We’ve written before, quite frequently even, about great summer programs for all kinds of students and interests. One thing that stands out though, is that most of these programs only take students of certain ages or grades. Indeed, a lot of summer programs don’t accept anyone younger than 16, or who aren’t already in their junior or senior year of high school.
There are some practical reasons for this. Residential programs may be wary of taking in and assuming responsibility for younger students. Other programs need students to have academic preparation that you only get later on in high school.
Still, there are great summer program options out there, even if you are younger than 16, or are just a freshman in high school. We’re going to look at a sampling of them in this article. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but a taste of what’s out there. Let’s get started!
Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
Hosted by Michigan State University, this is a free week-long in person program run by the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Faculty, staff, and students lead lectures and discussions on the specifics of atomic nuclei, and on the connections of this small field to the broader domains of cosmology and astrophysics.
This program introduces students to nuclear physics, and is a rare chance to get in person experience with this field at the highschool level. It is open for applications to all current high school students. Room and board is provided free of charge if it is needed.
Only high school students in the United States are eligible to apply; no international students are accepted. You must apply online by completing a pre-application, then the application, and finally by submitting two letters of recommendation. The application opens in December, and is due by March 25.
Northwestern College Prep
These are a range of two-week seminar courses offered by Northwestern University, and taught by their faculty. There are in-person and online seminars offered. Courses for credit are also offered, but these are only open to juniors and seniors, so we won’t go into those in this article.
There are multiple sessions offered for in person courses, each with different classes; there is only one online session. The online program costs $1,850, the in person costs $3,350 for commuter students, or $4,650 for students who will be living on campus.
You must be at least 14 years old, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, and have completed at least one year of high school to be eligible for the program. Both domestic and international students are eligible. The application is due by April 1, and requires a personal statement, a list of your extracurriculars, and a high school transcript. The personal statement is the answer to the following two questions in around 500 words total:
- Describe your most rewarding recent academic project or academic experience.
- Explain your interest in the specific program(s) you have selected, and what you hope to gain from participating in the program this summer. Students will be evaluated on the quality of their writing, as well as thoughtfulness and originality.
Tufts College Experience
Hosted and run by Tufts University, this program allows high school students to take actual Tufts undergraduate courses, as taught by faculty and staff in a range of subjects. This is a six week residential program, with students residing in dorms on Tufts’ campus. There are additional filed trips and college readiness seminars as part of the program.
Students must be currently in high school to apply, and must be at least 15 by the start date of the program. Applications open in December, and are due by May 1. These require an academic transcript, a letter of recommendation, parental permission, and course selection. The program costs $11,250 for residential students, or $8,000 for virtual attendees.
UChicago Summer Online
These are five week virtual courses offered by UChicago, open to high school students anywhere in the world. The courses are taught at the undergraduate level by faculty and staff, and parallel the courses offered to UChicago students. All courses are entirely virtual, there is no hybrid or in person option for this program, and participants cannot stay on UChicago’s campus.
Classes are synchronous, and take place for two hours per day, Monday through Friday. You may select whichever course you wish to participate in, but note that some courses have prerequisites, such as knowledge of specific coding languages or familiarity with calculus.
The cost for this program is $4,790. You may apply to this program online. This requires a personal profile, a transcript, optional standardized test scores, two essays, a writing sample, and a letter of recommendation. These are the essay prompts:
- Why did you choose the particular program/courses for which you have applied? How are they related to your current interests and future plans? Please be as specific as possible, and make sure your response covers each of the courses you elected. (Limit: 500 words)
- Describe your most rewarding academic project or academic experience. (Limit: 250 words).
Applications open in December, the priority deadline is January 18, the regular deadline is March 5.
Stones and Bones
This program is run in tandem by the University of Chicago and the Chicago Field Museum. Students participate in an active paleontological expedition in Wyoming, and then return to Chicago to learn about preservation techniques behind the scenes in the Field Museum. This is a four week course, with the first and last week spent in Chicago, and the middle spent camping in Wyoming.
Note that this is actual field work, and requires camping in Wyoming, and significant amounts of physical exertion outside in the summer, regardless of weather or temperature. This can be a lot of fun, but be sure this appeals to you before applying.
This program costs $14,000, which covers instruction, room and board both in the field and in Chicago, and transport between Chicago and Wyoming. This program is open to current sophomores and juniors who are at least 14 years old. Only 15 students participate in this program each year. The application is the same as for the UChicago program above, but also requires an answer to the following prompt:
- Students work together with Field Museum scientists to set up camp, prepare group meals, and collect fossil specimens in rugged conditions. Although students are not expected to have camped before, they must be able to adapt and work well with others. With this in mind, please describe a situation when you have demonstrated resilience and adaptability in a collaborative, group setting, whether with peers, family members, community members, or others (max 250 words).
Barnard’s Young Women’s Leadership Summer Institute
Hosted and run by Barnard, an all women liberal arts college associated with Columbia, this is a three week summer program for young women which examines the intersection between gender and leadership. Two sessions are offered, both covering the same topics and discussions.
Students choose one of four tracks to take, and then take courses and attend discussions based on their track. They work in small groups to create a final project applying what they have learned. This is either a residential or commuter program, but courses are in person in either case.
This program costs $7,772 for commuter students, or $9,687 for residential students. You must be at least 14 and a current freshman or above in high school to apply. The application requires an online form, an unofficial transcript, a list of your extracurriculars, recommendations, and a statement of purpose. Applications open December 1, and are due by April 15. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
WUSTL Gateway to Business
Run by Washington University’s Olin College of Business, this is a hybrid course which serves to introduce students to business, and help them explore various fields within it. The program consists of three virtual meetings, and a weeklong in person course on WUSTL’s campus.
You must be a US resident, and currently in high school to apply to this program. The program costs $4,850, which covers room, board, and tuition. The application requires a transcript, a letter of recommendation, and a resume. The application opens January 15, and is due by March 10.
Final Thoughts
There are many great ways to spend your summer, this article serves as a sampling of some programs students we have worked with have enjoyed, to give you a taste of what’s out there. This is not a comprehensive list; there are far more summer programs out there than can fit into a single article.
Of course, finding exactly the right summer program for your needs can be a tricky process, and then applying to the most competitive programs is yet another hurdle. If you are looking for advice on pursuing your own passions, or want help keeping your applications on track, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long history helping students find their passions, and we’re always happy to hear from you.
