Shona Brown, Trust Coordinator, shares her photo diary from this year’s US Programme summer school.

Every summer, 150 students fly to MIT in Boston or Yale via New York City as part of the Sutton Trust’s US Programme, which we run in conjunction with the US-UK Fulbright Commission. The programme is designed to give bright state school students – many of whom will be the first in their family to go to university – a taste of life at an American university.

Most of the young people are drawn to American universities by the more liberal and varied education that they offer. Following in the steps of five years of Sutton Trust students, they take part in a full week of cultural immersion, admission sessions and college tours.

I was lucky enough to help on the programme this year and spent a week at MIT at the end of July. The students got to visit other institutions, including Ivy League colleges such as Dartmouth and Brown, women’s colleges such as Smith and Wellesley – where Hillary Clinton studied – and more. Each college spoke to our students about what they look for in an application and the courses and extracurricular activities on offer. Of course, staying in Boston meant that we had to go to a Red Sox game too!

Below are some of the photos of our visit. This is only one part of the programme – when they get back to the UK, the students receive a full year of support to help them navigate the complicated American admissions process if they decide to apply.

Students touring the campus at MIT

Students on their way to a talk by an admission tutor and student panel at MIT.

Students having a tour of Dartmouth College, where the tour guides always walk backwards!

Brown University, Rhode Island

Team Leaders took the students on the Freedom Trail in Boston, ending up by Quincy Market.

A visit to Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox play the Kansas City Royals – the Fulbright staff were on hand to explain the rules to the Brits.

At Bowdoin College, a Sutton Trust alum gave us a tour of this beautiful coastal college. But not before a quick game of Frisbee.

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