| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $2,950–$23,604; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students (Summer Academies and Online Seminars): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | Application fee: $25. Non-refundable.; Great Debate deposit: $150. Paid on acceptance to secure a spot; non-refundable. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Non-refundable application fee: $100; Non-refundable enrollment deposit (part of the total program fee): $1,500; Scholarship for School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school students (Summer Academies and Online Seminars): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grade 9; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: Texas high school students; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Students enrolled in summer school during the program dates cannot participate (full-time attendance required) | Residency: Participating cities and surrounding areas; Requirement: GPA of at least 3.0 or 85 and a college-bound curriculum; Requirement: Spring regional training applies to specified four-day programmes | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–11 when applying; Requirement: Successful applicants should have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA; Requirement: Pre-College programs are for current 10th-11th graders; Summer Academies and Online Seminars for current 9th-11th graders |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts May 26, 2026; Ends August 8, 2026; 2–6 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 | Austin, TX | Sherman, San Antonio, Rock Island, San Diego, TX, IL, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
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| Selection and application | Selection: McCombs describes desired qualities but publishes no current applicant count, cohort size, acceptance rate, fixed GPA cutoff, identity quota, geographic quota, scoring rubric, interview process, or waitlist policy. Historical cohort figures must not be treated as a future guarantee. Application materials: Essay(s); One letter of recommendation | Selection: Confirm the current programme’s selection, capacity and operative participation conditions. | Selection: Application-based and academically selective; cohort size and acceptance rate vary by program and were not stated on the overview. Application materials: Application essays (each up to 400 words), plus an extra essay for non-native English speakers; One letter of recommendation on the recommender's official letterhead |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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