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WILL A SUMMER PROGRAM HELP GET ME INTO COLLEGE?
Participating in a program on a specific college campus will not help admission chances at that particular school. Students should be interested in a quality experience and want to explore that area of the country. These programs can help a student explore majors, experience life on a college campus and provide material for their essays. I usually recommend trying to find something local and more economical, but for those that have room in their budgets, check out a few of these college programs:
1. GIRLS WHO CODE SUMMER IMMERSION PROGRAM
In this program, girls entering 11th and 12th grades engage in project-based learning in STEM fields, as well as gain exposure to careers in tech. One perk is that it’s free to attend.
2. JOHN HOPKINS CENTRE FOR TALENTED YOUTH (CTY)
To participate in CTY, a summer program for talented students, you must take a qualifying test, such as the SAT, and score above a certain threshold. There are 25 program sites, including Hopkins, in the U.S. and Hong Kong, where you’ll explore issues related to civic leadership, critical and cultural studies, or global issues. CTY also offers distance learning in particular subjects, a program available at other times of year aside from just summer.
3. NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
You may be nominated by applying based on other merits to attend this program, in which you’ll explore a particular field: business, government, and law, or STEM. You’ll also visit sites related to your field and develop leadership skills.
4. NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE CAMP (NYSC)
Two students per state and Washington, D.C. are invited to attend NYSC, where you’ll participate in STEM-related seminars and excursions led by scientists and other camp staff. This residential program is in West Virginia.
5. SUMMER DISCOVERY
Fourteen college campuses, including UCLA, UPenn, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and Yale participate in the Summer Discovering program. You’ll take courses taught by university faculty in disciplines like business, STEM, leadership, foreign language, writing, and other areas.
6. SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE GIFTED (SIG)
At SIG, you’ll take courses in a wide variety of subjects, along with extracurricular activities. Online courses are available through the program as well. In order to be accepted, you must show evidence of academic aptitude through test scores or recommendations.
7. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Mathematically talented students have the opportunity to learn various math-related concepts at this program. You’ll qualify with standardized test scores. It’s also partially grant-funded for qualifying applicants.
8. THE WHARTON SCHOOL’S LEADERSHIP IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
For students looking to hone leadership and entrepreneurship skills, look no further than Wharton, UPenn’s business school. In this program, high school students take courses taught by Wharton professors and business leaders and participate in company site visits.
9. YOUNG WRITERS’ WORKSHOP (YWW) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Taught by professional writers, budding writers may participate in courses within their speciality, such as fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, and other genres, at YWW. The program is two or three weeks depending on the session.
10. CRONKITE INSTITUTE FOR HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: SUMMER JOURNALISM INSTITUTE
Hosted by Arizona State University in Phoenix, this program hosts student journalists from across the country for two weeks of reporting, social media, web production, shooting and editing video and photos, and producing and directing a student newscast. Many tuition, room, board, and material costs are covered by donors. Students are expected to provide their own transportation and the cost of incidentals. Applications are usually due by mid-March, but the 2019 application is not currently posted (website says “in January”).
11. SUMMERPROGRAMFINDER.COM
Programs for any academic subject or career aspiration.
12. “SELECTIVE” PROGRAMS
Click here to read about “selective” programs (such as National Youth Leadership Forum) your child may be receiving information about in the mail, (“Congratulations! You’ve been nominated to attend….”). They are usually good quality programs, but expensive, and their marketing is a bit deceptive.
13. UNIVERSITY-BASED PROGRAMS WITH TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDIT
There are also some university-based programs that provide attendees with transferable college credit. Some examples:
•https://summer.georgetown.edu/
• https://www.summer.harvard.edu/high-school-programs