Challenge

ELIGIBILITY

Challenge is a summer bridge program open to students through the Colorado School of Mines Admissions team and MEP. Our teams review the following criteria when determining which incoming students to invite:

• Applied to Colorado School of Mines as an incoming freshman
• High school coursework, GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and other academic factors that do not meet Mines admissions criteria OR highest level of Math is Precalculus
• Review of admissions application determined a student may benefit from a preview of Calculus I and Chemistry I

If you wish to be a part of the Challenge program but did not receive an invite, you may contact MEP@Mines.edu and a member from our review team will reach out with more information.

See the Challenge 2023 schedule here! 

REQUIRED COURSES

Courses below are designed to lay a foundation in Calculus and Chemistry for Challenge students while providing a preview to content in the fall semester. You will also receive the benefit of experiencing the rigor of Mines coursework in an environment where you are supported through smaller class-sizes and personalized tutoring for each class.

• MATH 100 (Pre-Calculus): With combined instruction in both Pre-Calculus and Calculus I concepts, you will build foundational skills specific to the Calculus I course at Mines required for fall semester. This course serves as a preparatory course for the Calculus curriculum and includes material from Algebra, Trigonometry, Mathematical Analysis, and Calculus. Topics include basic algebra and equation solving, solutions of inequalities, trigonometric functions and identities, functions of a single variable, continuity, and limits of functions. 3 hours lecture; 3 semester hours.
• CHEM 111 (Intro to Chemistry): You will review foundational Chemistry concepts specific to Chemistry I at Mines. Topics include elementary atomic structure and the periodic chart, chemical bonding, chemical reactions and stoichiometry of chemical reactions, chemical equilibrium, thermochemistry, and properties of gases. 3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab; 3 semester hours.
• User Centered Design: This course serves as an engineering lab where you will work on a group project focused on solving a larger design issue. A unique theme is chosen each year and you will come up with a design to solve a larger problem, work with community and/or industry stakeholders on your solution, and present your project at the end of the program. You will become familiar with the overall engineering design process, be supported through problem solving methods, and develop skills specific to serving on a larger engineering team.

Note: While courses and course grades will appear on official Colorado School of Mines transcripts, courses do not apply toward an undergraduate degree, nor do they count toward your overall college GPA.

REQUIRED WORKSHOPS & DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS

Workshops and department presentations are designed to provide students with general information specific to the college experience and make personal introductions to staff around campus who can support their college journey. By building personal connections with staff, Challenge students grow their support network on campus prior to fall semester.

• Skill-Development with CASA: There is a whole team of advisors to support your academic journey at Mines, and you will meet many of them throughout the CASA workshops. Workshops throughout the summer will focus on defining values, goal-setting, imposter syndrome, growth mindset, time-management, study and test-taking skills, meeting Mines faculty, and meeting your academic advisor.
• Financial Aid: Meet Financial Aid staff and learn about key financial aid processes and scholarships. Ask questions about financing your degree at Mines, and receive assistance in applying to available MEP scholarships.
• Housing: Meet with Residence Life to learn about dorm life and can ask any questions about living/dining at Mines.
• Student Wellness Center: Meet Wellness Center staff, learn stress-relief tools, and discover ways to bounce back from academic and personal failure. If you feel stressed at Mines, you are not alone, and there is a whole team here to support your personal wellness!
• Undergraduate Research: Meet undergraduate research staff, learn about research opportunities at Mines, and meet other students currently doing research both on and off-campus. Did you know research opportunities are usually paid and look just as good on your resume as an internship does?
• Honors Program: Meet Honors program staff and learn about the programs available to you throughout your time at Mines. Honors students have opportunities to learn about the social sciences relevant to engineering, travel internationally, and earn a special minor from Mines. Spoiler, being an honors student is not just for the top performers!
• Career Services: Career Services offers much more than just resume building and hooking you up with an internship! Meet Career Center staff, map out a vision board for your future career, and meet with Industry Partners to learn what a day in the life of an engineer looks like.

There are many reasons to join Challenge! To name a few:

• Experience life as a Mines student before fall semester! Challenge is designed to give you a sneak preview into college life at Mines before you start fall semester as an incoming freshman. You will experience what it is like to take classes at Mines, you will meet departments from around campus to learn about their services, and you will also start to build foundational skills in goal-setting, time-management, test-taking, growth mindset, imposter syndrome, and more.
• Meet friends and build a community! You will be a part of a close-knit cohort where you will build a community of friends and peers who support and motivate each other throughout the program, and many of whom have grown friendships that last beyond college graduation.
• Personal connections to mentors and tutors! Meet mentors and tutors who can help with your classes and also share insight to Mines! They will share the ins and outs of college, tools they used to be successful in college, and what their experiences have been like thus far in their degree programs.
• Challenge is free to you! Through MEP and generous donations from our supporters, the entire Challenge program is free to you! Over the summer, we will cover the cost for tuition/fees, housing, food, textbooks, and activities.
• Scholarships for Challenge students! You will have access to exclusive scholarships specifically for students who complete the Challenge program (must fill out the general scholarship application and answer additional questions for MEP – go to my.mines.edu, search for the financial aid scholarship portal, and complete the general application).

Students in Challenge take three classes – Intro to Chemistry, Intro to Calculus, and Engineering Design. The Challenge program is open to both conditionally admitted and fully admitted students. For conditionally admitted students, admission to Mines is contingent on successfully completing these three classes. All coursework, workshops, and tutoring sessions throughout Challenge are designed to help you have a successful first semester of college and we are here to support your journey to Mines. All Challenge students will have a conversation with MEP staff to determine what their pathway to Mines looks like, both during the program and once the program has ended so that students are aware of their progress throughout the program.

For students who successfully pass the Challenge program –

• • Mines staff will work closely with you to put together your schedule for the fall semester and you will have a full-time course load that is tailor-built to help you have a successful start to your freshman year. This means we will use information from your summer instructors, tutors, and you to determine the appropriate course load, schedule, and instructor preferences. Where possible, we also cohort Challenge students together into Math and Chemistry classes to ensure continued support from peers into fall semester.
  • You will join a cohort of your Challenge peers in CSM 101, a freshman seminar course required for all incoming freshman. This is a “college transition” course, taught in small groups. Emphasis is placed on fostering connectedness to Mines, developing an appreciation of the value of a Mines education, and learning the techniques and university resources that will allow freshmen to develop to their fullest potential at Mines.
  • You will be asked to continue checking-in with MEP advisors throughout your fall and spring semesters. These are short 30minute check-ins focused on how you’re doing in your classes, asking if you need connections to any campus resources or departments, and helping you explore ways to get involved around campus. If you are interested in receiving continued academic support, or your scores in Challenge determine you can benefit from continued academic support, we may also require tutoring/office hours.
  • You will also be offered an exclusive housing option as part of the Next Gen SLC in Residence Life for your Freshman year. The Next Gen SLC is a a way to enhance your living experience on campus by bringing a group of students together and allowing them to live with others who share common passions. Participation in the Next Gen SLC is a great way for Challenge participants to carry their summer experience and connections into the academic year. Students who participate in the Challenge Program are automatically enrolled in the Next Gen SLC for the following fall. If your preference is to live elsewhere this Fall, please take the following steps:
    • Joining a different Signature Learning Community (SLC): Mines offers a variety of SLC options. You can explore our website to see other SLC options for this Fall. When completing your housing application, you can preference up to three other SLCs. Please explain your preference when prompted in the application.
    • Living in the general housing population: If you do not wish to participate in any SLC this Fall, please email housing@mines.edu before May 19, 2025.
    • Live at home and commute to campus: First-year students are required to live on campus but can request a waiver under certain circumstances. To learn more, visit our website for instructions.

For students who do not pass the Challenge program –

• Students who do not pass their summer classes, or who think they need additional academic prep before attending Mines, will work closely with MEP staff and the Mines Admissions team to find a partnering college to take Pre-Calculus (or equivalent) and/or Chemistry I and build a stronger foundation in these core subject areas. Most students who do not pass Challenge have their admissions application to Mines placed on hold, and contingent on passing their Pre-Calculus course in the fall, will be invited to start at Mines in the Spring semester. MEP staff will continue to check-in with these students throughout the fall semester to ensure they are on-track and to connect them with resources as needed. We will also work closely with these students towards the end of fall semester in connecting them back with Mines Admissions, Mines Residence Life, and Mines Financial Aid departments to ensure a smooth transition to Mines in the spring semester.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What are the dates for Challenge 2025?
  • The dates for Challenge 2025 is Saturday, June 7 – Wednesday, July 9.
• Why was I selected for this program?
  • There are two rounds of invites that go out for the Challenge program.
    • In the first round: The Challenge program is open to select students who were conditionally admitted to Mines. Student applications are reviewed by the Admissions team and MEP. We identify students with high school coursework, GPAs, ACT/SAT scores, AP scores, and other criteria that does not meet the admissions requirements of Mines. Our team then sends an exclusive invite to Mines applicants who may benefit from a preview into Mines’ Calculus and Chemistry curriculum and extend the offer to take part in the Challenge program. In some cases, students may also be offered a spot in Challenge from the Mines admission waitlist. Conditionally admitted students must successfully complete the Challenge program to then matriculate to Mines in the fall semester. 
    • In the second round: The Challenge Program is open to all incoming first-year students at Mines who completed up to Precalculus in high school. While these students have already been fully admitted, a review of their academic background suggests they could benefit from an early introduction to the Calculus I and Chemistry I curriculum. Participation in Challenge for fully admitted students is optional and not required.
  • The Challenge program provides valuable exposure to campus resources and opportunities to begin building community before the fall semester. Our goal is to offer a soft transition into college life to those who are selected for the program and equip them with the academic tools necessary to be successful at Mines going into freshman year. Similarly, one of the best parts of the Challenge program is meeting other incoming students, staff from departments around campus, and faculty who you may take courses with in the fall. Many studies show that both the academic and community support students gain from a bridge program put them in the very best position to be successful in their long-term academic and professional goals.
• Where will I be living during the program, can I commute to campus, and is food provided?
  • Challenge is a residential program meaning that all student participants are expected to live on campus throughout the program. Students will live in on-campus dorms shared with other Challenge students and have access to restroom facilities, full kitchens, study areas, and hang out spaces. Living with other Challenge students, as well as current Mines students and tutors, is a great way to find mentors and make long-term friendships. Unfortunately, participants will not be allowed to commute to campus. Click here to learn more about the dorms, signature learning communities, first-year housing, and policies.
  • Meal cards are provided to students and will be used to access the on-campus dining facility, Mines Market. Additionally, catered meals will be provided throughout the program during scheduled activities. Accommodations for students with dietary needs will be made and those who need accommodations should reach out to MEP@Mines.edu upon signing their Challenge paperwork.
• Does the program cost me anything to attend?
  • The Challenge program is free to students! MEP and our generous donors cover the cost of tuition/fees, housing, daily meals, textbooks, and activities. However, you may want to bring additional spending money for miscellaneous personal expenses not covered by the program, for example, walking into Golden to grab ice-cream with friends!
• What happens after the program ends – do I have any requirements for my freshman year?
  • Students will join a cohort of their Challenge peers in CSM 101, a freshman seminar course required for all incoming freshman. This is a “college transition” course, taught in small groups. Emphasis is placed on fostering connectedness to Mines, developing an appreciation of the value of a Mines education, and learning the techniques and university resources that will allow freshmen to develop to their fullest potential at Mines. Students who complete the Challenge program will also continue to check-in with MEP advisors throughout their fall and spring semesters on an as-needed basis. If students are interested in receiving continuing academic support, we may also require tutoring/office hours.
  • Students will also be offered an exclusive housing option as part of the Next Gen SLC in Residence Life for their Freshman year. The Next Gen SLC is a a way to enhance your living experience on campus by bringing a group of students together and allowing them to live with others who share common passions. Participation in the Next Gen SLC is a great way for Challenge participants to carry their summer experience and connections into the academic year. Students who participate in the Challenge Program are automatically enrolled in the Next Gen SLC for the following fall. If your preference is to live elsewhere this Fall, please take the following steps:
    • Joining a different Signature Learning Community (SLC): Mines offers a variety of SLC options. You can explore our website to see other SLC options for this Fall. When completing your housing application, you can preference up to three other SLCs. Please explain your preference when prompted in the application.
    • Living in the general housing population: If you do not wish to participate in any SLC this Fall, please email housing@mines.edu before May 19, 2025.
    • Live at home and commute to campus: First-year students are required to live on campus but can request a waiver under certain circumstances. To learn more, visit our website for instructions.
• What is the Challenge program schedule like?
  • Participants will live on campus for four and a half weeks with classes and workshops during the weekdays, and community building activities on the weekends. Students will also have scheduled tutoring time with a community of Mines students. Each week is full of classes and activities that will help build academic and social skills for the fall semester.
  • See the Challenge 2023 schedule here! 
• Are there GPA requirements to be a part of the Challenge program?
  • No, there are not GPA or other academic requirements to be a part of Challenge. Generally, we are looking for students who completed Trig/Pre-Calc, and have had some exposure to high school Chemistry. Students are provided with academic supports throughout the program to help them complete coursework and do their very best in Challenge courses.
• Am I required to attend the Challenge summer bridge program?
  • For those who are conditionally admitted to Mines, an invite to Challenge is extended because a team at Mines determined that they may benefit from the academic preview and skill development that Challenge has to offer. While each student’s file is unique, we are happy to have a personal conversation about the benefits of the program and a review of the student’s academic standing. Some students may be just shy of meeting the explicit qualifications for acceptance into Mines, such as missing coursework in high school, AP scores that are below the entrance requirement, etc. and in these cases it is most likely that a student will be required to participate in Challenge prior to starting Mines in the fall. The goal is to equip Challenge students with a head-start through previewing Calculus and Chemistry curriculum, becoming familiar with the engineering design process, and finding a network of support on campus.
  • For those who are fully admitted to Mines, participation in Challenge is optional and not required.
• Can I leave the Challenge program early for personal reasons?
  • No, please schedule all medical/dental appointments before or after the program. Rare exceptions may be accommodated for with prior approval from MEP staff, but generally, students who miss courses or required activities without prior approval may be dismissed from the program.
  • A student who is no longer interested in attending Mines, or wishes to withdraw from the Challenge program, is encouraged to work directly with MEP staff to ensure all withdrawal processes are completed.
• What happens if I do not pass the Challenge program?
  • Students in Challenge take three classes – Intro to Chemistry, Intro to Calculus, Engineering Design – and for those who are conditionally admitted to Mines, fall admission is contingent on successfully completing these three classes. All coursework, workshops, and tutoring sessions throughout Challenge are designed to help students have a successful first semester of college and we are here to support your journey to Mines. All Challenge students will have a conversation with MEP staff to determine what their pathway to Mines looks like, both during the program and once the program has ended so that students are aware of their progress throughout the program.
  • Students who successfully pass all three classes will not have a limit to their fall schedule and can enroll in up to 18 credit hours. Students who pass Challenge but struggled in their summer classes, or students who want a slower start in the fall semester to get a feel for Mines, will receive support in building a schedule of 12-14 credit hours. Students who do not pass their summer classes, or who think they need additional academic prep, can work with MEP staff to find a partnering college to take Pre-Calculus (or equivalent) and/or Chemistry I and build a stronger foundation in these core subject areas. Most students who do not pass Challenge have their admissions application to Mines placed on hold, and contingent on passing their Pre-Calculus/Chemistry courses in the fall, will be invited to start at Mines in the Spring semester.
  • For students who are fully admitted to Mines and do not pass the Challenge program: MEP staff will work with these students one-on-one to determine a fall semester schedule with a credit-load that feels manageable and will best set them up for success at Mines.