Summer Academic Enrichment

Colleges may offer online courses to help students ages 13 and older discover their passions before college and explore future majors or careers. Search your desired college and research if they offer "precollege programs." This list is not exclusive of all institutions offering such programs. 

• Georgetown University 

• University of Rochester 

• Wake Forest University

• Illinois Tech

• UMass Amherst

• Rice University

• Oklahoma State University

Coursera is an American massive open online course provider founded in 2012.. Coursera works with universities and other organizations to offer online courses, certifications, and degrees in a variety of subjects. In 2021 it was estimated that about 150 universities offered more 4,000 courses through Coursera, many are free for students. 

edX is an American massive open online course (MOOC) provider. It hosts online university-level courses in a wide range of disciplines to a worldwide student body, including some courses at no charge.

Open Learn - The Open University is named "open" because it has been a pioneer in distance/online education for over 50 years; however, The OU's courses are not free. Their is a cost to a degree from The Open University. OpenLearn courses are free, which is part of The Open University, but OpenLearn only makes up about 5% of the courses that The OU has to offer. 

Class Central - you can search specifically for courses that will give you free certificates, and it has every course you can think of. 

Google Digital Garage: Google has a wide range of free courses and resources to learn many things such as digital marketing, coding, etc.  

Khan Academy - Use this website to learn new skills, such as coding, computer science, etc. It has a ton of free materials!

Udemy - many people know Udemy as a website only with paid courses, but it also has a ton of great value with free courses. 

Academic Earth - Probably the most straightforward website - very easy to understand, you have a lot of great courses, and they're all free. 

Summer programs offer valuable opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones, develop new skills, and meet like-minded peers, all of which contribute to personal growth and leadership development. However, these programs should primarily be considered for the merit of the experience itself, not as a way to gain a significant advantage in college admissions. While they can showcase a student’s dedication and interests, they are rarely determinative in the admissions process. The key is to view the program as a chance for self-improvement, not as a college application strategy.   

Teen Life - Click to explore the many options for high school students to enhance their summer experiences!

IACAC Summer Program Directory-  Please click the link to browse or search for a precollege program. A pre-college program is an educational opportunity that usually takes place in the summer and offers high-school students the chance to take classes at a college or university. This helps students get a general idea of how their life would be if they attended the respective institution after graduating high school. Go to a college/university and search for "precollege program."  

Inspirit AI  Artificial Intelligence Education Initiative is a K12 AI enrichment program attended by students from 2000+ leading schools worldwide that teaches high school and middle school students fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project in a domain such as healthcare, arts, finance, and more. Our team of Stanford, MIT and Harvard alumni provide a small-group, interdisciplinary learning experience and we're excited to offer new Generative AI and ChatGPT focused content this year! Students may apply here for our Spring and Summer 2024 programs. 

RSI (Research Summer Institute): Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research. Participants experience the entire research cycle from start to finish. They read the most current literature in their field, draft and execute a detailed research plan, and deliver conference-style oral and written reports on their findings.

ISEF Science Competitions: Each year, nearly 1,900 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study. Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the most promising scientists among the nation’s high school seniors. 

FermiLab - Target Program: The TARGET Program is a highly competitive six-week summer internship opportunity for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors who have a strong interest and demonstrated an aptitude for physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The program’s design combines both work and experiential learning.TARGET encourages high school students to undertake college study and pursue careers in STEM disciplines. Increasing the number of minorities (Black, Hispanic/Latino, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Alaska Native/American Indian) and women in science, engineering, and computer science is a program priority.

Fermilab QuarkNet Summer Research Program - QuarkNet offers summer research opportunities in science and technology for students who have demonstrated a strong interest in and aptitude for science and mathematics. Students work with scientists for seven weeks on projects related to the Fermilab research program.

Interns are encouraged to express preferences for areas of research in which they have a particular interest, although research projects vary yearly, based on the availability of projects ongoing at the lab. Projects will  be a subset of the research areas which constitute the mission of Fermilab, and are described in the lab webpage.

NASA Stem Gateway Internships - Visit intern.nasa.gov for more information on the NASA Internship Program

Illinois Space Grant Consortium  - The Illinois Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) will award scholarships to outstanding students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) disciplines that support NASA’s mission. 

Free online tutoring, with peers: 1.  Learn from–and with–your peers across the globe. Choose between a one-time session or a series of sessions with the same tutor.  2.  Test your skills and prove your mastery of Khan Academy math units through our certification program–and get a transcript to show it!  3. Join their free tutoring community of over 400 volunteer tutors to build confidence, teach what you know, and give back to learners who need help. Learn more  https://schoolhouse.world/  or become a certified tutor: https://schoolhouse.world/certification/about

The Anti-Cruelty Society  accepts applications for their Veterinary Mentoring Program.  Hosted in partnership with University of Illinois, this unique teen opportunity allows participants to explore the many career paths associated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine through monthly seminars led by professors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. For any students who are considering this career, our Vet Mentoring Program is a great way to glean a deeper understanding of the field, as well as what schooling and requirements are needed to make it happen! Additional details can be found on our website at: https://anticruelty.org/veterinary-mentoring-program. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please visit at www.anticruelty.org/teens.  

Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare (from Northwestern University)

This free nine-week course aims to help high school students, recent graduates, and those considering career transitions explore health care career options and learn strategies for entry into the health care workforce and health related fields.This course will introduce you to healthcare professions, help you map a path towards a health career, and impart skills relevant for any career, including: articulating your personal story, resume and cover letter writing, job search, interviewing, professional networking, and professional communications. The course features more than 50 different guests and lecturers, including Northwestern University faculty from Feinberg School of Medicine; the Kellogg School of Management; the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; the School of Professional Studies; Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; and the School of Communication.

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory -High School Semester-Long Internship / High School Summer Internship - PPPL internships for fall, spring or summer are available for highly motivated high school students!  

Volunteer & Internship Opportunities with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Illinois region is searching for high school students to volunteer and alumni or graduating seniors at least 18+ years old to intern. Please see the info below and contact LLS directly for more information or to get involved.

Girlcon - GirlCon is an international tech conference (for students, by students), aiming to empower the next generation of leaders. The annual event features breakout, professional development, and keynote sessions from numerous companies and backgrounds, giving attendees the opportunity to learn and make connections. We focus on how technology is a huge factor in EVERY career field, whether it be science, fashion, or anything that students are passionate about. The lack of diversity in STEM is an issue that everyone on the GirlCon team strives to fix. Our attendees will have a chance to personally connect with companies from countless career paths and gain mentorship from women in both college and the workforce.  Visit website→ girlcon.org for more specific information on the sessions and their bios!