The residential component of Question Everything will be held July 13 to August 2, 2025 on the UMass Amherst campus. Participants will explore exciting philosophical issues in a fun and supportive environment. It’s a chance for participants to get a taste of college, meet new people, and most importantly, question everything! During the 2025/26 school year, participants will meet regularly for college application parties, and will also have a chance to continue engaging in philosophical discussions.
Theme
Each summer, Question Everything focuses on questions that are subsumed under a specific theme. Our 2025 theme is “Freedom and Liberty.” Participants will explore questions such as:
- Do all humans have an inalienable right to liberty? (What are inalienable rights? What is liberty?)
- To what kinds of liberty (if any) do we have a right? Are some types of liberty more important than others? For instance, is there a moral right to free expression, and if so, does it have limits?
- Do young children have a right to liberty? Why or why not? Do non-human animals have such a right?
- Are there circumstances under which the government (or someone else) can justifiably take away or limit someone’s liberty? If so, what are these circumstances? Is incarceration ever morally justified? Should prisons be abolished or completely rethought, as some people argue?
- What is free will? Is there a connection between having a right to liberty and having free will?
Who is Question Everything for?
This program is for rising high school seniors (that is, anyone who will start their senior year in Fall 2025) from Springfield and Holyoke, MA who are curious about life’s big questions and interested in exploring these questions with like-minded peers. You don’t need any prior knowledge of philosophy, and you don’t need a stellar GPA. Applications are open to all, but we especially seek students who are from low-income households and/or will be the first in their families to attend college in the United States.
A typical day at Question Everything
During the three weeks of the program, you will live in a dormitory on campus. In your time off, you can explore the campus and hang out with other summer program participants; there will also be some social activities in the evenings and during the weekend. You’ll eat in the award-winning campus dining halls and you’ll have access to the gym, the library, and other amenities. It will be a full college experience!
On each weekday, we’ll meet from 9am to 4pm, with a 1-hour lunch break. The morning and afternoon sessions will feature a variety of activities. On most days, there will be an interactive presentation by a professor about an interesting issue related to our theme. The remainder of the time, you will engage in discussions, mock trials, role-play activities, and games, all connected to freedom and liberty. You will also acquire skills (such as college-level writing, reading, and oral presentation skills) that will help you succeed in college. Teaching Assistants, who are college students, will help you with your reading and writing assignments. You will also have time to do your own research about an issue that you find particularly intriguing and present your findings to the others.
The application process
Applicants will be asked to submit an application form and a transcript (official or unofficial), and also provide the contact information of a teacher or counselor who can write a short letter of recommendation.
We will start accepting applications through this website in Spring 2025.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!
How much does it cost?
Question Everything is free—if you get admitted, you automatically receive a full scholarship covering room and board, instruction, materials, etc.
Why should you apply?
- It’s a chance to explore fascinating questions about freedom and liberty with like-minded people.
- You’ll get to know several UMass professors and students, and you’ll get a taste of college.
- It’s an opportunity to discover philosophy, which isn’t usually offered in high schools.
- You’ll improve your critical thinking and reasoning skills in a fun environment.
- Programs like this one can be helpful on college applications.
- The program will provide help with the college application/ financial aid process.
- You will be eligible for 3 college credits. (But note that these credits may not transfer to all other colleges or universities.)
Question Everything is funded by the Teagle Foundation’s Knowledge for Freedom Initiative