As a high school student, you have a lot of options when it comes to exploring your academic interests, from virtual courses to local summer camps. These programs introduce you to advanced coursework, which can help you figure out what you want to study in college. But if you want something that also gives you a feel for college life, a residential program is worth considering. These programs place you on a university campus for a few weeks, where you attend lectures, live in college dorms with other students, and get a sense of undergraduate life. Residential programs usually allow you to participate in extracurricular activities and explore the university’s city with peers.
Residential programs are especially valuable because they give you access to the university’s and the city’s resources. If law interests you, you could study it at Oxford, which has one of the world’s most famous law schools in the world, and participate in a moot court competition. A program like this can also strengthen your college applications by showing that you’re willing to learn outside the classroom and adapt to new environments.
In this review, we’re going to take a close look at one well-known residential summer program for high schoolers: Immerse Education. Immerse runs academic and career programs at Oxford, Cambridge, and 8 other top universities around the world. We’ll go through the programs offered, subjects available, instructors you can work with, and how the application process works. We’ll also look at what past students have said about the program and weigh the pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right fit. Let’s get into it!
What is Immerse Education?
Immerse Education offers residential summer programs across 40 subjects at universities in Oxford, Cambridge, London, New York, Sydney, and other global cities. You can choose from three pathways: Academic Insights, which offers university-level classes; Career Insights, to develop industry-relevant skills; and the Online Research Programme, where you write a research paper with 1:1 mentorship from an Ivy League or Oxbridge tutor.
Founded in 2012, Immerse has had more than 20,000 students participate in their programs so far. Immerse is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), which means the program’s academic standards and student safeguards have been externally approved. They also run an annual essay competition for students from around the world, which awards scholarships to their residential programs. If you’re interested in entering the essay competition, you can check it out here!
What programs does Immerse offer?
Immerse offers three pathways, each built for a different goal. Let’s break each one down:
1. Academic Insights
This program allows students aged 13–18 to spend two weeks studying at a university in Oxford, Cambridge, Toronto, Sydney, or another global location. You can take undergraduate-level classes in over 20 subjects, such as economics, psychology, artificial intelligence, and physics. Classes are capped at 12 students and include seminars, one-on-one sessions with your tutor, and activities. For instance, you might conduct experiments in the chemistry track or analyze case studies in psychology.
P.S. — We think this is a strong option for students who want to experience academics at a leading university, and the depth of instruction makes it stand out among similar programs.
2. Career Insights
Career Insights is a two-week program for students aged 15–18 that places you in New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Boston, or other global business hubs. You can choose from 10 subjects, including finance, medicine, engineering, and marketing. You’ll receive one-on-one coaching from your tutor, attend workshops led by professionals, and complete projects relevant to your field.
This program gives you access to top companies and professionals in your field. For instance, you could meet software developers in Boston through the Software Engineering and AI track. If you want to work in investment banking, you could visit the best firms in New York City.
3. Online Research Programme (ORP)
This fully virtual program for students aged 13–18 helps you write an original research paper with a tutor from Oxford, Cambridge, or an Ivy League university. You will work 1:1 with your tutor to explore a subject of your choice and develop a research project.
The program is offered year-round, and you can research subjects such as law, English literature, mathematics, biology, and philosophy. If you choose the publication track, you’ll get support from a publication coach to submit your paper to independent high school research journals.
Who are the tutors I can work with?
We looked into the tutors listed on Immerse Education’s website, and they have strong backgrounds in their fields. Many have studied at leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and others have professional experience at organizations like McKinsey.
Working with tutors who have gotten into your dream university or company is a big advantage. You can explore if that environment would be the right fit for you and learn how best to prepare. All Immerse programs include personalized sessions with your tutor. Here are a few of the tutors you could work with:
Who can apply for Immerse programs?
Immerse accepts students from anywhere in the world within the following age ranges:
- Academic Insights: ages 13–18
- Career Insights: ages 15–18
- Online Research Programme: ages 13–18
You’ll need to be proficient in spoken English. To earn academic credit through the program, you must be at least 14 years old.
How can I apply for an Immerse program?
To apply, you select a program on the Immerse website. You’ll then fill out an application on your academic background, subject interests, and reasons for doing the program. Once the team confirms you’re a good fit, you’ll finalize enrollment, decide whether you want to live on or off campus, and select add-ons like academic credit.
How do I choose the right program?
With 40 subjects, 3 pathways, and 10 locations, it can take some time to figure out which Immerse program is the right fit for you. Here are a few tips to help you narrow a program down:
- Define your goal: Consider whether you want academic depth, career exposure, or a completed research paper. This will help you choose a pathway.
- Choose a subject you want to pursue: While you don’t need to have everything figured out, picking a field you’re seriously considering for college or a future career will make the program more useful. You’ll be better prepared for college-level coursework, and the program could help you decide whether the field is right for you.
- Consider a consultation: Immerse offers free consultations with their team, and they can guide you on which subject-location combination would fit you.
- Think about your learning style: Academic Insights suits students who enjoy seminar-style discussion and close reading. Career Insights is a better fit if you want to visit offices and learn from professionals in an industry. For students who want more academic independence and flexibility, the Online Research Programme is a good fit.
Do Immerse programs help with college applications?
Immerse programs can help you figure out what kind of college life would suit you. If you want to go to college in a university town, you can study at Oxford, while students who want to experience city life can choose campuses in Toronto or Sydney. By taking college-level classes, you can decide if you’d want to major in that subject. A residential summer program gives you a useful preview of university life, so you can create a college list that meets your needs.
In terms of the application itself, you can request a letter of recommendation from your tutor, which can increase your chances by providing outside validation of your academic abilities. Through the Academic Insights program, you can earn 3 US academic credits or 8 UCAS credits for UK university applications. You’ll also get a Certificate of Completion that you can add to your applications.
We looked at the colleges Immerse alumni go on to attend, and the list includes the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University. While it’s difficult to assess the contribution of any one program to a student’s admissions outcomes, these are strong results.
What do alumni say about Immerse?
Immerse has generally positive reviews from past students, with many focusing on the tutors and the friendships they made with peers from other countries. The program is rated 4.8/5 on TrustPilot from over 400 reviews, and 4.9/5 on Reviews.io from over 200 reviewers.
Below, you can can see reviews from students who felt Immerse helped them prepare for university academics and explore a new country:
We also found positive reviews for the online program:
Pros and Cons of Immerse Education
Pros
- Early access to university life: Immerse’s residential offerings allow you to experience what living and studying at a particular university would be like. You’ll participate in campus activities and local excursions like an undergraduate. If you choose an international program, you’ll learn to navigate a new environment independently. This can give you a clearer sense of what going to college abroad looks like.
- Broad subject range: With 40 subjects available, including less common options like criminology, nanotechnology, and film and animation, there’s a good chance you’ll find something that fits your interests. Immerse programs are especially useful if you want to explore subjects not offered in high school.
- Flexible experience: Immerse’s three pathways, 10 locations, and 40 subjects can help build a program that makes sense for your goals. You can pair your subject with a city that has resources in your field. For instance, you can visit finance firms in New York City, explore the nanotechnology industry in Singapore, or read literature in Oxford.
- Benefits for college applications: Recommendation letters, academic credit, and a Certificate of Completion give you concrete things to add to your college applications. The program can help you decide if a subject or career path is right for you, so you can narrow down a college major.
Cons
- Vast program choice: Immerse’s many options can make it hard to find the right program, particularly if you’re drawn to multiple fields. You might need to spend some time with the prospectus or book a consultation to choose the best program for your goals.
- Commitment required: The residential programs mean living abroad for two weeks and adjusting to a different environment, which requires adaptability. The Online Research Programme requires strong self-motivation to complete a research paper from start to finish.
- Cost: Immerse programs cost a significant amount, and if you are an international students, you’ll need to factor in travel and visa costs. The program offers financial aid through bursaries and scholarships to winners of its global essay contest, but financial support isn’t guaranteed. It’s worth thinking carefully about whether the program fits your goals before committing financially.
Closing thoughts: Should you apply?
If you’re a high schooler with a deep interest in a subject who wants to experience university life, Immerse is a strong option to consider. The ability to pair subjects with specific cities makes Immerse stand out. You can learn about a subject in the environment best suited for it. For instance, visiting tech startups in the Bay Area, or going to Shakespeare’s birthplace while studying English literature gives you rare insight into your field.
Immerse is particularly useful if you’re trying to work out what you want to do in the future. Through lectures, site visits, and activities, you’ll see what a subject looks like academically and professionally. If you want to learn about a new culture, a structured program designed for students is one of the safest ways to go abroad! However, Immerse programs require a financial investment, so you should weigh the pros and cons carefully.Overall, we think Immerse is a good way for high schoolers to explore future pathways, develop skills in their subject, and explore a new city.
Image source – Immerse Education