SUMMER PROGRAMS
SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Summer programs for high school students, particularly pre-college summer programs located on college campuses, have greatly proliferated in numbers over the past few decades to the point where there are now hundreds of programs to choose from.
Many others promise to meld the best of a (safe and supervised!) teenage summer with opportunities that can challenge your child and add texture to their Common App essay and other essays.
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The School District of Palm Beach County
Who: current high school juniors and seniors, 16 years of age and older, and recent School District of Palm Beach County graduates attending undergraduate programs at a college or university, with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a wide variety of fields. Paid internship
What: Various positions available
Application: Applications open Mid-March. Apply here
Kenan Fellows High School Summer Internship
Who: current 10th & 11th grade students in Palm Beach and Martin Counties
When: June 5 - August 4, 2023
Where: The first week of training takes place in the biotechnology classrooms at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After that, the program will be at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute campus in Jupiter, Florida.
What: Full-time, paid opportunity ($4,480). Students conduct basic biomedical research in a laboratory under the supervision of a UF Scripps scientist. The program emphasizes the scientific process, research planning, bench experience, experimental design, data analysis and interaction with laboratory personnel. Kenan fellows also attend scientific seminars that introduce them to a wide array of research topics.
Application: Deadline to apply is March 17, 2024
Palm Beach County Student Internships
Who: High school student 16+ years old
When: varies by position
Where: varies by internship listing
What: about $15.00 per hour
Apply on the website
pros
Your child may get the chance to study a subject and/or get hands-on experience beyond what their high school offers.
Your child will be able to get a firsthand feel for what college life is like, which may make transitioning to college easier when the time comes.
Your child will get exposure to a specific campus and type of environment, which will help them make an informed decision about what kind of school they could best succeed at (e.g., an urban setting vs. a rural one, or a large research university vs. a small liberal arts college).
Your child might be able to earn college credit or use a course to place into a higher level in college or high school.
Your child might develop a relationship with an instructor who would be willing to write them a letter of recommendation for college.
Your child will be able to meet and befriend like-minded peers.
CONS
Pre-college summer programs are frequently very expensive. For example, Yale’s Young Global Scholars program typically charges $6,500 for two weeks.
The selectivity, prestige, and academic rigor of programs can vary quite a bit and don’t always correspond to the academic reputation of the host college.
Most summer programs are nothing more than “cash cows” and will accept any high school student able to pay the bill. Participation in these summer programs will be viewed by your prospective colleges as evidence of wealth, rather than evidence of any special ability—even if these programs happen to be offered on an Ivy League campus. As such, they do NOTHING to improve your admission prospects.
SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
The following is a list of potential summer programs for high school students. Please note, College Map Mentor does not endorse any of the below for-profit businesses and this a basic list of opportunities that are available.
College/Universities
Boston University (residential or commuter)
Carnegie Mellon – Summer Academy for Math + Science (SAMS)
Grant funded, merit-based program
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Current junior/rising seniors onlyCarnegie Mellon - AI Scholars
Grant funded, merit-based program
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Current sophomore/rising juniors only
Grant funded, merit-based program
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Current sophomore/rising juniors only
FAU - Climate Ready Ambassadors
Deadline: March 15, 2024
Palm Beach County students only
10-12th grade studentsFAU - Criminal Justice Day Camp
Deadline: March 15, 2024
9-12 grade studentsFAU - H2O Connections
Deadline: March 15, 2024
9-12th grade studentsHampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSIM)
June 30-August 10Michigan State University – High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP)
Deadline: March 1, 2024
Current junior/rising seniors onlyMontreat College - Compass Summer Experience
$795 until 4/1/24 (Early registration)Princeton University – Summer Journalism Program
Deadline: February 27, 2024Stanford University - Institutes of Medicine - Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Deadline: February 24, 2024
Current 11th or 12th/Rising 12th or college freshmenUniversity of Iowa – Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)
University of Miami - 3 week college program (various categories)
Deadline: March 1University of Notre Dame – Summer Scholars, & Summer Scholars online
University of Pennsylvania/Wharton – Leadership in the Business World
Military-based Summer Programs
U.S. Air Force Academy – Summer Seminar
Deadline: January 15, 2024U.S. Coast Guard Academy – Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)
U.S. Military Academy – Summer Leaders Experience
Current junior/rising seniors onlyU.S. Naval Academy – Summer Seminar
Deadline: April 14, 2024
Current junior/rising seniors only
Other Summer Programs
AIM-High (Achieve in Medicine) at Nova Southeastern
Five-day medical school immersion summer camp exclusively for high school students
Tuition: $1600
Deadline: May 1, 2024Foundation for Teaching Economics – Economics for Leaders (EFL)
LaunchX - online program
Sawgrass Nature Center Docent Program (Coral Springs, FL)
Cost = $100 (limited scholarships are available)
Deadline: May 12, 2023