In most programs, a pre-college summer day is meant to feel like a typical day in college. A student’s schedule is anchored around classroom time, and the rest of the day usually involves meals, workshops or other activities, and time spent with classmates.
At Tulane Pre-College Programs, a student’s day depends on course type (enrichment or credit-bearing) and experience (residential or commuter). A normal day pairs college-level classes from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with meals on campus, afternoon programming, and, for our residential students, evening activities with their Krewe.
Keep reading to learn more about the student experience at Tulane Pre-College Programs, and if you have any questions, contact our office by emailing summer@tulane.edu or calling (504) 314-7619. Families comparing options can also find general tips in Forbes' guide to choosing summer programs, which notes that pre-college programs can offer a look at campus culture and academic expectations.
A Sample Weekday Schedule at Tulane Pre-College Programs
Every class in Tulane Pre-College Programs meets on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with an hour-long lunch break at The Malkin Sacks Commons. Lunch times vary by program. The sample schedule below reflects the Summer 2026 program.
| Time | Tulane Pre-College Residential Students | Tulane Pre-College Commuter Students |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Breakfast at The Commons, then a college resource workshop | Arrive as early as 8:30 a.m., then a college resource workshop |
| 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. | Class, with an hour-long lunch break | Class, with an hour-long lunch break |
| 3:30–6:30 p.m. | Co-curricular programming, free time, and dinner | Optional drop-in social programming; depart campus by 5:30 p.m. |
| 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Krewe meetings, excursions, and evening activities | — |
| Curfew | 10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday; 11 p.m. Friday–Saturday | — |
| Weekends | Off-campus excursions and campus events | — |
Tulane Pre-College Mornings: Getting Ready for Class
Residential students in Tulane Pre-College Programs can start with breakfast at The Commons, which serves hot and cold food at every meal, including vegan options. Commuter students can arrive on campus as early as 8:30 a.m.
In recent summers, mornings have included a college resource workshop before class, where Tulane Pre-College students hear from departments and resources across campus about what to expect in the first year of college, how to approach the application process, and how to study at the college level.
Tulane Pre-College Class Time
Classes are in session from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but the experience will vary depending on whether it’s a credit-bearing course or an enrichment course.
Credit-Bearing Courses
Credit-bearing courses in Tulane Pre-College Programs are open to rising 11th and 12th graders and match the rigor of a first-year undergraduate class. They move at an intensive pace, covering about 16 weeks of material in just two weeks of summer.
A typical day pairs a lecture in the morning with a lab or studio work in the afternoon. For instance, in NSCI 1015: Introductory Neuroscience with Laboratory, offered through the Tulane Science Scholars Program, students measure human brain waves and study actual human brain specimens. In ARCH 1001: Analog Design, part of Explorations in Architecture and Design, studio time is spent on hand drawing, shadow studies, and physical model making.
Expect homework. Assignments outside of class may take up to several hours per day, and previous students have found them manageable and rewarding.
Students who complete a credit-bearing course earn three transferable college credits on an official Tulane University transcript. Each institution decides whether to accept transfer credit, so students should check the receiving school's policies and requirements.
Enrichment Courses
Our enrichment courses are open to rising 9th through 12th graders and give students room to explore an academic passion without grades or exams. Most require minimal work outside of class. Students complete a culminating project and receive a certificate of completion.
Many Tulane Pre-College enrichment courses include weekly field excursions built into the curriculum. Examples from Summer 2026 include:
- Bugging Out with Louisiana Arthropods visited the Audubon Insectarium.
- Introduction to Medicine: Finding Your Path spent time at the Tulane Sim Center and the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine.
- Listening to New Orleans visited StudioBE.
- Explore the Solar System held an evening session at the Tulane Observatory on the roof of Jones Hall.
Browse the latest Tulane Pre-College courses to see what each one covers.
Tulane Pre-College After Class: Afternoons, Evenings, and Weekends
When class ends at 3:30 p.m., residential and commuter students share the same weekday programming until 5:30 p.m., including optional drop-in social programming. Students might study at Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, grab coffee at PJ's, or hang out on the quad.
For residential students, the day keeps going. In a two-week residential session, students take either one credit-bearing course or two enrichment courses and live in a first-year residence hall with a roommate. Afternoons include co-curricular programming, free time, and dinner, plus access to the Reily Student Recreation Center.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., residential Tulane Pre-College students meet up for Krewe meetings, excursions, and evening activities. Our Krewes are inspired by New Orleans' Mardi Gras traditions, and residential students rank their top two Krewe preferences when they accept their offer of admission.
Tulane students serve as mentors, and live-in professional staff supervise the residence halls and enforce curfew for residential pre-college students. Weekends include chaperoned off-campus excursions and campus events.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-College Summer Programs
What time do classes start and end in Tulane Pre-College Programs?
Classes run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, with an hour-long lunch break. Since all classes share these hours, students cannot take two courses that meet on the same dates.
Is there homework at a pre-college summer program?
It depends on the institution. At Tulane Pre-College Programs, it’s determined by course type. Credit-bearing courses include assignments that may take up to several hours per day, while most enrichment courses require minimal work outside of class.
Do commuter students get the same daily experience as residential students in a pre-college summer program?
In Tulane Pre-College Programs, the experience is the same during weekday program hours. Commuter students have the same programming as residential students from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., including class, lunch, and optional drop-in social programming. Evening Krewe activities and weekend excursions, however, are only part of the residential experience.
Can residential pre-college students leave campus during free time?
No. Residential students may not leave campus unless supervised by Tulane Pre-College staff to help ensure their safety. A guardian can complete a leave request form so a legal-age adult can sign the student out if needed.
Does every Tulane Pre-College course include field excursions?
No. Many courses include field excursions connected to the course content, but not every class has one. Be sure to review our course catalog to learn more about our different courses.