Summer
During the summer, scholars meet each day for a live, virtual classroom discussion led by a Stanford OHS instructor. Scholars experience enriching academics as well as social activities that build community and inspire lifelong learning. Active participation by scholars ensures a lively, online community of engaged learners.
Summer Course:
July 7 - 25, 2025
9:30am–12:00pm Pacific Time, Monday - Friday
Fall Semester
During the fall semester scholars meet once a week with their cohort and instructor after school. Scholars participate in course related discussions and engage in focused workshops offered by the Stanford OHS Office of Admissions, Stanford OHS Counseling, Stanford OHS Student Life, and Stanford OHS Writing and Tutoring Center. Workshops are designed to prepare scholars to apply to Stanford OHS and other rigorous schools and programs.
Fall Semester Meetings:
August 27, 2025–December 10, 2025
4:15pm–5:15pm Pacific Time, Wednesdays
Summer Courses
Democracy & Dissent
What happens when your idea changes the world and threatens your life? In this course, we will explore the life and thoughts of famous dissenters. In the first week, we will read The Trial and Death of Socrates as told by the ancient philosopher Plato. We will ask what was so revolutionary about Socrates’ philosophical questioning that it led democratic Athens to sentence him to death for corrupting the youth. In the second week, we will explore works by more recent famous dissenters including Martin Luther King Jr. 's “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” We will ask why King thought love was more powerful than hate and why that love drove him to break the law. Along the way, we will ask timeless questions about faith, justice, and their role in a good life. By the end of the course, Scholars will refine their critical thinking skills and use them to think about their roles as citizens of their own communities.
U.S. Social Movements through Graphic Novel
Graphic novels provide Scholars the ability to learn about difficult and sensitive topics in a way that is accessible. This course will introduce Scholars to three transformative social movements in U.S. History that took place in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will examine the 1950s-60s Civil Rights Movement, and the global Women’s Rights Movement and the reinvigorated Environmental Movement of the 21st century. Scholars will gain a better understanding of the facets of each movement, the contributions of major actors and the passage of key civil and human rights legislation through captivating narration and vivid imagery. Through our analysis of the required texts, class discussions and short writing assignments, Scholars will emerge from the course with the capacity to think critically about the historical events in question as well as the ability to convey their thoughts about these transformative moments in U.S. History through writing.
Media Literacy in the Post-Truth Era
It's common today for youth to get their news from TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, or Twitter. More precisely, social media algorithms select news for them based on their contacts, likes, and previous online activity. This can produce a skewed information landscape, a fact that has serious implications for democracy and the institutions that support it. In this course, Scholars will develop skills to help them cut through the algorithms and find more balanced, truthful sources of information. Through the analysis of various forms of digital content, secondary readings, and in-class discussions, Scholars will learn to recognize and distinguish between misinformation (unintentional mistakes), disinformation (fabricated or deliberately manipulated content designed to fuel conspiracy theories or rumors), and malinformation (information published solely for personal or corporate interest). Beyond this, they will develop strategies for finding more reliable information from a range of sources. As a final project, Scholars will analyze how different sources have reported a given news item and help their audience to reach a reliable and verifiable understanding of it.
Real-Life Applications to Mathematics
In this course Scholars will connect mathematics with real-life examples. Math skills will be introduced and reviewed in connection with cryptography and financial mathematics. We’ll start with decoding and encoding early types of codes like Caesar’s Cipher. Using modular arithmetic, we will cover Vigenere’s Cipher to Public Key Encryption, an introduction to the RSA cryptosystem. Scholars will also discuss financial mathematics, such as interest rates. For example, we’ll ask what is the real cost of merchandise when you buy something with a credit card? What is the power of compounding when you are investing? What is a credit score? By the end of the course, Scholars will be comfortable visualizing and solving many real-life math problems.
Attendance Policy
Summer Attendance
Fall Semester Attendance
Commitment to the Program
Scholars should not have any commitments that conflict with live online class sessions.
Family Engagement
Parents and legal guardians are invited to support their Scholars by attending orientation, parent engagement events, as well as meeting during the program with the Stanford OHS Admissions team or the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Access.
Technology Requirements
We will work with students to ensure that they have the technological devices needed to participate in the program, but a reliable and consistent internet connection is required for effective participation. Students may request technical equipment through the SMSSP Device Lending Program upon acceptance to the program.
Online Experience and Platforms
Computer
Show
Hide
Internet Connection
Show
Hide
Headphones and Microphone
Show
Hide
Webcam
Show
Hide
Suitable Learning Environment
Show
Hide
It's been incredible to see SMSSP students build community within their cohorts, engage with academic material from their Stanford OHS instructor, and interact with Stanford OHS student leaders. We have a really special group of students in the program.