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Reason & Rationality Foundation Program - Princeton 2026
Reason & Rationality's Foundation Program immerses high school students in lively, small-group discussions around twenty core topics in philosophy, economics, politics, and decision-making. Taught by Ph.D. students and young professors from Princeton, Harvard and other leading philosophy graduate programs, the two-week program emphasizes serious but playful intellectual conversation — testing ideas in real time, revising views with humility, and continuing discussions beyond the classroom, sometimes late into the evening. Some of our students go on to create their own student podcasts and projects that you can explore on this website.
Sample Topics: Foundation Program topics include free will and determinism; probabilistic arguments for the existence of God; the legitimacy of democratic political institutions; and and how economists and philosophers think about cost-benefit analysis, utility maximization, and their limits.
Location: Both sessions of the Foundation Program are held at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ.
Program Details: Students who, as of Summer 2026, are entering 9th grade through those who have just graduated from high school are eligible to apply. While preference will be given to those applying to the full 2-week session, you will also find an option to apply for a single week.
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Session 1 - June 7 - 20, 2026
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Session 2 - June 21 - July 2, 2026
Families interested in attending only one week of a session should email info@reasonandrationality.com
Oral Exam Contest: Students who attend the full 2-week program are eligible to participate in an Oral Exam Contest on the second to last day of classes. The Oral Exam Contest follows the same oral examination methods used in Princeton undergraduate courses. We are excited to announce that Benjamin Morison, the Chair of the Princeton University Philosophy Department, will join the judging panel for the 2026 competition. Participation in the Oral Exam Contest involves a small additional tuition charge. Link.
Use the button below to set up a Zoom Call with Dean of Academics Peter Bach-y-Rita and learn more:
Hear Student Reflections:
Hear Instructor Reflections:
Foundation Program
2026 Sample Schedule
Week One
Week Two
Tuition and Pricing
The program fee of $6,900 covers all classes, activities, housing, and meals for the full two-week program ($4,600 for a single week). A $1,000 deposit is due at the time of application and will be promptly refunded if the application is not accepted; the remaining balance is due by March 15, 2026. Reason & Rationality will refund the full deposit and any tuition payments if a withdrawal request is made prior to March 15, 2026. Program fees will increase on March 15, 2026; however, applications submitted with deposit before March 15 will be honored at the current rate, even if supporting materials (such as teacher recommendations) are received afterward. If your student requires financial aid, please contact us at info@reasonandrationality.com.
Questions About Reason & Rationality's Vision for Conversation-Based Education?
Check out the frequently asked questions on our website or reach out to Reason & Rationality at info@reasonandrationality.com.