View of Saint Joseph Hall, a stone building with terra cotta roof tiles, through the trees

Summer Transition Program

First Year Real College Experience

Chestnut Hill College’s First Year Real-College Experience Program is a four-week summer transition program that helps incoming, first-year students adjust to Chestnut Hill by providing academic enrichment, community building, and experiential learning activities.

Any student who has been admitted to Chestnut Hill College is eligible to apply. The cost of tuition is covered by the program.

The Summer Transition Program for 2024 began on July 7, 2024. FYRE is a four-week (Monday-Friday) part residential, tuition-free program designed to orient participants to campus life and introduce them to career exploration and financial education programming. During the course of the program, participants will learn about different majors and opportunities available to them. At the end of the week, the participants will travel to a key local/regional company for a tour and conversation with a variety of employees at that organization.

Through this program, students will:

Establish relationships with college Faculty and Staff.
Build a supportive peer network.
Become familiar with and utilize CHC resources.
Better understand academic expectations and college culture.
Complete one, 3 credit course.
Complete a Financial Literacy Course.
Learn and improve important transferable life skills such as study habits, critical thinking, problem-solving, relationship building, goal setting, and career exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Summer Transition Program Cost Anything?

Nope! Chestnut Hill College will cover all fees associated with the Summer Transition Program including tuition and housing.

Will I Earn College Credit for the Courses I Take as Part of the Program?

Yes! Students will earn three credit hours per course taken as part of the Summer Transition Program. These courses and grades are part of your permanent transcript and are the beginning of your college grade point average.

How is Course Enrollment Determined?

Students will be enrolled in classes based upon test scores and transfer credits that are available by the start of the summer program. This means that all transcripts and placement, AP, and/or IB test scores must be available before the start date of the program to determine class enrollment.

What Resources are Available to Me as Part of the Program?

Students in the Summer Transition Program will have access to student resources including Career Development, Learning Resource Centers (tutoring & study skills, math, writing, and disability centers), the Logue Library, and more!

For more information on the Summer Transition Program, contact Charlene Zengeya, Ph.D., Director of Student Outreach and Success, at summertransition@chc.edu OR 215-248-7045.

To learn more about Admissions at Chestnut Hill College, please contact admissions@chc.edu OR 215-248-7001.