Thames at Mitchell College

Thames at Mitchell: A Roadmap to Post-High School Success

Thames at Mitchell College is a pre-college transition program designed to help students ease into life after high school with supportive faculty and a strong social network. Whether your student has a learning difference or simply needs additional preparation before college, Thames has the resources and offerings needed for transformative growth.

Thames students take personalized courses, experience college campus life, and gain social confidence within a highly individualized environment focused on independence and leadership skills.

The journey to post-high school success happens at Mitchell College, a small private college that has been long-recognized for its innovative support for students with learning differences.

What Type of Student Benefits from Thames?

No student is the same—they embody a wide range of characteristics, learning styles, interests, goals, and perspectives. That’s why Thames is proud to welcome—and celebrate—the power of unique minds. The Thames program can be a great fit for students who are:

Neurodivergent
Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD
Seeking independence
Looking to increase self-confidence but motivated to succeed
Navigating learning differences or medical issues
Coming out of a high-school supported program

Outcomes

At Thames at Mitchell College, we’ll prepare your student to confidently take on new educational or life transitions.

Thames students will:

Build executive functioning skills
Earn up to 15 college credits
Benefit from regular one-on-one advising
Learn strategies for success
Participate in social events and activities
Experience living away from home

Here, we specialize in integrating academic and social learning courses and supports.

Courses

The Thames program is made up of both credit and non-credit courses. Thames students dive into a personalized, pre-college experience by following a course schedule that mirrors a college freshman schedule. Courses include:

Introduction to College Writing
Mathematics
Executive Functioning
Social Seminar

Tuition & Fees

Visit the Cost and Financial Aid page to learn about tuition and fees, making a deposit, and paying your bill.

Take your the Next Step

Why should your student do it alone when the Thames at Mitchell College program offers the individualized living and learning support you’ve been searching for?

Start an application, schedule a family visit, or connect with us today to learn more. We would be thrilled to guide your student toward a new and rewarding life chapter at the welcoming

How to Apply

Complete the Thames at Mitchell Application
Upload your high school transcript to your Application Portal
Upload Achievement Testing (e.g. Woodcock-Johnson, Educational Evaluation) to your Application Portal
Upload Cognitive Testing (e.g. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-WAIS) to your Application Portal
Upload IEP or 504 Plan/Accommodations to your Application Portal
Schedule an Interview with the Thames Admissions representative at admissions@mitchell.edu or 860-701-5037

Contact

Admissions – Thames
Phone: 860-701-5037
admissions@mitchell.edu
Office: Henry Hall

One-on-One Online Chats

Still have questions about Thames at Mitchell College? Let’s connect! Email Admissions at admissions@mitchell.edu to schedule an online video chat or call to wrap up any questions you still have!

Schedule a Thames at Mitchell College Campus Visit

Thames Summer Jumpstart Program

July 12–25, 2026

Duration: 2 Weeks

Designed for: Rising High School Seniors, High School Graduates, Incoming Freshman

Cost: $3500 ((includes programming, housing, food, transportation, activities fees)

Don’t just dream about college—experience it. Unlock your college potential at Mitchell College! Join our dynamic, 13-day immersion program and gain the edge you need to thrive. Master crucial college skills, experience the vibrant campus atmosphere, and define your future by setting clear, achievable goals.

The program offers a 2-week, noncredit course focusing on foundational academic and executive functioning skills for rising high schools seniors, incoming freshmen, and students who are exploring college as an option. There are three program options:

1. The Art of College
2. The Composition of College
3. The Science of College: Mystic Aquarium Experience

The goal of the Jumpstart Program is to build upon strengths and increase the self-confidence necessary to navigate college life. The program also emphasizes the core life skills, which are practiced and supported through activities and gatherings:

- Positive social interactions
- Independent living skills
- SEL competencies of self-awareness
- Social awareness
- Self-management
- Responsible decision-making
- Relationship skills

The Art of College

The goal of this program is to build upon strengths and increase the self-confidence necessary to
navigate college life. The subject of art is our vehicle to introduce and reinforce these
skills. With lessons ranging from outlining to annotating to engaging in classroom
discussions, we acquaint students with college-level expectations. Classes include
traditional lectures, guest speakers, and excursions to local art museums and
installations.

Sample Schedule

9:00 a.m.—Breakfast with Peer Mentors, Mitchell Dining Hall
10:00 a.m.—Lesson: Pop Art, Matteson Hall, Skill Focus: Note Taking (traditional lectures, instructional videos, supplemental readings)
12:30 p.m.—Lunch/Break, Mitchell Dining Hall
1:30-2:30 p.m.—Assessing Skills (Text to Speech, Glean, Outlining, Annotating), Matteson Hall
3:30 p.m.—Kayaking/Paddle Boarding, Mitchell Beach
6:00 p.m.—Dinner, Mitchell Dining Hall
7:00 p.m.—Ice Breaker and Ice Cream with Peer Mentors, Michael’s Dairy

Mystic Aquarium Experience

Students go to the Mystic Aquarium to participate in an introductory course designed to support skills necessary for a college-level science class. Working with marine biologists at the Aquarium, this unique opportunity offers a hands-on, interactive experience focusing on:

- Scientific Inquiry—Developing proficiency in science inquiry, lab techniques, and scientific writing
- Field Work—Exploring the Long Island Sound ecosystem
- Lab Skill Development—Advancing scientific skills from observational studies and microscope use to field-based ecology studies and analyses

Program Cost: $3,500 (includes programming, housing, food, transportation to aquarium, activities fees)

Sample Schedule

8:00 a.m.—Breakfast with Peer Mentors, Mitchell Dining Hall
9:00 a.m.—Depart to Mystic Aquarium, Transportation provided
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.—Lesson: Classification of Species, Mystic Aquarium, Scavenger Hunt using observational skills to determine classification of marine life.
1:00 p.m.—Lunch/Break
3:30 p.m.—Kayaking/Paddle Boarding, Mitchell Beach
6:00 p.m.—Dinner, Mitchell Dining Hall
7:00 p.m.—Ice Breaker and Ice Cream with Peer Mentors, Michael’s Dairy

Registration Closed