About

Carleton College’s Pre-College Programs, known as the Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI), offer academically motivated high school students the opportunity to experience intensive, discussion-driven coursework. The programs are organized as focused institutes, including three-week for-credit tracks for rising juniors and seniors and one-week non-credit tracks for rising sophomores. The three-week programs allow students to earn six Carleton course credits in fields such as Computer Science, Humanities, and Field Science. Admission is selective and based on a holistic application review, including transcripts and teacher recommendations. Students live on campus in Carleton residence halls and participate in a fully residential experience that mirrors undergraduate life, including shared meals and community activities in Northfield. The program is open to students nationally and internationally, providing a rigorous liberal arts academic experience and a formal university transcript for those in the three-week sessions.