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'''Great Books Summer Program

'''

The Great Books Summer Reading Program or "Great Books Summer Program" as it is marketed and commonly referred to as "Great Books" by campers and staff, is a multi-week international summer reading program operated by the private educational organization, Great Books Summer Program headquartered at 426 Mine Hill Road, Fairfield, Connecticut. The Great Books Summer Program is affiliated with The Great Books Foundation and Open Books Foundation.

History

Founded in 2002, Great Books grew under the guidance of Amherst College professor, Ilan Stavans, David Ward, President of Early Advantage Learning and Dr. Peter Temes former President of the Open Books Foundation. Great Books initially began with 30 middle school students on a 3-day session. Since then, Great Books has expanded and has recently added The University of Chicago as a campus where it offers a one week option.

'''Campuses and International Programs '''

The Great Books Summer Program offers sessions across four countries including the United States. Great Books operates on the campus of the University of Oxford in Oxford, the United Kingdom, the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and the Stanford Center at Peking University in Beijing, China. Amherst College serves as the flagship campus of the program while also offering a full 4-week option. Stanford University also offers a 4-week option with other campuses offering one to three-week options.

'''Sessions and Program Offerings '''

Great Books calls one-week programs "Sessions" and sessions begin on a Sunday afternoon and conclude with a ceremony the following Saturday morning. In addition to traditional sessions, Great Books also offers specialties like "Senior Seminar" exclusively for former campers that are university bound and "Writers Workshop".

'''Tuition and Admission '''

Admission into the program includes an application and an endorsement from the campers teacher or Head of School. Availablity of each campus also influences acceptance into a campus. Though the program operates on the campuses of prestigious schools, there is typically no formal relationship with each college and is independent of the school. However, it is not odd to see campus professors speak or teach at the program. Great Books Summer Program offers tuition per sessions attended. Tuition is relatively high compared to other pre-college summer programs considering no college credit is awarded as noted by online reviews and parenting sites. One week at Amherst campus costs a little under $2,500 USD for one week. Tuition and Fees for a four-week session at Stanford University is $10,240 USD in addition to other fees like an international student application and airport transfers. Financial Aid is available although it is limited and reserved for domestic campuses.

Camp Diversity and Life

The camp draws students from across the United States and around the world. Several countries are represented including Mexico, China, France, England, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil, Jordan, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, and Spain among others. China, South Korea, and Hong Kong feed large quantities of students into the Intermediate and Senior programs, though this may be a result of aggressive marketing and campaigning performed by the program in these regions, particularly in private and International Baccalute schools. Traditionally over 29 US states are represented. Diversity is also present through programs offering aid to under-resourced campers allowing them to attend the program at no cost. Campers live in a dorm with a roommate or in a single on the campus of each school. The "Intermediate" program is for students entering or in the grades of sixth to eighth grade on an American school model or its equivalence. The "Senior" program is for students entering or enrolled in grades ninth through 12ve in an American school model or its equivalence. The campers read a particular classic piece of literature and unpack it with their pods (a group of 6 -10 similar age campers) and discuss it with decorated speakers and professors the following morning in lecture. Students also take part in electives ranging from music, theatre to literature and comedy.