Rigorous coursework

Secondary Division courses can help meet a diverse variety of scholastic goals. Some aim to help middle school students to transition to high school topics, or high school students to college-level study. Others are equivalent to full-year high school or Advanced Placement curricula, offering the potential for students to accelerate through more advanced levels in a subject.

Robust engagement

We've always united teachers who are passionate about their subject with students who love to learn. Whether in-person or online, class sessions are highly interactive and aim to maximize the value of every minute. Online classes will include a mix of live ("synchronous") and self-directed ("asynchronous") instruction and activity.

A community of learners

ATDP courses aren't just about the curriculum. Every summer, students come from far and wide to share their interests with one another, work in class together, and make new friends. Whether a class is online or in-person, it is important that we find ways to give students opportunities for connection.

Class Schedule

• June 17–July 26, 2024 (six weeks*) meeting 2 or 3 times per week
• Meetings take place within our AM window (8:30-12 noon) or PM window (1:00-4:30pm).

App Deadlines

• Early Deadline: February 21, 2024
• Standard Deadline: March 18, 2024
• Extended Deadline (rolling admissions): May 24, 2024

Eligibility

• For students currently in grades 7 through 11.* Some courses have academic prerequisites.

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The Application Process

ATDP evaluates applications on an ongoing basis in the order they are received, beginning when an application is marked complete. The earlier you submit a complete application, the better your chances at receiving placement into your preferred course!

• The application process is the same for new and returning students.
• Students must reapply every year, and returning students are not guaranteed automatic readmission or placement in their first choice of course.
• Incomplete applications are not considered for placement.

Am I a new or returning student?

A student who applied in a previous year and then withdrew without completing a course will be considered a new student for admission purposes. Students who have attended the Elementary Division previously and are applying to the Secondary Division for the first time are also considered new students, but their previous participation is noted.

Continuing from Elementary Division to Secondary Division

Many students return summer after summer, taking advanced courses they cannot take at their regular schools. ATDP is committed to serving returning students through their elementary, middle, and high school years.

Former Elementary Division students applying to the Secondary Division must demonstrate continued academic achievement as well as good work habits and citizenship. While participation in previous summers’ Elementary Division is acknowledged, it is important for students and their families to remember that readmission to ATDP is never automatic, and the academic requirements for SD courses are increased relative to ED.

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Deadlines

Early Application Deadline - Wed., February 21, 2024

• Financial aid available
• Returning students receive priority
• A limited number of spots in each course will be reserved for early applicants. Based on the number and relative strength of other early applications, an early applicant may be automatically deferred to a standard applicant if no early acceptance decision is possible.

Standard Application Deadline - Mon., March 18, 2024

• Financial aid available
• Availability may be limited in the case of very popular courses

Extended Application Deadline - Fri., May 24, 2024

• Financial aid NOT available
• Course availability may be very limited

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Instructions

Step 1: Choose a Course

Browse our course offerings, then choose one course that interests you and up to three alternates. Make note of any grade requirements or prerequisites. Keep our attendance policy in mind as you review the course schedule. See the Courses section above for more information about differences between the large variety of SD courses.

All courses run during the six weeks of June 17–July 26, 2024 unless otherwise noted.

Course availability may change throughout the application season as courses fill. Check our list of course offerings for frequent updates.

Step 2: Prepare Required Materials

Please prepare the following items in the order listed below. Items numbered 1 through 6 are required for a complete application. We request you include College Board PSAT/SAT scores (item 7) if they are available, and federal tax documentation (item 8) if you wish to apply for financial aid.

Items 1-7 can be submitted in the online application as a PDF (recommended) or image file. Due to campus policy, tax documents (item 8) must be provided as a paper copy via fax or mail.

1. 1. Application Fee

   There is an application fee for each prospective student. The fee is $50 for domestic students. For students attending school outside the US, the fee is $80. This fee is non-refundable. It covers only the cost of application processing and does not apply toward tuition or facilities fees. Available payment methods include:

   • Online payment by credit/debit card (preferred)
   • Check or money order made payable to “UC Regents.” Write “SD” and the student’s first and last name on the memo line. Mail your check payment to ATDP (see “Mailing Instructions” below).
     Mailed payments may delay your application. We strongly recommend making your payment online if at all possible.
   • Those applying for need-based financial aid may apply for an application fee waiver if the fee poses a financial hardship. See our Financial Aid page for details.

2. 2. Letter of Interest

   Please write a cover letter to accompany your application, 200 word minimum, explaining your reasons for choosing each of the courses listed on your application. In your (the student’s) own words, include information about your interest in the subject(s), what you hope to learn, and related experience, if any. If the course(s) you list have prerequisites, mention how you have met them. In this letter, only discuss courses in which you are actually interested in enrolling. Remember, this letter should be about YOU and your personal interest, goals, and qualifications, not about the relevance of the course(s) in general.

   You or your parent or guardian may also append any written notes at the end of your letter if you wish to have them considered as part of your application. This may include any special circumstances, such as transportation or scheduling needs, for example.

   If you are applying for two courses, include your petition in your letter. Specify your desired course schedule, and explain your plan for managing the increased time commitment.

3. 3. Teacher Referral Form

   ATDP’s Teacher Referral Form (TRF) is a brief online form that collects feedback from your teacher, and must be completed as part of your online application before it can be submitted. It must be completed by a current teacher that instructs in any academic subject (e.g., mathematics, science, language arts; not elective, advisory, or extracurricular classes).

   The teacher’s academic subject need not match the subject of the ATDP course(s) to which you are applying, with one exception. If you are applying for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, or Precalculus this form must be completed by your current math teacher (see all accelerated core mathematics prerequisites).

   Remember that your teacher’s time is valuable. Ask your teacher ahead of time before you send them an online request. We recommend sending your teacher this form at least one week before you plan to submit it with your application.

   You have two options for requesting that your teacher complete it:

   • Identify your teacher in your online application (preferred). We’ll email your teacher a link to an online form for them to complete. Note that you won’t be able to submit your online application until your teacher completes the form.
     or
   • Send your teacher a request before applying online. You can request a Teacher Referral Form early by visiting atdp.berkeley.edu/trf/student and providing your teacher’s information. We’ll email your teacher a link to an online form for them to complete. Once they’re done, we’ll email you a code that you can use to add the completed form to an online application. (Teachers can also send referrals to students that they feel would be a good fit for our program!)

   Do not request a letter of recommendation. Do not submit more than one Teacher Referral Form with your application materials.

4. 4. Copy of Report Card

   Submit a legible copy of your first semester (or most recent) report card for the current (’23–’24) school year.

   We request that you send final grades, but if those are not available, you may submit your most recent progress report. Do not delay submitting your application to wait for final grades; if necessary, we may ask for an updated report card after receiving your application. If you need assistance obtaining a copy, contact your school office.

   Screenshots of online reports are only acceptable if they clearly include the student's name and date of the grades displayed, and we may ask for an updated report card after receiving your application.

5. 5. Copy of Achievement Test Scores

   Submit a legible copy of your most recent California standardized test (CAASPP) or other standardized achievement test scores (e.g., Stanford Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other school-administered test that gives national percentile scores). The test must have been taken within the past three years (i.e., 2023, 2022, or 2021) and include scores in the areas of math and reading/ELA. SAT/PSAT scores do not satisfy this required item, but may also be submitted optionally (see item 7).

   Note: Students currently in 11th grade may submit a self-signed note if they have not taken a standardized achievement test in the past three years.

   Do not delay submitting your application to wait for more recent test scores. Include whatever acceptable test scores you have from the last three years.

   If you have not taken a standardized achievement test in the past three years, please obtain and submit a note from an administrative staff person at your school indicating so.

6. 6. Academic Product or Essay

   Please submit an academic product that meets the criteria of one of the following three options (A, B or C). This work should be one of which you are especially proud and which was completed since September 2023. While the work may have been done for a school assignment, it need not have been. The product you submit need not be in the same subject area as that to which you are applying, but keep in mind that the written component must develop your own original thinking beyond restating facts.

   Option A - Existing Essay or Story

   Submit an essay or story of at least 500 words that shows your original thought and that is long enough for you to develop your ideas. A social studies or science report is not appropriate unless it relies heavily on your own analysis and discussion in addition to reporting factual information.

   Option B - Other Existing Product

   If you’d like to submit a piece of academic work that deviates from a traditional essay or story format (e.g., art, poetry, computer programs, or science experiments), you must also submit a clear, well-developed explanation of your work. Your written explanation should be at least 500 words and must be long enough to clearly demonstrate your thinking as you developed this product.

   Option C - Write an Essay

   Write a well-developed essay of between 500 and 1,500 words on one of the topics below. Take time to consider the topic in depth and organize your answer. Be sure to title your essay. Save your essay as a PDF document so you can upload it to your application (on some computers, you may need to use the Print function).

   • We can all cite many examples of negative effects of peer pressure in person and on social media. Hardly anyone talks about positive peer pressure. Is there a social group in your own life that exerts “positive peer pressure?” If so, please write about the group and the positive effects derived from belonging to that group. If not, explain why you think that is so and describe how such groups might get started or supported.
   • De-influence us. We often believe that a certain product, upgrade, or costly addition to our life will solve a problem or is required to move forward with our lives. Using well-organized persuasive arguments, make a case against the need to buy a particular product or service in order to solve a problem, “level up,” or experience something new. This may or may not be something from your personal experience. Be sure to cite evidence and use sound reasoning!

7. 7. Copy of SAT/PSAT Scores (optional)

   If available, include a legible copy of your College Board PSAT and/or SAT scores. These scores will be used for research purposes only, and they will not affect placement decisions. Note that the SAT and PSAT are aptitude tests, not achievement tests, so they are not acceptable substitutes for item 5.

8. 8. Need-based Financial Aid (optional)

   See our Financial Aid page for complete information and detailed instructions.

   To apply for financial aid, please provide both parents’ most recent Federal Tax Return AND ALL SCHEDULES (i.e., the complete tax return) for each applicant.

   If the $50 application fee poses a financial hardship, submit a letter of explanation and supporting documents. You may include these in your financial aid documents or as part of the student's Letter of Interest.

   Send your supporting materials no later than Monday, March 18, the standard application deadline.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

If you have not yet done so, register a new account and then access the "My Account" menu. Click on the name of a returning student, or select "Apply for a new student", and follow the on-screen instructions. You can do this multiple times with the same account if there is more than one student in your household applying to ATDP. If you have used your account for the same applicant previously, some of the application will be completed for you. Double-check this information for accuracy and update as needed before submitting!

You can log in at any time to check the status of your application, review placement information, make payments by credit/debit card, print receipts, and access your educational records from previously completed courses.