Getting a Head Start: Landmark College's Pre-College Programs

The path to college can feel like uncharted territory. The academic expectations, the independence required, the social dynamics of a new environment — all of these can feel daunting long before a student ever sets foot on campus. At Landmark College in Putney, Vermont, the nation's first accredited college designed exclusively for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and executive function challenges, the belief is straightforward: learning differently is a strength, not a weakness. And preparing students to harness their strengths starts well before they set foot on campus. Landmark's pre-college programs are open to any high school student who feels they would benefit from a more supported academic environment. Whether a student has a documented learning difference or simply finds that they work best with more structure and individualized attention, these programs are designed to meet students where they are, building academic confidence, executive functioning skills, and self-advocacy long before the pressures of college arrive. Online Dual Enrollment: Earn College Credits While Still in High SchoolFor high school juniors and seniors who are ready to stretch academically, Landmark's Online Dual Enrollment (ODE) courses offer a compelling option. These courses allow students to earn transferable college credits while still in high school within a learning environment specifically designed for students who benefit from individualized support. What sets ODE apart is its deliberately supportive architecture. Class sizes average just 12–14 students. Each student works not only with a professor who specializes in educating students with learning differences, but also with a dedicated course coach — an educational professional who checks in regularly, helps students navigate the online learning environment, and uses a nondirective approach that encourages students to develop their own problem-solving skills. The program also includes and online readiness course, with modules to help students build the practical skills needed to succeed in an online college setting. Courses span a range of subjects — from public speaking and creative writing to art history, personal finance, and pre-calculus — giving students the chance to explore genuine academic interests while building the habits they'll need in college. Need-based scholarships are available, and Vermont high school students can attend for free as part of the Vermont voucher program. High School Summer Program: A Real Taste of College LifeFor rising high school juniors and seniors, Landmark's three-week residential High School Summer Program offers something that no amount of campus tours can replicate: actual experience living and learning in a college environment. Held each summer on Landmark's Putney campus, the program immerses students in a structured daily routine of coursework, afternoon activities, and evening academic prep, all within a supportive living-and-learning community. Each weekday, students take three courses: a core seminar called Blueprint for Learning—which introduces the science of learning, covering executive function, metacognition, memory, attention, and growth mindset—a writing course, and an elective. Electives are intentionally varied and engaging, ranging from Film Studies and Digital Photography to Vermont Field Ecology and Creative Writing, giving students exposure to coursework they may not encounter in a traditional high school curriculum. Summer College Readiness Program: The Bridge to That First College SemesterFor students who have already graduated from high school and are heading to college in the fall, Landmark's Summer College Readiness Program addresses a gap that trips up even high-achieving students: the enormous leap in independence that college demands. Problems in the first semester of college often arise not from a lack of ability, but from the sudden shift in expectations around organization, self-advocacy, and independence. This intensive residential program immerses recent graduates in a genuine college experience on the Landmark campus. Students take three required courses — Issues in Today's World (a lecture-style interdisciplinary seminar), Executive Functioning and Study Skills, and College Writing — while living in the residence halls and navigating the social and logistical realities of campus life. The curriculum directly targets the skills that matter most in that crucial first semester: critical reading, note-taking from lectures, understanding the difference between high school and college-level writing expectations, research paper organization, and using self-advocacy to access academic support. Students leave not just with academic strategies, but with a clearer understanding of their own learning profile. For families who have worried about whether their student is truly ready for the independence of college life, this program offers both preparation and peace of mind. A Continuum of Support, Starting NowWhether a student is a high school sophomore beginning to think about college, a senior heading to college in September, or anywhere in between, Landmark College's pre-college programs offer a meaningful on ramp. Each program builds self-awareness, academic skills, and confidence that neurodivergent students need — not just to survive college, but to thrive there. To learn more about pre-college programs at Landmark College, visit landmark.edu /precollege.