Pre-College Programs

Search through over 2000 internships, summer opportunities, pre-college programs, and volunteer programs on High School Navigator

Click the dropdowns below to explore pre-college programs:

General/Multi-Subject (A-Z)

Boston University's Pre-College Summer Programs

Boston University's long-running Summer Term Pre-College Programs include a choice of one-, two-, three-, and six-week programs that prepare you for success in college. With five exciting and challenging pre-college summer programs to choose from, you can earn college credit, discover a new subject area, perform cutting-edge research in University labs, or immerse yourself in hands-on learning. 

Program Offerings:


Broadreach

Broadreach specializes in providing immersive sailing, scuba diving, marine biology,  veterinary medicine, and wildlife biology experiences for middle- and high-schoolers. Located in some of the world’s most spectacular places, Broadreach teens engage in real-world, hands-on discovery under the guidance of experienced instructors. Our small group sizes allow students to connect with themselves and each other, building self-confidence and leadership skills.


Bronfman Fellowship

The Bronfman Fellowship is a vibrant network of 1,200+ pluralistic young Jews from Israel and North America.  In between their junior and senior year of high school, Bronfman Fellows immerse themselves in a five-week, all-expenses-paid summer in Israel. Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study major issues in contemporary Jewish life, and meet with some of today’s most influential figures. Inspired by a diverse faculty of Rabbis, educators, and artists, the pluralistic group of Fellows have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a wide range of Jewish texts – from classic religious documents to contemporary Israeli and American voices – as well as artistic workshops, using them to spark conversations, engage with stimulating existential questions, and achieve a deeper understanding of themselves and one another. 


Bucknell Academy Summer Experience: 

Bucknell Academy Summer Experience (BASE) participants join Bucknell faculty and students to find innovative solutions to pressing issues. Perhaps you'll team up with environmental engineers and global managers to create better technology for clean water. Or maybe you'll collaborate with performing artists and biomedical engineers to reimagine prosthetics used by actors or musicians. At BASE, faculty and students from various academic disciplines will engage in classroom discussions in an effort to come up with creative solutions. BASE participants will have the opportunity to:

High school students who will be rising juniors or seniors are welcome to apply. 


Carnegie Mellon University Summer Pre-College

Mirroring the undergraduate experience, Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs gives students the opportunity to explore their interests while receiving instruction from acclaimed Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff. Students will also participate in a robust outside of the classroom experience.

Pre-College program options include the following:


Clemson University Summer Scholars

Every summer, the Summer Scholars program at Clemson University welcomes hundreds of campers who enjoy a one-week introduction to a variety of university learning options, while being immersed in our campus culture. Educational, recreational, and cultural activities allow participants to experience some of the amazing opportunities Clemson University has to offer. Students will engage in hands-on, immersive courses in their field of choice taught by Clemson instructors during the day.  Afternoons include free time which can be spent exploring campus, attending a campus tour, or meeting a representative from Admissions or Calhoun Honors College.  Evenings feature many of the recreational activities Clemson students enjoy, including bowling at The Underground, swimming at Fike Recreation Center, and a cookout on the beach at beautiful Lake Hartwell. 


Cornerstone Summer Institute at University of Virginia 

The Cornerstone Summer Institute is a week-long summer camp at the University of Virginia where high school students learn about slavery and its legacies by exploring the University, Charlottesville, and area landmarks. The camp provides rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with the opportunity to engage in historical investigation, archaeological excavation, and community engagement in order to learn and develop thinking skills that will prepare them for success in college and beyond. 


Drew University Summer College Program

The Summer College Program brings highly motivated high school student, primarily rising juniors and seniors, to the Drew campus for a week in the summer. The program gives the students a taste of the rich variety of courses available to them in a college curriculum and provides them with an experience of residential college life both inside and outside the classroom. 


Drexel's Summer Institutes: Enrichment Opportunities

Drexel's summer academic programs are summer camps open to highly motivated high school students who wish to explore what a university-level program is all about. Workshops are led by Drexel faculty and utilize Drexel's labs, facilities, and the city of Philadelphia's many resources.

Pre-College Programs by Subject Area:


Fairleigh Dickinson University's Summer Pre-College Programs

Fairleigh Dickinson University's Pre-College Program exposes high school students to exciting academic and professional topics such as artificial intelligence and robotics, cyber security, finance, and the health sciences, among many others. 9th – 12th Graders can earn up to 12 college credits online and/or in person on the Metro Campus.


Fordham University Pre-College Program

The Pre-College Program allows you to enroll in one of several exciting college courses and gain experience at a top-ranked research university in the summer before your senior year.

If you are interested in a non-credit option, consider the week-long Business Insider Finance Institute and/or Exploring Entrepreneurship programs offered through the Gabelli School of Business.


Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College is excited to offer several Summer Programs for high school juniors and sophomores to attend academic camps over the summer months. Subjects include psychology, creative writing, Eisenhower Institute's Civic Engagement or Civil War Studies as well as a variety of sports camp — learn more about their summer programming below!


Lebanon Valley College's Summer Programs

From expert music instruction to educational summer camp opportunities and Colloquium lectures to our expansive Vernon and Doris Bishop Library, Lebanon Valley College Summer Programs provides community resources to inspire creative and intellectual thinking.


Marist College's Summer Pre-College Program

For over fifteen years, Marist has created a top Summer Pre-College Program that gives students a sense of college life, provides a taste of a college major, and allows students to earn college credit all while still in high school. This year, they've expanded our offerings into three sessions: two on-campus, and one virtual. With 23 unique courses to choose from, this summer's in-person sessions will take place over a two-week period with start dates of June 26, 2022, and July 10, 2022. The three-week virtual offering will begin on July 10. Experience the excitement of college life at one of the "Best 384 Colleges and Universities" and "50 Schools That Launch Careers By Going Beyond the Classroom".


Montclair State University - Early College Programs

Academically ambitious high school students have an exciting opportunity to complement high school study with Montclair State University coursework. Through Montclair's Early College Programs, rising juniors and seniors earn transferable college credits at a highly-reduced tuition rate, experience the rigors and expectations of college-level classes, learn alongside Montclair State University students and engage in courses taught by University professors on campus or online. 


MSU offers several summer program opportunities including: 


Northeastern University Accelerate: Pre-College Programs

Northeastern’s Accelerate: Pre-College Programs are designed for talented high school students in the U.S. and around the world who want to give themselves an edge. They offer a choice of innovative programs led by Northeastern’s internationally acclaimed faculty. Accelerate programs are hosted on campus, allowing you to experience true collegiate learning in a world-class environment. Try something new, or challenge yourself to rise to a new level in an existing area of interest.


Northwestern University of Illinois' National High School Institute

Since 1931, the National High School Institute, a nonprofit organization, has brought outstanding students to Northwestern University’s Evanston campus for intense educational experiences. Students are affectionately known as “Cherubs,” a name given to them in the 1930s by Northwestern Dean Ralph Dennis whose goal, “to bring together gifted young people and superior teachers in an atmosphere of affection, knowledge, and trust,” is still upheld today. The oldest and largest university-based program of its kind, NHSI offers studies in Theatre Arts, Film & Video, and Debate.  


NYU Pre-College and Summer Programs

Pre-College Programs:  With NYU Precollege, rising juniors and seniors can apply to take college-level courses for credit and experience life as an NYU student. 

High School Summer Programs: Students can choose from high school programs offered at NYU and explore subjects such as music  technology, education, and human development. 


Outward Bound Expedition Programs

Outward Bound Programs allows students to experience rugged wilderness and tackle demanding natural challenges. And at the end of it all, emerge a tenacious, trail-tested leader with genuine confidence and a passion to do more. Designed for students aged 14-17, classic expeditions push students physically, socially and emotionally. Students discover their passion, dig deep, and master skills – both technical and interpersonal. Surrounded by the pristine natural world and a crew of adventurous peers, students work as a team to achieve goals and learn skills.


Oxbridge Academic Programs

For more than 35 years, Oxbridge Academic Programs has hosted bright and enthusiastic students aged 13-18 for four-, two-, and one-week study programs on some of the world’s leading campuses. What began in 1986 in Oxford, England, now additionally includes Cambridge, Paris, Montpellier, Barcelona, Salamanca, and New York City. Central to each of program is a commitment to imaginative teaching, experiential learning, and cultural enrichment—paired with a safe and supportive environment for students to immerse themselves in some of the most fascinating cities in the world.


Rutgers University Summer Programs

Rutgers University has many Pre-College Program opportunities for high school students to explore. Here are few places to start:


Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)

Programs for Gifted & Academically Talented Youth offers unique 3-week summer programs for gifted and talented students. Residential programs are available for students ages 9-17 at some of the most prestigious campuses nationwide, including Yale and Princeton. Many locations also offer a commuter option. Younger students ages 5-12 can participate in SIG day programs at one of 16 locations. Programs are open to U.S. and international students. SIG also offers a robust online program. SIG is a program of the National Society for the Gifted and Talented (NSGT). 


Summer Discovery Pre-College Enrichment

Summer Discovery is a pre-college enrichment program for high school and middle school students that combines academics with fun, activities, and sports. Students experience college life while gaining independence, self-confidence, and social skills. Courses are taught by university faculty and students live on campus, exploring university towns for a robust, complete pre-college summer experience. For 53 years, we’ve helped more than 100,000 students learn and grow. We can't wait for you to join us.  


Susquehanna University - Summer Pre-College Programs 

The Summer Pre-College Programs at Susquehanna showcase the university’s colleges of the arts, business, humanities and sciences by offering exciting and engaging, weeklong on-campus workshops designed especially for high-achieving high school students. Faculty and college student mentors challenge high schoolers who want to learn new skills, improve their abilities or explore topics that can add to their college resume.

Arts and Humanities:

Business & Leadership: 

Science: 


Syracuse University Summer College for High School Students

For over 50 years, Syracuse University Summer College has been giving high school students the opportunity to explore their artistic, intellectual, and professional passions while experiencing college life. Their 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6-week pre-college programs reflect the richness and diversity of the majors and minors offered at Syracuse University. Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining center, and participate in activities and events on campus. 


Teen Life: Summer Programs

Teen Life: Summer Programs are a great to pursue new interests, improve existing skills, and make new friends outside of the classroom. These one-of-a-kind programs come in all shapes and sizes — some are academically focussed, others are skills-based, and still others are similar to a traditional summer camp experience. However, all of these programs offer vital enrichment opportunities for teens to expand their horizons. 


Temple University Pre-College Programs

Temple University provides many pre-college programs pre-college opportunities for students to explore academic areas of interest across the university while they are still in high school. 

Program Offerings: 


University of Delaware’s Summer College

The UD Edge summer college program prepares high school students moving into their junior or senior year for a future as a successful college student. By emphasizing academic excellence, practical skill building and student leadership, Edge offers you the challenge, independence and excitement of a learning experience that can only be found at a top national university.


University of Miami: Summer Scholars & UM Acadamies

University of Miami pre-college programs offer both credit and non-credit programs for high school students seeking to gain college experience before graduating from high school. Upon completion, participants feel better prepared for the undergraduate admission process and gain confidence in their academic choices and ability to succeed in college.

*Use the waiver code “GUIDANCE” to receive $25 off the application fee.*


William Paterson University's Summer Youth Programs

Check out the variety of opportunities offered at WPU for high school students over the summer! Students can take courses in Business, College Readiness, Communication, and Music, or enroll in one of the Academic Academies, where students will examine career possibilities and achieve a new perspective on their academic abilities and potential. Click Here to learn more!

Architecture/Art/Music

Academy of Art University - FREE Pre-College Art Courses

Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE) at Academy of Art University is a tuition-FREE art and design education program for high school students. It’s a great opportunity to jump-start your art and design education while earning money toward your college degree. You can take the pre-college program on our campus in San Francisco or online year-round.


Full Sail University Summer Camps

Full Sail Labs offers 5-Day Virtual and Campus summer camps for teens. All camps are project-based and include demonstration/instruction, interactive practice, development, collaboration, and feedback. 

Full Sail offer camp offerings in:


Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) Summer Pre-College Programs

PAFA's Summer Academy for High School Students offers a unique, 4-week college-level experience of creating art with world-renowned faculty at the nation’s first and premier school of fine art. PAFA's flagship pre-college program is an in-person, four-week, college-level art-making experience for talented and motivated high school students at the nation's first and premier school of fine art. All students study drawing and oil painting in Foundations of Fine Art and choose three additional concentrations to explore: sculpture, printmaking, illustration, and animation. 

Summer Academy artists have the opportunity to:

Scholarships are available, and Summer Academy alums who enroll in a PAFA BFA are eligible for a $4000 Next Steps Scholarship ($1000/year).


Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) One-Week Intensives

PAFA also offers One-Week Intensives for High School Students. One-Week Intensives encourage teens at all levels choose their own adventure and develop their skills in the topic that excites them the most! Programming includes training and mentorship by PAFA faculty, with demonstrations, discussion, small group sessions and one-on-one guidance, for which students can still earn 1.0 college credit in for each course while exploring their artistic passion. Scholarships and optional residential services available.


Rider University: Westminster College of the Arts Pre-College Programs

High school students can take a step toward achieving their academic and artistic goals by attending a Pre-College Summer Program from Rider University's Westminster College of the Arts. Students who complete any Rider University Pre-College Summer Program prior to applying for first-year admission to Rider University can qualify for a $2,000 Pre-College Completion Award.

Summer Programs:


Norwich University's Architecture + Art  Design Academy

Norwich University's Architecture + Art Summer Design Academy will be a 1-week immersive, in person experience, teaching students the essentials of design thinking and architectural composition. Over the week, students will design a small building, using drawings and models to communicate how it would be experienced and how it could be built. All materials will be provided.


Temple University: Tyler School of Art + Architecture College Programs

Register for a pre-college program with Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture and explore your artistic interests, develop technical skills, discover a variety of creative career paths, and create work suitable for a college admissions portfolio. Students will receive immersive, hands-on experience directly from Temple's dedicated faculty and will have the opportunity to meet other students at one of the nation's top schools for the study of art, design, and architecture. 


Virginia Tech: Inside Design

Inside Design is an incisive introduction to the ways in which designers think and work. For individuals considering the world of design, this program cracks open the excitement and opportunities of architecture and related design disciplines. Primarily a hands-on experience, students work with long-time educators and practitioners in exercises designed to stimulate discussion and discovery of issues affecting the professions. No prior course or subject experience is necessary, just the initiative to break the bounds of conventional modes of thinking.

Business

Stevens Institute of Technology: Virtual Summer Research Program

The School of Business is offering a paid virtual summer research program for high school students.

In this six-week program, students will have the opportunity to work alongside a faculty member from the School of Business and assist them in their area of research, such as:

At the conclusion of the program, students will complete both a written and oral presentation. The written report will include a literature review, and the oral presentation will include a 5-minute video or a PowerPoint presentation detailing their research findings.

English/Journalism

Boston University Summer Journalism Academy

 At the Boston University Summer Journalism Academy, students will have the opportunity to learn from award-winning working journalists and to experience Boston University and the city of Boston. For 13 years, Boston University’s College of Communication has offered this program to teach high school students in-person and virtually about core skills in news reporting, interviewing, and writing, while focusing on hands-on experience around Boston and their home communities. Parents and students enjoy hearing that there are no third-party vendors involved, and they can experience an authentic pre-college experience at a college on their list.


Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)

The Princeton Summer Journalism Program traditionally hosts a 10-day residential journalism institute in August on the campus of Princeton University. PSJP exists to bridge pathways for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds with an interest in journalism. PSJP exposes students to the range of opportunities available in the field of journalism, introduce them to the basic skills they need to report for their own newspaper and produce a short documentary, take them to visit major news outlets in NYC, and present different perspectives about the kinds of post-secondary preparation required for the work. After they leave campus, students are paired with a college counselor and professional journalist who helps guide them through the admissions process to selective colleges and universities. 

Fashion Design

Banson NYC's Fashion Summer Camps

Banson NYC offer 2 NYC Fashion Summer Camps for high school students in 2019.  They are designed for teens entering 9th through 12th grades.  Each week-long session will teach the students the fundamentals of the fashion industry by providing an insider's perspective.  The students will stay at the LIM College Residence Hall on the Upper East Side.  Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis. 


Experience America: Project Fashion

Project Fashion summer camps give creative-minded students an opportunity to explore a career through classes taught by industry professionals, hands-on projects, and company tours. Camps create an environment where students can discover what role suits them best and whether they truly want to explore their chosen field as a career before committing time and money to the pursuit after high school. The program provides the opportunity to build your portfolio and equips you with the tools you need to pursue your dreams in the fashion industry.

IVY League

Brown University Summer Programs

Through the Summer Programs at Brown University students can join a community of young scholars all engaged in the serious fun of learning. Explore the breadth and depth of Brown’s undergraduate curriculum and emphasis on student-centered learning.


Columbia's Engineering Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)

SHAPE is a selective pre-college program for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates. SHAPE is geared toward students with an aptitude for STEM. The program consists of two, three-week summer sessions. Students may attend one or both sessions. Each 3-week session offers college-level, project-based courses in engineering taught by prestigious faculty at Columbia University. Students engage with peers and Columbia University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners through interactive programming, site visits, and workshops. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until April 15. Email shape@columbia.edu if you have questions.


Columbia University Summer Immersion NYC

Summer Immersion at Columbia is delivered in 3-week residential and commuter programs as well as in a 1-week commuter-only program. Students choose from over 100 courses, covering a rich variety of subjects. They experience an Ivy League education and explore the creative life of New York City, the ultimate cultural classroom. Students are joined by a dedicated cohort of trained Residential Advisors who help students manage campus life, and guide them through exciting activities in the city. Learn More about Columbia's Summer Pre-College Programs

SUMMER IMMERSION HIGHLIGHTS


Summer Immersion: 3-Week

Summer Immersion: 1-Week

Academic Year: Saturday Immersion


Columbia University's Science Honors Program (SHP) 

This program offers enrichment courses in science and mathematics on Saturday mornings throughout the school year to 700 students who have been selected from approximately 750 high schools in the metropolitan New York area.  

Eligibility: Must be a current 9th, 10th or 11th grade student with strong interest/ability in science & math

Application: The program uses an online application process which students can access on the Columbia University SHP web page.


Cornell University Pre-College Summer Residential Program

Through the Cornell University Precollege Summer Residential Program, you can take fascinating college courses, study with top Cornell faculty, earn college credits, enjoy the gorgeous campus, and make friends from around the world. You'll choose from three- or six-week undergraduate courses, in which you'll earn transferrable credits in subjects from architecture to business, hospitality, engineering, health, international relations, science, social change, veterinary medicine, and more. Courses are taught by Cornell faculty, giving you an unrivaled learning experience with some of the university's best professors. More than 50 intensive pre-college programs give motivated high school students a taste of college academics. 


Dartmouth College: Dartmouth Bound Program

The Dartmouth Bound Program is designed to give participants an in-person experience of daily college life at Dartmouth. Participants will learn about Dartmouth's close-knit community and its resources, as well as college admissions and financial aid processes. The Dartmouth Bound Program will take place on campus in Hanover, NH and will cover travel expenses, housing, and meals for all participants. The program is designed to provide rising seniors currently living and attending a high school in the U.S., from low-income and/or historically underrepresented backgrounds with:


Future Doctors Program by Harvard Student Agencies at Harvard University

Future Doctors Program seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of pre-medical studies. The program covers various topics including content modules on genetic inheritance, hormones, immunology, and organic chemistry. It also explores case studies on various diseases, poses medical ethics questions, and offers an opportunity to dissect scientific papers. The program aims to prepare students for a career in medicine by providing an overview of the MCAT process, as well as the chance to hear first-hand about the process from Harvard students.

Providing an extensive overview of pre-med, the program encourages students to think critically and quickly. Each day begins with an in-depth lecture covering an important aspect of the medical field ranging from genetics to organic chemistry. Students then engage in hands-on activities created to orient them to the realities of working in medicine. The program guides students through topics and higher-order thinking skills necessary to succeed in the medical field.


Princeton University's DuBois Summer Institute

The  W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute will be held on the campus of Princeton University. Founded in the summer of 1988, the W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute provides scholarship and leadership training for high-achieving youth. 

The Institute aims to sharpen students’ research and quantitative analysis skills, as well as writing, verbal, and critical reading skills through a diversity of high-level academic courses. Students entering the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh grades in the following fall are eligible to participate. Please note that scholarship amounts are decided and awarded on a rolling basis upon receipt of application and supporting materials. Early and prompt submission of materials is highly recommended.

Click here to download applications and get information about requirements, cost, scholarships, curriculum, residential living, and deadlines. 


University of Pennsylvania Summer High School Programs 

University of Pennsylvania's Summer High School Programs delivers the challenge of an Ivy League curriculum to academically talented high school students seeking a pre-collegiate experience. Students engage with leading faculty and build intellectual connections within accelerated two-, three-, or six-week Penn Summer High School Programs.

Law/Political Science

ACLU Summer Advocacy Program

The ACLU Summer Advocacy Program brings together high school students from across the United States to participate in a firsthand learning experience for the next generation of social justice advocates. During this week-long program in Washington, DC students engage directly with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts working to defend the civil rights and civil liberties critical to a free and open society. In classroom sessions, lectures, and policy discussions, students will explore the complex nature of issue advocacy, legal strategy, and real world political decision making. The Close Up Foundation – a DC based civic education non-profit – partners with the ACLU to provide substantive experiential learning and small group discussion opportunities throughout the program. 


Brown University: Leadership Institute

Through the Brown Leadership Institute—no matter your current level of engagement—you’ll increase your ability and effectiveness in advancing social justice. You’ll meet students from all over the world who are passionate about a wide variety of issues, including topics such as racial justice, educational access, and gender equity. You will spend your days delving into compelling topics in a course of your choosing, actively engaging with your peers and instructor. As you grapple with complex problems and brainstorm possible solutions together, you will practice a collaborative model of leadership honing your skills in active listening, public speaking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Building on all of this new knowledge, you’ll develop an Action Plan you can take home and apply in your school or community.

Learning Differences

Beacon College: Summer for Success Program

Beacon's Summer for Success program give college-bound high school students who learn differently the skills, confidence and preparation to successfully transition from high school. We do so by helping them better understand their learning differences, recognize early stumbling blocks and know what they need to succeed in their first year of college. Our core courses are structured to meaningfully prepare students for college to be more effective and confident learners. Most importantly, rising juniors/rising seniors get to experience what it’s like to live — and learn — on a college campus. 


Landmark College Summer Programs

Landmark College offers summer programs to assist a wide range of students with learning differences, including middle school students, high school students, graduating high school seniors, and students enrolled at colleges around the country. All of the programs are designed to enable students to identify their learning strengths and differences. Students learn specific strategies to be successful in formal academic settings and grow personally and academically in an intentional and supportive academic community.

STEM

Clemson University: Milky Way Trailblazers

Milk Way Trailblazers is a two week research experience for high school aged campers. Through this experience students can investigate the composition and motion of our galaxy with giant radio telescopes, identify areas of interest, and blaze a trail for future explorers. Research teams will be responsible for different qualities and regions but will rely on each other to complete the mission. Guest speakers share their experiences working in space science and their paths to a career in the future of exploration and discovery. Student can explore research labs at Clemson, swim at waterfalls and tube down rivers, hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and star gaze under world class dark skies!


CyberMath Academy

CyberMath Academy's Summer Math Camp is a selective summer program for students who would like to sharpen their math skills. This math camp provides a a challenging environment during the summer for students to master mathematics with the participation of brilliant students all over the globe. 


Columbia University's Science Honors Program (SHP) 

This program offers enrichment courses in science and mathematics on Saturday mornings throughout the school year to 700 students who have been selected from approximately 750 high schools in the metropolitan New York area.  

Eligibility: Must be a current 9th, 10th or 11th grade student with strong interest/ability in science & math

Application: The program uses an online application process which students can access on the Columbia University SHP web page.


Columbia's Engineering Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)

SHAPE is a selective pre-college program for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates. SHAPE is geared toward students with an aptitude for STEM. The program consists of two, three-week summer sessions. Students may attend one or both sessions. Each 3-week session offers college-level, project-based courses in engineering taught by prestigious faculty at Columbia University. Students engage with peers and Columbia University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners through interactive programming, site visits, and workshops. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until April 15. Email shape@columbia.edu if you have questions.


MIT Specialized Summer Programs

MIT does not offer open-enrollment summer programs where any high school student can come to campus to take courses and live in the dorms. However, several partner organizations run small, specialized programs on campus. If studying the human genome, building a robot, or scoping out the stars sound like a fun way to spend your summer, then you might try one of these:


New Jersey Institute of Technology

The Fundamentals of Physical Sciences (FPS) Program is a 4-week program designed to prepare students for college-level work while they are still in high school. Admission requirements at the top universities seek students who have taken challenging science, mathematics, and computer courses.

The Fundamentals of Physical Sciences Program is divided into two main academic groups:

Chemistry: Students completing 9th, 10th, and 11th grades who have not yet taken high school chemistry.

Physics: Students completing 9th, 10th, and 11th grades who have not yet taken high school physics.

Students will also receive instruction in higher-level problem-solving strategies, computer applications, advanced mathematics, and communications through classroom discussions, lectures, laboratory experiments, demonstrations, and projects.

Academic courses will incorporate modules to prepare students for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exam and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).


PCCC: STEM Scholar Academy 

Attend the STEM Scholar Academy at Passaic County Community College for FREE! Students will attend hands-on workshops designed to prepare for STEM courses and 


Penn State University Summer Programs (College of Medicine)

The Office of Academic Placements offers a number of experiences for high school students interested in exploring careers in healthcare and biomedical sciences.

Opportunities include:


Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: PREFACE

PREFACE is a summer program for talented students who have been historically under-represented in science, engineering, and the technological fields, and who express a strong, early interest in pursuing careers in these areas. This year’s program will take place virtually weekdays, Monday, June 27 through Tuesday, July 12, 2022 (12 days).


Stevens Institute of Technology Pre-College Programs

When you enroll in one the many Pre-College Programs at Stevens, you can explore your ideas and interests in a pressure-free, inspiring academic environment that welcomes big thinkers. Students will have the opportunity to learn from Stevens faculty, connect with current students, participate in social activities and learn more about the college admissions process. 

Program Offerings Include: 


The College of New Jersey Annual Robotics Summer Camp

High School students are invited to apply for an intensive summer Robotics Camp offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), and sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

The intent of the camp is to motivate the most creative minds of a new generation of prospective Electrical and Computer Engineers to become global leaders in an increasingly technological world. The program aims to create a community of students who participate in and contribute to an intensive and powerful academic experience delivered by distinguished educators and professionals.

Camp participants will be introduced through a residential College academic experience to the exciting field of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and will learn topics not traditionally taught in High Schools such as Microcontroller Programming, Sensing Systems, Digital Electronics, Wireless Communications, Computer Vision, and more. 

The participant will work with Electrical and Computer Engineering students and professors, and interact with professional engineers from the Industry. TCNJ offers a superior learning environment, and these experiences take place in specialized laboratories.


Virginia Tech: Pathways for Future Engineers

Pathways for Future Engineers is a multi-year Virginia Tech College of Engineering program designed to support first-generation students and their families on the pathway from high school to an engineering degree. The program includes pre-college activities  (while students are still in high school) as well as additional support as students pursue their undergraduate degree.


Virginia Tech: C-Tech2

C-Tech² offers rising junior and senior high school girls an opportunity to learn about college life-from residence halls to classrooms and everything in-between. It provides access to information and technology necessary to best prepare you for your future. At C-Tech2 you will explore all the engineering options at Virginia Tech. You will be assigned to a small group of other young women during the day and participate in hands-on activities presented by faculty and graduate students from a wide-variety of engineering departments, and attend informational sessions on topics such as college admissions and scholarships, and the engineering majors offered at Virginia Tech. Attendees will also complete a General Electric sponsored design project culminating in a showcase on the final afternoon.

You can also look through the New Jersey School Counselor Association's Summer Enrichment page
Or check out our listing of summer enrichment programs below