Reason & Love
The Great Connections Seminar 2026
July 25th – August 1st, 2026
Chicago, IL
Are you ready for a journey that sharpens your thinking and empowers your purpose? Join young minds (ages 16–24) for a week of intellectual adventure, career clarity, and personal growth.
Are you ready to become the Entrepreneur of Your Own Life by…
- Cultivating your critical thinking and team work with Socratic Discussion,
- Learning keys to thought and action from History’s Greatest Thinkers,
- Practicing independence, self-direction, and self-responsibility,
Or as we call it, an Education for a Free Society?
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Your Full Video Guide To…
The Great Connections Seminar
The Great Connections Seminar 2026: Reason and Love
July 25th to August 1st, 2026, University of Illinois at Chicago — “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle
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2:15-4:00
CHECK IN TO DORM: Available 2 PM
4:00-5:45
3:30 PM SEMINAR INTRODUCTION Introductory talk about seminar; first discussion (quotes)
5:45-7:15
6:15-7:30 PM GROUP DINNER: Chicago Pizza!
7:30-9:00
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: What is love? You will be given a link to Google Docs, where you write a paragraph of your understanding of the word; we are not seeking a particular answer. Have that paragraph available to you during the session.
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION WITH QUESTION FORMULATION EXERCISE: Kant, Lectures on Ethics, selections
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
Meet a Professional: Nancey Tsai, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical Director, Kandu Health
12:45-2:15
Lunch - optional with Dr. Tsai
2:15-4:00
Free Time
4:00-5:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Logical Fallacies
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, "Can love be measured?"
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book IX, 1-9 selections On love
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
TODAY ONLY: 11-12:15 SEMINAR DISCUSSION, Adler, How to Read a Book, Chapter 10, Coming to Terms
12:45-2:15
TODAY ONLY 12:15-1:30 Lunch
2:15-4:00
TODAY ONLY: 1:30-4, Chicago history and architecture followed by architecture walk and scavenger hunt
4:00-5:45
ACTIVITY: Architecture walk and treasure hunt
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
WORKSHOP: Improv Games (Prep reading: Tina Fey Bossy Pants)
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
WORKSHOP: "The Writing Connection
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Jonas, "The Phenomenon of Life "To Move and to Feel: On the Animal Soul"
12:45-2:15
Lunch
2:15-4:00
Free Time
4:00-5:45
SEMINAR & WORKSHOP: Enright, "The Psychology and Practice of Introspection," The Psychology of Love
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
Short presentation on how to watch a movie and WATCH : "Cyrano de Bergerac"
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
WORKSHOP: "The Writing Connection
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Ortega y Gasset, "The Role of Choice in Love"
12:45-2:15
Lunch
2:15-4:00
Free time/ Go to beach
4:00-5:45
Free time/ Go to beach
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: "Cyrano de Bergerac"
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: DeTocqueville, Democracy in America, Origin of the Anglo-Americans; Philosophical Method of the Americans
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
Meet a professional
12:45-2:15
Lunch - optional with professional
2:15-4:00
Free Time
4:00-5:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Koestler, The Act of Creation, "Thinking Aside"
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
WORKSHOP: Experiencing sculpture
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Muthoo, "Love, Marriage & Divorce: What's economics got to do with it?"
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Mises, The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality
12:45-2:15
Lunch
2:15-4:00
SEMINAR DISCUSSION: Love poetry
4:00-5:45
Free Time
5:45-7:15
Dinner
7:30-9:00
ACTIVITY: TODAY ONLY MEET AT 7 PM Revival Improv Comedy Show 906 S Wabash
9:00-11:00
Informal in our rec room
9:00-10:45
REFLECTION & DISCUSSION: The entire seminar experience; bring your favorite quote from the week
10:45-11:00
Break
11:00-12:45
EVALUATIONS and Thank yous
12:45-2:15
Lunch
2:15-4:00
Rest and get ready for closing ceremony and party; Depart for train 5:00 PM SHARP
7:30-9:00
Closing Ceremony, Dinner, and Party
9:00-11:00
Party!
The Idea
What Is a Great Connections Seminar?
- The seminar is called “The Great Connections” because it focuses on promoting deep and meaningful connections between great ideas, individuals, and real-world applications.
- This approach helps you build bridges between your intellectual understanding and personal growth, creating a transformative experience that extends beyond academic learning.
- In summary: it’s about connecting ideas across disciplines, connecting with others through shared discussions, and connecting your inner purpose to practical paths in life.
The Method
What Do We Do At These Seminars?
- We help you discuss great writing and ideas in small groups — discussions that grow your reasoning power and teamwork skills.
- You’ll delve into seminal texts spanning philosophy to physics, across eras and ideologies, from classics like Plato and Aristotle to contemporary thinkers.
- This year’s theme, “Reason and Love,” guides our exploration through seminal texts on philosophy, ethics, and human connection.
- You’ll receive detailed instructions and materials to read in advance, preparing you for a rich discussion.
Beyond the Books
The Experience Goes Beyond Just Reading…
- You’ll engage in activities that enrich your understanding — exploring philosophical themes, scientific inquiry, and historical texts through guided introspection. You’ll visit notable museums and landmarks and join discussions with experts.
- The program also includes collaborative workshops, like improv sessions, to promote relaxation, enjoyment, and teamwork — helping you connect with others and deepen your learning experience.
Who It's For
Who Attends Our Seminar?
- Our Seminar welcomes individuals ages 16–24.
- This makes the seminar a more dynamic and powerful experience, offering intellectual purpose to those in search of it.
- For teens refining their thinking about college and life decisions, young adults pursuing career clarity, individuals aiming to articulate their thoughts more effectively, and students eager to explore the works of great authors and ideas.
The Outcomes
The Benefits of This Seminar
- Students consistently applying our method have been measured to raise their cognitive skills by 20–85%.
- You’ll learn a method of discussion that significantly helps you read and understand anything you encounter.
- We have very few lectures — most of the time you’ll be actively involved in discussion.
- By doing the reading and the discussion work, you’ll learn to reason excellently and apply what you learn to your life.
Dates & Tuition
Schedule, Seminar Fees and Deadline
Schedule
The Seminar runs July 25th – August 1st, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Students stay in dorms on campus for the duration of the Seminar.
Scholarship Information
A limited number of scholarships cover tuition and some room and board. To apply, submit an application and indicate you’d like to be considered. Questions? Email Marsha Enright at Marsha@reliancecollege.org.
Seminar Fees
Tuition covers all Seminar programming for 7+ days; room includes 8 nights plus opening and closing dinners.
Tuition and Lodging: $900
Meet our founder, Marsha.
I’m Marsha Familaro Enright, founder of The Great Connections Seminars and president of Reliance College. With a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Psychology from The New School for Social Research, I’ve spent my career creating transformative educational experiences — founding the Council Oak Montessori School, running it for 27 years, and developing The Great Connections.
Testimonials
What Previous Participants Say
The City
About Chicago
- One of the most dynamic and beautiful cities in the world — rich with great architecture, business, finance, education, and the arts, at reasonable living costs.
- Twenty-nine miles of beaches, parks, and recreation along the shores of Lake Michigan.
- Famous for its music scene, from the world-renowned Chicago Symphony to small pop-up venues by edgy artists.
- Home of improv comedy, from the original Second City to Zanies and The NeoFuturists.
- More than 20 business accelerators and tech incubators.
Excited to attend?
We can’t wait to have you at our seminar!