When Emerson Baran ’29 first envisioned her life in college, she realized most of her expectations came from movies and shows like Gilmore Girls. As a first-generation student, her future felt unclear; she wasn’t sure what campus life was truly like or which major might be right for her.
She admitted she felt anxious when she signed up for Butler’s Pre-College Programs: a weeklong summer experience for high schoolers designed to bring clarity about academic interests, build practical leadership skills, and develop independence in a supportive setting. But looking back now as a Butler Sociology and Psychology double major, she’s an earnest advocate for its impact.
“Pre-College Programs prepared me to pursue a college degree by introducing me to different resources and people on campus who all work to help support you throughout college,” Baran says. “Before even getting accepted into Butler and before coming for my first year in August of 2024, I felt confident that I knew who I could reach out to or where I could go if I needed help. … There are so many things to be nervous about as you transition to college, and the simple act of knowing where you’re going and where things were helped me to feel more comfortable during my first year.”
As a participant in the program’s Exploratory track, Baran got to try majors across Butler’s colleges through hands-on, interactive sessions. She made her own hand sanitizer with the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, learned about milestones in child development with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and even tried dance and drumming through the Jordan College of the Arts.
This year, the University expanded its Pre-College Programs as a major initiative of the Boldly Butler strategic direction, adding new tracks for students interested in the Business and Healthcare fields. All three tracks include leadership development sessions and community-building activities outside of the classroom, and some tracks even offer college credit.
Supported in part by a $453,750 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative, the investment reflects Butler’s commitment to building inclusive, innovative, workforce-aligned educational models that start before students even enter college.
“This expansion is about more than summer programming— it’s about opening doors earlier,” Butler University President James Danko says. “Through Boldly Butler, we are intentionally creating pathways that prepare future students to succeed in college and contribute meaningfully in their communities.”
High school sophomores through seniors are eligible to attend, including students graduating high school the May prior to the start of camp. Need-based tuition is available for 21st Century Scholars, students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and prospective first-generation college students. The program is offered both as a residential and commuter experience.
Tracks in Engineering and Sports Management are in development for 2027.
Pre-College Programs 2026
Exploratory
June 7–12
Discover a variety of disciplines as you reflect on your strengths, interests, and values.
Business
June 21–26
Explore marketing, entrepreneurship, risk management, and more through hands-on activities.
Healthcare
July 12–17
Build clinical skills through labs and simulations as you learn about healthcare careers.
Learn more and register by May 15 at butler.edu/precollege.