15 Competitive English Literature Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you’re interested in literature, competitive academic programs can help you explore reading and writing in greater depth than a typical high school classroom allows. These opportunities introduce you to areas like literary analysis, creative writing, dramatic writing, and interdisciplinary humanities study while exposing you to college-style seminars and discussion-based learning. They also help you strengthen skills in close reading, argumentation, and analytical writing through sustained academic work.
Why should I participate in a competitive English literature program in high school?
English literature programs allow you to engage deeply with texts while developing stronger writing and critical thinking skills. You might analyze novels and poetry, participate in seminar discussions, workshop original writing, study historical and cultural contexts, or complete research and portfolio-based projects under the guidance of instructors and peers. Over time, these experiences can help you refine your communication skills, explore academic interests within the humanities, and prepare for college-level coursework in literature and related fields.
To help you get started, here is our list of 15 competitive English literature programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~5–7%; highly selective; approximately 50–60 students total across sites
Program Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open October 15; deadline December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (ages 15–17 by program end); both U.S. and international students may apply
Cost: Fully funded; tuition, books, room and board, field trips covered; travel support and additional financial aid available if needed
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; University of Maryland, College Park, MD
At TASS, you’ll take part in a six-week, discussion-driven humanities seminar focused on literature, history, art, and systems of power. You will attend a three-hour college-level class each weekday, read primary texts and scholarly articles, write analytical essays, and receive detailed feedback from faculty and teaching assistants. The seminars are capped and emphasize rigorous discussion, closely resembling undergraduate humanities classrooms. Outside class, you’ll help govern the residential community democratically, participate in public speaking workshops, and engage with guest speakers. The program integrates academic inquiry with structured community living, including transformative justice practices and collaborative decision-making. By the end of the program, you’ll leave with significantly stronger critical reading, analytical writing, and argumentation skills developed in a highly selective intellectual environment.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus, study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Participants can explore a wide range of subjects spanning 20+ options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High selectivity; described as talent-based and highly focused
Program Dates: January 31 – May 9
Application Deadline: November 10
Eligibility: High school students with demonstrated talent and interest in writing for theatre, film, and television
Cost: Free
Location: New York University, New York, NY
The Future Dramatic Writers Workshop is a spring intensive focused specifically on dramatic writing across theatre, film, and television. You’ll get to study dramatic structure through lecture and discussion, then apply those principles in workshop settings that mirror undergraduate training in the Rita & Burton Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing. The curriculum spans playwriting, screenwriting, and episodic television writing, emphasizing structure, character arcs, scene construction, and revision discipline. Throughout the semester, you’ll draft and refine original scripts and ultimately present your work in a live final showcase. The program’s structure intentionally replicates the rigor of Tisch undergraduate coursework, offering early exposure to conservatory-style dramatic writing pedagogy.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: July 1 – August 12
Application Deadline: International deadline March 13; U.S. deadline June 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students; minimum 3.0 GPA required; proof of English proficiency for international students
Cost: $700–$16,000 depending on credits; tuition charged per credit; financial aid is available
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Through NYU Precollege, you will enroll in undergraduate-level courses within the Humanities & Social Sciences division and study alongside NYU students. You can take literature-focused courses that emphasize analytical writing, textual interpretation, and research-based argumentation in a college classroom setting, as well as earn college credit. Classes require close reading, structured essays, and active seminar discussion, mirroring the expectations of first-year university humanities coursework. Outside the classroom, you’ll have access to NYU’s libraries, academic advising, and optional College 101 workshops focused on admissions and study skills. If you choose residential housing, you will also experience campus life in New York City while building independence and time-management skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: 4-Week Residential: July 1–July 24; 7-Week Residential: Late June–Mid-August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; final summer deadline typically in June
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with strong academic records
Cost: $9,100 (4-Week Residential); $15,735 (7-Week Residential); $4,180–$8,160 (7-Week Online/Commuting); need-based scholarships available for eligible U.S. students
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Through Harvard’s Secondary School Program, you’ll enroll in college-level humanities and literature courses and complete the same assignments expected of undergraduate students. You can take literature-focused seminars such as Scary Stories in American Literature or Women Writers in Greater Mexico, which emphasize close reading, analytical essays, and structured discussion. The courses typically meet multiple times per week and require sustained written analysis, research, and participation. Some Career Pathway courses are capped at 15–25 students, allowing for more direct faculty interaction.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: June 20 – August 16
Application Deadline: Application deadlines vary by term; summer priority deadlines typically fall in the Spring
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; must be 16–19 years old during the program; not matriculating at Stanford
Cost: Tuition starts at $8,226 (commuting); residential costs start at $18,771; financial aid is available
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
At Stanford Summer Session, you’ll enroll in actual Stanford undergraduate courses alongside college students and other high-achieving high school participants. Literature-related offerings such as Literature and Belonging or Greek Mythology require close reading, sustained discussion, and analytical writing at the university level. The courses require you to typically meet multiple times per week over eight weeks, demanding independent study and structured essay work. You’ll receive an official Stanford transcript upon completion, and residential students gain full access to campus libraries, maker spaces, and academic resources. The program emphasizes intellectual independence and academic maturity within a university classroom environment.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~15–20%
Program Dates: June 21–July 3; July 5–July 17; July 19–July 31
Application Deadline: Application opens in September; final deadline January 7
Eligibility: You must be 16–18 years old by July 19, be a current high school sophomore or junior graduating in 2027 or 2028 (or international equivalent), and be a first-time YYGS participant. English fluency required
Cost: $7,000 tuition; need-based financial aid available up to full tuition coverage
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
At YYGS, you will participate in an intensive two-week academic session built around small seminars, lectures, and collaborative capstone projects. If you select the Politics, Law & Economics track, you’ll engage in close reading of political theory, legal texts, and policy arguments while refining analytical writing and debate skills. You will work in discussion-based seminars that mirror undergraduate humanities classrooms. The program emphasizes argumentative structure, rhetorical precision, and research-backed reasoning, skills directly transferable to advanced English literature study. You’ll also collaborate on a final project that synthesizes readings and present your conclusions to peers and instructors.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: Summer A and Summer B terms (typically late June–early August; varies by course)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; summer deadlines typically in spring
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12); English proficiency required for international students
Cost: Tuition varies by course; financial aid available
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Through Columbia’s Pre-College Programs, you’ll enroll in subject-specific seminars within the Humanities, Literature, and Philosophy division or the Creative Writing track. Literature-focused offerings such as Explorations in Modern Literature or What is Great Literature? emphasize close reading, historical context, and formal analysis of texts ranging from modernist fiction to contemporary works. The courses are discussion-based and require written assignments, oral presentations, and active participation. In writing workshops, you will draft original work and engage in peer critique sessions designed to refine craft and revision strategies. Some courses incorporate field experiences in New York City, such as museum visits connected to literary or artistic movements. You’ll complete the program having engaged in structured literary analysis and genre-based writing in a university classroom.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: June 29 – July 17; July 20 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions beginning in January; apply early for best course availability
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors); English fluency required
Cost: $10,771 (Residential); $8,160 (Commuter); financial aid is available
Location: Barnard College, New York, NY
In the Writing and Literature track at Barnard’s NextGen Leadership Institute, you’ll enroll in a single seminar for the full session and work within a small cohort to build depth in literary analysis and craft. You will read texts closely, draft across genres such as fiction, poetry, journalism, or screenwriting, and engage in structured peer workshops focused on revision and line-level technique. Courses such as Interpreting Literature: Reading Carefully, Writing Clearly, or Women Coming of Age in Literature emphasize analytical clarity and critical argumentation alongside creative output. The New York City setting extends learning beyond the classroom through literary venues, author talks, and curated cultural experiences tied to publishing and performance. You’ll conclude the session with a polished portfolio that reflects sustained revision and seminar-level engagement with literature.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: June 22 – August 14; July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Applications open February 2; deadline March 9
Eligibility: High school students (domestic and international) eligible for the residential track; you must enroll full-time and take two lower-division, in-person Berkeley Summer Sessions courses in Session C and/or Session D
Cost: $15,987 (Session C); $14,687 (Session D); scholarships are available
Location: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
At Berkeley Pre-College Scholars (Residential), you will live on campus and take two lower-division Berkeley Summer Sessions courses for college credit, which lets you build a literature-heavy schedule if you choose Arts & Literature or Reading & Composition offerings. You’ll submit course enrollment requests, and your final schedule depends on prerequisites, availability, and department discretion. Outside class, you’re supported by Berkeley undergraduate resident assistants/mentors and can join excursions, activities, and college-prep workshops. As you’re taking actual Berkeley courses, you’re doing college-style reading loads, discussion sections, and graded writing assignments that feed into an official Berkeley transcript.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High selectivity
Program Dates: Session 1: June 14 – 27; Session 2: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: Application window: Jan 19 – Feb 1
Eligibility: Current 10th–12th graders (international students welcome)
Cost: $2,500 (includes room, board, instruction, and program activities); a fee waiver is available
Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
The program centers on an intensive, single-genre workshop model, where you’ll focus exclusively on one track: fiction, poetry, creative writing, playwriting, or TV writing, and produce original work throughout the session. The instruction is led primarily by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and other University of Iowa MFA programs, which means critique is grounded in close reading, line-level feedback, and structured revision practices. The daily workshops are supplemented by craft sessions, visiting writer readings, and discussions on topics such as revision, literary translation, and the writing life beyond publication. Collaborative exercises and small-group projects encourage peer editorial exchange. The overall structure mirrors a condensed MFA-style workshop environment, emphasizing disciplined practice, revision strategy, and sustained engagement with literary craft rather than résumé-building or competition-driven outcomes.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity
Program Dates: July 12–18
Application Deadline: Early Bird Deadline: January 31 (application fee waived); Final Deadline: April 15; Scholarship application due March 2
Eligibility: Current 8th–12th graders; minimum 2.0 GPA
Cost: $3,725 (Residential); $3,095 (Commuter). Need-based, tuition-only scholarships are available
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, DC
The Creative Writing Academy is structured as a week-long intensive that combines lecture-based instruction with workshop critique and place-based writing exercises. You’ll rotate between poetry, fiction, and personal prose while examining literary form, structure, character development, dialogue, and thematic construction. The classroom sessions are complemented by off-site writing assignments in Washington, D.C., including observational and responsive writing exercises at cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art. Peer workshops form a central component of the experience, emphasizing revision strategies, close reading, and structured feedback. The program also introduces professional pathways in writing, covering publishing markets, academic programs, and creative careers, providing contextual exposure to the broader literary field.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: High selectivity
Program Dates: Session One: June 21 – July 4; Session Two: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: Applications open January 6 and close March 1
Eligibility: High school students; transcript and letter of recommendation required
Cost: $2,575; need-based financial aid available; no application fee
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
The Summer Residential Workshop is a two-week intensive centered on generative writing and sustained craft development across poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. You will produce new work daily and participate in discussion-driven workshops that emphasize revision, voice, and close reading rather than competition or performance. The structure prioritizes drafting and rewriting as core intellectual practices, encouraging you to analyze technique while experimenting with form and perspective. The workshops are led by practicing writers affiliated with the Kenyon Review, situating students within an established literary tradition tied to one of the country’s most recognized literary journals. Beyond classroom sessions, the program integrates a liberal arts campus environment that mirrors aspects of college-level literary study. The overall tone is workshop-focused and craft-driven, emphasizing disciplined writing practice and literary conversation over résumé-building programming.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20 students selected annually; high selectivity
Program Dates: July 15 – July 26
Application Deadline: Applications open February 1 and close March 1
Eligibility: Ages 14–19 on the first day of the workshop; admission based solely on an anonymized original short story (2,000–6,000 words)
Cost: $1,950; need-based financial aid is available; one full-tuition BIPOC scholarship awarded annually
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, PA
Alpha is a genre-focused residential intensive dedicated exclusively to science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Your admission will be determined solely through an anonymous review of a submitted short story, with selection based on narrative strength, originality, and craft. The workshop structure emphasizes close critique, iterative revision, and sustained engagement with speculative world-building, character design, and narrative tension. There will be professional guest authors who will guide discussions on genre conventions, industry pathways, and the practical realities of writing for speculative markets. The small-cohort model supports concentrated mentorship and extended manuscript development throughout the two-week residential experience.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.