ASPADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM
Welcome!
Since 1958, talented and engaged students from around New Hampshire have come together for the Advanced Studies Program (ASP) at St. Paul’s School, a unique, immersive program that is equal parts academic exploration, college preparation and summer fun.
The ASP is about diving deep into thought-provoking conversations in which you confront real-world problems and relevant ideas. It is about developing friendships with peers from across the state and being exposed to new activities and new career paths. It is about getting a jump start on the college process that will have you feeling confident about your next steps.
Your community and the world need curious minds, big thinkers and active citizens. What inspires you? Whether it is law and government, biomedical ethics, the ancient world, data science or something else, the ASP offers you a special opportunity to learn … and not just in the classroom. It will be a summer to remember; one that just might change your life.
We know that what you find in these pages will pique your interest, and we encourage you to visit our website at sps.edu/asp-summer to learn more. We look forward to responding to any questions you have — and to reading your application!
Sincerely,
Michelle Taffe ASP’85 Director
Donald Anselmi Associate Director
Courses. College Readiness. Community.
Held every summer on the beautiful SPS grounds in Concord, the St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program is a fully residential five-week program designed to offer engaging and inspiring academics in a college-like environment. The ASP is an experience that cannot be found anywhere else. Students from across the Granite State come together with talented teachers and college-aged interns to live together and to learn from one another. It’s an academic and social adventure that will help you prepare for college — and offer you meaningful opportunities for inspiration, connection and fun.
THE ASP OFFERS:
u EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMICS
• 3:1 student-to-faculty and intern ratio
• Average class size: 12 students
• 15+ major course choices
• College-prep programming
• Writing classes
u WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES
• Ohrstrom Library
• Lindsay Center for Math and Science, with biology and engineering labs
• Observatory
• Fine Arts Building
• Dance studio space
• Athletic and Fitness Center
u AN EXTRAORDINARY SETTING
• 2,000 acres with 25+ miles of trails, waterways and other natural features that often play a role in coursework
• A 120-building campus with a mix of historic and modern structures
“The grounds are GORGEOUS! I
wish I could live here all year long. It is the most beautiful campus ever, and I absolutely love, love, loved it.”
YOUR DAYS ARE BUSY, REWARDING ... AND FUN!
Start your morning with the full community in the School’s Chapel for an interfaith program featuring inspiring presentations, announcements, music and laughter.
Then it’s off to your major course for classwork, field trips, labs or studio work with a cohort of enthusiastic peers. From anatomy to studio arts, all of our major courses provide opportunities for experiential and collaborative learning.
In the afternoon, students participate in recreational activities, choosing from more than a dozen fun and engaging options. Some students work on their skills and fitness for an upcoming fall season sport. Others try their hand at something new, like learning squash in the McLane Squash Courts or weight training in the fully equipped weight room at the Athletic and Fitness Center. Additional options often include rock climbing, dance, yoga and improv theater. The rec program allows you to discover new interests, develop current abilities and meet new people outside your classes or dorm.
After dinner, coffee houses, group meetings and study hours run until 9:30 p.m. Then return to your dormitory for the traditional ASP inter-house “pizza feed” and serenade or simply hang out with friends.
“Rec was a blast! I love how relaxed the activities were and how there was no pressure to do well or win. It was also a great way to get exercise and meet new people.”
Choose Your Course.
The structure and schedule of the ASP allow for a level of academic focus not possible during the school year. The course material and depth of study you’ll find in ASP classrooms are similar to what you will see in college.
MAJOR COURSE
Your major course will be the cornerstone of your ASP experience, challenging you to explore beyond your comfort zone and take a deep dive into a discipline of interest. The work you begin in the classroom will extend into nightly study groups, field trips, observatory or laboratory work or performances with your classmates. For some, the major course is an opportunity to investigate a new field of interest; other ASP graduates credit their major course with leading them to their career path. New courses are offered every summer.
RECENT MAJOR COURSES:
u Astronomy
u Biomedical Ethics
u Data Science
u Ecology
u Engineering
u Entrepreneurship
u Forbidden Fictions
u International Relations and Global Politics
u Mysteries of the Ancient World
u Law and Governance
u Molecular Biology
u Physiology for Athletic Performance
u Programming with Python
u Studio Arts
HANDS ON
At the ASP, coursework often extends beyond the classroom and challenges students to examine how they can apply their knowledge to the world around them.
A hallmark project of the Engineering major course is modifying ride-on electric cars for Go Baby Go, a program that provides children with disabilities with a way to move independently.
Students work in teams during class and study hours to customize cars to meet a child’s needs, even incorporating favorite colors and cartoon characters for the design. As they tinker with wires to connect headlights, power steering and more, students gain real-world engineering experience and learn how to problem-solve with guidance from teachers and interns.
The project culminates with a visit from families and children who come to SPS to test their cars while students make final adjustments. For students, meeting the child they modified the electric car for is a special moment that allows them to see the real-world impact of their work.
LEARN MORE about how the ASP makes learning meaningful and fun.
“I didn’t realize the full extent of what learning means until about a week into Molecular Biology — we had already covered most of what I learned in AP Bio and were going over subject matter so deeply that it made me appreciate just how much there is to learn.”
SAMPLE AN ASP CLASS: BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
The ASP’s Biomedical Ethics class dives deep on some of society’s most emotionally charged medical issues, from medical aid in dying to stem cell research. The goal, says SPS Science Teacher Ally Bryant, who taught the course during the 2025 summer session, isn’t to change anyone’s mind about these complicated topics — it’s to help them build a better foundation for their perspectives through news and public policy analysis, guest lectures and class discussions, and field trips to meet those working on the frontlines of a range of healthcare issues.
LEARN MORE about Biomedical Ethics at the ASP.
WRITING WORKSHOP
In addition to your major course, you will take Writing Workshop, where you will work through the writing process individually, with instructors and with your peers. With an emphasis on the personal essay, Writing Workshop provides opportunities not only for creative self-expression and rigorous critical thinking but also for building a set of skills to draw upon in school and in the college application process.
MEET AN ASP TEACHER: JOHN BOUTON
An independent school English teacher for more than three decades, John Bouton has taught Writing Workshop at the ASP since 2014.
What keeps you coming back to the ASP? I love the environment of being able to have small classes and the facilities in a place like St. Paul’s School. I work with talented colleagues and students who really appreciate the opportunity to partake of all the wonderful resources that the School has to offer. What really keeps me coming back, though, is the feeling I get here — it’s about how nurturing these grounds are and how open to experimentation and curiosity and a kind of natural innovation that seems to happen during ASP.
What is Writing Workshop, and why is it important? The workshop is rooted in the personal essay as a place for students to learn about their writing process. I’m looking for meaningful creation through the alchemy of transforming an everyday experience into something memorable, maybe even transcendent. Clear, powerful and precise writing — that’s the goal. Because of the small class sizes and the intensity and intimacy of living in community with one another for the summer, there’s an opportunity to build trust — to realize that your teacher is your collaborator and editor in the writing process rather than an authority figure grading you makes a huge difference.
LEARN MORE about what John Bouton loves about teaching at the ASP.
NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
The ASP is not only a community of curious students, but also one of engaged citizens. Woven into the ASP experience is the New Hampshire Leadership Institute (NHLI), during which you and your peers will consider the challenges facing your generation and think about the big questions of leadership. The backbone of the NHLI is the Leadership Speaker Series. State leaders from a range of backgrounds and organizations will share their journeys with you, exposing you to new ideas and expanded possibilities for your future.
RECENT NHLI VISITORS:
u N.H. Gov. Kelly Ayotte
u Kevin Bell, VP of marketing, Loon Mountain
u Kate Bergeron ASP ’88, VP for hardware engineering, Apple, Inc.
u Gilles Bissonnette, legal director at the ACLU of New Hampshire
u James Collins, bioengineer and MacArthur Fellow
u Sam Evans-Brown, executive director, Clean Energy NH
u Jane Flegal ASP ’04, expert adviser, climate engineering science and policy
u Julian Jefferson, public defender and law professor
u Clement Kigugu, executive director, Overcomers Refugee Services
u Tehama Lopez Bunyasi ASP ’96, professor of conflict resolution and political science
u Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, family physician and healthcare equity advocate
u U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
u Scott Spradling, lobbyist and crisis management and public relations expert LEARN MORE
about how the ASP nurtures the college-and-beyond leadership potential of New Hampshire high school students every summer.
“Throughout the NHLI program, I was able to learn that leadership looks different in various careers and being a successful leader means to be confident in yourself.”
Get Ahead on College Readiness.
Every aspect of the ASP is designed to help you stand out in the college application process. You’ll leave the program with both a foundation for your college application and the tools to make it the best possible representation of you.
u ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE ADVISING: Reflect on your interests and goals to build your college list with a knowledgeable counselor.
u WEEKLY COLLEGE PREP EVENTS: Sessions include navigating the college admissions process, financing college, application basics and more.
u SAT AND ACT PREP CLASS: Offered free of charge, this online course offers preparation for both the SAT and the ACT — and is yours to continue after you leave the ASP, through the end of your high school career.
u COLLEGE VISITS: During the 2025 session, students spent the day at the University of New Hampshire in Durham and Northeastern University in Boston.
u COLLEGE DAY: An event exclusively for ASP students, you will learn about a range of colleges and speak to admissions representatives right on the St. Paul’s campus. Approximately 65 colleges and universities from across the country participate.
u COLLEGE ESSAY FEEDBACK: Hone your writing skills and begin drafting your college essay in Writing Workshop.
u RECOMMENDATIONS: At the end of the summer program, you will receive written comments from your major course teacher, Writing Workshop teacher and house supervisor. Evaluations may be sent to colleges at your request.
COLLEGE ADVISING
The intensive, personalized nature of the ASP extends to our college advising program, where each student works closely with one of our experienced advisers over the course of five weeks to take a deep dive on every aspect of the college application process. The journey begins when students complete a survey to capture where they are in their college search, and includes group workshops, one-on-one meetings and preparation for ASP College Day.
Many students say that the ASP college advising program offers them the type of individualized attention and road map that isn’t possible at their high schools. Get to know college advising at the ASP and hear what two 2024 ASP students had to say about their experience.
LEARN MORE about college advising at the ASP
COLLEGE DAY
Each summer, admissions representatives from approximately 65 colleges and universities from across the U.S. spend a Saturday afternoon at St. Paul’s School for the sole purpose of meeting the students who attend the ASP. These representatives know that they’re meeting some of the academically strongest rising high school seniors and juniors in the state, and because this is a college fair exclusively for the ASP, students get more time with the colleges that pique their interest to ask questions, gather information ... and make an impression on admissions counselors. More than just a college fair, ASP College Day includes advance workshops with ASP college advisers to prepare students for the experience, small group information sessions with select colleges and an admissions panel with representatives from multiple schools.
“There is no question that ASP graduates are well prepared to come to schools like Middlebury and squeeze every drop from the opportunities they find. They are confident, skilled learners, highly engaged participants in activities, and important contributors to school culture. Frankly, I wish that I lived in New Hampshire so that my own children could attend the ASP!”
— Samuel N. Prouty Executive Director of Admissions
Middlebury College
“I think I am set up to kill my senior fall, and I’m definitely confident heading into college applications.”
Build Your Community.
The ASP is fully residential for every student by design. Five weeks will fly by as you study, share meals and live with peers, teachers and interns on the beautiful St. Paul’s School grounds. Equally as important as classroom instruction, what you learn by living in this community will help prepare you to succeed in college and beyond, both academically and interpersonally.
HOUSING
Students live in houses with a faculty member who serves as the house supervisor and college-aged interns who mentor students throughout all aspects of the program. Dorm living will enable you to better connect with peers in your classes and meet people from other courses. Your house supervisor will plan events like pizza or ice cream gatherings and leadership programming that will further build your ASP community experience.
DINING
Dining is another way you’ll get a tase of college life during the ASP. You’ll eat all your meals in the St. Paul’s School dining hall, with a variety of delicious and healthy choices, including allergen-aware and vegetarian options, prepared by the St. Paul’s School dining staff. For many students, it’s a highlight of the program.
HEAR FROM STUDENTS as they share their experiences of living on the SPS grounds.
“I love living with my roommate and chatting with her at night before we go to sleep. Debriefing the days and happenings with her has been one of my favorite parts of living in the dorm.”
TRADITIONS
u SERENADES: Have a blast with your dormmates preparing an adaptation of a song as a surprise for another house.
u DORM FEEDS: Enjoy pizza, chicken fingers and other snacks after evening study hours with friends — your dormmates, and sometimes also students from other houses.
u TALENT SHOW: An opportunity to showcase a solo or group performance with the community.
u FAMILY DAY: Family members are invited to SPS to visit students, tour the grounds, meet faculty and sit in on classes.
u HARRY POTTER DAY: Inspired by the gothic architecture of the beautiful SPS campus, transport yourself to Hogwarts and a world of witchcraft and wizardry for the day with inter-house games, Quidditch and more.
u ALUMNI DAY: The ASP has more than 12,000 alumni. We invite them back to the ASP for the day to enjoy the campus, reconnect with classmates and meet current students.
u FIRST AND LAST NIGHT SERVICES: These special services in the historic Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul bookend the ASP experience for everyone — students, teachers, interns and staff — in a thoughtful, meditative way.
“Some of my best memories from the ASP come from the feeds and serenades. A few days ago, my dorm hosted a hot dog and s’mores feed at night around a campfire. It was a wholesome memory and time where we could all bond as a dorm.”
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE
u Athletic and Fitness Center
Get your workouts in here
2 3
4 5 7 8 1 6 3 4 7 6
u Ohrstrom Library
Study here with friends
u Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science
Go to class here
u Fine Arts Building
Get creative here
u Chapel
Start your day here
u Memorial Hall
Attend college events and the talent show here
u New Space Black Box Theater
Dance with your friends here on Saturday nights
u Coit Dining Hall
Enjoy your meals here
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AFTER THE ASP
During the past five years, ASP alumni have matriculated at many top-ranked colleges and universities, including:
American University
Barnard College
Bates College
Boston College
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Brandeis University
Brown University
Cal Tech
Carlton College
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
Colby College
Colgate University
College of the Holy Cross
College of William & Mary
Columbia University
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Duke University
Emerson College
Emory University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Hamilton College
Hampshire College
Harvard University
Haverford College
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
MIT
Middlebury College
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Pomona College
Purdue University
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Skidmore College
Smith College
Stanford University
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
Union College
University of Chicago
University of New Hampshire
University of Notre Dame
University of Southern California
University of St. Andrews
University of Vermont
US Coast Guard Academy
US Marine Corps
US Naval Academy
Vassar College
Villanova University
Washington University St. Louis
Wellesley College
Yale University
APPLY TO THE ASP BY JANUARY 6
Applying to the ASP is easy and free. Learn more by visiting sps.edu/asp-summer or attending an information session for prospective students. We’ll be visiting public and parochial schools across New Hampshire this fall and offering virtual information session for students who aren’t able to meet us in person.
No one should be deterred by financial limitations from applying to the ASP. We meet demonstrated need for all who qualify and are proud to have offered financial aid equal to two-thirds of the program cost to more than half of our attendees for the past several years.
LEARN MORE about applying.
“I’m very sad that I am leaving. I wish I could stay at school here, on this beautiful campus, with these beautiful people, and experience this every day of my life. However, I am ready to head back and take what I’ve learned here and bring it back out into my community.”
