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BCPH Institute - Students

Boston Congress of Public Health Summer Institute 2023
Pre-College Program for High School Students

The BCPH Public Health Summer Institute Pre-College Program for high school students is an intensive four-day summer program designed to give you a glimpse into the dynamic and evolving world of public health and social justice. During your four days at The Boston Congress of Public Health Summer Institute, you’ll dramatically enhance your knowledge of the intersecting fields of public health, health equity, and social justice near the campuses of Harvard University, Yale University, UCLA, or Gallaudet University!

Topics include: social and political determinants of health; health policy and health management; maternal and child health; refugee and immigrant health; LGBTQ+ health; public health entrepreneurship and public health leadership; racial justice; gender equity; and much more!

Feed your intellect WITHOUT the pressure of letter grades. You will be intellectually provoked by leading public health and social justice scholars as you immerse yourself in public health and health equity, without quizzes or tests.

Successful completion of the summer institute will allow you to earn Certificates of Achievement in Public Health and Academic Journalism!

Harvard PIcture - BCPH Institute
Yale U - BCPH Institute
Claremont Colleges - BCPH Institute
Washington, DC - BCPH Institute

All in-person participants will also receive a free BCPH annual membership!

Uncover hidden passions and be transformed. Similar to AI and machine learning, health has been growing as a very popular and critical field. Whether you’re undecided about your future college major, have a budding interest for medicine or career in healthcare, or even oriented toward business and law – the BCPH Public Health Summer Institute will be inspiring and life-changing.

Participants of the Pre-Medical Academy will have a significant head-start on other pre-medical students! It is also great preparation for the MMI, which is the special interview utilized by many medical schools as a means of admissions. 

Visit top-ranked colleges and get the inside scoop! We will have tours of the Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, Yale and Yale Medical School, and Claremont Colleges in Boston, MA, New Haven, CT, Los Angeles, CA, and Washington, D.C. respectively.

*Note: Pre-Medical Academy is the first day of each session. All sessions will be located near or on the university campuses specified.

Public Health Summer Institute & Pre-Medical Academy Schedule

  • Session 1: July 12-16, 2023: near Harvard University, Boston/Cambridge, MA
  • Session 2: July 19-23, 2023: near Harvard University, Boston/Cambridge, MA
  • Session 3: July 26-30, 2023: near Yale University, New Haven, CT
  • Session 4: August 2-6, 2023: Washington, D.C. (near Gallaudet University)
  • Session 5: August 9-13, 2023: Los Angeles, CA (near UCLA)

Apply Now!

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling admissions basis. Acceptances will be sent out on a rolling basis.

Sample Public Health Summer Institute Course Catalog:

  • Health Policy and Health Management
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Immigrant and Refugee Health
  • LGBTQ+ Health
  • Occupational Health
  • Environmental Justice
  • Public Health Entrepreneurship
  • Public Health Leadership
  • Academic Journalism/Editorial Management
  • Racial Justice
  • Gender Equity
  • Economic Justice
  • Disability Health
  • Oral/Dental Health
  • How to Review an Academic Manuscript 
  • Becoming an Editor for an Academic Journal
  • Exceptional Resume-writing Skills Workshop
  • Exceptional Interviewing Workshop
  • Productivity and Time Management for Superachievers

Sample Pre-Medical Academy Course Catalog:

  • The Metaverse and Healthcare
  • All the “omics”: genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics
  • Organ Transplantation
  • Brain Death & Cardiac Death: Protocols and Procedures
  • Telemedicine
  • Personalized Medicine
  • Diversity and Equity in Healthcare
  • Physician Decision-Making for Incapacitated Patients
  • Medical Tourism
  • Medical Assistance with Dying/Palliative Sedation

*Note: courses in academic journalism, resume-writing, and interviewing will only be offered in person. 

Summer Institute Certificate1
Summer Institute Certificate2
Summer Institute Certificate3

How Do I Apply?

Applications Open March 15, 2023.

  • Complete an online application and provide supplemental materials, including the nonrefundable application fee
  • Submit a copy of your official or unofficial transcript
  • Complete and submit a BCPH media release form (in-person and synchronous/virtual participants

**Extremely late applications received in July 2023 will be considered on a case-by-case basis given space availability.**

Fees for the Summer Insitute

Total fee for a 2023 Boston Congress of Public Health Summer Institute/ Pre-College Program session is as follows:

  • Public Health Summer Session – In-person: $2500
  • Public Health Summer Session – Asynchronous: $550
  • Pre-Medical Academy -In-person: $1500
  • Pre-Medical Academy – Asynchronous/download: $750

The program fee includes tuition and activity costs for the institute. The fees do not change based on location. Accommodations are not included and can be requested.

There is also a non-refundable application fee depending on early, regular, and late registration: 

Application fees are as follows: 

  • Early application (non-refundable $25) and priority deadline: April 15, 2023
  • Regular application (non-refundable $50) deadline: May 15, 2023
  • Late application (non-refundable $75) deadline: June 31, 2023
  • Extreme late application (non-refundable $100): July 1st, 2023 onwards


Fee Increase for non-early registration:
regular registration Summer Institute $2650, Pre-Medical Academy $1650; late registration: Summer Institute $2800, Pre-Medical Academy $1800; extreme late applications: Summer Institute $2950, Pre-Medical Academy $1950)

Aid: No scholarships or fee waivers will be available for the sessions offered in summer 2023.

Discounts: High Schools that intend to send 5 or more students to the Summer Institute should inquire about discounts at communications@bcph.org. Discounts only available for early registration. 

Enrollment: Sessions are subject to cancellation if low enrollment numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the Application/Registration Process?

Students will need to complete an application/registration form that includes the following information:

(a) Basic demographic information

(b) Current official or unofficial transcript

(c) Letter of Intent from teacher or high school administrator

(d) Short essays on public health, social justice, and interest in institute/pre-medical academy

What is the Selection Process?

BCPH Public Health Summer Institute/Pre-College Program is designed for the following: passionate, academically motivated students who are interested in:

(a) Exploring the dynamic and tantalizing fields of public health and social justice,

(b) Attaining unparalleled exposure to leading public health and social justice scholars,

(c) Getting ahead of the competition with Certificates in Public Health and Academic Journalism, and

(d) Earning a BCPH Transcript

APPLICATIONS ARE ROLLING ADMISSIONS.

Our Pre-College Program (in-person) is open to rising sophomores and seniors. The asynchronous/downloadable program is open to all high school students, including rising freshmen.

BCPH will evaluate all information submitted—including transcripts and short essays—when considering your application. Preference will be given to highly motivated and interested applicants, so showcase your passion!

Note: BCPH will be unable to provide visas or other support for international applicants. There are no fee waivers at this time for the Summer Institute. There is no GPA requirement for the Public Health Summer Institute or the Pre-Medical Academy.

How long is BCPH’s Public Health Summer Institute/Pre-College Program?

The Boston Congress of Public Health Summer Institute & Pre-College Program is a four-day program during which you will experience the Harvard Campus, Yale Campus, Claremont Colleges campus, and a Washington D.C. college campus and learn about the myriad of sub-fields within public health, health equity, and social justice.

Sessions run from approximately 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Note: The Pre-Medical Academy, an optional add-on to the Summer Institute,  occurs at the beginning of each session. It lasts over the course of one day, from approximately 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The Summer Institute session schedule is as follows

  • Session 1: July 12-16, 2023: near Harvard University, Boston/Cambridge, MA
  • Session 2: July 19-23, 2023: near Harvard University, Boston/Cambridge, MA
  • Session 3: July 26-30, 2023: near Yale University, New Haven, CT
  • Session 4: August 2-6, 2023: Washington, D.C. (near Gallaudet University)
  • Session 5: August 9-13, 2023: Los Angeles, CA (near UCLA)

*Note: Pre-Medical Academy is the first day of each session. All sessions will be located near or on the university campuses specified.

Can Applicants Apply to One or Both of the Pre-Medical Academy and Public Health Summer Institute?

Yes, applicants can apply to just the Pre-medical academy or Public Health Institute. Alternatively, they can apply to BOTH programs. If the applicant does the in-person session, they DO NOT need to purchase a downloadable session, as this will be available for them after the session for a limited period of time.

What Will You Get Out of the Pre-College Program?

At BCPH’s Public Health/Pre-College Program for high school students allows you the following: 

● Matchless opportunity to learn about public health, health equity, and social justice for leading scholars educated at Harvard, Yale, Oxford University and more! 

● Opportunity for in-depth TOUR of Harvard, Yale, Claremont Colleges, and Washington D.C. college campuses 

● A FREE annual Boston Congress of Public Health Annual Membership. See membership benefits here: https://bcph.org/membership/

● A Certificate of Achievement in Public Health from the Boston Congress of Public Health 

● A Certificate of Achievement in Academic Journalism from the Boston Congress of Public Health 

● An Academic Transcript of Public Health Courses Completed (optional) from The Boston Congress of Public Health

● Training in writing exceptional resumes and learning top interviewing skills

How does the Pre-Medical Academy differ from the Public Health Summer Institute?

The Pre-medical Academy is offered over the course of one day, from 9 AM to 6 PM. It covers ALL of the pre-medical knowledge not typically covered in standard pre-medical courses. Thus, you will not receive instruction on general biology, general chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, or biochemistry. Instead, you will learn everything else that future physicians are expected to know, such as trends in healthcare technology, organ transplantation, procedures for brain death and cardiac death, telemedicine, personalized medicine, and more.

The Public Health Institute covers all sub-topics within public health, such as infectious disease and epidemiology; public health entrepreneurship and leadership; health policy and health management; maternal and child health; occupational health; LGBTQ+ health; immigrant and refugee health; disability rights; racial justice; and more.

The Pre-medical academy is separate from the Summer Institute in content. However, the Pre-Medical Academy is jointly offered by The Boston Congress of Public Health and Infinity Ivy Consulting. The Summer Institute is offered solely by The Boston Congress of Public Health. 

What do I need to do to earn the Certificate of Achievement in Public Health?

All participants who attend the summer institute – in person OR virtual/asynchronous – will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Public Health from The Boston Congress of Public Health.

What do I need to do to earn the Certificate of Achievement in Academic Journalism?

All participants who attend the summer institute – in person OR virtual/asynchronous – will receive a Certificate of Achievement in Academic Journalism from The Boston Congress of Public Health.

What do I need to do to earn the Academic Transcript in Public Health?

Participants who attend the summer institute in person can OPT-IN to receive an Academic Transcript of their courses in public health. These will be designated Honors/Pass/Fail. While these may not be used as college credit in the future, they will detail all of the courses you’ve taken and allow you to showcase your growing knowledge in these fields.

How do I get Honors on the Academic Transcript in Public Health?

There will be specialized and short multiple choice questions for each lecture presented during the summer institute. A percentage of 90% or greater on these tests will constitute honors for the lecture/course.

How Intensive is the Summer Institute?

The BCPH Pre-College Program courses are introductory, but nonetheless rigorous. During the four-day sessions, participants will be in class from 9 AM to 6 PM, and take over 25 courses during the session. However, participants are given time for a 90-minute lunch break and multiple coffee breaks throughout the sessions.

Can the Summer Institute and Pre-Medical Academy Assist with College Admissions?

Participation in a Pre-College Program with The Boston Congress of Public Health can help with college admissions in a few important ways:

  • Successfully completing a pre-college program demonstrates your motivation and passion to succeed in collegiate courses.

 

  • The Public Health Summer Institute/Pre-College Program can give you an edge on the competition and the entire college admissions process successfully. Not only will it give you a great starting knowledge base to major or minor in public health, but it will equip you with powerful tools to compose a great resume and perform exceptionally in college interviews and beyond!

Why Choose BCPH’s Public Health Summer Institute Pre-College Program and/or Pre-Medical Academy?

BCPH’s Pre-College Program and Pre-Medical Academy will proffer an unparalleled experience. You will not find this unique and dynamic curriculum offered anywhere else. We challenge you to look:  Where can you spend less than a week in intensive, immersive programming and receive a FREE annual membership to a professional public health society, a certificate of achievement in public health, a certificate of achievement in academic journalism, and an academic transcript?

Do I see need to apply/register if I am just doing a downloadable version of the Public Health Summer Institute and/or Pre-Medical Academy?

Yes, just doing a downloadable version of the Public Health Summer Institute and Pre-Medical Academy will require that you complete an application/registration form. Early, regular, late, and extreme late registration fees will still be applicable. 

What else is there to know about The Boston Congress of Public Health?

The Boston Congress of Public Health (BCPH) is a dynamic, international, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that seeks to democratize public health through the lens of social justice. BCPH realizes this mission through its BCPH Studio, BCPH Academy, and BCPH Policy and Advocacy arms, which transcend the traditional boundaries of academia and medicine, and support the next generation of public health thought leaders committed to social justice.

BCPH was established in August 2021 by Co-Chief Executive Officers Dr. Candice Carpenter and Dr. Circe Gray Le Compte, alumni of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. In Fall 2021, BCPH’s mission, vision, and activities were crystalized by a cohort of public health advocates deeply passionate about public health, social justice, and health equity. These founders represent a diverse and elite swathe of individuals who are Harvard and Oxford alumni, physicians and nurses, scientists and researchers, consultants, and activists and practitioners of public health from around the world.

The Boston Congress of Public Health is an independent and privately owned organization that is not directly affiliated with any of the universities mentioned in this programming.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION