Program Overview
In the Creative Immersion Institute, you will not only develop your storytelling and creative writing skills; you will also experience the impact of a university community on your writing. As you experiment in a number of creative writing genres (photo essays, poetry, memoir, scripts), you’ll share your projects with other students—and reflect on their projects. Morning workshop will be a place where we experiment with writing prompts and experience the power of workshop, as we share our projects. Afternoon sessions will be a place for us to engage with writers from across the WashU campus and responding to prompts designed to focus on a particular skill. For instance: performing arts faculty might share an exercise in gesture & body language that inspires a line in your poetry. Environmental studies faculty will share perspectives that shape your fictional descriptions of place. Campus librarians will inspire your understanding of history and memoir as we learn from campus archives. Above all, you will experience creative writing at WashU—and transform your writing as you explore these new perspectives.
This program is ideal for you if you have a strong interest in creative writing or performing arts. While this program is designed to build confidence, you should come prepared to share your work and receive constructive feedback from peers and instructors. A copy of the 2024 program syllabus is available here.
Dates
The Creative Immersion Institute is a two-week, residential program offered from June 15-28, 2025.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the Creative Immersion Institute, you should:
- Be a current sophomore or junior in high school (graduating in 2027 or 2026).
- Have completed at least two years of high school English by start of program.
We are looking for mature, academically motivated individuals enrolled in challenging curriculum which may include honors, advanced placement, and International Baccalaureate courses, if offered by their high schools. Individuals who are collaborative, intellectually curious, and creative thinkers thrive in our program.
Fees and Scholarships
The 2025 program fee for the Creative Immersion Institute is $3,785 which includes all program activities, housing, and meals. Need-based scholarship assistance is available. Children of WashU employees and returning students are eligible for a 10% discount. Additional details on fees, need-based scholarships, and discounts are available here.
Grading and Evaluation
Our summer institutes are ideal for individuals who want to experience college-level curriculum without the pressure of a letter grade. Class sizes are small (typically between 15-20 participants) to ensure personalized feedback from instructors. These programs are designed for participants to ask questions, collaborate with peers, and consider new ideas through immersive study.
Although summer institutes are noncredit, they are rigorous. Participants are evaluated based on attendance and engagement in class activities, completion of assignments, quality of work produced, as well as their ability to adhere to academic integrity standards and program policies. Because summer institutes are noncredit, no transferable credit is earned. At the end of the program, participants will receive a transcript for the course indicating whether requirements were met.
Acceptance and participation in summer institute course work and activities does not imply or guarantee acceptance into a degree program at WashU. For questions about the undergraduate admission process, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
