Engineering is a popular field, and for good reason. The career opportunities for engineers are varied, in high demand, and pay quite well. This in turn increases the number of students who want to study engineering, and the pressure for students applying to engineering programs to stand out from their peers.
One of the best ways to make yourself stand out in a crowded field is with top summer programs, ones which provide you with practical experience in engineering. After all, the best way to prove you are capable of doing something in the future is to do it now. In this article, we’ll review some of these opportunities, and explore how you can get involved with engineering while still in high school. Let’s get started!
Michigan State University’s High School Honors Science, Math, and Engineering Summer Program (HSHSP)
This is a seven week research summer program held on MSU’s campus. Students are invited to work on hands-on research under the guidance of faculty, staff, and graduate students while experiencing what life is like on a college campus. Research is the main focus of the program, and students will have the opportunity to work on their own research projects as part of it. Many of these projects are entered in science fairs or submitted for publication, and tend to do quite well at both, though this is not the primary point of the program.
Current high school juniors residing in the US are eligible to apply for the program. Applications must be submitted online, and are due on March 1st, though later applications may be accepted if there is room in the program. We recommend making sure your application is in by the deadline however. The application requires a transcript, standardized test scores, two letters of recommendation from teachers (one of whom must be a science teacher), and two essays. These are the prompts:
- A personal essay of 400-600 words. The essay must be neat and should address your interests in scientific research and in attending the HSHSP; what do you think you can contribute and any other significant related events in your life that you feel would be helpful to the Director in evaluating your application. I do not want to receive an essay that details your lifetime awards and honors, but rather an honest and compelling story about why you want to spend 7 weeks of your summer away from family and friends, doing full-time research, and why your participation would make difference in your life. Your personal essay will be typed or copy/pasted into the application.
- A second essay of the same length in which you describe the impact a book you have read has had on your thinking or any aspect of your life. This book can be one assigned in a course or one you chose to read for pleasure. Your second essay will be typed or copy/pasted into the application.
The program costs $4,000, this covers room, board, and instructional costs. There is financial aid available, but you must indicate that you will be applying for this when you apply.
Research in Science and Engineering (RISE)
This six week summer program is run by Boston University, and hosted on its campus. The program has two tracks, both of which are open to residential or commuting students. On the internship track, students spend forty hours a week working on a hands-on research project under the guidance of a faculty member or graduate student. This concludes with a poster symposium where you will present the results of your research.
The other track is the practicum, where students conduct group research under the guidance of a faculty instructor. The practicum is focused on computational biology; so only students interested in that field are encouraged to apply. You will also present the results of your research at the final poster symposium. The total cost for either track is $8,558; there is limited financial aid available.
Only current juniors are eligible to apply to the program. Applications to the program open December 15, and must be submitted online. The application requires the online form, two recommendation letters (one from a science teacher, one from a counselor or teacher who knows you well), your high school transcript, and your standardized test scores. There are three essays required, the prompts are:
- Why you selected your subject of interest (300 words)
- Your academic achievements (250 words)
- Why you want to attend the RISE program (200 words)
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
This is a four week summer program hosted by MIT, which is offered both virtually and on MIT’s campus (though some courses are only offered in person). The program is the culmination of a much larger engineering experience offered by MIT, and students are encouraged to participate in the entire thing. The program is free, and supported by sponsors. That said, housing is not provided, and students are responsible for securing their own accommodations and transportation to MIT’s campus.
You must first be nominated to take an online course offered by MIT; this begins in February and runs through June. Students who perform well enough in this course are then invited to apply to the program itself; these applications open March 1 and are due by March 31. Students must complete the online course by June in order to begin the summer program.
Minority Introduction to Engineering and Sciences (MITES)
This program is run by MIT, and has the explicit goal of introducing members of underrepresented communities to engineering and the sciences. The program lasts for six weeks, and is hosted on MIT’s campus. It is free for participants. Students take five rigorous courses, tour labs, complete hands-on projects, and receive college counseling. The program’s goal is to promote equity in and access to STEM for these communities.
The program is highly selective, and only US citizens or permanent residents who are currently high school juniors are eligible to apply. Applications are submitted online, and require the application form, optional standardized test scores, three letters of recommendation (1 math or science teacher, 1 humanities teacher, and a counselor), and five short answer essays. These are the prompts:
- Share with us how aspects of your identity (e.g., race, culture, first-generation college student status, gender, etc.) shape your aspirations.
- What are you passionate about? How have you spent time developing this passion?
- What do you hope to gain from participating in the MITES Semester/Summer program? If selected, how would you contribute to the MITES Semester/Summer community?
- Tell us of a time you experienced a significant challenge in your life. What did you do and what did you learn?
- The STEM field uses science, technology, engineering, and/or math to understand more about the world around us and to solve problems. If you could develop, invent, or innovate anything to change the world for the better using STEM, what would it be and why?
- (OPTIONAL): If you could meet us in person, what would you share with us about you that isn’t already in the application?
In the application, they look for students with a demonstrated interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. Students who are eager to explore those fields, and who have shown the intellectual capacity and curiosity to do so if given the chance. The application is open to all, but they encourage applications from underserved and underrepresented populations.
Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP)
This program has two two-week sessions, and is meant for high achieving high school students interested in science and engineering. Hosted on Smith College’s campus, students take research courses, where they work alongside their peers and Smith faculty to learn about and conduct research on a specific topic. The courses offered change each year.
Smith College is a women-only institution, and these programs are only open to high school girls; those entering grades 9-12. This program is meant for students who have shown clear interest in and aptitude for the sciences. Applications open December 15, and are due February 5 for the priority application deadline. Applications may be submitted online, and require a letter of recommendation from a teacher, an official transcript, and a response to one of the two following prompts:
- Tell us about the experience, event, book, movie, person, place, etc. that initially sparked your interest in science. What was it about this event, person, etc. that inspired you?
- Tell us why you want to attend an intensive program in your chosen field at Smith College?
The program costs $4,630 per two week session, which includes tuition and room and board on Smith’s campus. Financial aid is available, and may be applied for through the program’s application.
Tufts Engineering Design Lab
This is a two week summer program run and hosted by Tufts University which allows students to work with Tufts faculty in their engineering lab. Students will take classes and work with design and fabrication equipment to complete a hands-on project. Students work in small groups on their projects, which are focused on solving real world problems.
The program accepts applications from current high school students. You will have the option to live in dorms on Tufts’ campus, or commute in if you live locally. Students living in dorms must be at least 15 by the start of the program, and no older than 17 by the program end date. The application opens December 1, and is due in March. The application must be submitted online. The application requires one letter of recommendation, and an official high school transcript. There are two sessions of the program offered each summer.
The program costs $4,000 for commuter students, and $5,500 for residential students, with an additional $200 materials fee. There is limited need based financial aid available. The program does require students be vaccinated, and have evidence of such.
Final Thoughts
Engineering is a popular and competitive field, and as ever more ways to get involved in high school appear, the more colleges expect students who are interested in engineering to have demonstrated their passions. While this list of opportunities is not exhaustive, we hope it has given you a sense of what options are out there, and how you can explore your passion for engineering right now.
Finding the right summer program to explore your passions can be a challenge, as can applying to these programs, and writing the requisite essays. Our candidacy building service helps students connect with their passions, and explore them in depth. If you want to hear how we can help you, schedule a free consultation today. We’ve helped thousands of students achieve their dreams, and are always happy to hear from you.
