Advanced Studies Program
at St. Paul’s School

One of the preeminent boarding schools in the country, St. Paul's School is located in Concord, NH. For over 50 years, it has offered the Advanced Studies Program for NH students the summer before their senior year of high school. The ASP runs for five weeks and hosts approximately 250 students, all of whom live on campus for the duration of the program.

Students enroll in a major course from a list of 22 college-level classes, which meets six days a week. Major courses taken by RHS students in recent years have included Ancient Greece, Forbidden Fictions, Data Driven, Shakespeare for Performance, World Religions, Law & Governance, and Ecology. In addition, each student takes a Writing Workshop focused on creative nonfiction and the college application essay. Courses are taught by a wide range of top educators, many of whom are St. Paul's faculty.

While the ASP provides an intensive and enriching academic experience, the program also fosters an incredible sense of community and personal growth. Students learn the importance of living together and cultivating an investment in campus life while also being encouraged in personal self-reflection and open-mindedness. In addition to attending class, students participate in daily residential activities such as morning chapel and afternoon sports. The ASP also offers optional activities such as marching band, open-mic nights, diversity initiatives, and other weekend social activities.

Another central focus of the ASP experience is the college application process. The program employs college counselors who offer one-on-one advising sessions in addition to weekly informational sessions on topics such as the Common Application, college athletics, and admissions interviews. The ASP also hosts a college fair that draws representatives from many highly resourced colleges. The result is that students graduate from the ASP feeling more prepared for the college application process and what follows.

The total cost of ASP is set in January of each year and posted on its website.