The Pre-Collegiate program offers you the chance to join the community of more than 250 high school students who spend their time enjoying a summer at Berkeley. Take advantage of Berkeley courses, co-curricular activities, and workshops planned just for you. Spend time on campus taking advantage of all it has to offer, while simultaneously earning college credit.

Summer academic sessions begin with an orientation filled with information, a campus tour, and opportunities to meet your summer classmates. Co-curricular activities offer you a variety of helpful hints on both making the most of your Berkeley learning experience, and planning for academic life beyond high school. Berkeley staff and students, as well as visiting professionals, lead seminars about the “best practices” of using University libraries, choosing a college, and writing a successful college application and personal statement. Over pizza and soda, currently enrolled Berkeley students will answer your questions about what it’s like to be here, and much more.

Pre-Collegiate program participants choose from courses offered in Session C (June 18– August 10, 2012) and Session D (July 2– August 10, 2012). You will find courses to meet and challenge your desire to learn. Whether you are looking for the next set of courses beyond your high school offerings, are ready to try courses in an area of special interest, or are exploring a possible college major, you can find it here at Berkeley in the summer. Learn from and with the best. See what it is like to be a college student, and test the waters of your academic interests and skills. An advisor at Summer Sessions will work with you every step of the way.

Benefits of the Pre-Collegiate Program include:

• The addition of Berkeley Summer Sessions on your college application
• A personal letter of commendation from the Dean of Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, and Lifelong Learning for passing grades
• A complimentary UC Berkeley transcript for completed coursework
• College credit that may be transferable to another college program*
• An Orientation and campus tour for accepted students and parents
• Seminars on writing a successful college application and career exploration, and more
• A designated advisor in Summer Sessions
• Co-curricular activities to introduce you to the campus and its services
•Eligibility for membership in the California Alumni Association (for a fee)

*PLEASE NOTE: Acceptance of transfer credit is always at the discretion of the accepting institution.

Interested students can apply to the Pre-Collegiate program beginning Wednesday, February 15. Applications are reviewed as they are received. All applicants must submit a completed application before they are considered for participation in the program. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 1. Applications will not be accepted after this date.

Have a question?

There are numerous ways to get in touch with us:

• Add Summer Advise to your Facebook friends list to ask your question using Facebook chat or via message. We have online office hours available through chat every Tuesday from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (PST).
• Email us at precollegiate@berkeley.edu
• Call us at 510-643-3364.
• Follow the link below and sign up to be notified by email as new information becomes available.
I would like more information about this program.

The Pre-Collegiate program is a commuter program, designed for students who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students who live outside the Bay Area are may apply through our partner agency, Education Unlimited. (Students who apply through this agency meet the same eligibility requirements and choose from the same course selection as those registering through Summer Sessions.) International students who live outside the United States may not apply for the Pre-Collegiate Program through the Summer Sessions online application. Instead, they must apply through one of our partners, Education Unlimited or Sesame Consulting.

Applications for the Pre-Collegiate program will be available online beginning February 15, 2012. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 1, 2012 at 5p.m. Students may apply to the Pre-Collegiate program using the online application if they meet all of the following requirements:

1. Currently reside in the state of California (Non-California residents and international students please see below)
2. Have completed the 10th or 11th grade by the start of summer classes
3. Have an overall B average (3.0, weighted or un-weighted) in all of their high school course work
4. Have a positive letter of recommendation (instructions)

If a student will have graduated from high school before the start of summer classes, s/he can attend Berkeley Summer Sessions as a visiting student; such students are NOT limited by either the eligibility requirements or course choices set for Pre-Collegiate students.

Application Components

Your application needs to include:

1. A completed online Pre-Collegiate application form.
2. official or unofficial transcript that includes all grades earned from 9th grade through the fall semester preceding your application (A report card is not acceptable.)
3. A positive letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor (instructions)
4. Full payment of fees at the time of application

Please Note: Transcripts and letters of recommendation must be received within two weeks of the date of application or by June 1, 2012, whichever comes first. Documents can be submitted online via MySummer, by e-mail to precollegiate@berkeley.edu, by fax to Attn: Deborah Tatto 510-642-2877, or by mail to:

Summer Sessions
Attn: Deborah Tatto
1995 University Ave Suite 130.
Berkeley, CA 94704

Applications will not be reviewed until all supporting documents have been received. Documents received after June 1, 2012 will not be accepted.

Students Outside the San Francisco Bay Area
The Pre-Collegiate program is a commuter program, designed for students who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students who live outside the San Francisco Bay Area may apply to Summer Sessions through our partner agency, Education Unlimited, which offers a residential program and course options through the same list of lower division, undergraduate Summer Sessions courses.

International Students
International students who live outside the United States may not apply for the Pre-Collegiate program through the Summer Sessions online application process. Because the Pre-Collegiate Program is not a residential program, and there are no special monitors or advisors in the residence halls to support or oversee high school students, Berkeley Summer Sessions cannot accept applications from international high school students living outside the United States. Berkeley Summer Sessions does not have the infrastructure in place to provide the support that would ensure the academic and individual success of such students.

International students registering from outside the United States may apply to Berkeley Summer Sessions through the residential programs offered by our partner agencies, Education Unlimited or Sesame Consulting. Students enrolling through these programs are held to the same eligibility requirements mentioned above. In addition to the application components, they may be required to apply for an F-1 (student) visa. The representative from our partner programs (above) will advise students on that information, and assist them if it is required.

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The Pre-Collegiate Program is a commuter program, designed for students who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is not a residential program. Students are required to find their own housing. Summer Sessions neither provides nor finds housing for students who are enrolled in the Program.

Pre-Collegiate Program participants may only enroll in courses offered in Session C (eight weeks: June 18- August 10, 2012) and Session D (six weeks: July 2- August 10, 2012). These are UC Berkeley college level courses. Pre-Collegiate students will be in classes in which the majority of their classmates will be college students from Berkeley, as well as visiting institutions from around the U.S. and around the world. There are no courses designated specifically for high school students.

High school students may take most courses that are numbered between 1 and 99 (undergraduate, lower division), provided that they have met all prerequisites posted on the online schedule of classes. There are some courses numbered between 1 and 99 that are not available for Pre-Collegiate students; these are listed below.

Students can register for courses when filling out the online application. Because a Summer Sessions course is an accelerated version of a 16-week semester course, we advise that students take no more than 2 courses.

To access the list of courses being offered, please go to http://schedule.berkeley.edu and click on the link for summer 2012. Because of the abundance of courses being offered, we suggest that you sort courses by session (C and/ or D). This option will display all of the courses being offered during the session/s you choose.

If you need further assistance using the online schedule ofclasses, please reference http://schedule.berkeley.edu/about.html .

When choosing a course, please:

• Make sure that the course is offered during Session C or D
• Make sure that the course is numbered 1-99
• Check the list of classes below to make sure that the course/s you have chosen are open to you
• Check course prerequisites to be sure that you have met the requirements listed.. These can be found in the catalog description of the course. The Course Description link appears next to the title of the course in the schedule of classes.

Because a Summer Sessions course is an accelerated version of a 16-week semester course, we advise that you take no more than two courses.

PLEASE NOTE: Courses are offered for college credit, and may not meet any high school unit or course requirements. Specific questions should be directed to the college/career counselor at your high school.

The following lower division courses are not available to students in the Pre-Collegiate program:

Once you have been accepted into the Pre-Collegiate program, you can go to the Cal Student Store website and follow the appropriate links for the summer session and courses in which you are enrolled. There you can access a list of both required and recommended books for your class/es.

* Open to students in the pre-collegiate program by permission of instructor. Contact Zerubba Levi at leviz@smccd.edu.

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Tuition is based on the number of units you are taking. Visiting high school students pay $415 per unit with classes ranging from 1-5 units. Visiting student tuition applies to all students who are not currently enrolled in a degree program at a University of California campus. This includes all other U.S. college students, international students, and high school students.

In addition, all visiting students are charged a registration fee of $335 and a document management fee of $50.

Tuition and fees must be paid at the time of application. The online application includes a payment section, which will show the total of tuition (based on the courses for which you have applied) and program fees, if applicable, the registration fee, and the document management fee. This section also contains a section on payment details, including all necessary credit card information. Most major credit cards are accepted for payment. All charges must be paid at the time of application.

For more information about fees and the Summer Sessions refund policy please go to our Fees and/or Refund Policy page.

PLEASE NOTE: Fees do NOT include housing. The Pre-Collegiate Program does NOT have a residential component; there is no special supervision or programming in the residence halls for high school students.

In addition, financial aid is only available for matriculating UC Berkeley students, thus Pre-Collegiate Students are NOT eligible.

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In addition to taking UC Berkeley Summer courses, Pre-Collegiate students have the opportunity to participate in various co-curricular activities. These activities allow students to get to know others in the Pre-Collegiate Program, as well as the Berkeley campus. Events range from pizza parties to workshops that give students tips on the ins and outs of getting into college and surviving once there.

Check out the Pre-Collegiate Program 2012 calendar below for more detailed information about what’s to come this summer!

Saturday, June 16, 2012: Summer Kick-Off

This is a mandatory orientation for Pre-Collegiate Program participants. Come and meet other students, the Summer Sessions staff, and learn much of what UC Berkeley has to offer. You will hear detailed information about the Pre-Collegiate Summer Program, hear stories from past Program participants and learn what you can expect from the upcoming summer. A guided tour of campus will follow.

Monday, June 18, 2012: Session C Begins

Monday, June 18, 2012: FREE Welcome Lunch

Now that you've gotten an idea of what to expect for the summer, come hang out with other students from your program and have a free lunch, compliments of the Summer Sessions staff. What do you have to do? Nothing. Just show up, eat, and hang out!

Thursday, June 21, 2012: College 101: How to Survive College!

Hear from a panel of UC Berkeley students about their experiences at Cal and what they wish they had been told as freshmen. Be prepared to hear everything from the best places to hang out and eat on campus, to the best events, and classes to attend. Bring all your Berkeley questions.

Friday, June 22, 2012: Prepping for and Writing College Applications

Completing college applications can be a very stressful process. Come get tips and practical advice about the best way to go about this process, including how to write the all–important personal statement, from an experienced rep from UC Berkeley's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012: Hidden Treasures of UC Berkeley: Library Online

The library is probably the most important resource on campus, yet most people don't know how to use it properly and aren't aware of its many hidden treasures. Don't be ignorant of what's right in front of you. Find out about much of what the UC Berkeley library has to offer and how to take advantage of it.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012: Play Hard by Learning to Study Easy

Have you thought about how studying will be different at the University level? Do you know what your learning style is and how you can use it to your advantage both inside and outside the classroom? Do you know about the Five Theories of Forgetting and the best ways to counter these effects? This workshop will answer these questions and more, and give you tips on making the most of your time so that you have time to both study and relax. .

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Tuesday, July 2, 2012: Session D Begins

Tuesday, July 2, 2012: FREE Welcome Lunch

Now that you've gotten an idea of what to expect for the summer, come hang out with other students from your program and have a free lunch, compliments of the Summer Sessions staff. No RSVP required. Just show up, eat, and hang out.

Thursday, July 5, 2012: College 101: How to Survive College!

Hear from a panel of UC Berkeley students about their experiences at Cal and what they wish they had been told as freshmen. Be prepared to hear everything from the best places to hang out and eat on campus, to the best events, and classes to attend. Bring all your Berkeley questions.

Monday, July 9, 2012: Play Hard by Learning to Study Easy

Have you ever thought about how studying will be different at the University level? Do you know what your learning style is and how you can use it to your advantage in and outside the classroom? Have you ever heard about the Five Theories of Forgetting and the best ways to counter these effects? This workshop will answer these questions and more, and give you tips on making the most of your time so you have time to both study and play.

Thursday, July 11, 2012: When I Grow Up….Career Series: Part I: What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

Are you unsure about what your major will be, or what career path you want to follow? Does the major and/or career that you have chosen match your personality, skills, and interests? Come to the first of this four part series that will help you gain some clarity into yourself and what possibilities your future holds.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012: When I Grow Up….Career Series: Part II: How Do I Find a Job in this Economy?

With the economy where it is, finding a job is harder than it has been in a long time. Learn the best ways to make the most of your existing network by learning how to expand it to help increase the chances of finding that dream job, whether it's to make money for college or start saving for what comes after.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012: Hidden Treasures of UC Berkeley: Library Online

The library is probably the most important resource on campus, yet most people don't know how to use it properly and aren't aware of its many hidden treasures. Don't be ignorant of what's right in front of you. Find out about much of what the UC Berkeley library has to offer and how to take advantage of it.

Thursday, July 19, 2012: Prepping for and Writing College Applications!

Completing college applications can be a very stressful process. Come get tips and practical advice about the best way to go about this process from an experienced rep from UC Berkeley’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Tuesday, July 26, 2012: Where Do I Get Money for College?

With the hike in college fees, it’s getting harder and harder to pay for various expenses. Come and learn from a Financial Aid expert a few of the many ways to pay for college.

Friday, July 27, 2012: When I Grow Up….Career Series: Part III: Selling Yourself to Employers Before You Even See Them!

Most employers will make a professional judgment about you based on nothing more than a piece of paper – your resume. Learn what to do and what not to do when writing and submitting a resume.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012: Choosing a College That Best Suits YOU!

Don’t know where you want to go to college? Do you know the resources available for making such an important decision?  Come get tips and ideas from a professional career & college counselor on the best ways to pick a college that works best for you and your needs.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012: How to Find Money for College?

With the hike in college fees, it's getting harder and harder to pay for various expenses. Get information from a Financial Aid expert about some of the many ways to pay for college.

Thursday, August 2, 2012: When I Grow Up….Career Series: Part IV: The Big Interview Do's and Don'ts

Do you wonder if you always have to wear a suit for an interview, or what you should bring with you? What about the types of questions they may ask you? Get a glimpse into the world of interviewing so you'll know exactly what to expect.

Wednesday, August 9, 2012: Goodbye Party   3:00 – 5:00

The summer is coming to an end, but before you go, come say goodbye to all of the new friends you've made over the past several weeks at UC Berkeley.

Friday, August 10, 2012: Sessions C and D End

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