Residential or commuter PRE-COLLEGE

Residential Students
While many families choose to drive their students to campus, we know that one of the big concerns for families traveling so far from home is transportation. Our staff—easily identifiable in their bright orange EXPLO t-shirts—will meet you at the airport, escort you to campus, and help you settle in. On Arrival Day, staff members remain at the airport until we know that the last student has been picked up.

When it’s time to return home at the end of the session, we’ll take you back to the airport—and stay there until we’re sure everyone is safe and in the air.

Commuter Students
The standard day for commuter students is 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM. Included in your commuter tuition are three evenings of your choice per session, when you can stay on campus until 9:45 PM to participate in evening activities. On any given day, you can choose to come early for breakfast or stay late for dinner on campus as well.

Join us for Saturday and/or Sunday trips—there are more than 5 a day to choose from. The costs for extra meals and weekend trips will be deducted from your trips and sundries account.

English is the working language of EXPLO. To enroll in the program, you must be able to speak and understand English at an intermediate–fluent level. To ensure that everyone is able to participate in all aspects of the program, international students who do not attend a school with an English language-based curriculum may need to interview with EXPLO so that we may assess their English speaking abilities. Once you’ve submitted an application and deposit, we’ll contact you and your family about scheduling an interview, should we determine that one is necessary.

Home to outstanding academic and recreational facilities, extraordinary architecture, an art museum, observatory, meadows, and woodlands, Wellesley College is the perfect setting for EXPLO’s Pre-College program. The picturesque location is only enhanced by the College’s belief in the transformative power of curiosity, learning, and teaching — a belief we share at EXPLO. The campus is a short walk from Wellesley Square, a lively downtown area teeming with restaurants, shops, and cafes. Just a few miles away are Boston and Cambridge, home to world-class colleges and universities that create an educational ecosystem that is known the world over as a global innovation hub. 

Our students’ physical and emotional health is a top priority. On the Wellesley College campus, we have a health center staffed 24/7 with experienced nurses who are there exclusively for EXPLO students. All prescription and over-the-counter medications are distributed through the health center because state law—and common sense—dictates that students should not self-medicate or keep medications in their rooms.

Attending an academic enrichment program helps students prepare for the greater independence of college. That being said, EXPLO does not believe that our students should be supervised as if they are already completely independent; we work hard to ensure our students receive a developmentally appropriate and safe level of supervision and guidance throughout their days. In order to create the atmosphere that allows learning to be both fun and meaningful, we know that our students (and their loved ones back home) need to feel that our campus is safe—and that our staff is observant and trained to respond to our students’ needs.

Students are responsible for doing their own laundry. Laundry facilities are available in the residential buildings for use during free time. Pod-style laundry detergent is available at EXPLO’s Main Office. 

The charge for each load of laundry is $1.50, paid using a free smartphone app or with quarters at the machines.