Tavarez enrolled in Hospitality Food Principals Laboratory and learned various cooking techniques and how to prepare dishes in a commercial kitchen. 

“It's very different from high school, and I mean that in a good way,” she said. “It's helping me prepare for college because I get to understand how college life is. I get to see what the classes are, how people are able to communicate with each other, and how to create connections with not only my peers but also my professors. And I also get to experience some independence.”

Outside of classes, students participated in a variety of social activities, including a cultural food night, trips to the Philadelphia Zoo and a Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game, hiking in White Clay Creek State Park and a talent show. They also had daily check-ins with their undergraduate student mentors. 

For Ben Urban, a 17-year-old from Hockessin, Delaware, the Edge program was a chance for him to get out of his comfort zone. A pre-college program was something he’d never done before, and while he was excited for the new opportunity, he still had some nerves.

“The thought of coming here was definitely intimidating at first, not knowing who's going to be here,” said Urban, who enrolled in Drawing and Design–Portfolio Preparation. “The action and thought of putting myself out there — I've really had to hold on to that. I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone, going to the evening activities and talking with people. I've felt like I've needed a push, so I'm glad I've gotten to have a little bit of experience with it here.”

Of the 75 students who participated in the program this year, many are from Delaware, but others traveled from as far as Greece or Japan.

“The program is designed for students so that they can be able to learn what it's like to be a college student while they're still in high school,” said Tim Danos, director of pre-college programs at UD. “It's really about gaining independence, learning how to manage their time, living in a residential community and having a roommate, being able to make friends from all over the world, and being able to advocate for yourself in a classroom with professors.”

The students — all of whom are high-achievers with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA —  each come to the program with a different goal in mind, Danos said. Some attend to learn more about a major they want to pursue, while others are more interested in the social experience. For others, it’s their first time ever being away from home, and they want to gain some independence before heading off to college. 

Ryan Nevard, a 17-year-old from Landsdale, Pennsylvania, took Introduction to Engineering Product Design. The experience solidified his interest in engineering — and in UD.

“It's been a great way to see what college life is like and has been a really good insight into what it's like at UD,” Nevard said. He “without a doubt” plans to apply to the University this coming year.

Indeed, about 75% of the students who participate in the program end up applying to UD. Of those students, about 90% are accepted, and of those students, about 59% end up enrolling.

“Coming to UD for the summertime helps give students an idea of what the campus is like and see if it feels like it's a good fit for them when they decide to apply to college,” Danos said. “We have a pretty strong matriculation record for students coming to the University.”

In addition to taking college-level courses taught by UD professors, students also experience the same daily schedule that a college student might — which includes free time to wander Main Street or go to the gym, planning time to get schoolwork done, and even doing their own laundry.

“This experience helped me a lot,” said Hamidou Barry, a 16-year-old from New York City who took the engineering course. “For these three weeks, I felt like I really was a college student, and when I go to college, I feel like I’m now more prepared.”