Great Books Summer Program 2016 Catalog

@Oxford. Amherst. Stanford. Dublin.

exciting sessions for middle and high school students!

booksgreat

summer program 2016

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greatbookssummer program

An exceptional summer experience for bright, young mindsHow will your child be spending the summer? At the Great Books Summer Program, your child can spend one, two, three or four weeks walking the paths of Amherst College, Stanford University, the University of Oxford or Trinity College, Dublin, talking about Plato, Homer, Cervantes, Jefferson, Woolf, Joyce and Tolstoy. Our mission is to create exciting, warm and welcoming communities of outstanding young people from across the nation and around the world who love literature and ideas.

For students entering grades 6-8 Pages 8-9

Intermediate Program

great books great great and big ideas

For students entering grades 9-12 Pages 8, 10-13

Senior Programs

©2015 Great Books Summer Program

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New Programs for 2016We are excited to be adding two new Senior Programs to our roster for the summer of 2016:

Writer’s Workshop at Amherst College July 24 – 30 Our week-long writing program for students interested in creating new pieces or honing existing work.

Literary Dublin at Trinity College July 31 – August 6 Offers students the chance to explore the rich literary history of Dublin while exploring city landmarks. This is a great opportunity to travel abroad with us for one week, or add a week at the end of our Oxford program for a three-week adventure!

Your child will gain valuable thinking skills in a prestigious college setting:The Great Books Summer Program builds on the 40-year success story of the Junior Great Books Program. By attending the Great Books Summer Program your child will:

• Learn how to read and think at a college level—thinking for deeper meaning within a community of literary-minded, thoughtful young people exploring the challenging questions of classic and contemporary literature.

• Learn how to engage in lively, spirited, yet disciplined discussion.

• Gain new powers of perception, critical thinking and self-expression through seminars and discussion groups with intellectually passionate, world-class professors.

• Develop greater confidence with peers and adults.

• Launch his or her own lifelong intellectual journey.

• Make new friends from around the world who share a passion for literature and ideas.

• Have access to outstanding libraries, museums and facilities at four of the fi nest institutions in the world: Amherst College, Stanford University, University of Oxford and Trinity College, Dublin.

For middle and high school students one, two, three or four-week programs

The exceptional young people who participate in the Great Books Summer Program experience a special community—one that values the freedom to express ideas, encourages listening carefully to others and delights in the discovery of new insights into timeless works of literature.

For many of our participants, this is the first time they’ve come together with like-minded young people passionate about reading and ideas.

Summer Friendships

Reach out for more info:If you have questions about programs or placement, feel free to call us and we would be happy to assist you. Our goal is to make sure your young person has an outstanding experience.

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Teaching by Asking Questions

Why We’re UniqueThere is nothing quite like Great Books Summer Program in education today. Each summer for the past fourteen years, a carefully selected group of outstanding students has come together at Amherst College, and in time, Stanford University and the University of Oxford, too. Together with distinguished educators and bright young counselors from top colleges, students enjoy the kind of intellectual experience most can only dream of during the school year. Visiting guests and writers, including Pulitzer Prize winners and other eminent individuals from the worlds of literature, publishing, film and broadcasting, regularly join us to help create an exciting and memorable community of Great Books and Big Ideas.

Great literature is timeless. The classical heroes are precisely the heroes we seek; the conflicts of our past point to the issues we still struggle with today. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that “What Plato has thought, I can think and what any saint has felt, I can feel.”

Each morning students gather for two exciting seminars and discussions led by our distinguished faculty from world-class universities and schools. Each seminar/discussion focuses on a short selection of literature that the students have read the night before. The professors use this time to raise big questions like, “What is the good life?”, “What do I owe my neighbor?” and “What must we do in the face of injustice?” to provoke thoughtful and close examination of the text at hand.

Following these morning gatherings, the students meet in smaller discussion groups, where discussion leaders act as catalysts for the students’ own ideas. The discussion groups are open forums for discussion of the text— the leaders stoke the intellectual fires by asking careful questions, really listening to the students’ answers and taking seriously all that they have to say.

This method of teaching by asking questions is at the heart of the Great Books tradition. Our approach drives students to develop the habits of reflective reading and critical thinking, to recognize their own best thoughts and to develop their ideas with care. Participants develop an easy ability to get to the key content, to see the big ideas and to more readily understand the subtleties in literature and in life.

Professor Rob Reich leads a seminar at Stanford.

“I really learned new ways to think about what I read.”

Sydney, Nashua, NH

2016: Our 15th Year!

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Intermediate and Senior Program attendees take part in two electives each day. These classes allow the students an opportunity for creative expression and the chance to explore special topics in literature. To begin the process of putting each student in charge of his/her own educational journey with us, students select their classes based on their interests and the course content presented at orientation each week.

Arts ElectivesStudents at Amherst and Stanford work in small groups with highly talented teachers to collaborate on week-long projects. At the end of the week, arts electives culminate in a final performance, which is always a program highlight.

• In Theater, students explore traditionalelements of stage craft and performancetechnique, such as voice, movement and prop construction, before creating an original production—perhaps a re-staging of a classic myth or a unique performance piece from their own writing.

• Creative Writing enthusiasts craft poems, short stories and critical essays as they explore the campus, the town and the trails around them. Daily exercises refine important technical skills, while allowing plenty of space for creative expression.

• Music provides a space where musicians combine their diverse talents to create bands and work toward a final concert. Instrumentalists, vocalists and aspiring composers work together to create an inspiring performance.

• Art elective students can explore different media, including photography, sketching, filmmaking and sculpture. The remarkable finished pieces form the “opening” of our gala evening.

Literature Electives Each week our talented staff invites students to participate in a literature elective, where they delve deeply into texts and writing exercises, focusing on a genre or author of particular interest. Past topics include: Franz Kafka’s short stories, Shakespeare’s Soliloquies, Slam Poetry, Graphic Novels and Monster Literature. With at least four electives to choose from weekly, there is always something exciting for everyone!

theater

art

literature

creative writing

music

The Joy of Self Expression

“The creative writing elective pushed me to see the worth in what I write and have the courage to share it.”

Anna, New York, NY

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Dr. Peter Temes is an educator, author and leader in business and organizational innovation. He has taught in the Great Books Program at Columbia University and is past president of the Great Books Foundation. He has also taught at Harvard and Chicago. He is the author of five books, including Against School Reform (and in Praise of Great Teaching).

Dr. Ilan Stavans, is the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American and Latino Cultures at Amherst College. His latest project is Restless Books, a publisher of world literature. He recently published Quixote: The Novel and the World in honor of the 400th anniversary of Cervantes’ greatest novel. Professor Stavans is the recipient of many awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship.

Priya Purohit is a PhD candidate at Indiana University where she studies English and Contemporary Postcolonial Studies. She is currently conducting research for IU’s Maurer School of Law’s Center for Constitutional Democracy and the Center for the Global Legal Profession. She also serves as a writing tutor to middle school students.

Spring Greeney is a PhD candidate in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A 2009 graduate of Harvard College, she has taught undergraduates and adult learners at UW-Madison, Harvard, MIT, Oakhill Correctional Institution and Deerfield Academy Summer Arts Camp.

Dr. Rob Reich is professor of Political Science and Ethics in Society at Stanford University, where he received his MA and PhD. He is the faculty director of the Program on Ethics in Society and the faculty co-director of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society.

Dr. Chris Bobonich is the CI Lewis Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University, where he received the Dean’s Award for distin-guished teaching. Professor Bobonich has a PhD from Berkeley and has taught at the University of Chicago. His main areas of research are Greek Philosophy and the History of Ethics.

Dr. Uri Cohen has recently moved from Columbia University to Tel Aviv University where he teaches Hebrew and Italian literature. He is the author of a novel and a documentary film. Professor Cohen has translated prose from Italian and has published on a variety of scholarly topics from the works of Primo Levi to The Hebrew Cultures of War. He considers teaching to be the most important mission of a scholar.

Andrea Lawlor is a fiction writer and visiting lecturer at Mount Holyoke College. She earned a BA in English at the University of Iowa, a MA in English/Creative Writing at Temple University and a MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has taught literature and creative writing at Temple, UMass at Amherst and at Barnard Pre-College Program.

Dr. Joseph Coulson is the president of the Great Books Foundation, a mission partner of GBSP. Building on 17 years as a classroom teacher, senior administrator, English professor and director of teacher training, Joe brings a love of teaching to all he does. He studied at Wayne State University and Oxford University and he holds a PhD in American Literature from SUNY Buffalo.

Dr. Steve Volk is professor of history at Oberlin College where he teaches Latin American history and museum studies and is the founding director of the Center for Teaching Innovation and Excellence. In 2011, he was named US Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. In 2001, he was recognized by the government of Chile for his efforts in helping to restore democracy.

Our Renowned Educators

Dr. Amos Rothschild attended Yale University and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in English. He earned an MS in Education from Fordham University and his PhD from Boston University. At present, he is assistant professor of English at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Rockland County, New York.

Noah Rosenblum is pursuing his JD/PhD at Yale Law School and Columbia University, where he studies European and American intellectual history. Before joining GBSP, he was a factotum for the Telluride Association Summer Program and a research fellow with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Noah is the recipient of a 2011 Javits fellowship. A graduate of Deep Springs and Harvard College, he comes from Cambridge, MA.


Each summer we bring together a very select group of outstanding college and graduate students through a nationwide talent search for Program Assistants. Counselors are chosen from hundreds of applicants based upon their academic excellence, intellectual enthusiasm, outgoing personality, maturity and experience in working with younger people.

Our 2015 staff hailed from Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Wesleyan, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, Oxford and more. They brought diverse talents to the program and a shared love of great books. We have had Rhodes and Fulbright Scholars, Latin translators, philosophy majors, blossoming novelists, rugby stars, guitarists, debate team members, actors, musicians and artists.

The Program Assistants help facilitate seminar discussions, collaborate with students on their electives and organize fun indoor and outdoor activities. Each Program Assistant is assigned to a “pod,” a group of 6-8 boys or girls on their dorm fl oor. PAs lead informal evening discussions in the dorm, assist their students with daily camp life, supervise and ensure that everyone has a wonderful experience.

Our Talented Program Assistants

“It would be easier to describe the PAs with a string of adjectives: wonderful, fun, inventive, hilarious, helpful, understanding, nice, friendly, supportive, easy to talk to, amusing and great in every way!”

Emily, Lamoine, ME

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CommunityAt Great Books, we are committed to providing a fun and engaging environment with plenty of opportunity each day for students to interact outside their classes. Students can play field games, take a supervised trip to explore the campus and nearby shops, swim in the pool or go fountain hopping. We understand that even the most intellectually curious students need time to have fun and make friends, so we make certain that there is time every evening for social events. Some activities include theater games, pod trivia night, a dance and the final day arts elective performances. While some students come with a friend, the vast majority come alone, so we make sure to help them connect and build lasting friendships with other campers.

Multi-week programsStudents who take part in multi-week programs experience two or three times the academics and fun. Each week of Great Books has a different thematic curriculum to engage students with challenging texts and thought-provoking questions. The longer you stay, the more you learn! Multi-week stays also give students ample time to acclimate and thrive socially. In addition to the enhanced educational and social opportunities afforded by a longer stay, multi-week programs offer off-campus excursions on the weekend. Some past excursions have included The Winchester Mystery House, Boston By Foot, The Exploratorium and Fisherman’s Wharf, MASS MoCA and performances by The Royal Shakespeare Company.

EvaluationUpon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Certificate of Completion and an individual Evaluation Letter. These letters are written by Program Assistants, who work most closely with students on a daily basis, and they provide detailed insight into each student’s personal and academic accomplishments throughout the duration of the program.

About GBSP

One, Two or Three Week Sessions for Intermediate students entering grades 6-8

One, Two, Three or Four Week Sessions for Senior students entering grades 9-12

CurriculumStudents will read such texts as Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Dante’s Inferno, Jorge Luis Borges’ The Aleph, Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron and more. All reading materials are provided to students upon arrival. No advance reading is required; we ask that students do the reading together. We carefully choose selections that can be digested during the daily reading period and provide rich content for our seminars and discussions.

SupervisionStudents at Great Books are assigned to pods which are comprised of 6-8 students and one college-aged Program Assistant. The Program Assistants live on the hall with the students and are involved in every aspect of the students’ day. They accompany students on campus and facilitate the reading and initial comprehension of the texts for seminar. They also help the students transition to their time on campus. In addition, there is a full administrative staff and a health supervisor to round out the community and provide additional round-the-clock supervision on campus.

International StudentsEvery year students from across the US and around the world attend the Great Books Summer Program. We work with international students to ease their planning and make the most of their Great Books experience. If you are outside the US, please contact us at: [email protected] or call us at +1-203-612-9470.

“I love it here and am always sad to leave.”

Kate, White Plains, NY


AcademicsFor younger students, the Great Books Summer Program is often a time of intellectual awakening and fascination, as their own personal powers of critical thinking and perception blossom. Through stimulating questions and expertly led discussions, young minds learn how to make connections between the themes and scenes of great literature and their own lives and aspirations. We help our students gain confidence and find their own voice to share their ideas. In addition to practicing and developing their language skills, self-expression and reasoning, students develop their ability to listen carefully and consider the views of others. The end result is a more thoughtful young person who is better able to articulate opinions based on evidence and who possesses the confidence to be heard.

Intermediate ProgramOne, Two or Three Week Sessions for students entering grades 6-8 at Amherst or Stanford

A Typical Day 8:30 a.m. Breakfast9:15 a.m. Seminar/Discussion: The Odyssey10:00 a.m. Snack Break10:15 a.m. Seminar: Harrison Bergeron 11:15 a.m. Discussion12:15 p.m. Lunch1:00 p.m. Free Time2:30 p.m. Literature Elective (Utopia, Plato, Short stories, etc.)3:30 p.m. Art Elective (art, music, theater and creative writing)5:30 p.m. Dinner6:15 p.m. Reading Time7:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social7:30 p.m. Trivia Night9:30 p.m. Pod Reading

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Senior Program

A Typical Day 8:30 a.m. Breakfast9:15 a.m. Seminar/Discussion: Civil Disobedience10:00 a.m. Snack Break10:15 a.m. Seminar: The Metamorphoses11:15 a.m. Discussion12:15 p.m. Lunch1:00 p.m. Literature Elective (Chekhov, Kafka, Plato)2:00 p.m. Creative Elective (art, music, theater and creative writing)4:00 p.m. Free Time 5:30 p.m. Dinner6:15 p.m. Reading Time7:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social or visiting author7:30 p.m. Dance9:30 p.m. Pod Reading

AcademicsThe Great Books Summer Program will be a positive academic influence on your child. The senior sessions provide participants from wide-ranging backgrounds the opportunity to help each other hone their creative instincts and intellectual risk-taking. Advanced reading selections and greater peer-to-peer interaction lead to exciting discussions and debates. Students take command of their own best thinking and powers of expression. The entire program delivers the best possible preparation for the SAT critical reading section. Senior program attendees also meet with college professors and students from top universities to discuss college choices and experiences. Successfully completing a program of this caliber is an honor to note on college applications.

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One, Two, Three or Four Week Sessions for students entering grades 9-12 at Amherst, Stanford, Oxford and Dublin


Emphasizing creativity, students will work with accomplished writers in an intensive atmosphere dedicated to either generating new work or honing existing projects in one of four program tracks:

Poetry: Cultivate writing driven by rhythm and metaphor. Students who choose this track will develop an aesthetic appreciation of language through the construction (and deconstruction) of verse forms.

Non-fiction: Explore the creative potential of various forms of essay writing. This track will refine critical and analytic writing skills and is ideal for students hoping to develop college essays, personal statements, or the IB extended essay.

Generative fiction: Engage with creative writing prompts and exercises meant to inspire new works of fiction. Students

who participate in this track will gain the skills to develop and revise their own fictional prose while workshopping and refining their new works with peers.

Manuscript fiction: Develop key elements of prose fiction, including point of view, style, the play and pause of time, character-building, dialogue and vivid descriptions. Students in this track should have a substantial story or excerpt from a novel (four pages) ready to share at the beginning of the week. Faculty and peers will provide a constructive critique for each piece.

Beyond engaging in intensive creation alongside expert faculty, students will come away from the Writer’s Workshop with new ideas, a brimming portfolio and, most importantly, a refined sense of their own voice.

July 24-July 30

Join us for our debut writing session at Amherst this summer!NEW! Writer’s Workshop

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NOW! Oxford Our Oxford program is the little gem of our summer offerings. It has an intentionally smaller student body, striking the perfect balance between outstanding academics and exciting excursions.

Academics We spend our mornings taking part in Shared Inquiry seminars and discussion. We take advantage of our location to create a curriculum that includes English literature and features visits from Oxford dons, authors and other luminaries. Even our PAs have included Rhodes Scholars and PhD candidates.

Excursions Our afternoon and day-long excursions throughout the two weeks allow us

to have a truly varied and exciting experience of England. Students see the different colleges that comprise Oxford, including Christ Church and New College, which were featured in the Harry Potter movies. We visit local museums, spend a day in London, experience the Roman Baths in Bath and go to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Hamlet performed at the Swan Theatre. In addition, we also explore at least one castle, spend a lovely afternoon having a traditional tea and so much more.

This two-week program is open to students in the Senior Program. Upon registration for the program, you will receive information regarding group travel and more details about the itinerary.

come for one week or two!

July 17-July 30


Our adventures abroad have been so successful at Oxford that we’re excited to announce our newest travel program: Literary Dublin. This one-week program anchored at Trinity College offers the Great Books experience rich with Irish literature, history and storytelling.

Academics The select group of students at Literary Dublin will spend the mornings in Shared

Inquiry seminars and discussions focused on the works of great Irish writers such as Joyce, Yeats, Swift, Shaw and Wilde.

Excursions To fully experience the history of this literary treasure, we spend the afternoons touring the streets of Dublin and exploring the sites that inspired this city’s great stories. Excursions will include Trinity College and other points of interest like the Dublin

Writer’s Museum, the James Joyce Center and the Leprechaun Museum.

Literary Dublin is open to students in the Senior Program and works well as a stand-alone week or added onto Great Books Oxford for a three-week adventure abroad. Upon registration for the program, you will receive information regarding group flights and more details about the itinerary.

NEW! Literary Dublin July 31-August 6July 17-July 30

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Founded: 2002 Alumni: 4000+

Student to staff ratio: 6:1 Seniors per session: 70 Intermediates per session: 50

Demographics: Students from 49 states and 38 countries

Countries of origin include: Turkey, Croatia, England, Canada, Georgia, Greece, Argentina, Guatemala, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Estonia, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, China, Brazil, Denmark, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, Peru, Portugal, Jordan and US

Our students have attended: Harvard, Dartmouth, Columbia, Wesleyan, Reed, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Bowdoin, Haverford, Oberlin, UVM, Swarthmore, Northeastern, UConn, Stanford and more.

Faculty/staff from: Harvard, Amherst, Stanford, Oberlin, University of Chicago, Oxford, Cornell, Berkeley, Columbia, UPenn, UMass and Yale among others.

GBSP Quick FactsSummer is a time to relax and have fun. It’s a time to enjoy new friends, take advantage

of the beautiful Amherst College, Stanford University, University of Oxford and Trinity College campuses and kick off your shoes.

At Great Books Summer Program there are lots of fun activities to choose from every day—playing ball, fountain hopping, jam sessions, swimming, museum visits, hanging with friends, or taking an afternoon hike. Evenings are fi lled with movies, theater games, mixers, outings, guest speakers and our special performance night.

Time for FUN!


Amherst College Amherst, MassachusettsAmherst College, founded in 1821, is widely regarded as one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the world. Located in Western Massachusetts, close to the beautiful Berkshires, Amherst draws students from nearly every state and more than 40 countries. With an endowment of more than $2 billion, Amherst’s academic and athletic facilities, including the Mead Art Museum and Robert Frost Library, are among the best of any college in the nation.

Stanford UniversityPalo Alto, CaliforniaWith its palm trees, breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz mountains, Spanish architecture and sunny 70-degree days, Stanford University is an idyllic setting for the Great Books Summer Program. The 8,000-acre campus is one of the most beautiful in the country, offering room to explore as well as carefully crafted residential and academic spaces for study and comfortable California living. Stanford University opened its doors in 1891 and has been one of the finest and most highly-regarded American universities ever since.

Somerville College, University of Oxford Oxford, EnglandSomerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Oxford was the first university in the English-speaking world, established around 1096. Founded in 1879, Somerville is a relatively newer college among the 38 which make up Oxford. Its alumnae include two prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher and Nobel Prize winner Dorothy Hodgkin. Somerville is situated close to the city center and bordered by the vibrant neighborhoods of Little Clarendon Street and Jericho.

Four of the Finest Campuses

The program is independent of Amherst College, Stanford University, University of Oxford and Trinity College. All names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Trinity CollegeDublin, IrelandAs Ireland’s university on the world stage, Trinity is recognized for academic excellence. The historic campus is located in the heart of Dublin city center at the meeting place of the retail and cultural districts. With a tradition of scholarship spanning more than four centuries, Trinity is the ideal home for talented and inquiring minds.

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Supervision Trained and experienced Program Assistants (PAs) supervise students for their entire stay and are each assigned to lead a “pod” usually made up of 6-8 students. In addition, adult faculty and staff members reside in the dorms and are present at discussions, meals and activities throughout the day. All students are required to stay within the safety of the supervised group and to observe pertinent rules concerning free time. All employees of Great Books Summer Program must clear a rigorous personal background check.

Medical CarePrescriptions and over-the-counter treatments for pain and minor discomfort will be administered by our adult staff with a signed parental permission notice. Amherst College, Oxford University, Trinity College and Stanford University have on-campus health facilities or we have community-based physicians who are on-call for participants in the Great Books Summer Program. A completed medical form is required to attend.

AccommodationsStudents are ordinarily assigned to single or double rooms in the dormitories. Boys and girls are separated by floors or wings and in some cases by buildings. Most of our students come to the program by themselves, but if there is a request for a friend or sibling roommate we will do our best to meet it.

MealsMost of our meals are provided by the college dining services. They offer a wide selection of nutritious foods and beverages and can accommodate special dietary concerns if we are notified in advance. During the sessions, we may also have barbecues, picnics and ice cream sundae parties. Snacks and water coolers are provided in the dorms.

Registration FeeAll applicants incur a non-refundable $250 registration fee payable with their tuition deposit.

MaterialsThere is a materials fee of $225 for one-week students, $275 for two-week students, $325 for three-week students or $375 for four-week students. Materials include digital reading anthologies, books, notebook, t-shirt, book bag and water bottle. Students receive their reading and all other materials when they arrive on campus. No advance preparation is required. Reading selections are generally brief. A majority of the students’ time is spent on discussions, activities and group projects. Students should come ready to have an unforgettable summer experience!

Airport TransportationFor Amherst and Stanford, we can arrange transportation to and from the airport for students traveling alone. A staff member will meet the flight and accompany our students on a shuttle van to or from campus. This airport transportation service is $85 each way. Students traveling by air should use Bradley (Hartford) Airport for Amherst and San Francisco Airport for Stanford. Students who apply to our Oxford or Dublin program will receive information about travel upon registration.

Essential Information

Apply online now!www.GreatBooksSummer.com


Excursions The weekend excursion fee is $175 for a two-week session, $350 for a three-week session and $525 for a four-week session for all students attending Amherst or Stanford. Students attending our Oxford program will have an excursion fee of $600 to cover the weekend trip as well as weekday adventures. Students attending our Literary Dublin program will have an excursion fee of $200 to cover afternoon excursions throughout the city. The fees cover travel, admission and meals.

LaundryCoin-operated laundry facilities are in each of the dormitories. Multi-week sessions will include a break for students needing to use the laundry. Program Assistants are available to accompany or help students.

Communicating Parents are encouraged to write or email their children. Students are allowed to bring cell phones, but we ask that phone calls be kept to a minimum and during specified times only. All phones must be turned off during classes and activities. Emergency contact numbers will be provided at registration.

AdmissionAdmission to the Great Books Summer Program is open to all students entering grades 6-8 and 9-12 who complete the application and whose application is supported by a teacher (or counselor, principal, or head of school).

We strongly suggest that applications be sent in as early as possible to reserve your spot for summer 2016. Acceptance to the program may be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the program administrators. Please see “How to Apply” on page 19 for more information about the application process and requirements.

Financial AidLimited financial aid may be available in certain circumstances based upon demonstrated need. To request financial aid information, you can download forms from our website or contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone at 866-480-7323. Financial aid forms along with a student application are due by April 20, 2016. To contribute to the scholarship fund visit: www.openbooksfoundation.org

“From the first day at Great Books, I felt fully welcomed and engaged. The discussions taught me to analyze literature on a higher level, the people taught me not to judge and the electives taught me to try new things. I had an amazing time!”

Jackie, Stamford, CT

“I feel free! I can read and write as much as I want without feeling odd about my passion for the written arts.”

Caroline, Arlington, VA

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Payment Schedule

Application Deposit: $500 which includes a $250 registration fee due with applicationRefund Policy: Payments for tuition and fees are refundable until March 11, 2016. The registration fee in non-refundable. Cancellations received after March 11, 2016 forfeit full tuition and all fees. Cancellation requests must be made in writing and refund eligibility will be determined by postmark or email date.Final payment is due: April 22, 2016

Intermediate Program entering grades 6-8 in September 2016

Campus Length Tuition Dates

Stanford One week $2050 June 19 – June 25 One week $2050 June 26 – July 2 One week $2050 July 3 – July 9 Two week $3900 June 19 – July 2 Two week $3900 June 26 – July 9 Three week $5850 June 19 – July 9

Tuition at Stanford reflects higher cost of room and board.


Amherst One week $1875 June 26 – July 2 One week $1875 July 3 – July 9 One week $1875 July 10 – July 16 One week $1875 July 17 – July 23 Two week $3550 June 26 – July 9 Two week $3550 July 3 – July 16 Two week $3550 July 10 – July 23 Three week $5300 June 26 – July 16 Three week $5300 July 3 – July 23

Senior Programentering grades 9-12 in September 2016


Stanford One week $2050 June 19 – June 25 One week $2050 June 26 – July 2 One week $2050 July 3 – July 9 Two week $3900 June 19 – July 2 Two week $3900 June 26 – July 9 Three week $5850 June 19 – July 9

Tuition at Stanford reflects higher cost of room and board.


Amherst One week $1875 June 26 – July 2 One week $1875 July 3 – July 9 One week $1875 July 10 – July 16 One week $1875 July 17 – July 23 One week $1875 July 24 – July 30 Two week $3550 June 26 – July 9 Two week $3550 July 3 – July 16 Two week $3550 July 10 – July 23 Two week $3550 July 17 – July 30 Three week $5300 June 26 – July 16 Three week $5300 July 3 – July 23 Three week $5300 July 10 – July 30 Four week $6800 June 26 – July 23 Four week $6800 July 3 – July 30


Oxford Two week* $4700 July 17-July 30

Writer’s Length Tuition DatesWorkshop

Amherst One week $1875 July 24-July 30


Trinity One week $2400 July 31-Aug 6

Tuition & Schedule

To accommodate our families, we have three payment options for the program. Option 1 | Full pay. Families pay all tuition and fees upon registration to the program.

Option 2 | Auto payment. Families pay a deposit of $500 which includes a $250 registration fee. They authorize GBSP to charge the balance of their tuition and fees on April 22, 2016.

Option 3 | Installments. Families pay a deposit of $500 which includes the $250 registration fee. The balance of tuition and fees is split into equal monthly payments to be charged on the 22nd of each month until the final payment is charged in April.

* We have a limited number of one-week availabilities. Call for details.


Tuition Tuition includes all instruction and supervision, three meals per day with snacks provided and housing. There is a $250 registration fee per student.

Materials FeeThere is a materials fee of $225 for the one-week session, $275 for the two-week session, $325 for the three-week session and $375 for the four-week session.

Excursion FeeThere is a $175 fee per weekend excursion for multi-week students. Students attending our Oxford program will have an excursion fee of $600 to cover the weekend trip as well as some weekday adventures. Students attending our Literary Dublin program will have an excursion fee of $200 to cover afternoon excursions throughout the city. All transportation, meals, tickets and organized events, excluding spending money, are included in the excursion fee.

Domestic Transportation FeeArrangements for airport transportation for Amherst or Stanford can be made for an additional charge of $85 each way.

International Student FeeStudents arriving from outside the US, UK or Ireland will incur a $150 processing fee.

DiscountsSibling DiscountIf two or more siblings attend, each sibling receives a savings of $100 on tuition.

Referral DiscountFor each first-time attendee you refer to the 2016 Great Books season, you will receive a $100 savings on your tuition.

Apply online now!www.GreatBooksSummer.com

Admission to the Great Books Summer Program is open to all students entering grades 6-8 and 9-12 who complete the application and whose application is supported by a teacher (or counselor, principal or head of school).

Step 1: Visit Our WebsiteVisit www.GreatBooksSummer.com and click the orange “Apply Now” button at the top of the homepage.

Step 2: Secure Your SpotYour space will be reserved once you complete the Online Application, choose a Campus and Session and provide the $500 Application Deposit by Visa or Mastercard.

We will confirm receipt of your application normally within 48 hours via email.

Step 3: Teacher NominationThe Online Application form will ask you to provide contact information for a teacher, counselor, principal or head of school to endorse your application. Once this information is provided, we will seek a recommendation on your child’s behalf. If your child has already been nominated by an educator, you may indicate that on the Online Application form.

Educators can endorse student applications by visiting our website:www.greatbookssummer.com/admissions/endorse-application/

Step 4: Final PaymentFinal Payment is due April 22, 2016. Applications submitted after April 22, 2016 require full payment at the time of enrollment. Enrollments will continue to be accepted as long as space is available. Our Admissions staff is able to take credit card information over the phone.

How to Apply

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Peter HedgesPeter Hedges has written: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, An Ocean in Iowa and The Heights. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the adapted screenplay for About a Boy.

Chris ColumbusScreenwriter, producer and director. His directorial work includes Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfi re, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Rent and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Doris Kearns GoodwinDoris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and author of the bestseller, Team of Rivals. Her newest book is Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream. She is also a world-renowned presidential historian and baseball fanatic.

Joe EllisPulitzer Prize winner for Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, Joe Ellis has also been honored with the National Book Award. GBSP offers a scholarship each summer in recognition of Dr. Ellis’ years of support of our program.

Jodi PicoultHighly prolific author who was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction in 2003. She currently has 40 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Sarah KaySarah Kay is founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry to entertain, educate and inspire. Perhaps best known for her 2011 TED talk which garnered two standing ovations and has over seven million views online.

Visit our website for more details about our 2016 guests: www.GreatBooksSummer.com!

Guests who have visited the Great Books Summer Program:

Apply online at: GreatBooksSummer.com or call toll-free at 203-612-9470

The information contained herein is accurate at the time of printing. We reserve the right to change any part of the program. In limited cases, financial aid might be available to help with the cost of attendance. Please call for details. This program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin or disability. Admission to the program is limited and shall be granted or denied at the sole discretion of the program administrators. The program is independent of Amherst College, Stanford University, the University of Oxford and Trinity College. All names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2015 Great Books Summer Program. Images of Amherst College courtesy of Amherst College Public Affairs office. Images of Stanford University courtesy of Stanford University News Service Library.

Authors & Filmmakers in

Meet World-Class

2016

“The programs are not an extra for the few. They are necessary mind medicine, soul fodder, for our kids.”

Marc Aronson, School Library Journal

“Each summer, students ages 12 to 17 gather against the idyllic backdrop of either Stanford University or Amherst College. They attend lectures, participate in discussions, eat meals, and live together as a community of precocious thinkers.”

Emily Esfahani Smith, The Wall Street Journal

greatbookssummer program

Documents

Great Books Summer Program 2016 Catalog