Summer Seminars
Summer Seminars: Frequently Asked Questions
Application Information
How do I apply?
The first step is to create an account at theihs.org or log in to your existing account. Once you are logged in to your account, you can find a link to the summer seminar application by clicking on the tab “Applications.” The application asks for your contact and education information, your seminar preferences, and a few short essay questions. You may save your application at any time and return to it later.
When will I be notified about the status of my application?
All applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than the end of April.
When will I get my free book?
Individuals who submitted an application by March 15, 2012, are eligible to receive a free book. Free books will be sent to qualifying candidates two to four weeks after March 15. A qualifying applicant will have a mailing address in the United States or Canada and have submitted a complete application by midnight PST on March 15, 2012. Unfortunately, we cannot mail a free book to applicants who live outside of the US or Canada. Applications that appear to have been submitted only for the free book will not qualify.
Can I begin my application, and come back later to complete it?
Yes, you can save your application by clicking 'Save for Later' at the bottom of the application page. When you return to the website, login to your account, go to the Applications tab, and click on the application marked 'In Progress'.
Can non-US citizens apply?
The program is open to students and recent graduates of all nationalities. Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens, nor are they required to have studied in the U.S.
Please note, however, that IHS cannot assist international students with their visa applications. Applicants will need to contact the appropriate U.S. embassy to complete that process. However, IHS can provide an accepted student with a signed letter of acceptance, which could help with the visa application process. If you would like to receive an acceptance letter, please notify us IMMEDIATELY after you have been accepted to our program. The earlier you begin the visa application process, the better.
How are applications reviewed?
The applicant pool is highly competitive, with more than 2,000 applications for 700 seminar seats. In reviewing applications, IHS’s Seminar Review Committee carefully evaluates academic ability, career interests, demonstrated interest in the subjects of the seminars, and any specific requirements for particular seminars. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide information about the Committee's evaluation of individual applications.
What other materials can I send to increase my chance of acceptance to a seminar?
IHS does not accept additional materials for review with seminar applications.
How strict is the word count for the essay?
Each essay should be around 300 words; if you are a little under or a little over it will be accepted, but please try and keep as close to the word limit as possible.
Participation Information
Is participation at IHS summer seminars really free?
The summer seminars are provided at no charge to the seminar participants. We provide lodging, food, books, materials, and lectures; we ask only for your time and thoughtful participation in exchange. However, participants must cover the cost of their own travel to and from the seminar location. and a meal is not provided on the Tuesday evening of the seminar to give students a half-day of free time.
Though the seminars are free of charge for students, the $1,000 tuition, room and board is made possible through the generous contributions of individual donors, corporations, and foundations. IHS is a non-profit educational organization.
What if I have a summer job?
You could apply anyway, and then ask your employer for time off after you have been accepted to a seminar. If needed, IHS can assist you by sending your employer a letter describing the valuable seminar experience and requesting that you be able to attend. Often, employers are happy for students to be able to enjoy such a tremendous educational opportunity. However, if you are not able to get the time off and will therefore no longer be able to attend the seminar, please notify IHS immediately so your seat can be offered to someone else.
I was accepted to a particular seminar, can I request a different seminar?
Changing seminars is rarely possible. If you wish to attend a different seminar, please submit your request to seminars@theihs.org and explain the reason you are unable to attend the seminar you were selected for.
Travel Information
Can IHS help me pay for travel expenses?
Unfortunately, IHS cannot provide any travel assistance or insurance coverage to Summer Seminar participants. This includes international participants. Participants are responsible for all expenses incurred while traveling to and from the seminar.
We recommend that you research low-cost travel options well in advance. Also, once you are accepted to a seminar, you can join a seminar Facebook group and contact other seminar participants and possibly share information about travel ideas, carpools, and other ways to save on travel.
How do I get to my seminar?
A few weeks prior to your seminar, you will receive a travel guide via email, including maps and links regarding travel to the seminar. Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date so you will receive our communications. If you do not receive it or need another copy, contact us or check the seminar Facebook group.
General Seminar Information
What happens at an IHS seminar?
IHS seminars are packed with interesting lectures, lively discussion, and opportunities to socialize. You will hear from distinguished faculty and have a chance to further discuss your lingering questions during meals, breaks, and evening discussion sessions. Most importantly, you will be encouraged to think for yourself as we explore questions of freedom and social order.
Where are the seminars held?
IHS seminars are held on college and university campuses throughout the USA. All sites provide comfortable dorm housing accommodations, excellent lecture and discussion facilities, convenient travel options, and interesting local attractions.
Check out our 2012 Seminar Locations!
If you are interested in attending a summer seminar outside the U.S., or in additional locations within the U.S., the following organizations also sponsor seminars:
Can I attend more than one seminar in a summer?
No, due to space constraints and a large applicant pool, we cannot allow participation at more than one seminar in a summer. However, seminar participants are encouraged to attend additional seminars in subsequent years.
Can I get course credit for a seminar?
If your school offers an independent study option, you may be able to earn course credits for participating in an IHS summer seminar. See our suggestions for getting course credit.
Which seminar should I choose?
In your seminar application, you are asked to indicate which seminars you would be interested in attending, and then to rank your preferences. We do our best to take preferences into consideration when assigning seminar placements, but we are not always able accept applicants to one of their top choices. You will be considered for any seminar for which you have indicated an interest.
When deciding which seminars to select on your application, consider your interests, ability to travel to the seminar location, and your summer schedule.
To view a list of seminars that meet your criteria, use our Seminar Search.
Who are the seminar faculty?
IHS assembles top-notch faculty from colleges and universities around the United States, and occasionally from other countries. We choose our faculty for their enthusiasm, excellence in teaching, expertise, and diverse academic backgrounds.
An integral part of the seminar experience is getting to chat one-on-one with exceptional professors. Participants also have the opportunity to get advice from professionals in fields such as journalism and public policy.
When lectures end, IHS faculty do not retire to their rooms. They are available during meals, breaks, and the evening receptions to hear your questions and challenges and to continue the discussion.
Who attends IHS summer seminars?
IHS seminar participants range from college freshmen, to recent graduates and young professionals to graduate students obtaining their PhD. They want to increase their knowledge of classical liberal ideas and they possess the openness and critical thinking skills that are essential to a vigorous discussion of these ideas.
Why does IHS offer seminars? Who pays for them?
The Institute for Humane Studies sponsors the attendance of students at its summer seminars to encourage the discussion and understanding of the principles of a free society. IHS is an independent, non-profit, educational organization. It was founded in 1961 by Dr. F. A. Harper to foster research and education about freedom. The Institute offers a variety of programs of financial assistance, education, and career development to students who are interested in the study of liberty. These programs are funded through contributions to IHS from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
If you have a question not addressed on this page, please contact us.
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