High School Students: Programs to Maximize your Summer
After a long school year, summer is what most high school students await with anticipation. For many, those three months are an opportunity to spend time with friends, practice hobbies, work, or take a break from the stressful school year. However, for many, summer is also an excellent time to prepare for college, strengthen their applications with activities and programs, and dive deeper into their fields of interest.
There are hundreds of summer programs available for high school students, making it difficult to decide which to choose. This blog post is designed to help competitive high school students choose the best summer program for their interests. Many of these are highly selective
AI Scholars Program
“AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) artificial intelligence bootcamp that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project.”
Our top pick is for students who are interested in delving into the field of Artificial Intelligence and fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by a team of graduate students from Stanford & MIT students receive an unparalleled experience with personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
The AI Scholars Programs also offers sessions in the winter and spring so it is not only limited to a summer program. The program inspires collaborative learning through personalized instruction, and it is a top choice for students with different levels of AI experience to delve further into the field.
More information on the program can be found at the Inspirit Website.
Summer Programs with Scholarships
One of the first things to consider when applying for a summer program is the cost. For many students and families, money can be a barrier to attending a summer program. Many programs recognize this and offer generous or sometimes fully paid scholarships, making it financially easier for families to fund their student’s summer programs.
That being said, summer programs with scholarships are more competitive with a larger pool of applicants. Because of this, it is important to build a strong application and submit it as soon as you can. Many programs offer priority deadlines, and if you are serious about the program, it is recommended to submit to those rather than the regular deadlines.
U.S Youth Ambassadors Program
This program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is open for both international students and U.S. citizens.
“The U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program is a 3-week leadership exchange abroad for U.S. teenagers ages 15-17 and adult educators. The program provides full scholarships for 106 students and adult educators to take part in one of six exchange programs to countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America.” (World Learning)
This program offers six unique exchange opportunities, each covering a theme relating to leadership and community service. The current programs and themes associated with them are:
Belize: Youth Leadership & Environmental Stewardship (English)
Brazil: Social Impact and Entrepreneurship (English)
Chile: Multiculturalism & Civic Activism (Spanish Immersion)
Costa Rica: Youth Leadership & Environmental Stewardship (Spanish Immersion)
Ecuador: Interculturalism & Global Citizenship (Spanish Immersion)
Teens eligible for this program must be high school students between 15 and 17 years old at the start of the exchange, have at least one semester of school remaining after program participation, and be residing U.S citizens. In addition to these requirements, the program looks for motivated and driven students who demonstrate leadership aptitude and an interest in community service and in the program theme.
More information on the program can be found here.
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS), sponsored and hosted by Penn State University, is an amazing program for high school students interested in pursuing a career and education in business. This program is both an excellent summer activity for students interested in pursuing business in the future, but it can be a strong component of a student’s college application as well.
“BOSS is a two-week, residential program, for residents of the U.S. and Puerto Rico, held on Penn State's University Park campus for high school juniors interested in pursuing a business education in college.” (BOSS)
Students who demonstrate adequate financial need can have all expenses covered, including travel fees. The application and further information can be found here.
Interlochen Summer Arts Camp
Located in the full beauty of northern Michigan, Interlochen is one of the most prestigious summer camps that offers an unmatched experience for creative teens in nearly every art-related field imaginable.
The camp does offer need-based financial aid for most of their programs, more information on that can be found here. Additionally, the program also offers merit-based scholarships, however, they are highly selective
Interlochen Arts camp is described as a beautiful experience for creatives, and for those interested it is definitely worth a shot. Interlochen campers are provided with cabins and dining, making it not only a strong activity for those interested in pursuing art as a career, but also offering a memorable experience.
More information can be found at the Interlochen Arts Camp website.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
