Program Description

American Collegiate Adventures

Summer Programs
@ The University of Wisconsin–Madison
@ The University of Seville, Spain
@ The Istituto Europeo, Florence, Italy
@ The Costa Rican Language Academy
@ George Washington, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston College (The Three-City College Advantage Program)


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info

For More Information, Contact
American Collegiate Adventures, Inc.
1811 West North Avenue, Suite 201
Chicago, Illinois 60622
773-342-0200; 800-509-7867 (toll-free)
Fax: 773-342-0246
http://www.acasummer.com
E-mail: info@acasummer.com

Type of Program: Precollege enrichment programs
Participants: Coeducational, grades 9–11
Program Dates: Varies by program; two-, three-, four-, and six-week options from the end of June through August
Head of Program: Jason Lubar, Founder and Executive Director; Brad Elson, Mark Stevens, Derek Simon, and Dori Saltzman, Associate Directors

Location

Madison, Wisconsin Named “Number One City in the United States” by Money magazine, Madison is located on the shores of beautiful Lake Mendota and offers nearly 200 parks and an arboretum with more than 1,200 acres of woods and restored prairies. There are miles of paths for hiking, as well as plenty of golfing, biking, and swimming nearby. Downtown bustles with coffee shops, restaurants, bookstores, and a superb farmer’s market. Best of all, the average summer temperature in Madison is a perfect 80 degrees.
Seville, Spain The launching pad for Christopher Columbus, Seville is so legendary that Hercules himself is said to have founded it. When it comes to rich history and colorful culture, Seville represents Spain at its best. It has endless stories to tell about the many fascinating cultures that have shaped Seville over the centuries. It’s an incredible setting for an unforgettable European summer.
Florence, Italy Located in gorgeous Tuscany, Florence is one of the most vibrant, vital cities in all of Italy, if not all of Europe. Staying in Florence puts students in the midst of a legendary landscape renowned for creative accomplishment and architectural triumph. They explore a timeless city that has been home to history’s greatest artists, including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Today, Florence has become the embodiment of modern Italian style and sophistication.
Costa Rica and Panama Two of the most incredible countries in all of the Americas, Costa Rica and Panama are ecological wonderlands that offer lush tropical jungles, beautiful beaches, and incredible natural wonders. Whether students crave adventure, are looking for fulfilling community service opportunities, or want to relax under the sun, Costa Rica and Panama offer something for everyone.
Three-City College Advantage in Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Home to the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the United States, these great Northeast cities set the standard for American higher education. The college campuses are rich in history and renowned for their contributions to arts, sciences, and history. Full of cosmopolitan appeal and hometown pride, Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston are classic summer locations to experience life in a collegiate setting.

Background and Philosophy

American Collegiate Adventures (ACA) offers a unique combination of challenging college-level courses, for both credit and personal enrichment, as well as exciting weekend adventures. ACA allows students to make new friends, share new experiences, and develop the academic and social skills needed to excel in college.
With one of the lowest student-staff ratios in the entire precollege program industry, ACA ensures that each student receives the personalized guidance he or she needs to get the most out of the ACA experience.

Program Offerings

University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin, is the idyllic setting for ACA’s flagship precollege program, offering two-, three-, four-, or six-week sessions. Students take two classes from over fifty course offerings each three-week session. Classes are taught by distinguished University of Wisconsin faculty members, graduate students, or area professionals. Students have the opportunity to tour the world-class campuses of Indiana University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, and the Universities of Chicago, Michigan, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin during ACA’s enriching weekend adventures. Internships and intensive community service programs are also available.
University of Seville, Spain The historic University of Seville, in the heart of southern Spain, serves as students’ summer classroom. Here, they can earn up to 6 college credits from a range of courses, including business, photography, history, art, and a Princeton Review SAT Prep course, during the four-week program. No prior Spanish is required. Participants dive headfirst into Spanish culture during their nonstop and exciting weekend adventures to historic landmarks and beautiful beaches.
Istituto Europeo, Florence, Italy Renaissance splendor is the canvas for this four-week language and cultural immersion program where students can earn up to 6 college credits while taking classes in studio art, business, culinary, photography, or Italian culture or a Princeton Review SAT Prep course. No prior Italian is required. Living right in the heart of this dynamic cultural city, the entire city of Florence becomes ACA’s classroom. All work and no play is not the ACA way, and engaging weekday activities are enhanced with incredible weekend getaways.
London and Paris Students may add to their European experience with this six-day extension in London and Paris. They explore the wonders of London, from the West End to Westminster Abbey, and then enjoy the marvels of Paris, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, while remaining in the secure company of trusted ACA staff members as well as friends they’ve made in Seville and Florence.
Costa Rica and Panama Students spend three weeks in Costa Rica, with an optional fourth week in Panama, combining a community service opportunity in one of the world’s finest eco-paradises with a 3-credit college-level language class. No prior Spanish is required. Students benefit from living and studying in the midst of Costa Rica’s Spanish-speaking culture, adding depth to the conversation few conventional classrooms can match. They then head to the rain forest for a little adventure, zip-lining high above the canopy, or hit the beach for kayaking and sunbathing. Throughout, students always stay in first-class hotel accommodations.
Three-City College Advantage Through this program, students who want a real immersion in what life at a top-caliber college is like experience the top tier of American educational institutions, spending a week in Washington, D.C., at George Washington University; a week in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania; and a final week in Boston at Boston College. This program combines test and admissions preparation with plenty of historical immersion and cultural experiences and includes visits to colleges and universities like Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, Yale, Brown, Harvard, and Princeton.

Enrollment

At ACA, students completing grades 9, 10, and 11 interact with a diverse group of students from different parts of the United States as well as different countries around the world. Participants are sure to find this mix of different cultures, lifestyles, and viewpoints exciting and eye opening.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Afternoons and evenings are free to enjoy. Students play some tennis, shoot some hoops, get in a vigorous workout, catch a Flamenco show, see a bullfight, shop the San Lorenzo markets, check out a jazz café, test their skill in a game of laser tag, hit the disco, or bask in the sun on the beach. ACA students always have choices of the incredible array of activities every day and night—at no extra charge. During the weekend, students visit energetic nearby cities, historical landmarks, sporting and arts events, and amusement parks. When students want to take a good look at a first-choice school, enjoy the arts, or take a shopping trip in town, everyone gets to go along for the fun. Most importantly, ACA’s signature weekend excursions are always included in the tuition.
Madison, Wisconsin Students visit the cities of Chicago and Minneapolis at the peak of their summertime excitement. In addition, ACA turns the volume up a notch with trips to the Wisconsin Dells, Six Flags Great America, Milwaukee’s legendary Summerfest, and ACA’s signature Big 10 College Tour Weekend, which includes a stop at America’s biggest theme park, Cedar Point.
Seville, Spain Every weekend, students journey to astonishing destinations throughout Spain. From cosmopolitan urban centers to the crossroads of ancient civilizations, from historical harbors to Europe’s most beautiful beaches, students are amazed by ACA’s adventures in Spain. Destinations include Madrid, Toledo, Costa del Sol, Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, and an optional excursion to Barcelona.
Florence, Italy From the grandeur of Rome to the scenic beauty of Venice to some of Tuscany’s most beautiful beaches, students are on the road visiting incredible Italian destinations every weekend. ACA’s adventures in Italy are unforgettable. Destinations include Rome, Siena, Viareggio, Pisa, Venice, Forte dei Marmi, and San Gimignano and an optional excursion to the Amalfi Coast.
Costa Rica and Panama From Atlantic to Pacific, weekend trips in Costa Rica offer the best of all worlds. Students see the famous green sea turtles nest in the Tortuguero Jungle on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, head up the mountains to the wonderfully unique Monteverde cloud forest for an unforgettable zip-lining adventure, relax in the rejuvenating hot springs as they watch the lava flow from the Arenal Volcano, and finish on the shores of the Pacific at Manuel Antonio, home to some of Central America’s most pristine beaches and active monkeys.
Three-City College Advantage Students visit renowned museums and monuments of the nation’s capital, see the best and brightest in action at the U.S. Naval Academy and the distinguished schools of the Ivy League, experience the lively energy of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the collegiate appeal of Providence and Boston, and finish the trip with a celebration on the beaches of Cape Cod.

Facilities

ACA’s residential facilities are among the finest in the country, providing deluxe living accommodations complete with air conditioning and private bathrooms. Students stay in centrally located residence halls and hotels, providing easy access to tremendous culture and the finest activities that each location has to offer. For added safety and supervision, ACA staff members live on each floor, and the front desk at each residence hall or hotel is staffed 24 hours a day.

Staff

ACA’s dynamic and experienced leadership staff is chosen through a rigorous selection process, seeking people who are dedicated and responsible as well as fun, friendly, and energetic. All directors and counselors are at least 21 years old and college graduates. Each serves as a mentor, adviser, and friend to students, creating a warm, supportive family atmosphere in which ACA students are treated as young adults whose opinions and concerns truly matter. ACA staff members live in each student residence. During the program, individual staff members concentrate on a specific small group of students to better ensure that every student gets the attention he or she deserves. This personalized approach is a big reason why ACA enjoys such popularity among students and parents. In case of emergency, ACA staff members carry cell phones and are accessible 24 hours a day for students and families.

Medical Care

The health, safety, and security of each student is ACA’s top priority. Health care is immediately available at highly respected medical facilities just minutes from ACA’s locations.

Costs

Tuition for the two-, three-, four-, and six-week Wisconsin programs is $2795, $4195, $5395, and $6795, respectively; for the three-week, three-city program, $4695; for the four-week Seville program, $7395; for the three-week Costa Rica program, $5395; for the four-week Costa Rica and Panama program, $6495; and for the four-week Florence program, $7695. These costs include food, lodging, transportation, all on-campus activities and instruction, tuition fees, and weekend excursions.

Transportation

ACA students are met upon arrival at the airport by ACA staff members, who then escort them to the campus. Students traveling to ACA’s international programs fly on ACA-staffed group flights. Tuition includes all transportation during the program; transportation to and from the program location is not included.

Application Timetable

Because enrollment is limited and on a rolling basis, students are encouraged to apply early. Students must submit the application, an official high school transcript, and a completed recommendation form. A $75 nonrefundable application fee and a $1000 tuition deposit (refundable until February 1) must accompany the application. A discount is available for early registration; students should contact the ACA office before the end of December for details.