Summer programs are a great way to dig into your academic interests, work on challenging material, and get a taste of college life. Here are eight strong, university-run programs for high schoolers. Dates and details change year to year, so confirm with each program.
Rishab Jain, a Harvard student, ISEF and Coca-Cola Scholars winner, U.S. Presidential Scholar, and RSI alum, has made his STEM Student Guide public, with a list of 50+ more opportunities and competitions. It’s worth a look after this.
1. BU Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
- Eligibility: mainly rising seniors (exceptional rising juniors too), with strong academics and a real interest in research.
- Details: six weeks of research at Boston University alongside faculty, grad students, and undergrads, across a range of fields. Note it’s a paid program.
2. Clark Scholars Program
- Eligibility: juniors and seniors with strong academics and an interest in research; needs a minimum GPA, test scores, and a recommendation.
- Details: an intensive seven-week research program at Texas Tech, with hands-on research across disciplines, faculty mentors, seminars, and workshops.
3. Garcia Summer Scholars
- Eligibility: students into science and engineering, especially materials science, polymer science, and bioengineering. Needs transcripts, test scores, and recommendations.
- Details: advanced research in materials science, engineering, and nanotechnology at Stony Brook, with lectures, lab work, and a final research presentation.
4. International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
- Eligibility: students 16+ interested in theoretical physics, with a strong record in physics and math and a teacher recommendation.
- Details: a two-week program at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada, covering advanced physics beyond the high school curriculum, with lectures, workshops, and group projects.
5. Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP), University of Iowa
- Eligibility: academically talented students entering their junior or senior year. Needs transcripts, test scores, essays, and recommendations.
- Details: a five-week program at the University of Iowa where you do an individual research project with a faculty mentor, across many disciplines.
6. Summer Program on Applied Rationality and Cognition (SPARC)
- Eligibility: students who want to sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving. Selection is competitive, with an application that includes puzzles.
- Details: a two-week residential program on applied rationality, with workshops and activities built around strategic thinking and decision-making.
7. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
- Eligibility: juniors and seniors interested in biomedical research, with a strong science and math background.
- Details: an eight-week research program in Stanford’s labs, where you’re matched with a mentor and do a project, with seminars and a final symposium.
8. Student Science Training Program (SSTP), University of Florida
- Eligibility: students ready for undergraduate-level research, with a strong academic background and a passion for science.
- Details: a seven-week residential program where you do research across scientific disciplines with a faculty mentor, plus seminars and lectures.
50+ more STEM opportunities
Want more programs, competitions, and opportunities for ambitious students? Rishab’s free guide lists 50+ of them: rishabacademy.com/guide.
Leave a Reply