There are no formal requirements to join (e.g., a transcript, test scores, or letters of recommendation). The only requirement is that you must be a high school student who commits to reading the entire text, participating fully, and attending all the sessions. See more specifics on participation requirements under our Program Policies.

The New Commons is open on a first-come basis, but the application allows for a general vetting process.  Do your best to represent who you are and your interest in the program. Applicants may be turned away due to poor fit, a timezone incompatibility, or a lack of ability to fully participate. Write a thoughtful response, and feel free to have fun and get creative — we want to get to know you!

Well, gee. We’re honored! You are absolutely welcome to attend multiple cohorts. Say you want to attend Hamlet and Frankenstein — that’s great! All you need to do is indicate that in your application. 

Please note a few important caveats: 

• Please don’t select more than one if you don’t actually want to attend both. Applying two cohorts doesn’t necessarily increase your chances of getting into one. So when you apply, only check the boxes for the cohorts you can commit to attending. 

• Membership cost is per cohort, so please be sure to check with your parent/guardian to confirm that you have financial support for both.

Once you have submitted your application, your application will be reviewed promptly by the founder, Lauren. You will know promptly, within 2-3 business days, if you have been accepted.

Upon acceptance, two emails will be sent:

• Parent/Guardian Email: The Parent or Guardian will be contacted via the email included in the application, notifying them of the student’s acceptance. This will include a link to the cohort-specific membership payment portal. By purchasing a spot, the Parent/Guardian, as well as the student, agree to the Program Policies, which include cancellation and attendance policies.

• Student Email: The student will be notified of their acceptance and the next steps to begin their reading! This will include a run-down of the reading schedule and the Reading Guide.

Please kindly note that the student’s spot will be held for up to 7 days, and will be secured only after tuition has been paid. After the tuition payment is received, the student will receive an additional email with links to the Zoom meetings for each session, as well as the Calendly link to book the first Coaching Session.

While we are unable to offer payment plans through the website payment portal, payment plans are available through user-end third-party apps, such as Klarna.

As a new program, we currently do not have the financial resources to offer scholarships at this time. We are price-conscious, and it is our goal to be able to offer scholarships to students in need as soon as possible.

We offer a 15% discount to all students who apply well before the deadline. (Please visit each cohort page for  specific discount deadlines.)