| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 13, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $9,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | $4,180–$15,980 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based aid and travel grants: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Domestic and international invitees can receive aid; 2026 was free for domestic households below $85,000, with travel support available. Future thresholds may change.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 student-account deposit: $500. Returned to the family if unused; separate enrollment deposit details were not quantified on the official pages.; Travel to and from Colorado: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Flights were not included in tuition, although the largest need-based aid packages could cover them.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. About 40% received aid in the published cycle; average award was 70% of tuition, and aid included discounted or free gear rental, with top packages potentially covering flights.; Clarity financial-aid application fee: $65. Applies to the aid application; automatic or inquiry-based fee waivers are available for eligible families.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $0. HCSSiM states that applying is and will remain free.; Need-based aid and travel grants: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Domestic and international invitees can receive aid; 2026 was free for domestic households below $85,000, with travel support available. Future thresholds may change.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 2027 application fee: $75 (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader and age 14-18 for the applicable cycle; Requirement: Be prepared for a residential program at 10,000 feet and extended backpacking expeditions; Requirement: Complete the required application, recommendations, transcript, and interview; Requirement: If accepted, complete health, physical, risk, release, enrollment, and payment requirements; Exclusion: Prior outdoor experience is not required; Exclusion: The official pages do not state a citizenship or Colorado-residency restriction; Exclusion: Program mental-health services are limited, and backcountry groups may lack timely outside support; families must evaluate fit with HMI | Residency: Domestic and international students may apply; Requirement: Be a current high-school student who has not yet graduated; Requirement: Show strong mathematical motivation and readiness through the application and Interesting Test; Requirement: Name a sponsor who knows the applicant in a mathematical context; Requirement: Commit to the full residential six-week program; Exclusion: Students who have already graduated high school; Exclusion: Application writing produced by generative AI or another person | Ages 16–18; Citizenship: International students may apply to eligible formats with visa/English requirements; Citizenship: Financial aid is limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients; Residency: Residential students live on campus; Residency: Commuters must live with a parent/guardian or approved adult age 25+ within reasonable commuting distance in New England; Residency: Online students participate from home; Requirement: Graduate high school and enter college in 2027, 2028 or 2029.; Requirement: Be at least 16 by June 13, 2027 and not turn 19 before July 31, 2027.; Requirement: Show maturity and academic readiness for intensive college-level work; Requirement: Meet selected-course prerequisites; Requirement: Submit English-proficiency evidence if English is not the native language; Requirement: Clear the calendar for the full program, especially residential study; Exclusion: An applicant may apply to only one Harvard Summer School high-school program in a year; Exclusion: International students using a Harvard-sponsored I-20 cannot take online classes; Exclusion: Participation does not guarantee Harvard College admission or another institution's acceptance of credit; Exclusion: No minimum GPA or required PSAT/SAT/ACT score is published |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends July 25, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 4–7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person | In person / Online |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Leadville, High Mountain Institute campus and Colorado/Utah backcountry | Unconfirmed — check official site | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Selection and application | Selection: HMI describes a typical cohort of 12-20 students; it does not publish a current applicant count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two approximately 250-word essays; Two teacher recommendations, including at least one from a core academic teacher, under the current central admissions page; Required 15-30 minute admissions interview | Selection: HCSSiM expected 51 students in 2026 and reported more strong applications than it could accept; admission was rolling and used the letter, recommendation and Interesting Test rather than an age cutoff. Application materials: One recommendation from a sponsor who knows the student mathematically | Selection: Harvard evaluates essays, transcripts/current grades, counselor report, GPA, maturity, readiness, and program fit holistically; it publishes no minimum GPA and does not require standardized academic tests. Application totals, admit rate, option/course capacities, waitlist odds, and scholarship odds are not published. Application materials: Student-created online application and short essays |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-10-09Source 3 · checked 2026-10-09Source 4 · checked 2026-10-09Source 5 · checked 2026-10-09 |
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