cost covers tuition, room, meals, and educational/recreational activities.
Rising juniors and seniors in high school who want to explore serious ideas in conversation with others in a college setting. Applicants must demonstrate that they are prepared for this type of academic program by writing a brief application essay, sharing their high school transcript (with a GPA of at least 3.3), and providing a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor.
First, complete the online application, including your 250-word essay (link below).
Second, you will then receive an email requesting (1) an unofficial copy of your transcript from your high school and (2) a letter in support of your application to this program from a teacher or guidance counselor. Both documents (PDF files only, please) should be sent to: coretexts@assumption.edu.
We must have your complete application (essay, transcript, and letter of recommendation) to determine whether you will be accepted into the program. Application Deadline: TBD
After acceptance into the program, there will be a number of additional forms that will need to be submitted, including vaccination records and various release forms.
