Talk Back to Socrates!
Rising minds meet great books in a program for high school Juniors and Seniors
Saturday to Saturday, July 27 - August 3, 2019
This summer, wake up your intellect. Join the Integral Curriculum of Liberal Arts at Saint Mary's College of California to read and discuss works by some of the world's greatest thinkers and writers: Plato, Sophocles, Shakespeare, Goethe, Austen, T.S. Eliot. Learn to pursue the truth by conversing with the greatest minds, and try your thoughts in the fire of disciplined and passionate discussion.
The life which is unexamined is not worth living
– Socrates
At Talk Back to Socrates, high school juniors and seniors meet in small classes under the guidance of the faculty of the Integral Curriculum of Liberal Arts. They read directly from a selection of great books and learn to stand on their own two feet in rational inquiry and debate. Along the way they make great friendships, take advantage of the gorgeous 420-acre campus and its amenities, and explore the cultural resources of the Bay Area.
Students who have completed their sophomore year of high school by June 2019.
Saint Mary's College of California. SMC is located in Moraga, CA, tucked away in a beautiful valley east of San Francisco and Berkeley, but with easy access to the whole Bay Area.
For Summer 2019, residents will stay in a residence building near the central campus, with suite-style arrangement of rooms and bathrooms. The hall will be staffed by a SMC Resident Assistant, with an adult Residence Director in this or an adjoining hall.
Students will spend a day in San Francisco, featuring a visit to a San Francisco art museum, and culminating with an evening performance of music or theater.
Residents: $ 1200 for the Friday-to-Friday session covers tuition, room (w/o linens), three meals a day, books, and all excursion costs. Commuters: $ 880 for the Friday-to-Friday session covers tuition, three meals a day, books, and all excursion costs. Students may want to bring a small amount of spending money. Generous financial aid is available; contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. after applying.
How to Apply:
1. Fill out and submit the Online Application Form here.
2. Submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher:
The teacher providing the letter should submit it by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Applications are due July 1, 2019, but earlier applications will be considered as they come in.
3. Once accepted, reserve your place in the program with a deposit, or pay the full balance right away. The payment portal will appear here in Spring 2019.
The director of Talk Back to Socrates 2019 is Professor Joseph Zepeda. You can reach him with any questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
