Frequently Asked Questions about our Enrichment Programs
Information sessions
Do you have information sessions?
Yes! We have one linked below that introduces our program in just 10 minutes. It will also give you a chance to chat with us to ask any questions you have.
Can you participate in our virtual fair for summer opportunities?
If it works for our schedule, we’d love to. Email us at info@kaleidoscope.education to tell us about it.
Eligibility & Application
Do you have any geographic constraints?
No. Our programs are online, and we encourage applicants from anywhere. We love building classrooms that bring together students who wouldn’t otherwise meet to exchange ideas about topics that matter. To date we’ve worked with students from 100+ countries.
Do you have to be a high school student to participate?
We are open to teens 14-19. Most of our participants will be current high school students though we always have some students about to enter their first year of college.
What do successful applicant essays look like?
Great essays convey genuine interest. You can see examples of successful applicant essays here.
Technology
What are your minimum technology requirements?
Students need to have a stable wifi connection, Zoom (free), and a computer or tablet with keyboard they can use during meeting times (a phone is not sufficient). Students are expected to be in a single location during class.
What is your camera policy?
Our classes are cameras on because we want you to get to know each other, we want everyone to be able to read reactions, and we want to be able to build conversations as naturally as possible. Every class has at least one activity where students can turn their cameras off—giving them a recharge for when we come back together.
Do you offer asynchronous / ‘on demand’ experiences?
No. Our classes are all about discussion and application, and they wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful--or frankly, as fun--if we reduced them to videos and individual assignments.
What’s the difference between a workshop and a seminar?
Workshops are designed to impart skills. They meet six times over two weeks, and in between, student groups meet to collaborate and give feedback. The class size for workshops is larger, though it’s still designed as an active, engaging experience.
Seminars are designed around discussion, teaching ideas and related skills. They meet daily for two weeks with small class sizes (max. 15).
Tuition
How much do your programs cost?
The tuition program for each program is listed on its individual class page. You can access all our classes through the schedule.
Do you offer scholarships?
We are proud to offer need-based scholarships. Because we value global classrooms, we are one of the few programs in the world to offer financial aid equally to both domestic and international students. Though we cannot meet all requests for aid, we meet as many as possible. To date, more than half of our students have received some financial aid. To start your application, select the amount of aid you need from the drop down menu on the application. We will then follow-up for additional financial information.
What is your refund policy?
Up until May 1st, students can drop for a partial refund ($250 of tuition is non-refundable). After that, there will be no refunds, but students can transfer to another class on a space available basis.
Academic Credit
Do you offer credit for your courses?
While we can’t offer academic credit directly, we’d be happy to work with you to get your school or organization to recognize your experience with Kaleidoscope.
Connecting
How do I make sure I hear about other opportunities?
Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates.
