*Updated for Summer 2022*
The winter months are an excellent time to apply to summer opportunities, including internships, jobs, and summer programs. Application deadlines are often early in the calendar year and students will need a fair amount of time to prepare their materials. High schoolers should utilize any time off to research these opportunities and ensure that they’re ready and that they’re applying to roles that suit them.
Upon beginning your research, you may quickly realize that there are a dozen or so institutes and programs that stand above the rest. These are lauded as the most prestigious. Most are notoriously difficult to get into but are incredibly rewarding for the students that make it past the admissions process. We mentioned some options in our science research blog, including RSI and UCSC SIP, as well as the college-affiliated programs at Stanford, Princeton, and the University of Washington. Here are a few additional programs designed to help talented high school students have an engaging and enriching summer
For the summer of 2022, some are held virtually (with lower tuition), but many are being held on campuses. As things are still in flux, do check the website for most up to date information.
1) Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASP)
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, University of Michigan
Length: 6 weeks
Age Group/Year: Juniors
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: January 5, 2022
Previously TASP, the TASS program has gone through a significant change this year. Designed for the intellectually curious, TASS continues to be the most prestigious program for aspiring writers. Starting summer of 2022, TASS offers two different six week experiences: the TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) and the TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies). TASS offers no grades or college credit, which encourages students to focus on their work for personal enrichment instead of for a reward.
2) Stanford National Forensic Institute
Location: Stanford University, California
Length: 1-3 weeks
Age Group/Year: For grades 7-8 and 9-12
Cost: Unannounced for 2022, $750-$4,500 in 2021
Application Deadline: May 20, 2022
Middle and high school students have studied with the Stanford Debate Society at Stanford University since 1990. Programs at the SNFI range from public speaking to parliamentary debate, policy, and congressional debate.
3) Program in Mathematics for Young Student (PROMYS)
Location: Boston University
Length: 6 weeks
Age Group/Year: 15-19
Cost: $5,000
Application Deadline: TBA
For students that are particularly talented in mathematics, PROMYS is an established program where attendees are supported by a mixture of counselors, research mathematicians, and research scientists.
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Length: 2 weeks
Age Group/Year: Rising Juniors, Seniors
Cost: $3,950
Application Deadline: February 21, 2022
Notre Dame is meant to function as an academic and social peek into the future. Students can pick courses from 22 fields of study, earning college credit and having a taste of the university classroom all while being surrounded by like-minded peers.
Location: Interlochen, Michigan
Length: 1-6 weeks
Age Group/Year: Grades 3-12
Cost: $1,675 - 9,950 (1-6 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 15th or Rolling
With classes in creative writing, dance, music, visual arts, motion picture art, theatre art, and more, Interlochen is a well-established and highly competitive program geared towards students with talents in the fine arts and humanities.
Location: New Mexico Tech, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Purdue Univ., Indiana Univ. Length: 39 days
Age Group/Year: Rising seniors
Cost: Partially funded
Application Deadline: Feb 25th, 2022
SSP is seen as more of an immersive experience than a camp. Participants spend their time doing rather than watching, working to complete a research project in teams of three. There are also guest lectures and field trips.
Location: Otis College; California
Length: 5-day to 2-day weekly programs
Age Group/Year: 15+ years
Cost: $1,500-$3,850 (based on 2, 3 or 5 days per week)
Application Deadline: Registration Open, rolling
Located at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, this immersive course is meant to provide young students with the opportunity to study their art comprehensively. Students are encouraged to enroll in the 5-day module in order to truly optimize on their experience.
8) The Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)
Location: South Amherst, MA
Length: 6 weeks
Age Group/Year: N/A
Cost: $4,913
Application Deadline: TBA
This program offers college-level mathematics for motivated students. The daily schedule includes morning classes, a pre-dinner Prime Time Theorem, and evening sessions. The course catalog includes "unusual" options, like "Really Really Really Really Big Things" and "Telepathy."
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Length: 3 week
Age Group/Year: Rising Seniors
Cost: $8,999-9,000
Application Deadline: March 1
The Leadership in the Business World and the Management & Technology Summer Institute are two programs within the Global Youth Summer Program at the Wharton School of Business. These programs at UPenn engage students in the world of business, leadership, technology and entrepreneurship. Participants will receive hands-on experience and learn from top executives and instructors while attending events and classes on campus.
10) Research in Science & Engineering
Location: Boston University
Length: 6 weeks
Age Group/Year: Rising Seniors
Cost: $4,900 plus Room & Board TBD
Application Deadline: Feb 14, 2022
RISE participants take either the "internship" or the "practicum" track, which allows them to either tackle a research project under the direction of a mentor or to conduct group research in a university setting under the guidance of a BU instructor.
Location: Texas Tech University
Length: 7 weeks
Age Group/Year: At least 17 by camp
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 16, 2022
While many programs of note focus on specific areas of study, Clark includes a multitude of subjects. Participants spend the summer working one-on-one with a faculty member, gaining valuable research experience. Only about a dozen students are accepted.
12) Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Stanford University
Length: 4 weeks
Age Group/Year: Currently in grades 10 or 11
Cost: $3,250
Application Deadline: March 15, 2022
Either of SUMaC’s tracks (Program I or Program II) are great opportunities for students interested in advanced mathematics. Participants engage in lectures, guided research, group problem solving, and other activities that culminate in a research project.
13) High School Honors Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Program
Location: Michigan State University
Length: Not offered in 2021, 2022 status TBD, 7 weeks
Age Group/Year: Rising Seniors
Cost: $3,800 (in 2020)
Application Deadline: TBD
Students that excel in the fields of math or science will find a cohort of similarly driven young students at this residential program. Though it is a noncredit enrichment program, students can still gain valuable experience at one of the top 50 research institutions in the US.
Location: Various
Length: 1 week
Age Group/Year: Rising Juniors and Seniors
Cost: $2,000
Application Deadline: February 9, March 16, April 13, 2022
This small, highly-selective program is led by economics professors/leaders on college campuses across the country, including Michigan, Yale, and UC Berkeley. Participants engage in the "economic way of thinking" through discussions, activities, and interactive sessions.
Below are links to additional renowned programs that are recommended for the highly motivated and intellectually curious students.
STEM
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
Garcia Scholars at Stony Brook University
MDI Biological Laboratory Summer Research Fellowship
Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) at University of Iowa)
Simons Summer Research Program
Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Programs
SOCIAL SCIENCES, POLITICS, & ADVOCACY
American Legion’s Girls and Boys State
WRITING & JOURNALISM
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Cronkite Summer Journalism Institute (SJI)
LANGUAGE, TRAVEL, VOLUNTEER
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
Student Conservation Association National Crews
The important thing is to find a program that will benefit your student. These may be the most well-known or celebrated programs, but they’re not necessarily the right fit for everyone. In choosing a program, students should focus on meeting their personal needs and curiosities. This may mean reading a lot of brochures and flipping through countless course catalogs before settling on a program. Encourage your child to take time to really research the options and to apply to programs they’d be enthusiastic to attend.
For a more detailed list of opportunities, check out our Opportunity Guide. It is a comprehensive listing of pre-college enrichment programs. The Guide details the vast array of US-based academic and extracurricular programs that provide opportunities for students to explore and pursue their interests and passions. It is not simply a copy-and-paste job from Google; we took care to curate our Guide, including programs that come highly recommended by our Parent Advisors.
If you would like to suggest programs to add to this list, or to our Opportunity Guide, please email us at info@askversed.com.
If you are interested in speaking with one of our Advisors about summer opportunities or any of the programs listed above, you can schedule a free consultation here.
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Meaningful summer activities that enhance college application
High School Extracurriculars Simplified
STEM Research Guide for High School Students
This is the Bible of STEM research for High School students. In one comprehensive document, we provide students with detailed guidance on why, when, and how to conduct research. Includes over 800 listings of Research, Internship, Pre-College, Summer, School Year, Enrichment, and Volunteer Programs. Designed for High School and Middle School students looking ahead, this guide includes top programs in every category including Biology & Health Science, Computer Science, Engineering & Robotics, Physics & Astronomy, Math and more.
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