Our pre-college programs are designed to be immersive, meaning that a student’s experience extends far outside of the classroom. Pre-college scholars are considered registered UC Santa Barbara students during the summer session, allowing access to a number of resources and amenities that support a transformative experience.
Campus Amenities
Pre-college participants benefit from access to a large number of campus facilities, including full library and research resources. Additionally, students can use the University Recreation Center (known as the RecCen), which features weight rooms, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and squash courts, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and a track.
Extracurricular Activities
In addition to chasing breakthroughs in research and in the classroom, students participate in activities that are thoughtfully designed to support skill-building and networking with academic professionals and equally talented peers from all over the world. Such activities include:
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Development Workshops: receive first-hand advice from researchers about undergraduate and graduate studies.
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Drop-In Hours: access additional support from program staff to improve your professional skills during the program.
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Friday Mixers: unwind from a busy week in a space for building community with peers from diverse backgrounds.
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Social Events: balance your academic experience with game nights, tutorials, watch parties, and more!
These activities foster friendships, encourage collaboration, and build community that endures long after the program ends.
Program Options
Commuter Option: Commuter Option: A commuter student travels to campus daily by car or public transportation from as far north as Lompoc and as far south as Ventura. This option is available to local and non-local students who choose to live in Santa Barbara with family for the summer. Commuter students will participate in on-campus social activities.
Residential Option: A very important component of your pre-college experience is life outside the classroom—living and learning with others. A residential student lives on campus under the supervision of Summer Discovery who provides a suite of activities that foster the development of friendships with students of various cultures, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Residential Student Living Arrangements
Move-In: June 29, 2025
Move-Out: July 26, 2025
Students live in Santa Cruz Residence Hall, which is conveniently located next to the Pacific Ocean. The comfortable low-rise building is located close to all academic and recreational facilities. Rooms are double- and triple-occupancy, and feature high-speed internet access, ample closet space, wall-to-wall carpeting, and a set of furniture for each student, including beds, study desks and chairs, and dresser drawers.
In addition to campus amenities, residential students will have access to:
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Off-road running trails
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The beach
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A television/DVD lounge
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Residence hall recreation areas
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A laundry room
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Summer Discovery program staff, in an office, open 24/7
