Immerse yourself in the creative and strategic process of how to create and leverage social media through the Social Media Success: Influencing, Marketing, and Creative Strategy Pre-College Summer Program. Learn from experienced communications professionals about how to leverage the power of social media as part of a comprehensive communications strategy. You’ll collaboratively create content for different social media campaigns while also learning how to measure their effectiveness in the competitive online marketplace.
New 1-Week Pre-College Summer Programs
- Experience a jam-packed week of fun and engaging activities centered around a topic of your choice.
- Move away from the norm and experience what it’s like to be a college student living on a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art facilities.
- Immerse yourself in a topic and discover your interests early on. These residential programs run for 7 days and 6 nights from July 16-22, 2023.
- Get the most bang for your buck compared to other pre-college summer programs. Students have the opportunity to apply for up to 50% off of the $2,400 all inclusive tuition cost.
Experience the innovative process of design and entrepreneurship for social change-making through the Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pre-College Summer Program. Learn from faculty, world-class entrepreneurs, innovators, designers, urban planners, community activists and environmentalists who will guide you through an innovation process – from defining the challenge to disruption to prototyping to pitching. Over the course of an intensely creative, fun and challenging week, you, along with your classmates, will collaboratively redesign key aspects of your urban landscape.
Gain firsthand experience in the entire programming and engineering process through the Intelligent Systems: Python and Robotics Pre-College Summer Program – from concept to coding, building chips, mounting sensors, testing and debugging programs, and controlling robots. Under the guidance of experienced programmers and engineers, you’ll collaboratively design and build a real robot that can make decisions, perform jobs and perceive its environment via various sensors.
Interact with experienced screenwriters and directors who will guide you through the creative process of how to write and produce narrative film and TV through the Film and Television Production Pre-College Summer Program – from concept to script writing to production and postproduction. You’ll collaboratively write and produce a narrative scene, using your creativity to tell the story. Get hands-on training across the production process and take a trip to meet with working media professionals in film and television.
Join faculty and other experts in the firsthand exploration of the art, food and culture of New York City, including a trip to see the Broadway hit Hamilton. Through the Summertime in the Big Apple: Exciting Excursions in New York City, you will produce a digital photographic essay about your experiences in New York City. The essays will serve as a lifelong reminder of your personal journey of discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Montclair State Summer Pre-College?
It’s a one-week, residential summer academic program for high school students where they’ll get hands-on instruction from outstanding Montclair faculty in one of several exciting disciplines. In addition to academics, students will get a taste of college life by living in dorms, eating in campus dining facilities, and meeting students from other programs. It’s a great way to learn more about an area of interest and take an important step towards your college future.
Who is eligible?
Rising 10th through 12th graders are eligible for the program.
What are the dates?
Sunday, July 16 through Saturday, July 22. Students will check from 1 to 2 p.m. on July 16 before heading to campus and class orientation. On July 22, students will give presentations from 9 – 10 a.m. (parents are invited to attend) before checking out of the dorms between 10:30 a.m. and noon.
What subjects can I study?
- Social Media Success: Influencing, Marketing, and Creative Strategy
- Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Intelligent Systems: Python and Robotics
- Film and Television Production
- Summertime in the Big Apple: Exciting Excursions in New York City
What will a day look like? How long will I be in class?
For most programs, students will be in their academic classes from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a break for lunch. You’ll spend the rest of your time enjoying all of the other aspects of campus and residential life. The Summertime in the Big Apple program will take excursions to NYC each day of the program and join their fellow students when they return. All other programs will take one field trip during the program to meet with leaders in the field.
How much does it cost?
For this inaugural summer, Montclair is offering tuition scholarships to all students. Students in Film and TV, Social Media Success, Business Entrepreneurship, and Intelligent Systems will receive a 50% scholarship, making the total program cost $1200. Students in the NYC Experience program will pay $1800, a 25% discount, to accommodate the cost of multiple experiences in New York City.
Once accepted, families can pay a deposit of $100 to secure a spot in the program.
Deposits (and all payments) can be made via our electronic portal here. You can also mail in a check to the following address:
Montclair State University, attn. Office of the Provost, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ, 07043
Deposits are due on June 1. However, we encourage families to submit a deposit as soon as possible, as spots in your selected program cannot be guaranteed until a deposit is received. The remainder of program fees are due according to the following payment schedule:
June 16: 50% of tuition ($600 — $900 for Big Apple Program)
July 8: Remaining tuition ($500 — $800 for Big Apple Program)
Families are welcome to pay any or all portions of program fees in advance of these dates.
Where will we stay? Where do we eat?
Students will live in Montclair’s Machuga Heights dormitory, a contemporary facility with ample communal and recreational space so students from different programs can socialize. Our residential life staff will oversee recreational evening activities and ensure everyone’s well-being throughout the program. Students will eat in Montclair’s dining hall Sam’s Place, located adjacent to Machuga Heights. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided for all students.
What will we do besides class?
Lots! First, all programs will take a field trip to meet with professionals in the field. And every evening, our residential staff will lead fun activities for all students, including opportunities for recreation and sports, interactive games, and enjoying leisure time in communal spaces. Of course, students may use some evening time to work on group projects with their classmates. Regardless of your program, you won’t be bored.
Can I bring my car?
Students cannot bring cars to campus.
What should I bring?
All students should bring comfortable clothing for the week, including leisure and recreational clothing as well as appropriate clothing for a field trip. There are laundry facilities in the dorms, but we expect that most students may be too busy to want to use them. Students should bring all toiletries and personal items (linens will be supplied). In some programs (including Film & Television), it is critical to have closed toe shoes during production. A suggested “packing” list will be sent in June as well as specific information about your specific program from your program director. While all meals will be provided (as well as snacks available in the classroom), students are welcome to bring their favorite snacks and other items that make them feel comfortable. Students will not be leaving campus (other than their field trip) during the week.
While it is not required, we recommend that students bring their own laptop computers if they have them. This will facilitate independent and group work when you return to the dorms. Additionally, students should bring writing tools (pens/pencils) and a notebook or binder.
Finally, students may want to bring some limited spending money (or credit) to buy shirts, hats, or other items from the campus store. We do not encourage students to bring excessive cash to campus.
Who do I contact for more information?
For general information about pre-college or your application, please contact Skyler Malchiodi at malchiodis@montclair.edu. For questions about a particular academic program, please contact the program director (their contact information is found on individual program pages).
Are there additional forms I’ll need to fill out?
Yes. Once students have been accepted and submitted their deposit, you will receive a request for additional information, including a health form, emergency information, drop-off and pick-up information, and other information that you’d like to share with program administrators. In early July, you will receive an online packet that provides additional detailed information about pre-college and the exciting week ahead of you.
How do I apply?
Great question. To apply, please click here. You’ll be asked to provide some information and answer a couple of brief essay questions to learn more about your interests. Someone from Montclair will be in touch soon thereafter.