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1. Requirements to Join
We would love for you to apply if you:
Will graduate from high school and/or enter college between 2026 and 2029.
Can commit to full attendance of the sessions you are applying for.
Want to deepen your reading practice and dialogue skills in a small-group environment
Attend a high school in either the US or Canada.
We strongly encourage that your account is created and the application is completed by you, the student, and not by parents/guardians.
2. How to Apply
In the General Application form, please provide:
Your name, contact information, parent/guardian contact information, and state.
Your current grade (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, or graduated/pre-college).
Indicate which cohort you would like to attend.
A 300-word statement on why you are interested in joining The New Commons. You can respond to one of the following questions:
What excites you about joining a dialogue-based reading program like The New Commons?
Tell me about your most profound experience reading a book.
What kind of skills have you gained in your English/Literature classroom? What do you wish there were more opportunities to explore?
There is no application fee, and transcripts are not required. We’re so excited to read your application!
3. Application Tips
When you apply, choose your program thoughtfully. Think about which texts most resonate with you, what your interests are, and which window of time makes the most sense to support your other academic pursuits.
Use a desktop or laptop when completing your application. We ask you to write an answer to a brief question in your application. This may be challenging to do on a mobile phone.
Watch your inbox—you’ll receive an email within 2-3 business days, letting you know whether you have been accepted.
Apply early! The application should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete (including writing your Statement of Interest). There is a 15% discount offered for early applicants. See each cohort page for specific early-bird deadlines.
4. Selection & Acceptance Process
We will consider all information submitted when reviewing your application, and you’ll hear back within 2-3 business days if you’ve been accepted. We do not discriminate against applicants or students based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, or any other protected classification. All students from every background are welcome here!
If accepted, once tuition payment has been received, you’ll receive a reading schedule and have the opportunity to meet with me one-on-one in our first mentorship meeting.
5. Application FAQs
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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!
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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.
Tuition is per cohort, so please be sure to check with your parent/guardian to confirm that you have financial support for both.
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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.
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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 tuition 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 Office Hours.
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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.
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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.)
On This Page
2. How To Apply
Apply to Join a Cohort!
Note: We accept students on a first-come basis. The application exists to serve as a general vetting process to make sure you are a good fit and placed in the right cohort. We look forward to reading your application!