Thanksgiving Week: Secondary School Prep Program
for Grades 6, 7, 8 & 9

November 24 – December 2, 2024

(Accommodations can be made for those with breaks that take place before/after these dates)

Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

Dartmouth College* (9 Days):

Secondary School Prep  ·  Leadership  ·  Service  ·    Ivy League Campus Life

Our Ivy Leader Thanksgiving Week at Dartmouth program takes place for nine days in Hanover, N.H.

Ivy Leader students will stay at the Hanover Inn, a luxury boutique hotel overlooking the scenic campus green. During this time, Ivy Leader students will have the opportunity to prepare for the SSAT, work on the secondary school application process, develop leadership skills, and participate in community service—all in a beautiful Ivy League college campus setting.

Highlights of the week include:

SSAT preparation sessions

During our Thanksgiving program, we partner with test preparation specialists to offer a dynamic and innovative approach to test preparation.

International middle school students who study in the United States need to prepare for the SSAT. Even for native speakers, the exam is complex, with varied question formats and scoring penalties. 

The SSAT curricula teach students how the tests are written and scored, and help them build prowess with the different types of questions on the tests. For each type of question, students learn the best methods and approaches to avoid trick answers and navigate to the correct solution as efficiently as possible. 

There will be an emphasis on long-term concept mastery and executive functioning skills. Our test prep specialists will teach about the exams through time management and study skills, helping students identify monthly, weekly, and daily markers to accomplish their long-term test-taking goals. Students will also be introduced to a variety of resources to solidify their language skills. The hands-on nature of project-based learning and custom tutorials adds a dynamic flair to the programming, resulting in better long term recall of material. The SSAT prep programs will provide students with a better opportunity to build a strong foundation for the test-taking years to come.

6th & 7th grade: Writing skills workshop

In this workshop, students will work on improving their overall English written skills. Led by the former head of Dartmouth’s Writing and Rhetoric program, students will have the chance to build a solid writing foundation; while developing and enhancing writing skills that are essential for success in secondary schools, college, and the workforce.

8th grade: Interview skills training course with mock interviews

In the admissions interview skills training course, eighth-grade students will practice and refine answers to frequently asked admissions interview questions by U.S. boarding schools, develop academic vocabulary, participate in interview simulations, and identify school-specific talking points. Targeted feedback will assist the student on how to best focus on strengths/leadership skills, contextualize weaknesses, and identify academic and personal goals. At the end of the week, students will have the opportunity to participate in mock interviews with secondary school admissions officers and receive critical feedback.

9th grade: Secondary school application essay writing workshop and editing

In the admissions essay writing course, ninth-grade students will explore essay writing as an opportunity to show admissions officers their individuality and uniqueness. Test scores, grades, honors, awards, and activities are all integral parts of the admissions application, however, students can take advantage of the essay to stand out from other applicants and convince the school they are the best candidate, displaying their potential for leadership. Essays will be proofed, edited, and returned to students in December in time for them to apply to secondary schools.

Lectures taught by Dartmouth* and Tuck School of Business* professors 

Students will have the opportunity to participate in engaging, dynamic discussions (on topics such as finding your leadership style and critical thinking) led by professors from Dartmouth College and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth—two top-ranked Ivy League undergraduate and business schools, respectively.

Community service with a local organization

Service-learning is one of Ivy Leader’s core values, and during this week students will have the chance to partner with an organization that prepares and delivers Thanksgiving meals to over one thousand families in need living in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Students will earn approximately 20 community service hours for their service.

Fine lodging and a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner

Students will stay at the iconic Hanover Inn, overlooking the Dartmouth College green. Finally, no Thanksgiving would be complete without a full traditional meal! 

Program Cost: $3,495 

Includes:

• All lodging expenses (8 nights at the Hanover Inn)
• All meals
• All lectures, seminars, and workshops
• SSAT study guide books and supplementary handouts
• Proof editing of all secondary school application essays
• Transportation in and around Hanover, N.H.

[*Dartmouth College is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of this program]