Q: Is financial aid available?

A: Yes. Although we have kept our all-inclusive cost for the program to the low amount of $600, thanks to a number of our generous benefactors – most especially Mr. and Mrs. Jack Murphy – we are able to give out financial assistance to those who request it. When applying for the program, simply select “I am requesting financial aid” to receive a discount. If accepted for the program, you will receive an email with more instructions on your discount and payment.

Q: What can I expect during the week at Christendom?

A: “The Best. Week. Ever.” At least that’s what so many of our past participants have said. But for specifics on what that looks like, check out the tentative weekly schedule. Each day is jammed-packed with great events, activities, and classes – you will definitely go home tired! It’s the perfect mix of activities.

Q: Do you provide transportation to campus for those flying in?

A: Yes. Christendom provides complimentary shuttle services for participants at Dulles International Airport (IAD) and the Vienna Metro Station.*  For those arriving at Dulles Airport, we offer pickup directly at the airport. Our counselors meet the participants at baggage claim #6. We also provide the traveling students with the cell phone numbers of the counselors picking them up to assist with communication if travel plans are derailed.

For those flying in, book your flight to arrive at Dulles on Sunday (first day of the program) so that you can take one of the college’s free shuttles. The shuttles will depart from Dulles at 1pm, 2:30 pm, and 4pm. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, please plan on waiting in the airport until those times. On Saturday (the last day of the program), students may book flights departing anytime between 9am – 4 pm.

Please make sure your flights meet these requirements! We cannot pick up students at any other times than those listed above.

*We do not offer transportation to and from Reagan National Airport (DCA). Students choosing to fly into Reagan can access the Blue Line metro directly at the airport and then transfer to the Orange Line until they arrive at the Vienna station, which is the final stop.

Q: What is the dress code during the week?

A: During the week, there is a class dress code Monday-Friday from the morning to the early afternoon for classes, lunch, and Mass. There is a casual dress code in effect throughout the week.

You can read a description of our professional and modesty summer program dress codes here.

Please note that the dress code for the summer program differs somewhat from that during the regular academic year. To make it as straightforward and simple for participants as possible, the summer program dress code does not include all the variables of acceptable attire that would be included during the regular academic year.

The dress code is enforced during the session, so be sure to bring clothing that meets these requirements. If you have any questions about the dress code or whether or not something meets the requirements, please do not hesitate to contact Best Week Ever Coordinator, Basia Syski.

Q: Are students required to participate in all activities? Can they opt out of certain events?

A: All attendees are expected to participate in the various activities (e.g. classes, daily Mass, various dances, hike, etc). This means students are expected to go to daily Mass, attend class, participate in the dances, go to adoration, and get involved in the various daily activities that are offered. For the parliamentary debate and talent show, students are encouraged, but not required to speak and perform. That everyone is involved in everything during the week is one of the reasons the program is so effective. Students have the opportunity to branch out of their comfort zones and try new things that perhaps they normally would not have done.

Q:  If a student has a food allergy are you able to work with them?

A: Christendom’s kitchen staff strives to accommodate the needs of students with basic food allergies and provide suitable food options. If you have a food allergy or dietary restriction, please let us know and provide detailed information on your situation so our dining services can look into your dietary needs to ensure we are equipped to accommodate them during the program.

Unfortunately, due to the limited staff and resources available in the summer, we are not able to accommodate safely any students who have anaphylaxis during the summer program.

The Mayo Clinic defines anaphylaxis as a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.  It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to, such as peanuts or bee stings.  Food allergy is the main cause of anaphylaxis.  Symptoms include a skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and shock.  If not treated right away, usually with epinephrine, it can result in unconsciousness or death.  Exposure can be through ingestion or inhalation.

Q: Is confession available during the week?

A: Yes, confession is typically available twice each day, depending on the chaplain’s availability, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the healing power of God’s grace.

Q: Is there an adult in charge while the program is going on? Who can parents contact in the case of an emergency?

A: Yes. The Best Week Ever is a highly organized and carefully managed program. Every hour is scheduled, every counselor has a playbook of what is going on, and Admissions Director Sam Phillips is on-call 24/7 during the 5 one-week sessions. We take our job of caring for each participant very seriously and want to ensure that everyone has a great time. Once the students arrive, they have the cell phone numbers of each of their counselors, as well as the program coordinator, and the Admissions Director.  While participants must keep their cell phones in their rooms during the day, all 10 counselors will be with the students and will be accessible by phone. Parents will be provided the phone numbers for the head counselor and staff members before the week at Christendom.

Q: Do you have to be Catholic to attend?

A: No, you do not need to be Catholic to attend either the Best Week Ever or the college itself. That being said, the overwhelming majority of participants are Catholic.  If a non-Catholic were to attend the program, they would be required to attend daily Mass, daily adoration, and daily classes in Catholic theology. They would have to be present during the daily recitation of the Rosary and prayers for the road when traveling, and the singing of the Salve Regina at the conclusion of the many events. It is a very Catholic-focused program, but we welcome those of other faiths to apply.

Q: Why is the Best Week Ever the most highly-ranked and well-attended program of its kind? Don’t other colleges have similar programs?

A: To begin with, we bring in more than 300 high school students each summer. None of our competitors bring in anywhere close to that number of students – which makes the Best Week Ever the most popular program of its kind. As far as being the most highly-ranked program, it is based on the participants’ survey results that they are given on the last day of the program, where a vast majority “agree” that their week was The Best Week Ever. The majority “agree” that they enjoyed their experience–with an average five-year ranking of 4.74 out of 5. On top of that, there are a couple of things that we do that make our program exceptional.

First, we plan the events, classes, and activities to be a true representation of what life at Christendom is like and show the students that living and learning as a Catholic should be an integrated – not compartmentalized – experience, where it becomes very natural to be a Catholic and practice the Faith at all times, no matter what is going on around you.

Second, we stress personalization. Sure, everyone says they give a personalized education. But we mean it. We hire 10 of our current students to serve as counselors for the program – 5 men and 5 women. They are hand-picked by the admissions office to be good representatives of the normal “Christendom student.”  These counselors are explicitly told that their lives are on hold for the 5 sessions and that their only concern is the participating students. The professors get to know each student by name and dine with them daily at lunch. The admissions office team is present to the students through the program, and they also build relationships with the participants, getting to know them by name as well. Each student who leaves the program feels like they were part of a family – a great Catholic family – and they felt like they were known by name, and cared for, in their individuality.

Third, our emphasis on the Catholic Faith throughout the program, in all aspects of what we do, shows the students the beauty of the Faith and, for lack of a better phrase, that it is “cool to be Catholic,” and that you need not be a “religious fanatic” to go Mass daily, or adoration or say the Rosary. They see in the example of our counselors what it means to be a good, happy, moral, educated, smart, prayerful, funny, talented, “normal,” and committed young Catholic person today. And that is so very exciting and encouraging to see!

Q. Where do the students stay when they are on campus?

A. Students stay in our residence halls. We have the men in one residence hall and the women in the other. There is no intervisitation allowed.  The counselors live in the residence halls with the participants. Laundry facilities are also available to the students in the residence halls.

Q. Will the admissions staff be available to meet with me to discuss the requirements of attending the college and to ask them questions?

A. Absolutely! The admissions office staff members are on full alert during the summer program and make themselves very accessible each day. The VP for Enrollment, Director of Admissions, Associate Director of Admissions, Admissions Counselor, and the Best Week Ever Coordinator are at lunch each day, there to sit with students and talk with them about the value of a Christendom education, and to answer their many questions. Additionally, each day there is a Christendom 101 class offered by either the VP for Enrollment or the Director of Admissions. During the 30-minute Christendom 101 session, students are given important presentations on the liberal arts, career outcomes of alumni, the admissions process and financial aid, and all of the many extra-curricular activities that would be available to them if they were to enroll. So, there are numerous opportunities to have questions answered!

Q. Some colleges give scholarships in the amount of the cost of the summer program if a participant eventually attends. Do you do anything like this?

A. We offer a special Best Week Ever scholarship worth $8,000 (at the rate of $2,000 per year) to those summer program participants who apply to the college by October 1, are accepted, and then make an official campus visit during the 2024 Fall Semester.

Please note that Christendom is not test-optional, so those considering applying to Christendom will want to take the SAT, ACT, or CLT no later than August 2024 to be eligible to advantage of the special BWE application deadline and scholarship offer.

Q. Is there an age requirement to attend?

A. To be considered for admission to Christendom College’s undergraduate program, applicants but be at least 17 years of age at the time of matriculation. Since the Best Week Ever is designed for students seriously considering attending Christendom following senior year of high school, for Summer 2024 participants must have a birthdate of 8/15/2008 or earlier. 

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE