Summer Programs for High School Students that Increase Academic Rigor
Whether you’re applying to college, working on a research project, or trying to score an internship, summer programs can provide you with valuable experiences, in-depth education, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to better your skills and help you find your passions under the guidance of professionals. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 summer programs for high school students worldwide with varying prices, age ranges, and interests.
**Please note that a majority of these programs require that students speak English with moderate fluency.
Research Science Institute (RSI)
Ranging from fields like math to biology, those who participate in this prestigious summer program have the opportunity to conduct world-class research in their desired area of study. Each student is matched with a math graduate with similar interests who will guide the student through their chosen research project. By the end, each student will have completed a research paper and research project that can be submitted to various science fairs.
Field(s): STEM
Criteria: Rising High School Seniors
Price: Free
Inspirit AI Scholars
Within the Inspirit AI Scholars program, high school students can explore artificial intelligence and its applications in various fields, from medicine to linguistics to autonomous vehicles. Topics that are taught within the program include linear regression, natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, classification, and neural networks, as well as non-technical information such as the ethics of AI and how to write a successful personal essay for college applications.
In the latter part, students will have the opportunity to select and pursue a project that applies artificial intelligence to their field of interest in order to solve a real-world issue. They will be mentored by graduates of top universities who are experts in their fields.
Field(s): Artificial Intelligence, computer science, and fields with AI applications (medicine, linguistics, etc.)
Criteria: High school students (note that there are also Inspirit AI courses tailored towards middle school students)
Price: $1100 (all prices are in USD unless otherwise stated)
MITES Summer
The MITES Summer program provides high schoolers with the experience of an entire college semester compressed into one summer. Students will take classes in math, science, and any other fields of study that they are passionate about, from linguistics to architecture to machine learning. They will also learn both the real-world impact of their chosen STEM passions and how to apply their knowledge to make the world a better place for all.
At the same time, this summer program lets students explore the MIT campus, understand the firsthand experience of being a student at MIT, receive guidance on how to apply to colleges, and better prepare themselves for a successful STEM career.
Field(s): STEM
Criteria: U.S. citizens/permanent residents who will be rising seniors by the start of the program
Price: Free
Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program
Harvard’s Pre-College Summer School Program is a rigorous two-week summer program for high school students that provides a sneak peek into college life at Harvard University. Students will live on the Harvard University campus for the duration of the program and take 100 non-credit college-level courses alongside their fellow Pre-College Program peers. The Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program is a great way for high school students to find their passions in a pressureless “no grades” environment.
Field(s): Any/all
Criteria: Must be graduating high school and beginning college in 2025 or 2026 (meant for rising juniors and seniors)
Price: Free
LaunchX
This summer program challenges high school students to build their very own businesses with a group of like-minded yet diversely skilled co-founders in their cohort. LaunchX students are supported by their peers and mentors to go through the process of establishing a business, from the identification of an issue to the formation of an idea to eventually the execution.
CEOs, inventors, and other top-level professionals from companies like Connect Space, Human Element, Ecovia, and Genomenon hold guest lectures within LaunchX programs, which, in addition to the classroom learning, mentor meetings, prototyping opportunities, customer feedback, and education on efficient sales strategies, equip students with the experience necessary to successfully run a company.
Field(s): Business, entrepreneurship
Criteria: Must be attending high school when applying
Price: $4,750-$6,650 (online) or $9,970-$10,120 (in-person) (need-based financial aid is available)
Stanford University Logic for All Summer Program
Logic for All is a two-week summer program for high school students offered both in-person and online by Stanford University. Logic within the sphere of computation is emphasized via lectures, team and individual exercises, projects, puzzles, guest speakers, games, and so much more. The newfound knowledge students gain from this program can be applied in various fields like mathematics, science, engineering, business, and law. The award-winning Stanford computer science professor Michael Genesereth and high school teacher Robert Luciano teach this summer program.
With just 24 mentees, each student receives individual attention, so specific needs can therefore be targeted.
Field(s): Math, computer science
Criteria: Currently in grades 9-12 and must have an understanding of symbolic manipulation as well as basic set theory (set notation, union, intersection, complement, etc.) Must have access to a computer/tablet with access to the Internet and a recent version of Safari, Chrome, or Firefox.
Price: $2000 (limited need-based financial aid is available)
Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute (SEI)
The Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute (SEI) is aimed at providing underrepresented students with opportunities within STEM and specifically engineering that they may otherwise lack within a two-week period. Activities and projects as part of this summer program are conducted in a team-based and lab-like research-centric environment. There are various fields to study, such as bioengineering, nanoscience, 3D printing (CAD), robotics, earthquake mitigation, environmental remediation, and computer science.
Field(s): Bioengineering, nanoscience, robotics, disaster relief, environmental science, computer science
Criteria: High school junior/senior from a traditionally underrepresented community
Price: Free (offered both virtually as well as in-person as of 2023)
Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
The Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) is a six-week residential summer program that provides high school students with research opportunities specifically in the field of biomedical engineering, for example identifying novel ways of studying organs, tissues, and cells in the body. By the end of the program, research mentors and assisting graduate/undergraduate students will have taught attendees independent research practices, thinking and analyzing critically, as well as how to follow the scientific method to complete an experiment, ultimately making students experts in their specific interest area.
Field(s): Medicine, biomedical engineering, biology
Criteria: 16 years old by the start of the program (~July 1st)
Price: Free (no housing/transportation is provided)
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is a two-week program at Yale University. There are four choices students can choose from, which focus on science and technology; literature, philosophy, and culture; politics, law, and economics; and solving global challenges. Students choose the program they are interested in and attend lectures and seminars regarding the appropriate subject.
Students will also create a culminating capstone project. This summer program is a great opportunity for high school students to explore the Yale campus while participating in small lectures, learning collaboratively, and meeting many diverse individuals.
Field(s): Science, technology, literature, philosophy, culture, politics, law, economics, global challenges
Criteria: Current high school sophomore or junior who will be 16-18 years old by July 21, 2024, and graduating between 2024-2026 (depending on your region)
Price: $6,500 tuition (need-based financial aid provided)
1:1 AI+X Research Mentorship by Inspirit AI
The Inspirit AI 1:1 AI Research Mentorship is a summer program for high school students, but also a program that can be completed during the school year. Students are paired with research mentors who are also graduates of top-tier universities like Stanford, MIT, and Harvard University. Students can explore any passion project of their choice and receive guidance from these mentors on a one-on-one basis. By the mentorship’s end, students will have written a research paper and completed a novel research project related to the groundbreaking field of artificial intelligence, which can be submitted to prestigious science fairs such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The AI+X Research Mentorship may also serve as a stepping stone to help introduce students to research before they go about pursuing further prestigious opportunities.
Field(s): Computer science, artificial intelligence, and any field you wish to apply AI to
Criteria: Current high school student with Inspirit AI Scholars or equivalent experience
Price: $2400 (10 hours) or $5500 (25 hours)
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.
