All incoming first year and transfer students are invited to apply for one of the Summer Experiences or Pre-Orientation Programs, a series of optional opportunities that will help you make the most of your time at UChicago. Each program provides a unique experience that will allow you to meet other members of your class, help you become more familiar with student and community life, and begin exploring areas of interest before the academic year begins.
Below are descriptions of each program. Please visit the individual program’s website for information on applications and the timeline for responses. If you have general questions about any of our summer experience or pre-orientation programs, please feel free to contact the College Programming Office at college-programming@uchicago.edu.
Applications for Fall 2025 will be opening in April. Additional information regarding the program and move-in logistics will be shared directly with participants later this summer.
Please click on each individual program website, linked below, to learn more about the program and associated costs.
If you have general questions about any of the pre-orientation programs, please feel free to contact the College Programming Office at college-programming@uchicago.edu.
The programs below take place early September.
Career Exploration Week is an opportunity for incoming students to explore potential career paths before classes begin. During the first week of September, students will travel to cities throughout the U.S. to visit employers, network with UChicago alumni, and meet their new classmates. Here are the destinations we traveled to in 2024. Confirmed 2025 destinations will be posted soon!
For questions, please contact Claire Silcox at csilcox@uchicago.edu.
The Chicago Academic Achievement Program (CAAP) is a year-long program that provides early exposure to scholarly and social life at the University of Chicago to a group of academically talented incoming first-year students, many of whom are the first in their family to go to college or are from lower-income backgrounds. CAAP Academy gives students a “head start” by becoming acquainted with the expectations of classes.
The programs below take place the week before Orientation Week.
We encourage incoming students of color and LGBTQ+ students to join our Center for Identity + Inclusion’s pre-orientation program! This exciting opportunity is designed to help foster a strong sense of community and belonging. By building peer networks, engaging in conversations about identity, and examining culture throughout different Chicago neighborhoods, participants will be better prepared and more confident as they navigate their transition to campus in the fall. This program is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and LGBTQ Student Life.
Chicago Urban Explorers (CUE) program seeks to introduce students to the culture and history of the city of Chicago while also providing a venue for students to build strong personal networks with other members of their incoming class. Through CUE, students find unique opportunities to engage with civic leaders and UChicago faculty, visit important city landmarks and cultural institutions, and partake in the diversity of the city of Chicago. Along the way, students get to know other students in the College, while having fun exploring this world-class city. CUE is sponsored by College Programming and Orientation (CPO) and the Office of the Dean of Students in the College.
International Pre-Orientation (IPO) provides international students with a space to adjust to their new college environment and get to know other international first-year and upper-class students in the College, while learning more about the resources, services, and expectations of the University. Additionally, participants will be introduced to the culture of the city of Chicago by visiting important city landmarks and cultural institutions. For participants who need it, there will also be opportunities to set up a domestic bank account and activate a local phone plan. IPO is sponsored by College Programming and Orientation.
This outdoor adventure program will allow participants to experience the great outdoors and create lasting bonds in the process. The Phoenix Outdoor Program (POP) offers unique experiences for students regardless of their level of outdoor exploration experience. All participants will be placed in a small group with experienced upper class student leaders. Along the way, you'll make some new friends, hone your wilderness skills, and learn useful information to aid in your transition into UChicago.