Eastern's Pre-College Summer returns FOR FREE
Application opens May 22 for eastern CT high schoolers
Willimantic, CT (05/22/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will host a free one-week commuter program this summer for high school students from select towns in eastern Connecticut. Eastern's Pre-College Summer runs from July 13-17, offering high school students an opportunity to explore academic interests, prepare for college, and experience life on Eastern's Willimantic campus.
The application opens May 22 with 45 seats available at no cost thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
Eligible Towns:
The program is open to high school students residing in select eastern Connecticut towns, including East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Salem, Stonington, Waterford, and Windham.
Programming:
All sessions are taught by full-time Eastern faculty. Students learn directly from subject-matter experts in a supportive, small-group environment that encourages mentorship and engagement. The program emphasizes exploration of potential college majors, exposure to academic disciplines, and applied, hands-on learning experiences designed specifically for high school students.
- Human Health Lab: How the Body Works - Professor Kurt Lucin (biology)
- Resilience: The Science of Grit and Overcoming - Professor Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien (psychology)
- Intro to Filmmaking - Professor Brian Day (communication, film, and theater)
"Eastern's Pre-College Summer program reflects our commitment to student access and success by providing early exposure to college-level learning and direct interaction with faculty," said Chris Drewry, director of co-curricular academic programming. "We have a great lineup of interesting topics taught by some of our most engaging faculty members."
Program Highlights:
- Academic exploration in small classes led by full-time faculty
- College readiness and application strengthening
- Hands-on experiential learning
- Social interaction and peer networking
Cost and Accessibility:
The program is offered at no cost to participants thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
"We're so grateful to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut for supporting us with this generous grant," added Drewry. "Thanks to them, we're able to offer an incredible academic program and also make sure that lunch and transportation come at no cost to families in key partner towns."
Application Details:
- Opens: May 22
- Deadline: June 18
- First-come, first-served with waitlist
More Information:
- Pre-College Summer website: www.easternct.edu/pre-college-summer/index
- Application: https://apply.easternct.edu/register/pc2026
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
Media Attachments
Previous program participants socialize over s'mores.
Previous Pre-College Summer participants write fiction during a writing workshop.
Filmmaker and Professor Brian Day shows a Pre-College Summer participant how to operate a camera.