Summer/Pre-College Programs

Programs Attended by ISC Students

1. Prepare for College Life

Nervous about starting college? (That’s totally normal, BTW.) Pre-college programs can be a huge help in calming your first-year jitters. Pre-college programs typically require students to live in dorm rooms for the duration of the program, which helps give you a feel for life on campus.

But the acclimation to college life goes beyond dorm living. Pre-college programs also give students a better idea of what to expect in terms of coursework. You can sign up for introductory college-level courses and work out the flaws in your study habits without the pressure of a letter grade. Depending on the program, you may even have the opportunity to earn college credit.

2. Discover Your Passions

Don’t have a specific major or career path in mind yet? NBD. A pre-college program can help you discover your passions and figure out how to choose a career that really drives you.

For instance, maybe you’ve always been interested in art but never knew what to do with it. But after participating in a pre-college program at the University of Michigan Stamp School of Art & Design, you realized that 3D artwork lights your inner fire. With your newfound knowledge, you can figure out what career paths involve 3D modeling and choose a major that leads to a rewarding career after you graduate from college.

3. Meet New People

One of the low-key benefits of participating in a pre-college program is that you get to meet a lot of new and interesting people. If you enroll in a well-known program from the likes of Harvard or Yale, you’re practically guaranteed to meet students from all different backgrounds and countries.

If you’re not a social butterfly, try not to stress. Pre-college programs typically offer many opportunities to break the ice with your fellow pre-college students. You could find yourself playing ultimate frisbee and other sports, participating in student organizations, and exploring local attractions with your mentors and peers. You might even make lifelong friends through the program.

4. Make Your College Application Stand Out

Quick disclaimer: This one is up for debate. While some experts believe pre-college programs can enhance your college resume, others say it likely has no influence on college admissions. But generally speaking, colleges do like to see high school students taking an interest in academics over the summer, and pre-college programs accomplish that.

The program you attend also matters. Some pre-college programs allow anyone to attend, while others are more selective and require you to meet certain college GPA requirements. Selective pre-college programs are more difficult to get into and are therefore more likely to turn college admissions’ heads.

5. Get a Real Feel for Your Potential School

Choosing the right college or university can be difficult. You can’t always tell what the school is going to be like until you’re finally on campus.

A pre-college program can give you the chance to test drive your potential school and get a feel for what it’s really like on campus. It’s similar to an official college visit except better because you’re actually going to class and living in the dorms.

The Takeaway

Pre-college programs are honestly a great way to get a feel for college life and explore your academic interests on a deeper level. For many students, the biggest obstacle is the cost of such programs. If you don’t have thousands to drop on a pre-college program, your best bet is to put together a strong application for a free (but often highly-selective) pre-college program. You got this!

ISC Student Summer Program Lists

Summer Programs Considered to be Prestigious

Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)

The Telluride Association Summer Seminar is a six-week program that allows high school sophomores and juniors with diverse backgrounds from around the world to study how power and privilege shape social structures through courses in humanities and social sciences. Attendees are intellectually curious and motivated learners who commonly go on to attend some of the country’s finest colleges and universities.

TASS is completely free, including the cost of tuition, books, room and board, and even travel if necessary—eliminating any financial barriers that may prevent the brightest minds from attending.

2. Research Science Institute (RSI)

The Research Science Institute gathers 100 of the world’s most outstanding high school students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a free, five-week program where they can experience the research cycle in its entirety. Combining on-campus coursework in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research, RSI students produce individual projects guided by experienced scientists and researchers, culminating in written and oral presentations of their projects.

Interested in learning more about research and RSI? Check out our article How to Get a Research Assistant Position in High School.

3. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)

Founded in 1989, PROMYS is a six-week residential program enrolling approximately 80 carefully chosen, mathematically-gifted high school students who are at least 14 years old and have completed ninth grade.

Attendees of PROMYS are not treated as students; rather, PROMYS participants are thought of as mathematicians. Throughout the program, these young mathematicians explore the field supported by their peers, counselors, research mathematicians, and research scientists.

PROMYS costs $6,500, however, the program is free for domestic students whose families make under $80,000 per year.

Learn more about PROMYS with our article A Guide to PROMYS.

4. The Summer Science Program (SSP)

The SSP is a 60-year-old program designed to help future scientists, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs realize their full potential. By providing the role models, intellectually-equivalent peers, challenge, and inspiration that SSP participants often find lacking in their schools, the program immerses talented rising seniors from across the globe in experimental science.

Throughout the intensive 39-day program, students conduct a research project from beginning to end, take field trips, listen to guest speakers, and, most importantly, partake in a life-changing experience.

The SSP practices need-blind admissions—that is, an applicant’s ability to pay for the program isn’t factored into admission decisions. The cost of the program is scaled based on family income, with students from more affluent families paying more and those from lower-income families paying less, if anything at all.

5. Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)

RISE is a six-week summer program at Boston University (BU) for the nation’s best and brightest scientifically minded high school juniors. Participants in the RISE program are afforded two tracks: internship and practicum.

Students opting for the internship track will gain hands-on experience with research projects and work under the mentorship of distinguished faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students with opportunities in fields such as astronomy, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, medical laboratory research, neuroscience, physics, psychology, and public health.

The practicum track is focused on computational biology and follows a set syllabus, making it an ideal choice for students who prefer more structured study.

While RISE is prestigious, it’s also expensive. The cost of the tuition alone is $5,100 while room and board options range between $2,988 and $3,288.

6. Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)

MITES is a residential program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) aimed at students interested in pursuing a degree—and subsequently a career—in the STEM fields. Program participants are academically talented and come from diverse, underrepresented, or underserved backgrounds.

Throughout this six-week residential program, high school juniors develop the skills necessary for success in STEM fields while learning about the value and reward of acquiring advanced technical degrees.

MITES is free—the only expense students need to cover is their transportation to and from MIT.

Discover six other super summer programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in our blog 7 Summer Programs at MIT for High Schoolers.

7. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)

SUMaC is a residential program at Stanford University for high-achieving high school juniors and seniors seeking to be challenged in mathematics and with a desire to learn about the latest in mathematical research and the application of mathematics across scientific fields.

Throughout the camp’s four weeks, participants learn about advanced mathematics through lectures, guided research, and group problem-solving. SUMaC also provides students with a sample of a college-level workload—delivering rigorous coursework along with challenging assignments to complete outside of meeting times.

Find more great summer math programs in our article How to Spend Your Summer As a Prospective Math Major (And Why Math is a Great Career Path).

8. Science Internship Program (SIP)

The SIP at the University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC) gives approximately 325 high-achieving and driven students the rare chance to work and learn at a premier research institution. Projects are available in fields such as astrophysics, biology, computer science, physics, and psychology.

Now in its 15th year, this ten-week internship allows students to spend their summer working on authentic open-ended science research projects while being mentored by UCSC faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. The program is open to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 and presents a fantastic opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in a STEM field to see scientific research “in action.”

The academic program fee for SIP is $4,000, but full and partial need-based scholarships are available.

9. Economics for Leaders (EFL)

This week-long program occurring at colleges and universities across the country (as well as virtually) gives future leaders hands-on experience using economics in the decision-making process. EFL seeks to make budding leaders more effective by showing them how to use economic analysis when considering public policy choices while also creating a deeper understanding of leadership and building leadership skills.

EFL is open to high school sophomores and juniors and is extremely competitive, with two applicants for every available space. The in-person program costs $2,100; it costs $800 to participate in the virtual program. Scholarships are available based on financial need, leadership activities, and academic and extracurricular achievement.

10. Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)

SAMS is a five-week residential program at Carnegie Mellon University for current high school juniors age 16 or older interested in pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree. Participants in SAMS develop a deeper knowledge and a better understanding of a variety of STEM fields through classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and consistent engagement with faculty and staff mentors.

SAMS aims to provide STEM opportunities to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Admission to the program and participation is free.

11. The Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (HCSSiM)

Entering its 51st year, HCSSiM is a residential six-week advanced mathematics program held at Hampshire College in which talented students from around the world spend a large portion of their days engaged in mathematics—not just the results of math problems.

HCSSiM’s mission is to prepare and motivate high school students to pursue degrees, and ultimately careers, in mathematics. HCSSiM offers participants unparalleled access to faculty in classrooms, at mealtimes, and in the dorms.

Only a small number of burgeoning mathematicians attend the program annually—just 46 students participated in 2022. The cost of the program is $5,780, although the program is free for domestic students from families with household incomes less than $68,000.

12. JCamp

Founded in 2001 to address the lack of diversity in the media, JCamp brings high school first-year students, sophomores, and juniors from a wide variety of cultural, racial, religious, and political backgrounds (to name a few) together for six days of intense journalism training.

Participating in sessions and workshops led by journalists employed by top media companies, students get hands-on training in broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, photojournalism, and online media—and produce media packages for the program’s news site.

JCamp is free if selected; the program covers the cost of everything from airfare to housing to meals.

Planning on pursuing a career in journalism? Learn about some of the extracurricular activities that can put you on the path to a job in the media in our article 7 Extracurricular Ideas for the Aspiring Journalist.

13. MathILy

Serious mathematics infused with levity, MathILy is a marvelous five-week residential program at Bryn Mawr College. Led by mathematicians possessing PhDs and supported by graduate and undergraduate students, MathILy participants learn to improve their problem-solving ability, hone their critical thinking skills, meet other incredibly talented other young mathematicians, and work on lots of advanced math problems.

When not tackling topics such as combinatorial optimization, generating functions, information theory, knot theory, and Markov chain modeling, students will participate in program-wide discussions about college choices and career possibilities inside and outside of mathematics.

Only about 45 students are selected to participate in MathILy annually and preference is given to students between the ages of 14 and 17. The cost of the program is $4,950 and need-based financial aid is available.

16. High School Honors Science, Math and Engineering Program (HSHSP)

Since 1988, HSHSP has given students entering their senior year of high school the opportunity to gain first-hand research experience in a university environment. Drawing talented and driven students from across the United States and its territories to Michigan State University, this seven-week residential program allows students to make connections with like-minded students from diverse backgrounds, build friendships, and increase their knowledge of science and mathematics while fostering a passion for the field.

The cost of HSHSP is $4,000 and scholarships are available based on financial need.

14. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

The distinguishing characteristic of the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is that it’s open to students in a wide range of fields—from biology to computer science to history. Coming from across the globe to Texas Tech University, participants are afforded the unique opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in their field while working one-on-one with faculty over the program’s seven intense weeks.

Many Clark Scholars use the experience to shape their future college and career goals. The Clark Scholar Program is free for chosen applicants—the only cost students are responsible for is their transportation to and from the program. This program is open to high school juniors and seniors and is extremely selective; only 12 students are chosen each summer.

Think you have what it takes to be one of the next 12 Clark Scholars? Check out this article from Forbes, Texas Tech Dean Gives Insider Advice How To Get Accepted To The Competitive Clark Scholars Program.

15. Notre Dame Summer Scholars

During an intense two weeks, rising juniors and seniors enrolled in the Summer Scholars program are given a taste of life on a college campus. Participating in one of 31 fields of study ranging from accounting to world politics and power, Summer Scholars get a preview of college academics while earning one college credit for completing the program.

Of course, there is much more to college than just the classroom—summer scholars are encouraged to work together on coursework outside of class and ample time is provided to sample the social side of college life.

The cost of the Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program is $4,475 and a limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships are available.

16. Hk Maker Lab

This free four-week summer program at the Columbia University School of Engineering allows students to tackle a hands-on design project under the guidance of the university’s renowned faculty and present it to the community. The program is for New York City high school juniors and seniors from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM and with financial need.

17. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

Students are invited to perform basic research on a medically focused project through the eight-week-long SIMR. The program aims to help students gain a deeper understanding of how scientific research is conducted, introduce them to careers in the biological sciences and medicine, and increase diversity in the field.

There are eight areas of research available for students to participate in: immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics.

The program is open to all domestic high school juniors and seniors, however, priority is given to Bay Area students. Students from groups underrepresented in biomedical research are encouraged to apply. Not only is SIMR free, but students receive a stipend for their participation.

18. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS) Program

This six-week program for academically-talented students teaches research techniques, experimental protocols, making predictions, and testing hypotheses. Participants will leave the program with a completed research project that they can enter in local and national science competitions.

The program is open to students age 16 and older and is free, however, participants must arrange their own transportation to and from the Tufts campus in Medford, Massachusetts, and housing is unavailable to out-of-state students.

19. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)

PAYS helps prepare talented local high schoolers—rising sophomores through rising seniors—for admission to some of the country’s best colleges and universities. Up to 90 students (30 sophomores, 30 juniors, and 30 seniors) are selected annually to participate in the four-week residential program, where they engage in a variety of activities, including classwork, cultural events, workshops, projects, and field trips.

PAYS is free and aimed at students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, such as students who are the first in their family to attend college, from low-income families, and from racial/ethnic groups like African American, Latino, Native American, and Pacific Islander.

20. Lehigh University Summer Engineering Institute (SEI)

SEI is aimed at rising juniors or seniors from underrepresented groups or future first-generation college students. The two-week residential program provides an immersive STEM experience as it draws topics, activities, and projects from a variety of fields, such as 3D printing, robotics, nanoscience, earthquake mitigation, bioengineering, environmental remediation, and computer science.

Approximately 100 high school juniors and seniors participate in the program yearly. The program is free and is offered both in-person and virtually in 2023.