Follow Your
Curiosity See Where It LEADS YOU ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM
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Coming in to the ASP, I wondered, ‘Do I really want to dedicate five weeks of my summer to more school?’ I’m so glad I decided to go for it, because it’s so much more than that. You get to take a class that’s nothing like your high school classes. You get to live here, eat your meals, do rec, make so many friends … everything about this experience has been totally worth it.
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Welcome!
S
ince 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, molecular biology, 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 spark your curiosity, and we encourage you to visit our website at sps.edu/asp-summer to learn more. We look forward to reading your application! Sincerely,
Michelle Taffe ASP’85 Director
Donald Anselmi Associate Director
Courses, College Readiness, Community
H
eld 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. 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.
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One of the things I love about my Exercise Physiology class is how varied it is. We’re doing all these cool dissections in the lab in Lindsay to understand anatomy and physical structures, and then we’re in the Athletic & Fitness Center to work out and do research on ourselves as well.
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS u EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMICS • 3:1 student-to-faculty and intern ratio • Average class size: 12 students • 15+ major course choices • College-prep programming • Writing Workshop to draft and hone your college essay u COLLEGE-STYLE FACILITIES • Ohrstrom Library, with 75,000 print books and 500,000 e-books • Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science, with biology and engineering labs • Observatory, with high-quality reflecting telescopes • Fine Arts Building • Dance Building • 98,000-square-foot Athletic & Fitness Center • Coit Dining Hall, with vegetarian, gluten-aware, and allergen-aware options • Clark House Health Center • Furnished residence houses with kitchens and common rooms • 24-hour security
Your days are busy, rewarding ... and fun!
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tart 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 ancient languages to studio arts, all of our major courses provide opportunities for experiential and collaborative learning.
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I really liked rec. … I got rock climbing, and it was such a magical experience. I made some amazing friends while also having fun pushing myself.
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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 & Fitness Center. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday, your time is your own — students take advantage of optional field trips, explore downtown Concord with their friends, or just enjoy the extraordinary setting of St. Paul’s School, a 2,000-acre campus with more than 25 miles of walking and running trails, four ponds, and other natural features that often play a role in coursework. After dinner, college meetings, office hours, 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.
Spend a day at the ASP
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es, the ASP is summer school … but it’s also so much more. You will start, spend, and end your days with your classmates — who will quickly become your close friends.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE 7 a.m.
Wake up
7:30 a.m. Breakfast in Coit Dining Hall 8:15 a.m. Chapel 8:45 a.m. Major Course – 10 a.m. 10 a.m. Break – 10:20 a.m. 10:20 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Writing Workshop
11:30 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Major Course
12:35 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch in Coit Dining Hall
2 p.m. College counselor meetings 3 p.m. Rec activities – 4:30 p.m.
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The ASP is definitely school, but it’s like the best day you ever had at school, every day!
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5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Dinner in Coit Dining Hall
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Study hours
9:30 p.m.
Dorm check-in
11 p.m.
Lights out
Choose your course
T
he 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
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Data Science
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Ecology
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Engineering
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Entrepreneurship
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Exercise Physiology
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Forbidden Fictions
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International Relations and Global Politics
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Law & Governance
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Media & Society
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Molecular Biology
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Mysteries of the Ancient World
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Psychology
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Studio Arts
SAMPLE AN ASP CLASS: ASTRONOMY One of the program’s most popular courses every summer, the Astronomy major course taught by Leslie Chamberlain, PhD, begins with learning constellations and telling cultural sky stories that help students recognize the interconnectedness of the night sky. Over the course of five weeks, the class moves into stellar evolution, dark matter, and life in the universe. Among the coolest perks of the class? Access to the St. Paul’s School Lenore and Walter Hawley Observatory, which is put into use multiple times during the program for nighttime observation. As their peers are returning to the dorm and library to do their homework, Astronomy students are venturing outside to view the stars.
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We learn that luminosity … is found practically everywhere. We did some quick math with partners to try to figure out the average luminosity of a human and … learned that humans do in fact shine. That helped me understand how astronomically brighter stars are.
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LEARN MORE about Astronomy at the ASP.
Beyond the classroom
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any ASP major courses supplement class instruction with field trips and/or guest speakers, offering students new perspectives on the material they are learning. From visits to the New Hampshire State House and the U.S. District Court for Law & Governance to a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for the Mysteries of the Ancient World class to a stop at New Hampshire Public Radio for Media & Society, students took part in a total of 24 field trips during the summer 2026 session. Twenty guest speakers joined major course classes to discuss their careers, conduct hands-on experiments and activities with students, and more.
Media & Society students get hands-on experience in the studio at New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord.
The Forbidden Fictions class visits Robert Frost’s farmhouse, The Frost Place, in Franconia.
Mysteries of the Ancient World students at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Law & Governance students in discussion at Hillsborough Superior Court.
Writing Workshop
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n addition to your major course, you will take Writing Workshop, where you will work through the writing process individually, as well as with instructors and with your peers. With an emphasis on the personal narrative, 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.
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I’ve really gotten involved in Writing Workshop. I’ve actually finished my essay, which is great, because it makes me feel way more prepared to apply to college.
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MEET WRITING WORKSHOP TEACHER KEVIN BROOKS A member of the St. Paul’s School Humanities Department teaching faculty since 2008, Maj. Kevin Brooks has taught Writing Workshop at the ASP for four summers and has served as the program coordinator for two. The summer of 2026 was a full family affair for Brooks; his wife, Jo, served as an assistant director for the program, and his son, Max ASP’22, was an intern for the Molecular Biology major course.
Hear what Brooks has to say about Writing Workshop: “I think the principal benefit of Writing Workshop is that most of our students — and this is true not just of New Hampshire students that come to the ASP, but most high school students — don’t get much chance to practice personal narrative writing. When students do get a chance to practice creative writing, it’s usually a more traditional kind of course where they’re working on poetry or short stories or maybe writing a screenplay or a novella. That matters because personal narrative is not the kind of thing, even if you’re a strong analytical writer, that often comes naturally to most people. It can be awkward to write about yourself and not feel like you’re being arrogant or boastful or overly self-absorbed and self-indulgent. Writing Workshop allows ASP students to practice that in a very low-stakes environment, with no grade, just feedback, and chances to revise, working with peers and college interns. Writing Workshop also levels the playing field in a sense. We have students coming from a variety of different educational experiences. Some of them are coming from school districts and individual schools that are very strong and that have really robust guidance counseling offices and college counseling offices, and others coming from smaller schools that just don’t have the resources and the time to help students with all of the different aspects of the college application process. For those students, having access to something like Writing Workshop along with everything else that the ASP offers I think is really an advantage.”
NH Leadership Institute
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he 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, vice president of marketing, Loon Mountain u Kate Bergeron ASP ’88, vice president 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 ASP ’03, executive director, Clean Energy NH
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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.
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u U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander 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 N.H. Gov. John Lynch ASP P’06 u Dr. Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, family physician and healthcare equity advocate u U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen u Tamara Roy ASP ’82, architect and urban designer
NH Gov. John Lynch ASP P’06 speaks in chapel.
Students meet with Kevin Bell, vice president of marketing for Loon Mountain.
Dr. Marie Ramas in chapel.
LEARN MORE about how the ASP nurtures the college-and-beyond leadership potential of New Hampshire high school students every summer.
Get ahead on college readiness
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very 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.
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Before the ASP, I really didn’t understand all that went into choosing a college. Sitting down with my counselor and getting information about what schools might be a good fit … I have a greater idea of what I’m looking for and what I want.
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ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE ADVISING: Reflect on your interests and goals to build your college list with a knowledgeable counselor.
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WEEKLY COLLEGE PREP EVENTS: Sessions include navigating the college admissions process, financing college, application basics, and more.
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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.
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COLLEGE VISITS: Spend an afternoon on a college campus with your ASP peers. Recent visits have included the University of New Hampshire in Durham, Northeastern University in Boston, and Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
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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.
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COLLEGE ESSAY FEEDBACK: Hone your writing skills and work on your college essay in Writing Workshop. Many students leave with a final essay ready for their college applications.
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PROGRAM FEEDBACK: At the end of the summer program, you will receive written comments from your major course teacher, Writing Workshop teacher, and house supervisor. These comments 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 explore 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.
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I came to the ASP with a list of three colleges, and that was that. After meeting with my counselor, I had a much broader list of schools, and was able to meet with admissions counselors from some of them at the college fair. Now I’m pretty excited about some schools I didn’t even know existed.
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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.
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I think I am set up to kill my senior fall, and I’m definitely confident heading into college applications.
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Build your community
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he 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 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 socially.
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.
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I was nervous about living in a dorm and having a roommate at first, but I would recommend it to everyone. It’s like having a sleepover with your best friends every night.
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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.
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I loved the dining hall! I thought the food choices were great and I appreciated that they made many different recipes to try.
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TRADITIONS SERENADES: Have a blast with your dormmates preparing an adaptation of a song as a surprise for another house. DORM FEEDS: Enjoy pizza, chicken fingers, and other snacks after evening study hours with friends — your dormmates, and sometimes also students from other houses. TALENT SHOW: An opportunity to showcase a solo or group performance with the community. STUDENTS VS. INTERNS BASKETBALL GAME: Suit up, or cheer on your classmates as they take to the court in a lively, friendly afternoon contest in the Athletic & Fitness Center. FAMILY DAY: Family members are invited to SPS to visit students, tour the grounds, meet faculty, and sit in on classes. HARRY POTTER DAY: Inspired by the gothic architecture of the SPS campus, transport yourself to Hogwarts and a world of witchcraft and wizardry for the day with interhouse games, Quidditch, and more. ALUMNI DAY: The ASP has more than 12,000 alumni! We invite them back every summer to spend a day enjoying the campus, reconnecting with classmates, and meeting current students. 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.
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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 time where we could all bond as a dorm.
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PICTURE YOURSELF HERE
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u Chapel Start your day here
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u Memorial Hall Attend the talent show here
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u Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science Go to class here
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u Fine Arts Building Get creative here
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u New Space Black Box Theater Dance with your friends here on Saturday nights u Athletic & Fitness Center Get your workouts in here
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u Coit Dining Hall Enjoy your meals here
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u Hockey Center Attend College Day here
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u Ohrstrom Library Study with your classmates here
After the ASP During the past five years, ASP alumni have matriculated at many top-ranked colleges and universities, including:
American University
Emerson College
Smith College
Bates College
George Washington University
St. Lawrence University
Boston College
Georgetown University
Syracuse University
Boston University
Hamilton College
Trinity College
Bowdoin College
Harvard University
Tufts University
Brandeis University
Haverford College
Tulane University
Brown University
Ithaca College
Union College
Carlton College
Johns Hopkins University
University of Chicago
Case Western Reserve University
Kenyon College
University of Michigan
Lafayette College
University of New Hampshire
Lehigh University
University of Notre Dame
McGill University
University of Pennsylvania
MIT
University of St. Andrews
Middlebury College
University of Vermont
Mount Holyoke College
US Military Academy
New York University
US Naval Academy
Northeastern University
Vanderbilt University
Northwestern University
Vassar College
Pomona College
Villanova University
Purdue University
Washington University St. Louis Wellesley College
Dickinson College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Duke University
Skidmore College
Clemson University Colby College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross College of William & Mary Colorado College Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College Davidson College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University
LEARN MORE about applying.
Apply to the ASP by January 6 HOW TO APPLY Applying to the ASP is easy and free. Learn more at sps.edu/asp-summer or attend an information session for prospective students. We visit public and parochial schools across New Hampshire every fall and offer 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.
325 Pleasant Street Concord, NH 03301 603-229-4777 sps.edu/asp-summer Follow us: @ASPStPauls