Summer is a time for relaxation, a break from the dreary drudgery of school, and a chance for you to relax. Increasingly, however, students aren’t spending summers by the pool or hanging out with friends, but are instead engaging in activities meant to broaden their horizons, stimulate them intellectually, and help prepare them for college.
We’ll weigh some of the pros and cons of these programs and what you can expect to get out of them. We’ll also point you towards programs that are prestigious and known for helping students, and provide guidance so you can avoid programs which do not offer nearly as much for the price they charge.
Whether or not a summer program is worthwhile depends entirely on what you hope to get out of the experience. Therefore, the more you know about what a summer program will provide, the better you can judge whether or not it is a worthwhile investment of time and money.
Not all summer programs are created equal, and attending a summer program at a fancy school does not increase your chances of admission to that school. Third parties often run summer programs on a college campus and merely use the school’s name to attach prestige to their program.
Some programs are highly competitive and prestigious; others are merely a way for you to explore an academic subject. Now we’ll provide a list of pros and cons for these types of summer programs so that you can weigh the benefits and costs
While these programs will not directly help you get into college, they are still a good way for you to explore your interests and discover where your passions lie. If you want experience with research, to learn what college life is like, or want a taste of freedom over the summer, then these programs may be of interest to you. Below, we list summer programs by category which we believe are a good investment and which will help you succeed.
Many programs moved to a virtual model due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While some programs are still offering hybrid or virtual programs, most have returned to in-person offerings. Some programs have realized that going virtual does not hurt their program’s ability to teach, while others benefit strongly from a hands-on experience.
It is up to you whether you are comfortable with in-person programs or wish to stick to virtual offerings. Just like colleges, many in-person programs require you to be vaccinated against Covid 19.
Here is a list of good summer programs for high school students. We’ve separated the list by categories, and within each category have sorted programs into ones that are top-tier and ones that are merely very good programs. This isn’t to say that you should only apply to the top tier of programs. Many of these are incredibly competitive, and like to see prior achievements in the subject.
For this reason, when you are getting started, it can be better to look into good programs before trying your hand at the top tier.
What: A residential summer program for high school students with a love for and curiosity about mathematics. Students will learn about math, make conjectures, and work to solve them while exploring advanced topics.
When: 5 weeks in summer.
Where: Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Housing and meals are provided as part of the tuition costs.
Age Requirements: Current high school students with a strong interest in and talent for mathematics. Students outside the 14-17 age range will be asked for additional details.
Cost: $4,950. There is financial aid available for those with demonstrated need.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must apply online by filling out a short form. Once this is complete, they will be sent a math assessment which they must complete in a four-hour block. There is then a longer form to fill out. A letter of recommendation is required.
Deadlines: Admissions are rolling and open in Spring, the deadline is in late April.
What: An intensive program hosted by Hampshire College designed to introduce high school students to mathematics. The goal of the problem is for students to do mathematics rather than simply learn about them.
When: 6 weeks in summer.
Where: Hampshire College’s campus in Amherst, Massachusetts. Housing is provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Current high school students.
Cost: $4,913. This covers tuition, meals, and housing. Financial aid is available and is based on need. Students are responsible for their own transportation to the program.
Selectivity: The program is somewhat selective. Students must apply online. Once their application has been received, they must fill out a test and send it back in as the second half of their application.
Deadlines: Applications open in January and are due by March. The second round is sent out by email in late March.
What: A program for gifted high school students focusing on the creative side of mathematics. Students attend seminars, take classes, work on advanced problems, and conduct research.
When: 6 weeks every summer.
Where: Boston University’s campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Housing is provided, as are meals.
Age Requirements: High school students who are 14 or older and who have completed 9th grade.
Cost: $5,500 for tuition, room, and housing. Financial aid is available, and prices are capped based on family income.
Selectivity: Selective. Students must complete a math problem set, and upload it and their transcript along with an online application. A recommendation letter from the student’s math teacher is required.
Deadlines: The application is due in mid-March. Decisions come out in May.
What: A program designed to introduce students to higher-order mathematical thinking, all students take a course on number theory. The program hopes to foster individual mathematical exploration.
When: 6 weeks in summer.
Where: Ohio Dominican University’s campus in Columbus, Ohio. Housing and meals are provided. There is a separate session at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Age Requirements: Around 75 high school students between the ages of 15 and 18 from around the country.
Cost: $6,000. Financial aid is available.
Selectivity: The program is selective, accepting around one-third of applicants. Students must complete an online application, answer several essay questions, and complete several math problems.
Deadlines: Applications open in early January and are due by the end of March. The committee begins reading them on April 1st, and decisions come out later in April.
What: A program focused on pure mathematics, where students take courses, attend lectures, and work together to solve problems. The program focuses on introducing students to topics they don’t cover in high school math classes.
When: 3 weeks in summer.
Where: Stanford University’s campus in Palo Alto, California.
Age Requirements: Students who are currently in 10th or 11th grade with a deep passion for mathematics.
Cost: $7,000, covering tuition, housing, meals, field trips, and transport to the San Francisco airport. Financial aid is available, and costs are reduced for virtual programs.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must complete an online application, including essays and example problems. A recommendation letter from a math teacher, transcripts, and standardized test scores are required. SUMaC requires an entrance exam as part of its application.
Deadlines: Applications are due in mid-March, with decisions released in May.
What: Students are invited to work side by side with researchers and medical professionals at NIH locations across the country. Students are separated into research groups for the duration of the program.
When: Eight weeks in summer.
Where: Any NIH research campuses around the country, including Bethesda, MD, Research Triangle Park, NC, and Phoenix AZ.
Age Requirements: Students must be 17 or older by the start date of the program, current juniors or seniors, and American citizens or permanent residents to be eligible. Students who are not yet 18 must live within 40 miles of the campus where they will intern. Students may request a waiver of this final requirement.
Cost: The program provides a stipend to attendees, which is variable by location and year.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must apply online, and the application requires a CV or resume, a list of coursework and grades, a cover letter, and contact information for two references. Once candidates are selected, they must submit proof of residency or citizenship and their official high school transcripts and pass a background check.
Deadlines: Applications open November 15th and are due in early March.
What: An intensive research program for students from across the country. It provides hands-on research experience guided by faculty and graduate students and a chance to live on campus and experience university life.
When: 7 weeks in the summer.
Where: Michigan State University’s campus in East Lansing, Michigan. Housing and meals are paid for by tuition costs.
Age Requirements: Approximately 24 current high school juniors attend each year.
Cost: $3,800, with financial aid available.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must complete an application and two essays. They need to submit a transcript, and two letters of recommendation from teachers, at least one from a science teacher. Applications must be submitted by mail.
Deadlines: Applications are due by March 1st, and decisions are released by May.
What: A program with two tracks: internship and practicum. On the internship track, students spend 40 hours each week conducting hands-on research while directed by a mentor. On the practicum track, students take a course in computational neurobiology and conduct group research with other students.
When: 6 weeks in the summer.
Where: Boston University’s campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Students may choose to live on campus or commute.
Age Requirements: Current juniors who will be seniors next year with interest in science.
Cost: $8,246 for residential students and $5,370 for commuter students. Limited financial aid is available.
Selectivity: The program is selective, with around 16% of applicants being admitted. Students are required to complete an online application, including three essays. The essays are on your subject of interest, your academic achievements, and why you want to attend RISE. Students interested in the internship track must indicate which professors they are interested in working with. Two letters of recommendation are required, at least one of which must be from a math or science teacher. You must submit transcripts and standardized test scores.
Deadline: Applications open December 15th and are due February 14th. Applications are reviewed once all materials are submitted.
What: 80 students complete on-campus theory work, out-of-class research, and fun activities in this 6-week program. Students’ work is guided by faculty, graduate students, and staff. Students complete a cycle of research during the program, from coming up with a hypothesis to synthesizing results.
When: 6 weeks in the summer.
Where: MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Housing is provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Students with a year remaining before they graduate high school is eligible to apply. They should show promise in math and science and leadership capabilities outside the classroom.
Cost: Free. Tuition, meals, and housing are provided.
Selectivity: Very selective (less than 5% acceptance rate). Students must complete an online application, answer essay questions detailing their goals related to science or technology, and submit a high school transcript. Students must submit two letters of recommendation from teachers and may submit a third from a mentor they performed research with. Test scores are highly recommended.
Deadline: Applications are due December 2nd.
What: High school students perform basic research on medical topics with faculty, staff, and graduate students at Stanford. The goal is to increase students’ interest in and understanding of medicine.
When: 8 weeks in the summer.
Where: Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. Housing is not provided; this is the responsibility of the student and their family.
Age Requirements: Students must be current juniors or seniors to apply and must be 16 years of age by the program’s start date. Students must be American citizens or permanent residents. Students from the bay area in California are prioritized.
Cost: Free. The program also provides a stipend to participating students of at least $500. Low-income and underrepresented students are encouraged to apply to the program.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must complete an online application. Answering two essay questions is required, as is a letter of recommendation from a teacher, preferably a math or science teacher. There is a $40 application fee.
Deadlines: Applications are due in late February. All applications are reviewed at the same time after the deadline.
What: A program run and governed by its own alumni, the SSP puts students into teams of three to complete original research projects guided by faculty mentors. The program is devoted to being a hands-on experience.
When: 39 days in June-July.
Where: University campuses around the country.
Age Requirements: Current high school juniors and exceptional sophomores. Depending on the student’s research area of interest, prerequisite courses are required. They look for students who are well prepared and eager to participate and try to admit the students who will benefit most from the program.
Cost: $7,950. Around half of applicants receive some form of financial aid, which can cover up to 100% of tuition expenses and is based on need. Students apply for financial aid after they are admitted to the program. Up to $500 in financial aid is available to cover travel expenses.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must complete an online form, including selecting which discipline they want to focus in. They must submit a high school transcript and two letters of recommendation from a teacher, ideally from math and science teachers. Standardized test scores are required as well.
Deadlines: Applications are open in December. International applications are due by early February, and domestic applications are due by early March. Decisions are released by mid-April.
What: A STEM program featuring hands-on and project-based courses for talented students, culminating in creating a final project. Past projects have included self-guided cars and autonomous aircraft. The Institute is run by MIT’s Beaver Works.
When: 4 weeks in summer.
Where: MIT’s campus in MA.
Age requirements: Students must be rising seniors to apply to this program.
Cost: Free.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must first be nominated to take an online course from MIT, which begins in February. If they perform well enough in this course, they are invited to apply to the program. The application itself must be completed online and includes a number of short-answer and essay questions.
Deadline: The online course begins February 1, and applications for the summer program open March 1 and close March 31.
What: A paid internship with the Fred Hutch laboratory in Seattle, offered in partnership with the University of Washington. Students are given training in lab safety and techniques, attend lectures and seminars, and work with mentors on biological research.
When: 8 weeks in summer.
Where: Seattle, Washington. Housing is not provided.
Age requirements: Students must be rising seniors to apply for this program. You must be able to commit for the full 8-week session to attend.
Cost: Free. Students are paid for their time during the internship but must arrange for their own transportation and housing.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must apply online, complete the application and uploading a transcript and resume. Further, you will need two recommenders, who should be teachers or counselors.
Deadline: Applications are due by March 31st.
What: The Garcia Center for Polymer Research at Stony Brook University runs this summer program to introduce students to polymer research. Students work in research teams, and are encouraged to submit their results to journals.
When: 7 weeks in summer.
Where: Stony Brook University’s campus, in Stony Brook, New York.
Age requirements: Students must be 16 or older to participate. They must have an unweighted GPA of 3.8/4, have standardized test scores in the 60th percentile, and have taken at least three of the following: English, Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Physics (with AP or Honors a plus). International students are accepted, but the program cannot sponsor a Visa application.
Cost: $3,000 for laboratory use fees, room and board are additional for students living on campus.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must apply online. The application requires an official transcript from your school, and three letters of recommendation. There is also a $50 application fee.
Deadline: Applications are due in February.
What: A paid summer internship and mentoring program sponsored by the American Fisheries Society. The program’s goal is to promote careers in fisheries science and management among currently underrepresented populations.
When: 8 weeks in summer, from June through August.
Where: Fisheries agencies and institutions across the country.
Age requirements: Students must be current or rising juniors or seniors to apply for the program.
Cost: Free. Students are also paid for their time during the internship.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must apply online. The application requires high school transcripts, a statement of interest, answers to written questions, and a reference form from a teacher or counselor.
Deadline: Applications open in mid December and are due in mid February. Students are notified in mid to late April.
What: During this 4 week program, students are given the chance to work on an independent research project under the guidance of staff from the institute. These are presented to faculty, staff, and fellow participants at the end of the program. The center is run by the University of Pittsburgh.
When: 4 weeks in Summer. The program is a 40 hour per week commitment.
Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Housing is not provided by the program.
Age requirements: Only current juniors and seniors may apply to the program (no rising juniors are allowed). All applicants must be local to the region of Pennsylvania.
Cost: Free.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must apply online, and include a personal statement, high school transcript, cover letter, application form, and demographic form. Students under 18 will need to get a work permit issued by their school district.
Deadline: Applications are due in mid March.
What: High school students are given hands-on medical training, including splinting, running an EKG, and phlebotomy. They are also given a chance to shadow doctors in a crisis center.
When: 1 week in summer. Multiple sessions are offered.
Where: Oakland, California. You are responsible for your own travel arrangements. You are also responsible for your own housing during the program.
Age requirements: You must be 15 or older and a high school student to apply for the program.
Cost: $1,400. Financial aid is not available.
Selectivity: Moderately selective.
Deadlines: The application opens in January and closes in February.
What: Academically talented rising seniors, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are introduced to topics in the sciences, and take five courses for credit. Students also participate in lab tours, special events, and college counseling.
When: 6 weeks in the summer.
Where: MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Housing is provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Rising seniors from various backgrounds are encouraged to apply, so long as they are US citizens or permanent residents. Students are expected to have passion for science and technology.
Cost: Free. Tuition, housing, and meals are provided by the program. Students are required to cover transportation to the program.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must complete an online application. All applications are considered, but students from disadvantaged backgrounds, minorities, first generation college students, and rural students are encouraged to apply. Essays, lists of activities, and letters of recommendation are required.
Deadlines: Applications must be submitted in fall of your junior year. Decisions come out in mid April.
What: High school students complete an independent research project, and work alongside graduate students, faculty, and post-docs. The goal is to help participants develop hands-on research skills.
When: 10 weeks in summer.
Where: Maine. There are both residential and commuter programs available.
Age requirements: Students must be at least 18 by the start date to qualify for the residential program, or at least 16 by the start date to qualify for the commuter program. In addition you must have completed high school biology and chemistry with labs, and have taken algebra 1 at a minimum.
Cost: Free. This includes housing for students in the residential program.
Selectivity: Highly selective; the program regularly gets over 200 applicants for a handful of positions. All applicants must be nominated by a teacher or counselor who can speak to the student’s talent for and interest in science. Once nominated, you must complete the online application form to apply for the program.
Deadlines: Students must be nominated by a teacher before they can complete an application. Applications are due in early February.
What: A program where high school students interested in STEM subjects are inserted into existing research projects at UCSC. Students perform hands-on research, and are mentored by faculty, staff, and graduate students.
When: 10 weeks in the summer. 8 weeks are in person, 2 weeks are virtual.
Where: UC Santa Cruz’s campus, in Santa Cruz, California. Housing is provided on campus, or students may live off campus and commute.
Age Requirements: Around 150 high school students are admitted each year. Students must be 14 years of age and current high school students. Some research projects require students to be 16 or older.
Cost: $600-$875 per week for housing. $4,000 program fee. There is limited financial aid available. Housing includes a meal plan.
Selectivity: The program is selective. Students must apply online, including a personal statement, responses to essay questions, and statements of interest on research topics. A transcript is required, as are two letters of recommendation from teachers, and one from a counselor. There is a $60 application fee.
Deadlines: The application opens March 1st and closes March 31st. Decisions are released in mid April.
What: A hands-on research program, where students participate in ongoing research at Stony Brook University. Students work under the guidance of faculty, participate in seminars and special presentations, and attend weekly research talks.
When: Late June to late July.
Where: Stony Brook University’s campus in Stony Brook, New York. Housing is not available on campus currently; students may commute.
Age Requirements: Current juniors who are nominated by their schools are eligible. Students must be at least 16 and American citizens or permanent residents.
Cost: There is a $3,200 fee for housing, the program is free for commuters. A $1,000 stipend is provided at the end of the program.
Selectivity: The program is very selective, with around an 8% acceptance rate. Students must be nominated by their high school before they can apply, then must complete an online application. Students must include a transcript and two letters of recommendation from teachers. Students may indicate interest in a specific field or research group in their application.
Deadlines: February 11th is the preferred deadline for nominations, but they are accepted until the 18th. All applications are due by February 18th. Decisions are released in early April.
What: This allows talented high school students to engage in hands-on research with Smith College faculty and staff. Undergraduate students serve as teaching assistants for the program.
When: 4 weeks in the summer.
Where: Smith College’s campus.
Age Requirements: Open to current high school students. Smith College is a women’s only institution, and applicants must be female.
Cost: $7,298. A deposit of $1,450 is due two weeks after acceptance. Financial aid is available, but must be applied for separately.
Selectivity: The program is selective. Students must apply online, including a high school transcript and a single letter of recommendation. They must also answer a single essay question of 250-500 words.
Deadlines: Applications open in January. Priority applications are due at the start of March, though applications are accepted until May. Financial aid applications are due by March.
What: Students spend two weeks learning practical medical techniques, hearing lectures, and shadowing medical professionals on Stanford’s campus. Students are mentored by current medical students and faculty.
When: 2 weeks in summer.
Where: Stanford University’s campus. Housing and meals are not provided.
Age Requirements: Students must be at least 16, and a current sophomore, junior, or senior in high school, or an undergraduate student. They look for students with a demonstrated interest in science.
Cost: $5,000 in person and $4,000 virtual. Scholarships are available for students with demonstrated need.
Selectivity: The program is quite selective. Students must apply online, and submit a resume, official transcripts from the past two years, two letters of recommendation (one from a science teacher), and answer two short essay questions. An application fee of $95 is required. Qualified students will be invited to be interviewed.
Deadlines: The program offers two early rounds of admissions deadlines, these are due in December and February. Standard deadlines close March 7th. Standard admissions are more competitive, and applicants are less likely to get their preferred program.
What: The program provides a chance for underrepresented students to explore a rigorous curriculum, and earn college credit. The goal of the program is to deepen the students’ interest in STEM, while equipping them with the tools needed to explore the field.
When: 3 days online, 4 weeks in person.
Where: Carnegie Mellon University’s campus, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Age Requirements: Students who are current sophomores or juniors, at least 16, and American citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the program. The program is aimed at underrepresented groups, but others are allowed to apply.
Cost: Free. Tuition, housing, and meals are provided for, but students are responsible for their own supplies and transportation.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must complete an online application, and send in their transcript and two letters of recommendation, one from a counselor and one from a teacher. They must respond to two essay prompts. Students are encouraged to submit standardized test scores, but are not required to. The program looks for dedication to both STEM and diversity. All students who meet the eligibility requirements are considered.
Deadlines: Early decision applications are due by February 9, with decisions released by early March. Regular decision deadline is March 15, with decisions released by mid April. All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
What: The goal of the program is to expose high school students to both the rigors of scientific research and life on a college campus. Started by UT Austin for Texas students, the program now encompasses five universities: UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT Arlington, University of Houston, and Texas Tech.
When: 5 weeks in summer.
Where: The campuses of participating institutions.
Age requirements: Students must be a current sophomore or junior at a Texas high school.
Cost: Free. This includes room and board and in-town transportation.
Selectivity: Selective. Applicants must apply online. The application requires transcripts from your school, and two letters of recommendation from teachers. You are also required to submit a 250 word response to one of their prompts.
Deadlines: Applications are due in early March.
What: A program for community minded young people to be connected with volunteering and development opportunities. All participants are placed in paid internships with local volunteering organizations, and take part in a National Summit in Washington DC.
When: 8 weeks in summer.
Where: Local volunteering partners, summit in Washington DC at the end of the program.
Age Requirements: Current juniors and seniors in high school who are eligible to work in the United States, and who are in good academic standing. Students may not be relatives of Bank of America employees.
Cost: Free, the internship opportunities are paid.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students may apply online, and are required to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor.
Deadlines: The application opens in November, and is due in January. Decisions are released in April.
What: A program designed to teach students how to approach problems from an economics standpoint. The course introduces economic theories and their applications to students through classes, assignments, and lectures.
When and Where: There are several program sites and date ranges, though all programs last a week and are held on a college campus. In person or virtual format will be determined by program location.
Age Requirements: Students who are currently sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.
Cost: $1,850. This covers tuition and housing, some financial aid is available.
Selectivity: The program is selective. Students must complete an application and respond to an essay question.
Deadlines: The early deadline is February 9th, the priority deadline is March 16th, and the final deadline is April 13th. All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
What: A program for aspiring high school entrepreneurs with the purpose of enabling them to launch their own startup. Students take courses, learn from industry leaders, and collaborate with each other to learn how to build a business.
When: June through July, five week program.
Where: Various college campuses across the country, including Northwestern and MIT previously.
Age Requirements: Current high school students from around the world are eligible to apply.
Cost: $5,980. Admitted students with family incomes below $100,000 are eligible for financial aid. Some in person programs have costs of $9,450.
Selectivity: The program is selective. They look for students who display initiative, impact, and collaboration. The application requires an online form, and a short video submission. They do ask for a transcript, but consider grades less important than what students accomplished outside of the classroom.
Deadlines: Early admissions are due by December 21, regular by February 15.
What: A program hosted a Wharton for students from around the world. Students are introduced to business concepts and hone leadership and communications skills. The program consists of classes, company visits, and team building exercises.
When: There are three sessions, each three weeks in length.
Where: University of Pennsylvania’s campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Housing is provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Approximately 120 students are admitted each year. Students must be in grades 10 or 11 at the time of their application, and have demonstrated leadership experience.
Cost: $7,500. Financial aid is available. The cost covers tuition, housing, and meals.
Selectivity: Very selective. Students must complete an online application. Transcripts and a letter of recommendation are required, as are essay responses. Submitting standardized test scores is optional. There is a $100 application fee. An unweighted GPA of 3.5 is preferred. English proficiency tests are required for non-native speakers.
Deadlines: Applications open December 1. The priority deadline is January 20, the final deadline is April 7.
What: Run by the Management & Technology program at Penn, the summer institute offers classes from Penn faculty in engineering and from the Wharton school, and offers students a chance to prototype an invention.
When: 21 days in July.
Where: University of Pennsylvania’s campus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Housing is provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Applicants should be rising seniors, and have displayed strong academic and leadership qualities.
Cost: $9,000, which includes housing and meals on campus. Financial aid is available.
Selectivity: The program is very selective.
Deadlines: Applications open November 21. The priority deadline is February 1, the final deadline is April 1. International students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline.
What: The program strives to introduce young women to the college environment and business experience. Students participate in workshops, network with current college students and faculty, and prepare a case study of a business.
When: 4 days in summer.
Where: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Students live on campus for the program.
Age Requirements: Current female 11th graders are eligible to apply.
Cost: Free
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students need to complete an online application, including short essay responses, and submit their transcript and a resume. Students need a minimum GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 to be accepted into the program.
Deadlines: Applications open February 1 and are accepted until April 15.
What: A program for students 17 and up, 12 highly qualified juniors and seniors complete advanced research 1-on-1 with a faculty mentor. There are also bonding opportunities, weekly trips, and talks and discussions hosted by the program.
When: 6 weeks in summer.
Where: Texas Tech’s campus in Lubbock, Texas. Housing is provided on-campus.
Age Requirements: Juniors and seniors who are 17 or older are allowed to apply. Age exceptions will not be granted, emails asking for exceptions will not be answered.
Cost: Free. Students will receive a $500 meal card for the program, and a $750 stipend upon completion of a successful project report. Students are responsible for travel to the program.
Selectivity: Very selective. The program requires an application, including an online form, essays, transcripts, standardized test scores (PSATs if the student has not yet taken the SAT), 3 letters of recommendation, and a list of their top 5 volunteer activities. Additional resumes are not considered.
Deadlines: Applications open January 2 and are due by February 13.
What: 52 high school students take part in this program each year, which seeks to introduce them to the liberal arts college experience. Students take classes in liberal arts, science, and technology.
When: One week in summer.
Where: Carleton’s campus in the twin cities. Housing is provided by the program.
Age Requirements: Current sophomores may apply. The program is intended for students who are black or african american.
Cost: The program is free.
Selectivity: The program is quite selective. There is an online application, which includes several short response essays. You also must submit a current transcript and a single letter of recommendation from a teacher.
Deadlines: The application opens in January and closes in late March. Students are notified in April.
What: 120 competitive and talented students are admitted to this program each year, where they attend seminars, learn from guest lecturers, and grow as a team. Students are eligible to earn a single college credit from the program.
When: 10 days in the Summer, from July to August.
Where: Notre Dame University’s campus, South Bend, Indiana.
Age Requirements: Current juniors who plan on attending college are allowed to apply. Students must be at least 16 by the start date of the program.
Cost: There is a $60 application fee and a $150 enrollment fee. Fee waivers are provided in extenuating circumstances. Tuition, housing, and meals will be paid for by the university.
Selectivity: The program is very selective, and students are generally in the top 10% of their class, and have displayed significant leadership in their communities. The application requires an online form, a high school transcript, a counselor report, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher. Submitting standardized test scores is not required, but is encouraged.
Deadlines: Applications open in October, and close in January.
What: A program devoted to teaching and practicing debates in varying styles, for both middle and high school students. There are numerous short programs included under the umbrella of this program.
When: Varying dates through the summer. Programs range from 1-3 weeks in length.
Where: Stanford’s campus, Palo Alto, California.
Age Requirements: Students in grades 7-12 are allowed to apply. Some programs are more limited for which grades can apply.
Cost: $750-$4,500. Cost covers tuition, meals, and housing. Students are recommended to bring money for incidental expenses. Limited financial aid is available.
Selectivity: Varied. Some programs will accept any students who apply and make a deposit, others are more selective. Students must apply online.
Deadlines: Priority deadline is May 25th. Applications submitted will be accepted if spots remain. Applications submitted after June 10th will incur late fees.
What: A program for rising sophomores and juniors, TASS seeks to teach students about topics in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus this year on examining systems of oppression. Participants will attend a three hour college class each day.
When: 6 weeks in the summer, from June to August.
Where: Different college campuses around the country, with housing provided on campus.
Age Requirements: Current juniors are allowed to apply.
Cost: Free. The program also provides housing, assistance with transportation costs is also available.
Selectivity: Very, the program admits 5% of applicants. Students must complete an application, and answer a number of essay questions in order to be considered. Your transcript and test scores are less important.
Deadlines: Nominations open in October and are open through December 1. Applications open in November, and are due by early January. Interviews are held in March, and final decisions are released in early May.
What: Talented students from 130 countries, and all 50 states, participate in an interdisciplinary program focused on collaborative learning and discovery. There are three sessions each summer, and students may choose one of the following four tracks: Innovations in Science & Technology; Literature, Philosophy, & Culture; Politics, Law, & Economics; and Solving Global Challenges.
When: 2 weeks in the summer. There are three 2 week sessions offered.
Where: Yale’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut. The program is entirely virtual this year.
Age Requirements: Students must be at least 16, fluent in English, a sophomore or junior, and not have participated in the program before.
Cost: $6,500 for tuition. Need based financial aid is available to all students, with an application offered as part of the general application. International students are eligible for need-based aid. Cost is higher for non-online program years.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Applications require an online form, an activities list, two short essays and two short responses, a school transcript, two recommenders (who need to complete the YYGS form rather than a separate letter), and a $75 application fee.
Deadlines: Applications open in September. Early action applications are due in early November, regular decision applications are due in January. Early applicants are notified in December, regular applicants are notified in March. Applications are read and reviewed on a rolling basis, but admissions decisions are not made until all applications from a cycle are read.
What: A program for students interested in journalism from low-income backgrounds. Students attend workshops and lectures from industry figures and faculty, and publish the Princeton Summer Journal collaboratively.
When: 10 days in the summer.
Where: Princeton’s campus, Princeton, New Jersey. Housing is provided in years when the program is in person.
Age Requirements: Up to 40 students from around the country are accepted each year. Students must be current Juniors to apply, with an unweighted GPA of 3.5, with an interest in journalism and demonstrated financial need. Students in freshman and sophomore year can sign up to receive notifications when applications open their junior year.
Cost: Free. The program provides for travel, lodging, and meals for the duration of the program.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. The application occurs over three rounds. The first requires an online application and three essay questions, and assesses students’ eligibility for the program. The second round requires verification of information submitted in the first round, including an official high school transcript. They also request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, a school report from a counselor, and clips from any high school publications you have participated in. The third round of the application consists of phone interviews.
Deadlines: The first round of applications is due February 28. You must have the first round application in by then to be considered in later rounds.
What: Hosted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, SJI brings together top performing high school students to learn about print and digital journalism through workshops and hands-on experiences.
When: 2 weeks in the summer.
Where: Arizona State University’s campus, Tempe Phoenix, Arizona. Housing is provided by the program.
Age Requirements: High school students who are interested in journalism, from around the state and country.
Cost: Free. Tuition, food, and housing are provided. Students must provide their own transportation to the institute, and are encouraged to bring money for incidentals.
Selectivity: The program is very selective. Students must apply online.
Deadlines: Applications open in March and are due by April 8th.
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