Introducing JHU’s Next Generation Scholars Academy
Published January 13, 2025
Summer at Hopkins is excited to launch the Next Generation Scholars Academy this year. Designed for rising high school juniors and seniors, this experience combines undergraduate coursework, curated programming, and the incomparable experience of living on campus for five weeks. These inaugural Next-Gen Scholars will enjoy the university’s Homewood Campus in Baltimore, Maryland between June 29-August 2, 2025.
As part of the Academy, qualified students will complete two undergraduate courses of their choice and also enroll in an exclusive one-credit course with a focus on personal and college success. Students who successfully complete their time at the Academy will receive a certificate of distinction, identifying them as JHU Next Generation Scholars and validating their commitment to academic excellence and personal development.
Academy enrollment will unlock unparalleled opportunities from mentorship to transformative campus experiences. Next-Gen Scholars will have access to JHU’s expert instructors and innovative facilities, interaction with like-minded peers, exposure to academic rigor and campus life, and engagement through on-campus and community activities.
“I have found in my nearly 16 years of working with summer students that everyone has a different ‘why,’” said Owen Hooper, executive director for the Office of Summer and Intersession programs. “We want our high school students to be able to identify why they decided to spend their summer at Hopkins, what direction they want to go in higher education or in their career, and who they want to be. Next, we want to help them set goals to get there. For example, the Academy’s one-credit course will provide a unique advantage to students who are hoping to transition into college, providing them with valuable insights into the college decision and admissions processes. It will assist them in checking all the boxes that college admission departments are looking for, not only at a top-tier research institution like Johns Hopkins, but at colleges and universities across the country. It is a really big deal to be able to help these students early and often.”
To that end, the one-credit Academy course is designed to provide guidance and experiences that will translate well to a college admission application, including assistance with crafting a personal statement, refining admission essays, and providing opportunities to engage in meaningful community service. The course will also offer enriching wellness and leadership activities, workshops, and seminars with an on-campus and extended community in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. greater metro area.
“In addition to leaving with undergraduate credits on an official transcript that can be applied toward admission and their future degrees, the Academy’s Capstone project will help students encapsulate what they have learned about themselves, what types of institutions they may seek to enroll in, and what activities they would want to pursue on campus once admitted,” Hooper said. “The project will help Next-Gen Scholars discern and articulate the direction of their academic journey and their short and long-term educational and professional goals, so that they are well-equipped to present their best authentic selves to college admissions committees.”
Pre-college students interested in applying to the Next Generation Scholars Academy should review the Admissions Criteria for Summer Term course applicants.