I am unique. My education should be, too. At Emma Willard School, we believe each girl has unique and undeniable potential to change the world. Some of you may excel in the lab, others on the dance floor, still others in service to others. Whatever your heart is drawn to do, Emma’s Immersive programs will help you find and expand your personal passions. Together, we will put you in the driver’s seat of your education. With Emma, you will deeply explore what it means to truly be YOU—on campus and off…way off.
I am ready to find my personal passion. Practicum Hungry to try out emergency room medicine? Eager to coach youth basketball? Dying to dance? In our Practicum program, our mentors, faculty advisors, coaches, peers, alumnae, and others will guide and support you through an internship or life experience that will allow you to gain real-world, hands-on experience in a profession, subject, or sport of your interest. Emma Girls choose their Practicum—and sometimes two or three by the time they graduate—based on either a new or previous interest. The program is open to all grades, giving you plenty of time to try on a few new experiences or dive deep into an existing passion. Go well beyond AP classes by diving into what is most interesting to YOU!
I am putting my signature on the world. Signature Are you ready to take the reins of your education? Eager to show the world what you have to offer? What you’re looking for is Signature. Juniors and seniors, together with a mentor on campus, and sometimes an expert off campus, work on a personalized project for two semesters. The summation of your work—your Signature—is presented to the entire school community at the end of the year. With Signature, you will dig deeply into an existing passion. Through your work, you will not only explore that passion, but grow your skills in public speaking, blogging, and independent learning. What mark do you want to make on the world?
I am a scholar, eager to explore. Research While many Emma Girls enjoy snuggling up by our Dietel Library fireplace with a great book, our library offers so much more than books to our eager learners. The mission of our research program is to foster in each girl a deep love of learning and critical thinking. We offer flexible learning and study spaces, one of the richest school archives of any high school, and expansive and growing digital, print, and interactive resources. Research at Emma puts the world of knowledge at your fingertips. Your research will extend well beyond the library. Together we will explore research skills, copyright, and citation in ways that many girls do not experience until college. Visit in person or via social media to see just what a modern library can add to your education.
I am just one person, but I can change the world .
Global Ready to change the world? You must be an Emma Girl! Our girls don’t simply want to stay in a hotel or donate used clothes, they want to dig in, help out, and lead positive change around the globe. Join them. Through our Global programs we will show you the world beyond your everyday life and help you develop a deep and balanced understanding of issues and opportunities around the world. Together, we will inspire you through global travel, cultural awareness, and service experiences that prepare you to serve and shape the world. Our Global programs include both short and long-term travel and service experiences as part of our AWAY program and Round Square student living and learning programming. In addition, girls travel to Emma as part of our exchange programming, infusing the school with even more diversity throughout the year. As the first Fair Trade High School and the first American girls’ school to become part of the Round Square network, Emma is the leader in showing girls new and exciting ways to change the world.
I am discovering myself in every season . GirlSummer The opportunities for fun and learning don’t end when Emma Girls leave for summer break. We offer deeply personalized programming throughout the summer with our GirlSummer day and boarding camps. Girls aged seven to fourteen bring new energy to campus as they explore and expand their skills in everything from pottery making, cooking, and theatre performance to traditional camp activities like swimming, tennis, and crafts. Many girls also choose to delve deeper and use the summer to expand their English skills or immerse themselves in storytelling in our Writer’s Retreat. How will you make the most of your summer?
I am committed to making a difference in my community. Service Learning There are rich opportunities for learning in and outside of the classroom at Emma. Through our Service Learning program, girls learn to understand the world outside of Mount Ida, the needs facing our local communities, and how they can make a difference. Lessons learned in the classroom and many aspects of student life—from athletics to living in a residence hall—teach cooperation, teamwork, empathy, and awareness. Connecting these essential skills with deeper understanding of real-world issues in an intentional way allows girls to make meaningful contributions that benefit others while engaging in authentic and purposeful learning.
I am living and thriving in a global community.
International Student Programs Emma Girls truly come from all over the world, and it isn’t always easy to travel so far from home. Emma’s International Student Programs are designed to help our international students excel both academically and socially. Our programs include activities and support that respond to your unique needs—from targeted English classes to our Foreign and American Student Organization (FASO). These programs also raise intercultural awareness around the school community, allowing all of us grow by having YOU as a member of our community.
Course work includes two full-year courses, English Grammar and Composition and Introduction to American History and Literature, helping you to flow easily into our English and history courses. There is also a one-semester writing course. But, the support doesn’t stop there! Come and explore what it means not simply to be an American girl, but an Emma Girl.
I am inspired by the stories of great women.
The Serving and Shaping Her World Speaker Series Emma Girls know there is no limit to the ways they can serve and shape our world. Inspiration for one’s personal path may be influenced by firsthand experience or by learning of the unique perspectives of others.
Each year our community welcomes dynamic and diverse voices to campus as part of our Serving and Shaping Her World Speaker Series. Visiting speakers share their one-of-a-kind experiences with our girls, broadening their worldviews and inviting them to think critically about issues related to global crises, women’s health, ethics, scientific research, and much more. With every visit, our student clubs host intimate sessions with the speakers, and speakers join girls in the classroom, allowing you to dive deeper and ask questions that may inspire your own journeys.
Interested in personalizing your education? Dive in.
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285 Pawling Avenue • Troy • New York 12180