Students should plan to have a productive and enjoyable summer. There are many programs that they can participate in that focus on a variety of areas. We encourage you to use the resources provided here when searching for a program.

Not all students can participate in these programs because of the fees or schedule conflicts. It is important to remember that getting a summer job or volunteer work is just as good a use of your time.
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General Academic Programs | Fine Arts | Science and Engineering | Community Service | Internships and Leadership Programs | Minority Programs | Outdoor Adventure Programs | Study Abroad | Summer For Free

Academic Programs (General)

Academic Study Associates: ASA is dedicated to offering innovative, fun and challenging summer programs that foster intellectual and personal growth. Academic excellence, expert faculty and staff, careful supervision, an exciting activities program and the widest choices for weekend excursions combine to make ASA programs the perfect preparation for college and beyond. Programs are offered at Emory University, UMass at Amherst, and UC Berkley. www.asaprograms.com

America Mathematical Society: List of residential programs for gifted students interested in math. www.ams.org/programs/students/emp-mathcamps

Barnard Summer in New York: The program provides an opportunity for rising juniors and seniors to experience the challenges and rewards of college life against the exciting backdrop of New York City. www.barnard.edu/precollege

Brandeis Summer Odyssey: Summer Odyssey offers you a creative, hands-on approach to the study of current topics in science and technology in a low-pressure environment that is supportive and nurturing. http://www.brandeis.edu/odyssey

Broadreach Summer Educational Adventures - Marine Biology Summer Program.  On San Salvador, get a taste of real-world marine biology on multiple dives, lab work and research adventures, led by scientists working in the field.
http://www.gobroadreach.com/program-overview-for-high-school-marine-biology-summer-camp-in-bahamas.asp

Brown, Pre-College Summer: The program for rising seniors provides opportunities to participate actively in and out of class, grow as a learner and a person in an Ivy league environment, enjoy extracurricular activities and trips, and become an important member of a dynamic campus community. http://www.brown.edu/Administration/ Continuing_Studies/pc/index.php

Boston University, High School Honors Program: Rising seniors may apply and choose between the General Honors Program and the Research Internship Program in Science and Engineering. www.bu.edu/summer

University of Chicago, The Graham School: Accomplished high school students are offered numerous opportunities to immerse themselves in the University of Chicago's unique atmosphere during the summer. Learn, play, and live at one of the world's greatest universities, located in one of the world's greatest cities. Choose from among the following undergraduate-level, credit-bearing programs. https://summer.uchicago.edu/high-school-students

Choate Rosemary Hall Summer Programs: The summer session, which began in 1916, is among the oldest summer enrichment programs in the country. http://www.choate.edu/summer

Cornell University, Summer College: A comprehensive academic summer program for high school juniors and seniors. Cornell also offers a Summer Honors Program for high school sophomores. www.sce.cornell.edu/sc/

Columbia University High School Programs: Study with distinguished instructors, exchange ideas with intellectually curious peers, and be inspired. Noncredit courses in Law, Politics, College Prep, and the Arts and Sciences. www.ce.columbia.edu/hs/

Crow Canyon Archeological Center: The three week High School Field School offers a hands-on course in archeology for high school students. www.crowcanyon.org/

Duke University, Pre-College Program: Rising seniors prepare for college by enrolling in two-six week college courses while earning college credit. Students may also engage in a range of activities outside of class, including student government, drama, intramural sports, and community service. www.tip.duke.edu

Earlham, Explore- A- College: A national program for college-bound high school students to spend two weeks developing college level skills. Topics of study include aquatic ecology, ceramics, exploring human behavior, exploring Quakerism, intensive conversational Spanish, intensive French, intensive Japanese, jewelry making and metalsmithing, journalism, and writing for college. www.earlham.edu/~eac/

Fir Acres Workshop in Writing and Thinking at Lewis & Clark College: A two week summer residency program for high school students from across the country and abroad. Students collaborate on creative and critical writing and thinking during three sessions each weekday. www.lclark.edu/org/firacres

Georgetown Summer School: Many opportunities during the summer for high school students to enhance their academic career, take part in campus life, discover the cultural and historical sites of Washington, DC, and visit colleges in the Metropolitan area. http://summerschool.georgetown.edu/

Harvard Secondary School Summer – 7 week residential program with 300 course offerings to choose from – students take 2 courses for credit. www.summer.harvard.edu/programs/ssp

Harvard University Summer School: For more than 25 years, Harvard Summer School has accepted 1,000 highly qualified high school juniors and seniors into its eight-week session. Secondary students take regular college-level courses along with undergraduates from Harvard and elsewhere. www.ssp.harvard.edu

Howard University, Summer Pre-College Preparation: The program is designed to prepare high school students for a successful freshman year at the college of their choice. This unique program combines course work and practical application of content to the "real world" through problem solving tasks. http://www.cea.howard.edu/pre-college-engineering-systems-pces

Leadership in the Business World at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania: LBW is a summer program for rising seniors in high school who wish to learn about business. The program, supported by The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, includes classes, trips, and workshops designed to teach students about business leadership for the 21st century. https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/leadership-business-world

John Hopkins University Pre-College Program: Earn college credit, sample dorm life, make friends from around the world, and connect with classes on-line at one of the nation's most prestigious universities. www.jhu.edu/summer

Junior Statesmen Summer School: Summer Programs at Georgetown, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, and Northwestern University. Experience the drama, power, and excitement of politics and government. www.jsa.org

Marist College: Summer Pre-College Programs/Summer Institutes. Expand your academic and creative aspirations! Rising juniors and seniors in High School are invited to attend one of the Summer Institutes at Marist College. Eearn three transferable college credits.http://www.marist.edu/summerinstitutes/ index.html

Minority Students:  LEDA - Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse American - Each year, LEDA searches the nation to recruit approximately 60 students.  Our Scholars are exceptional students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, currently underrepresented in our nation’s top colleges, universities and ultimately, leadership sectors.  LEDA offers a 7week residential program at Princeton that includes leadership study, writing instruction, standardized test preparation, and college advising. http://www.ledascholars.org/

University of Maryland, Young Scholars Program: This program enables rising high school juniors and seniors to enroll in a college course, earn college credits and experience college life before they commit to a major or educational institution. This three week program gives students the opportunity to explore career opportunities in Architecture, Digital Arts, Kinesiology, Government, and the Humanities. https://www.teenink.com/summer/universityofmaryland

Northfield Mount Hermon Summer Session: An on-campus junior high program for students entering grades 7-9 and a college prep for students entering grades 10-13. Enrichment courses in literature, French, Spanish, American history, creative writing, theatre, algebra, geometry, calculus, biology physics, or chemistry. https://www.nmhschool.org/summer-session/nmh-summer-session

Northwestern University National High School Institute: The National High School Institute, established in 1931, is the nation's oldest and largest university-based program for outstanding high school students. Approximately 850 students will enroll in the Institute's seven divisions: Debate, Journalism, Leadership, Music, Media Arts, Theatre Arts, and Junior Statesmen. http://www.northwestern.edu/nhsi/

University of Notre Dame, Summer Scholars: ND Summer Scholars is a unique opportunity for academically outstanding high school students to explore one of thirteen academic fields of study. For two weeks, participants become part of the Notre Dame student body, through their academic studies, social interactions, and spiritual encounters. http://precollege.nd.edu/summer-scholars/

University of Pennsylvania, The Pre-College Program: Designed for academically-gifted high school juniors and seniors. Students participate in classes with regular undergraduate Penn students, choose from a wide-range of concentrations including pre-business, pre-law and politics, pre-medicine, social sciences, mathematics, writing, cultural studies, and the arts. www.upenn.edu/summer

Phillips Exeter Academy Summer School: Residential/Day program for motivated students who are entering grades 9-12 and PG. More than 90 course offerings where the focus is on "learning for learning's sake." A summer school experience at Phillips Exeter Academy has been described as memorable and rewarding-- often a turning point in a student's life. www.exeter.edu/summer

San Francisco Art institute, PreCollege Program: This four-week, four college credit program combines in-depth study and practice with SFAI’s renowned faculty to help you build foundational skills, develop a portfolio, experiment with new media, and collaborate with like-minded peers who are driven to create. Visits to local museums and exhibition opportunities complement this immersive experience. http://www.sfai.edu/public-youth-education/precollege

Skidmore Pre-College Program in the Liberal Arts: The campus is alive all summer long with programs in the liberal, studio, and performing arts for students of all ages. These programs bring nationally recognized artists, authors, and performers to campus each summer, where they work with students from across the world in intensive workshops and institutes. http://www.skidmore.edu/precollege/

Summer Media Institute at University of Florida- a five-night, six-day camp where students are immersed into the world of journalism and communications (for students Grades 9-12 with an interest in story telling, journalism and communication). 
https://www.jou.ufl.edu/summermediainstitute/

Summer Study at Penn State, Colorado St.,  or Fordham universities.  College Cred, summer enrichment.  Also study abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris.  2, 3 or 4 week residential programs. http://www.summerstudy.com

St. George's Summer Session: In its 57th year, the curriculum offers students a broad and challenging selection of young scholar and college preparation courses. The daily schedule, although full, offers students a good balance of academic, athletic, and leisure time. https://www.sgis.org/page.cfm?p=5813

Stanford Summer College for High School Students: During the summer quarter, Stanford University offers a pre-college program for rising high school seniors who are ready to explore the academic and personal challenges of a university environment. http://summer.stanford.edu/

Summer High School Institute for sophomores at U of Wyoming
– 3 week residential program offering interdisciplinary courses in the humanities and math/science. School nomination due in early Feb. www.uwyo.edu/hsi

Summer in the City at the Masters School: CITYterm is an experience-based academic program focused on the complexity of New York City. Students study New York City through a combination of Harkness seminars, city expeditions and meetings with a myriad of New Yorkers, including former Mayors, artists, urban planners and authors. CITYterm students learn in a project-based model that emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking and collaborative learning. All students are enrolled in the Urban Core, which is a three course curriculum comprised of Honors-level History, Literature, and Urban Environments of New York City.

In addition to the Urban Core, students may choose two additional courses from our broad range of math, science, and foreign languages. CITYterm is located on the 96-acre campus of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, just 40 minutes from the heart of New York City. https://www.cityterm.org/index.cfm

Summer Discovery at UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Michigan, Georgetown, Vermont, or Cambridge: Summer Discovery programs successfully introduce high school students to the college experience by providing an environment that is intellectually stimulating, culturally and socially enriching, and fun. Students experience college living and learning before they actually attend college-- alleviating the anxiety often associated with the transition from high school to college life. www.summerfun.com/

Summer at RPI: Elementary, middle and high school students from around the country join together to participate in Rensselaer's summer programs and athletic camps including: Fundamentals of video game creating, performing Arts, Exploration of Engineering Disciplines, LEGO Robotics Engineering, Basketball, Football, and Hockey. www.rpi.edu/summer

Summer Study at Penn State: Academic programs are not all alike; our inclusive concept means that anyone can do everything! The program is filled with enrichment classes including The Princeton Review SAT preparation class and other classes not generally offered in the curricula of local high schools. Outside of the classroom, students experience daily special events and programming, exciting evening activities in town, and a two day weekend trip to visit other colleges either in Upstate New York or the Washington D.C./ Baltimore area. https://www.summerdiscovery.com/penn-state

Syracuse University, Summer College: The program began in 1961 to offer teenagers the opportunity to start college study early and to test career interests firsthand before making crucial decisions about the future. Summer College students choose one of ten programs and attend college-level, credit bearing, pre-professional courses. http://summercollege.syr.edu/

Taft Summer School: Established in 1982, the Taft Summer School provides an opportunity for motivated students entering grades 8-12 to review course material, prepare for future courses, or enrich their academic experience by taking courses not normally available to them. www.taftschool.org

UCLA's Summer Sessions: Open to motivated high school students or post graduates, this program jump-starts those headed for college with enrichment courses designed to boost academic achievement. www.summer.ucla.edu

United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar: Rising High School Seniors have the opportunity to visit the Naval Academy for one week during the summer. Students will experience all aspects of the Naval Academy including the academic program and midshipman life. Furthermore, students will receive an overview of Navy and Marine Corps service options. www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm

University of Southern California, Summer Seminars for High School Students: Seminars for high school students that are designed to be more interactive and engaging than either accelerated high school classes or the broad introductory courses typical of other pre-collegiate programs. http://summerprograms.usc.edu

USF Area Health Education Center – Summer program for talented high school juniors and seniors. health.usf.edu/ahec/HighSchool/Students-summeracademy.htm

Vanderbilt University, Program for Talented Youth: Vanderbilt University offers an intensive, enriched, three-week summer residential program for academically talented youth who are currently in grades seven through eleven. The goal of Vanderbilt PTY is to provide a stimulating and challenging intellectual environment along with a full program of social and recreational activities. Students can be expected to learn at a high level, to have lots of fun, and to form lasting friendships. http://www.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/pty

Washington University in St. Louis, High School Summer Scholars Program: The program offers 70 different courses drawn from more than 30 departments spanning the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences; student may earn up to 7 hours of transferable college credit. http://ucollege.wustl.edu/programs/special-programs/high-school-college-credit-program

The College of William and Mary, Pre-Collegiate Program in Early American History: Students earn four hours of college credit for a four week summer course that teaches early American history through the use of historic places, including surviving structures, archaeology sites, and museums. http://www.wm.edu/niahd/

Yale University, Senior Exploration: For 26 years, Exploration has offered high school students the opportunity to live and learn in a diverse and vibrant community. At the senior program, students explore the breadth of a liberal arts and pre-professional curriculum while they are still in high school. www.explo.org

Academic Programs (Fine Arts)
American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive: The ABT Summer Intensive has earned a reputation for being the most thorough dance experience a student can have during the summer. Students participate in a minimum of four classes per day with ABT faculty. Dancers enjoy a comprehensive curriculum that includes exposure to ABT artists, history, and repertory. http://www.abt.org/education/ summerintensive.asp

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Each summer, the program provides high school students from around the country the chance to expand their creative talents in painting and drawing, sculpture, fashion design, photography, video, computers, graphic design, interior architecture, and film animation by studying with the School's outstanding faculty. www.artic.edu/learn/teens

The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Summer in the City: Explore the creative arts through classes in graphic design, interior design, animation, multimedia web, culinary arts, video production, photography, fashion design, and industrial design technology. www.aiph.aii.edu

The University of the Arts, School of Dance and Summer Institute: The University of the Arts is located on the "Avenue for the Arts" in downtown Center City Philadelphia. The campus is in the heart of the city's artistic community, near theaters, restaurants, shops, department stores, and charming city parks and squares. The school of Dance offers professional training leading to a four-year BFA in Ballet, Modern, or Jazz.
www.uarts.edu/academics/pre-college-programs/summer-institute-9-12

ArtLab, Kansas City Art Institute: ArtLab is about exploring the edge of artmaking and pushing your limits as an artist. Intensive studio and academic courses are the foundation of the program; students learn firsthand the daring and commitment it takes to be a creative artist. www.kcai.edu

Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs: Programs offered in Architecture, Art, Design, Drama, and Music. www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college

Corcoran Pre-College Summer Workshop: Corcoran College of Art + Design, the oldest art conservatory in Washington, DC, offers a two week summer program for high school juniors and seniors, who are considering an art or design career. Students acquire knowledge and skills in a variety of art and design media. Intensive courses in painting, sculpture, photography, and graphic design will help students narrow their area of interest. www.corcoran.edu

Duke University, Domestic Field Studies on Creative Writing Ghost Ranch in NM: Students learn strategies to develop their creative writing skills and how and where to publish their writings while engaging in creative discovery and writing at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. www.tip.duke.edu

Duke University, Domestic Field Studies on Filmmaking in Orange, CA: Students interested in the intense production environment of a Hollywood movie studio, from script development to finished product, should explore this course at Chapman University. The filmmaking course provides an instruction to film production; students shoot and edit short productions on videotape. www.tip.duke.edu

Goucher Summer Art Institute: An exciting opportunity to dive headfirst into the world of the performing arts, the program offers pre-professional programs in dance, jazz music, band, and brass ensemble. http://www.goucher.edu/summerarts

Institute for Television Film and Radio Production, Boston University: ITRP is a five-week, hands-on program for high school students interested in the many aspects of media production and programming. Create a 16 mm short film; design sound effects in our digital radio studio; or explore multimedia production, broadcast journalism, and nonlinear editing in our television workshops. www.bu.edu/com/itrp

Kenyon College, Workshop in Writing and Thinking for High School Students: The National Writing and Thinking Network was established by the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College to provide imaginative, stimulating, and enjoyable summer writing programs for high school students. www.kenyonreview.org

Lake Forest College, Workshop in Writing and Thinking for High School Students: The National Writing and Thinking Network was established by the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College to provide imaginative, stimulating, and enjoyable summer writing programs for high school students. www.lfc.edu

Lewis and Clark College, Workshop in Writing and Thinking for High School Students: The National Writing and Thinking Network was established by the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College to provide imaginative, stimulating, and enjoyable summer writing programs for high school students. www.lclark.edu/~firacres

Maryland Institute College of Art, Pre-College Studio Residency Program: An unparalleled opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges and excitement of college-level art study. It is one of the most intensely creative and vigorous programs of its kind in the nation. www.mica.edu

Moore College of Art and Design, Summer Fine Arts Institute: Female students spend 4 weeks immersed in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Women in the Summer Fine Arts Institute will also receive instruction on portfolio development and the art college admission process. www.moore.edu

New York Film Academy: The program offers an intensive, hands-on filmmaking workshops where students write, direct, shoot, and edit their own 16mm films, using the same Arriflex cameras and the same lighting packages as those used by major film schools such as NYU, USC, UCLA, and Columbia University. www.nyfa.com

New York University, Summer High School Programs: The Tisch School of the Arts offers high school students six performing and visual arts programs in New York City and three programs abroad. http://specialprograms.tisch.nyu.edu/page/home

Northwestern University, Theatre Arts: Enroll in either the Theatre Arts and Design/Technical Program or the Musical Theatre Program. The summer program provides a one-of-a kind opportunity to gain a broad exposure to the complex art of theatre, produce and perform theatrical works, and experience campus life in the National High School Institute Theatre Arts Division. www.northwestern.edu

Pre-College, Pratt Institute: Immerse yourself in Art and Design, Architecture, Creative Writing, and Cultural Studies. Each summer, 400 high school students seize the opportunity to experience college-level study in Pratt Institute_s Pre-College program. These students immerse themselves in aprogram of art, design, architecture, creative writing, and cultural studies modeled after Pratt_s BFA offerings. Upon completion of the program, students earn four elective college credits. http://www.pratt.edu/

University of Pennsylvania, Summer Studies: Students work with Penn's nationally-ranked Fine Arts faculty in Charles Addams, the new high-tech facility and use state-of-the-art equipment and labs. Concentrations include beginning and intermediate drawing and painting, digital video, animation, photography, or advanced drawing and portfolio preparation. http://www.upenn.edu/summer

Ringling School of Art and Design 2005 Precollege Perspective: Give students an opportunity to experience learning at a professional art and design college and earn three college credits. Students explore visual and verbal vocabularies of art and design while learning contemporary techniques in studio settings. www.ringling.edu

Sewanee Young Writers' Conference: Literary stars, including Arthur Miller, Derek Walcott, Horton Foote, Mark Strand, and Ernest Gaines, join serious high school writers for two weeks of intensive literary discussion and creation. www.sewanee.edu/ywc

Simon's Rock College of Bard, Workshop in Writing and Thinking: The National Writing and Thinking Network was established by the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College to provide imaginative, stimulating, and enjoyable summer writing programs for high school students. www.simons-rock.edu

Skidmore College, AP Art: Skidmore's summer program is designed for highly motivated and talented students who wish to augment their studio art experience in a rigorous college environment. AP Art students work alongside college students in classes that are small and individualized and in spacious, well-equipped studios with skylights. In addition, the program features nationally known visiting artists, who lecture on their work and provide critiques. http://cms.skidmore.edu/index.cfm

Snow Farm, The New England Craft Program: Snow Farm is a hand's-on, intensive summer in art-- a place to become totally involved for both the newcomer and veteran in the world of art. Students may craft in areas of ceramics, drawing, photography, textile art, metalsmithing and jewelry construction, and glassblowing. www.snowfarm.org

St. John's College, Monte Sol Workshop in Writing and Thinking: The National Writing and Thinking Network was established by the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College to provide imaginative, stimulating, and enjoyable summer writing programs for high school students. http://www.bard.edu/iwt/students/

Summer Stage Dance, Concord Academy: The intensive curriculum includes classes in ballet, modern dance, repertory, and performance skills. All workshop participants will have the opportunity to perform new works in the Choreographer's Project Showcase. www.summerstage.org

Wildacres Art Workshop, Ringling School of Art and Design: A total immersion into art making, students are surrounded by the beautiful atmosphere of a mountaintop retreat while furthering study in painting, figure study, drawing, photography, ceramics, printmaking, watercolor, and plein air painting. http://www.ringling.edu/Wildacres.74.0.html

Young Scholars & Writers Camp, Rhodes College: High School Students choose between a wide variety of writing-intensive courses in the humanities, social sciences, and the natural sciences. http://www.rhodes.edu/academics/4422.asp

Academic Programs (Science and Engineering)
Burnett Honors College Summer Institute (BHCSI): It is a 3 week residential computer science camp at UCF for students in grades 9-12. Not only do the students get to learn all about Java, cryptography and web development, but they also get to live in an actual college dorm and go to places such as Islands of Adventure/Universal, Sea World, Epcot, Florida Interactive Entertainment. Academy (FIEA), and Sak Comedy lab! siucf.cs.ucf.edu

Cornell University, Introduction to Architecture Program: A summer career-exploration program for high school and college students considering a professional education in architecture. www.study-serve.org

Duke University, Domestic Field Studies on Radio Astronomy in NC: Students at the Radio Astronomy Program in the Smoky Mountains have access to state-of-the-art observational equipment at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute. Students experience life of a field researcher and develop their science abilities while traveling in the Northern Rockies. www.tip.duke.edu

Duke University Ecology, Biology, and Geology in Mountain Lake, VA: The Mountain Lake Biological Field Station is located in a remote hardwood forest characterized by diverse flora and fauna. The course begins with an overview of ecology by emphasizing the effect of biotic and antibiotic factors on community structures and species distribution. The structure of the course contains two components. For the first week, students receive background information in the form of lecture and field studies. During the second week, students independently construct a project focusing on a scientific question. www.tip.duke.edu

Honors Summer Institute: In cooperation with Scripps Research Institute/Florida, the Honors College (Jupiter, FL) is holding a 3 week residential program for rising high school juniors and seniors. The theme of summer_s 2006 Institute is Science, Technology, and Society. Students will take one of three honors courses taught by distinguished faculty, in a small class setting, and receive 3 college credits. We offer a course in the sciences on biotechnology, a course in the humanities on bioethics, and a course in the social sciences on evolution, psychology, and human nature. Students will also tour the Scripps research facilities on the Jupiter campus and participate in afternoon lecture and discussion sections led by Scripps scientists as well as many other activities. This is an extraordinary opportunity for talented students to earn college credit, experience college residential life, and interact with leading faculty and scientists conducting state of the art research. http://www.fau.edu/divdept/honcol/hsi_index.htm

Florida State University Young Scholars Program (YSP): a residential summer science and mathematics experience for outstanding students of Florida's private and public schools. http://bio.fsu.edu/ysp/

Georgia Tech, PRe-College Engineering Program (PREP): A ten-day program for rising juniors and seniors to explore the fields in engineering and the "world of technology." www.gatech.edu

Engineering Innovation at Johns Hopkins University: A program designed to give high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates the opportunity to explore engineering as a career. http://engineering-innovation.jhu.edu/

Howard University Engineering/Science Career Orientation Summer Program: The program provides students with technical work experience and exposes students to the day-to-day experiences of scientists and engineers. www.howard.edu

Institute for Educational Advancement: Students work with world-renowned scientists, engineers, artists and musicians. During the two-week Apprenticeship Program, students are introduced to fields such as neuroanatomy, mechanical engineering, music production, and industrial design. www.educationaladvancement.org

Iowa State University, CY-TAG: An opportunity for gifted students to challenge themselves in the classroom. Students attend 100 hours of class on subjects such as Genetics, Computer Programming, Spanish, etc. http://www.opptag.iastate.edu/

Mount Holyoke College , Summer Math:
A four week program for high school girls of all mathematical abilities. www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/summermath

Mount Holyoke College , Search (Summer Explorations And Research Collaborations for High School Girls: A four week program for high school girls who want to experience a research-like atmosphere in mathematics. www.mtholyoke.edu/proj/search

Pratt Pre-College Summer in Art, Design, and Architecture: Each summer 250 high school students from across the country and around the world immerse themselves in art, design, and architecture in Pratt's intensive four-week, college-level program. www.pratt.edu

Boston University PROMYS: A six week residential program offering an intensive experience in creative mathematical exploration to 65 students with an exceptionally strong interest in mathematics www.promys.org

SEA Semester at Woods Hole SEA Education Association (SEA) offers high school students summer programs that challenges them intellectually and physically by combining a sailing adventure of a lifetime with the study of the deep ocean. http://www.sea.edu/academics/ program_highschoolprograms.asp.

Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program: A four week residential program for women (grades 9-12) with strong interests in science, engineering and medicine. www.smith.edu/summerprograms/ssep

University of Florida Student Science Training Program: The University of Florida Student Science Training Program (UF-SSTP) in Gainesville, Florida, is a seven-week residential research program for up to 100 selected rising seniors and qualified rising juniors who are considering medicine, math, computer, science, or engineering careers. The program emphasis is research participation with a UF faculty research scientist and his/her research team. http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/sstp/

University of Maryland, Summer Session in Architecture: The Summer Design Workshop introduces students to a possible career in architecture. This hands-on course will offer students seminars with successful architects, tours of architectural landmarks, and an introduction to design through a project with a current graduate student. www.summer.umd.edu

University of Michigan Math and Science Scholars Summer Program: Students experience state of the art courses taught in small classes by leading UM faculty members, exciting cultural opportunities including the Ann Arbor Summer Festival and Arts Fair, and a chance to make friends with students from around the country who share your intellectual interests. www.umich.edu

University of Minnesota, Summer Enrichment Programs: The programs are designed for students who want to explore topics in mathematics and its science, engineering, and technology applications. www.math.umn.edu/itcep

Worchester Polytechnic Institute: "Frontiers" is a two- week, residential program for rising juniors and seniors that mirrors the hands-on project-based approach of our undergraduate program. Frontiers blends academic coursework in topics such as mechanical engineering, physics, robotics, computer science and biotechnology, with diverse social activities, communication workshops, team- building exercises and field trips. www.wpi.edu/+frontiers

Community Service
Landmark Volunteers: Landmark volunteers is a merit-based program that provides an opportunity for high school students to perform community service at 55 nationally important historical, cultural, conservation, or social service institutions throughout the country. www.volunteers.com

Student Conservation Association's Summer Conservation Work Crews: SCA provides high school and adult volunteers the opportunity to work on significant conservation projects throughout the nation. These volunteers bring their energy and talents to natural resource management agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, among others. www.thesca.org

Service Learning in Paris/Service Learning in Barcelona: The mission of this program is to give thoughtful and accomplished young people an opportunity for immersion in another culture through active participation in community service work and focused study. Daily, on-going service project distinguish this program from the more usual study and travel approach to summer programs. www.study-serve.org

Volunteer Abroad in Latin America: is an international volunteer travel organisation. We design volunteer vacations for individuals whose goal is volunteer in Latin America. We currently offer volunteer abroad placements in Costa Rica. We work with local: NGOs, governments, grass roots organisations and private partners to offer volunteer work abroad projects in fields such as Teaching English, Sports Coaching, Community Development, Eco-tourism, Conservation, Environment and Media & Technology. http://www..org/

Visions Service Adventures: Visions is a co-ed summer program offering community service experiences in cross cultural settings in and outside the US to high school students ages 14 to 18. The programs blend community service work, intellectual learning, and challenging recreation. www.visionsserviceadventures.com

Internships and Leadership Programs
American Youth Foundation, International Leadership Conferences: The program (for high school juniors, seniors, or 4-H participants) focuses on "emerging" leaders-- those young adults who have the qualities and abilities to lead, but who may not yet recognize or act of their leadership potential. www.ayf.com

The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel: Our mission is to study Judaism and the Jewish world through the lens of Israel and to create a cadre of young Jewish leaders. This is a fully endowed program that chooses its participants not on the basis of financial need, but on merit alone. www.bronfman.org

Careers Representing America: Student Programs enable students to obtain job experience in a foreign affairs environment. Some of our students work in Washington, D.C., while others have the opportunity to work at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. http://careers.state.gov/student/index.html

Girls' Leadership Workshop: The Girls’ Leadership Workshop (GLW) delivers programs each summer to educate, empower, and activate adolescent girls to become the next generation of social justice leaders. At Val-Kill, Mrs. Roosevelt’s country home and retreat in Hyde Park, New York, high school girls celebrate the life and legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt, develop their leadership skills, and strengthen their commitment and confidence to make a difference in their communities. http://ervk.org/html/glw.html

Honors Summer Institute: A residential college experience in collaboration with the Scripps Research Institute-Florida. For rising 11th and 12th graders. Held at Wilkes Honor College of FAU in Jupiter , FL. Enroll in one 3-credit course taught by Honors College faculty, with additional lectures by Scripps scientists. www.fau.edu/summerinstitute

Institute for Educational Advancement, Apprenticeship Program: An opportunity for gifted and talented high school students to work with a mentor for two weeks during the summer. Students will work in small groups with a skilled professional to gain hands-on knowledge and skills related to a field they are interested in and passionate about. www.educationaladvancement.org

Leadership Institute at Duke University: The mission for leadership is to encourage students to deepen their commitments to service, philanthropy, and civic engagement, no matter where their academic or career paths may lead them. Students will gain an understanding of leadership through acceleration classroom instruction and service learning experiences in the community. Open to students currently in grades 9-12. www.tip.duke.edu

People to People Leadership Programs: Leadership Summit, World Leadership Forum, Future Leaders Summits www.lsleaders.org

School of Public Service: School of Public Service (SPS) is a leadership/mentoring program that begins with an intensive four-week summer academic session held at St. Albans School in Washington, DC from June 17th to July 14th. While in the program, the students gain experiences designed to heighten not only an interest in public service but also their probability of entering into and succeeding in a career in civic leadership. www.schoolofpublicservice.org

SEA Semester at Woods Hole SEA Education Association (SEA) offers high school students summer programs that challenges them intellectually and physically by combining a sailing adventure of a lifetime with the study of the deep ocean. http://www.sea.edu/academics/ program_highschoolprograms.asp

Volunteer Abroad in Latin America: is an international volunteer travel organisation. We design volunteer vacations for individuals whose goal is volunteer in Latin America. We currently offer volunteer abroad placements in Bolivia, Costa Rica and Ecuador. We work with local: NGOs, governments, grass roots organisations and private partners to offer volunteer work abroad projects in fields such as Teaching English, Sports Coaching, Community Development, Eco-tourism, Conservation, Environment and Media & Technology. http://www..org/

Volunteer Capital Centre -   Through VCC you get a chance to go to the remotest parts of the World and get to see how the local people live. The volunteer programs benefit African communities and are partnered with area non-profit organizations whose purpose is to help the vulnerable groups in the societies.  You will work side-by-side with local people, immerse yourself in another culture, and live in a community that warmly welcomes you. Our unique programs will give you the opportunity to exchange ideas with people of another culture. It will open the door to new relationships with people who will change your life – as much as you change theirs.  Our volunteers are provided with safe, affordable and quality volunteer programs in different countries in Africa.   www.volunteercapitalcentre.org

Minority Programs
Carnegie Melon, Summer Academy for Minority Students: Minority students entering their junior or senior year who are considering careers in engineering, science, or other math-based disciplines are eligible to participate in this rigorous program. http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college

Minority Introduction to Technology and Engineering (MITE) at MIT: A rigorous six-week program for promising junior minority students who are interested in studying and exploring careers in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. http://web.mit.edu/mites/www/

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Institute: The STEM Institute is a summer commuter program that serves minority groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the fields of math and science in the United States-- including Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans. http://www.cahsee.org/2programs/stem.asp.htm

Outdoor Adventure Programs
ActionQuest: An educational opportunity with emphasis on building self-reliance and personal responsibility. ActionQuest offers sailing and scuba diving adventures while living aboard through programs in the British Virgin Islands, French Caribbean, Tahiti, Galapagos, and Australia. www.actionquest.com

Adventure Ireland: Adventure Ireland has been designed by the faculty of Ashfield College Dublin to provide a comprehensive and exciting cultural experience of Ireland. The program is based in Donegal, which is ideally situated on the beautiful Atlantic coastline, with its clean sandy beaches, rocky headlands, and mountain backdrop, it is a perfect setting for outdoor fun. www.adventure-ireland.com

Deer Hill Expeditions: An experiential education program, Deer Hill focuses on group interaction skill development in wilderness and service learning settings. Deer Hill offers wilderness activities or cross cultural service projects in the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and Ute Indian Nations, or Conservation service projects with the U.S. Forest Service. www.deerhillexpeditions.com

Hemlock Summer Camps: Hemlock Overlook is operated year round as a joint venture between George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Programs for students ages 14-17 are offered in water adventure, introduction to wilderness adventure, advanced wilderness adventure, and a counselor in training program. adventurelinks.net/

Musiker Tours: Students experience a fantastic summer traveling across the USA, Canada, Alaska/Hawaii, and Europe. Since 1966, the Musiker family has offered the finest 3-6 week, activity oriented, quality teen tour programs. www.summerfun.com/mdp/website/ indexFlash.htm

Princeton Journey Company: The trips tour the best biking spots in the country. They are designed so that participants will not only enjoy time on a bike, but also experience a variety of awesome activities off the bike, such as: whitewater rafting, sea-kayaking, hiking, and spending time at the beach. www.bicycletourcompany.com/drafts/ princeton.htm

The Road Less Traveled, Adventure in Education School Programs: Hiking, climbing, rafting, and experiencing the natural world. Programs offered in Alaska, Australia, Colorado, Costa Rica, New Mexico, Nepal, and Wyoming. www.theroadlesstraveled.com

Sail Caribbean: The program offers teenagers experiences in island culture, marine biology, diving, certifications, and water sports. www.sailcaribbean.com

Where There Be Dragons: Dragons offers rugged experiential learning trips to developing Asia and Latin America. With a focus on cultural immersion, languages, service learning, and development studies, we expose students to a broad set of ideas and cultures to make better world citizens. www.wheretherebedragons.com

Wilderness Ventures: Programs from sixteen days to six weeks, for 13-21 year olds, emphasizing wilderness travel and group leadership skills. These expeditions are conducted in the Northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, and several international locations. Activities include backpacking, whitewater rafting & kayaking, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountaineering, and fly fishing. www.wildernessventures.com ? Young Judea Three-week and five-week summer programs for teen entering grades 10-12 that includes seminars, hikes and culture. www.yearcourse.org

Study Abroad

2015 Study Abroad - Rome, Italy(New for 2015!) | Program Date: June 7 – June 20, 2015 This 12-day program will immerse students in the history and culture of the Eternal City, with a focus on the built environment. Scholars representing a range of fields, from art history to anthropology, will be on hand to guide students in their exploration of this fascinating city. The new Notre Dame Center in Rome will serve as the home for lectures and discussions while the city itself, with its monuments, museums and historic neighborhoods, will serve as the course’s true classroom.For rising high school seniors only. Application deadline: January 16, 2015. precollege.nd.edu/study-abroad

Academie De Paris: The Academie de Paris presents a unique opportunity for enterprising high school students (grades 10-12) to step out of their own culture and experience the life of a University of Paris student.
www.oxbridgeprograms.com


Academic Study Associates: ASA is dedicated to offering innovative, fun and challenging summer programs that foster intellectual and personal growth. Academic excellence, expert faculty and staff, careful supervision, an exciting activities program and the widest choices for weekend excursions combine to make ASA programs the perfect preparation for college and beyond. Programs are offered at Oxford, England and multiple cities in Spain and France. http://www.asaprograms.com/home/ asa_home.asp

American Field Service: AFS is a non-profit volunteer based educational organization offering exchanges for students, young adults and teachers in over 50 countries around the world. AFS offers three basic programs for secondary students: the School Year Program, the Semester Program and the Summer or Intensive Program. There are many small variations to these programs around the world. Candidates for AFS school based programs should be between 16 and 18 1/2 years old on the date of arrival in their host country. Age requirements vary country to country. If you are 18 or older consider the AFS Community Service Program. The School Year Program runs for one academic year and begins in July/August/September or January/February /March depending on the country. AFS students live with a host family and attend a local secondary school as a full-time student. The Semester Program runs for four to eight months and begins in August/September or January/February, depending on the country. Again, AFS students live with a host family and attend a local secondary school as a full-time student. Summer or Intensive Programs run for one to three months. These programs focus on homestay, language skills, community service or cultural activities. Participants live with a host family, participate in educational activities and enjoy their new community. http://www.afs.org/usa

The American University of Paris Summer Study: An international setting that encourages stimulating academics, new friendships from around the world, and personal development. AUP is the oldest American institution of higher learning in Europe; the University combines an American approach to learning with the vast cultural assets of European history. www.aup.fr/

Amigos de las Americas: Amigos de las Americas is an international, nonprofit organization that was founded in 1965 and has 40 years of experience in facilitating community development programs. We train and provide opportunities for high school and college students to participate in service projects in Latin America. We are dedicated to building partnerships to empower young leaders, advance community development, and strengthen multicultural understanding in the Americas. AMIGOS believes in the power and capability of young people to change our world! http://www.amigoslink.org/

Alliances Abroad: Alliances Abroad offers a wide variety of language programs, homestay experiences, and service opportunities. www.allianceabroad.com

The Cambridge Tradition: An outstanding pre-college program that gathers top high school students (grades 10-12) in the magnificent setting of Jesus College, Cambridge University, for a month of intensive academic study and cultural enrichment. www.oxbridgeprograms.com

Cambridge Prep Experience: A program for eighth and ninth graders that offers a wide array of academic, science, and arts courses, all in the beautiful and ancient surroundings of Cambridge University. www.oxbridgeprograms.com

College of Cevenol, Summer School: The College of Cevenol is a private, secondary boarding school located in the village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon at an altitude of some 3,500 feet in France's Massif Central. Students focus on French language, culture, and arts while living and studying with students from other countries. www.cevenolfriends.org

Concordia Language Villages: Many students have sharpened their language skills at Concordia Language Villages, whose mission is to prepare young people for responsible citizenship in our global community. This program is supported and run by Concordia College (MN). There are two kinds of summer programs. The Credit Abroad Programs in Japan, Spain, France and Germany allow students to earn high school language credit through a 4-week experience of intensive language study, travel and one week living with a family. The Language Villages Program provides students a summer camp experience conducted in the foreign language, held in northern Minnesota. The Language Villages has built five culturally authentic village sites which offer total immersion experiences in these languages/cultures: Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. You may enroll for as little as one week, or for multiple weeks. "Villagers" participate in daily language sessions with others at the same level of proficiency. There are many activities planned too, such as canoeing, arts, singing, dancing, theater - all in the target language! Evening sessions may include commemorating a cultural event, celebrating a traditional festival or participating in a cultural simulation. You will experience authentic foods, sports, games and crafts during the immersion experience. No previous language study is required. http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/ newsite/

The Experiment in International Living: The Experiment has 44 programs in 24 countries around the globe. The participants are immersed into the daily life of a singe place and its people. The Experiment in International Living and the School for International Training are two of several reputable programs under the umbrella of World Learning in Brattleboro, Vermont. World Learning is a long established organization that has been entrusted with considerable Peace Corps training in the areas of language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding with a strong dedication to world peace. World Learning's summer exchange program immerses high school students in another culture in one of over 20 countries. Through homestays, language training, community service, peace studies, and ecological projects, these cross-cultural adventures challenge stereotypes, reduce xenophobia, and celebrate diversity. The Experiment's goal is for high school students to "change the world, one friendship at a time." www.worldlearning.org

Intern Exchange International: Students immerse themselves in the day-to-day rhythms of the working world through a variety of exciting internships and career plus-programs and explore the pleasures of London during their free time. www.internexchange.com

Irish American Cultural Institute: Each summer approximately 100 American high school students travel to Ireland with the Irish Way to explore the rich history and traditions of Ireland and its people. The program structure consists of three major elements: Irish education, a home stay, and touring. www.iaci-usa.org

La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica: La Suerte is a 750 ranch located in Northeastern Costa Rica. The ranch consists of two rivers, swamps, pastures, and primary/secondary tropical rain forest. Students study tropical plant ecology, biology of the rain forest, and primate behavior and ecology. www.lasuerte.org

Shakespeare in Italy: University of Dallas: The University of Dallas invites eager and qualified young Latinists to participate in its one-of-a-kind program in Latin situated just outside of Rome. The academic program will include lectures by university faculty who have lived and taught in Rome, daily language tutorials, group discussions of texts, as well as guided visits to the historical sites and world famous museums in the vicinity. This program is not a simple summer tour, but rather, a rigorous program of intensive study of Latin in Rome, the most suitable context for such study. udallas.edu/travel/highschoolprograms/index.html

Leysin American School in Switzerland: Students take classes in foreign languages, math, art, photography, theater, world cultures and religions, or many other courses. During the afternoons and evenings, students participate in activities that take advantage of the Alpine Environment. www.las.ch/news/summer-at-las

The Loomis Chaffee School; Summer in Spain: The program combines academics (all native instructors), home stays and travel to provide a five-week, full immersion experience in Spanish language and culture. The Spanish program is based in Barcelona . http://www.loomischaffee.org/page.cfm?p=306

Midsummer in London, An Intensive Pre-College Acting Program: The course aims to provide young people with a relevant base for professional acting and theatre studies. It will cover Acting Shakespeare to Dramatic Criticism, Stage Fighting to Stage Makeup and Physical Theatre to Improvisation. www.badaonline.com

Ometepe Biological Field Station, Nicaragua: Ometepe is an island of 276 square kilometers in Lake Nicaragua where two majestic forested volcanoes dominate the island. Programs of study include: biological illustration, medicinal plants of the neotropics, primate behavior and ecology, and tropical herpetology. www.maderasrfe.org

Oxford Advanced Studies Program at Magdalen College, Oxford: Sophomores and Juniors of good academic standing are invited to apply for places on this program which offers a superb academic curriculum in a range of subjects. The visits and activities are many and varied, offering a real taste of British culture and institutions. www.oasp.ac.uk

The Oxford Tradition: A unique pre-college academic program that brings high school students (grades 10-12) to Oxford University for a month of intensive study and the experience of British college life. www.oxbridgeprograms.com

Service Learning in Paris: The mission of this program is to give thoughtful and accomplished young people an opportunity for immersion in another culture through active participation in community service work and focused study. Daily, on-going service projects distinguish this program from the more usual study and travel approach to summer programs. www.study-serve.org

Shakespeare in Italy, University of Dallas: The University of Dallas invites high school students interested in literature and history to participate its annual summer program, Shakespeare in Italy. Each summer, University of Dallas professors lead students through the most compelling works of Shakespeare's corpus in the midst of his most enchanting and breathtaking Italian settings. Like all of our summer programs, Shakespeare in Italy is based upon classical and classic texts from the University's Core Curriculum. http://udallas.edu/academics/summer/hs

Spoleto Study Abroad Summer Session: An intensive interdisciplinary program focusing on the arts and the humanities for students ages 15-19. www.spoletostudyabroad.com

Summer Programs of the American School in England: TASIS England Summer School (TESS) offers six week courses in a variety of subject areas to native or highly proficient English speakers. www.tasis.com

University for the Creative Arts: One of Europe's largest institutes specializing in art, design, media, and communications. These summer programs are ideally suited to any student who has an interest in art and design and would like to experience studying in the UK. www.ucreative.ac.uk

TASIS England Theatre Workshop: In this course, London becomes the classroom. Students are introduced to the richly diverse theatrical experiences which the capital has to offer by attending 10-12 current productions in London's West End, and by visiting the magnificent, newly opened Shakespeare's Globe. www.tasis.com

TASIS Spanish Summer Program: The program is based in Salsmanca, a learning center since the middle ages, located two hours northwest of Madrid in the historic Kingdom of Castile. The program is designed to offer intensive Spanish for approximately 100 high school students, ages 14-18. www.tasis.com

University of Dallas Eternal Cities, Greece, Italy, and Rome: The annual study tour led by well-known University of Dallas art professor and tour guide, Lyle Novinski, invites college students, teachers, and families to experience the glories of Greece and Italy through on-site lectures and evening class discussion. http://www.udallas.edu/travel/cities.cfm

University of St. Andrews, Scottish Summer Program: A unique opportunity for students to sample life at the University of St. Andrews while learning about Scottish History, Literature, Archeology, and Art and Music. www.st-andrews.ac.uk

Youth for Understanding International Exchange: YFU awards a scholarship to a high school junior in each state; the recipients spend the summer in Japan, living with a host family and immersing themselves in the Japanese culture. Established in 1951, Youth For Understanding (YFU) International Exchange has exchanged more than 200,000 students worldwide. Youth For Understanding is one of the State Department approved sponsors of exchange programs and administers government and corporate scholarships. YFU was founded by Dr.Rachel Andresen, an educator and social worker living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In an effort to heal the wounds of World War II, Dr. Andresen arranged for 75 young Germans to live and attend school in Michigan for a year. Then as now, family and community living were at the center of the YFU international learning experience. Today, YFU conducts exchanges with more than 50 countries around the world. Each exchange is coordinated by a worldwide network of national YFU organizations. There is also an athletic component of YFU called Sports for Understanding. www.yfu.org

Summer For Free
Although many summer programs are pricey here is a list of some of the best programs that don't cost a dime. Because they are free, they tend to be competitive

2015 Leadership Seminars | Program Date: July 18 – July 29, 2015
Leadership Seminars is a 10-day, all expenses paid program for advanced students who wish to hone their critical thinking and expressive skills in the company of dynamic peers. Students will engage in lively discussions on issues of global concern under the tutelage of Notre Dame faculty. The three seminars offered are American Arts, Popular Culture and Social Change; Global Issues: Towards a Just Peace; and Science, Ethics and Responsibility.  For rising high school seniors only.  Application deadline: January 23, 2015. precollege.nd.edu/leadership-seminars

Bill of Rights Institute's -- Constitutional Academy. Summer, college-level opportunity for outstanding high school juniors and seniors interested in history, American government, and personal liberty. The program allows students to deepen their understanding of the constitutional principles through readings, discussions, and active learning experiences under the guidance of a faculty of distinguished teachers and college professors. Early application deadline is Friday, January 11. More information: www.constacademy.org.

ClaremontMcKennaCollege -- Step Up To Leadership Program. Open to rising 10th and 11th graders nominated by their principal, this week-long program affiliated with CMC's Kravis Leadership Institute is free but does not include transportation costs. Claremont McKenna is a selective private college in southern California. Deadline: Spring. More information: www.cmc.edu.

ClarkUniversity -- Summer Science Program. Students who are between 11th and 12th grade can enjoy three free weeks of thematic science study at Clark, a medium-sized university in Worcester, Massachusetts. Deadline: March 15. More information: www.clark.edu.

Congressional Page Program -- Students can spend a summer, a semester, or a year delivering messages to members of Congress -- and getting paid for it. Two four-week sessions for 66 students each are available in the summer. Students live in their own residence hall and get paid at the equivalent of about $14,500 per year. More information: contact your Senator or Member of Congress.

Governor's School -- The programs vary by state, and not all states have a governor's school. The schools vary in length and focus but are typically housed on a university campus. Most are free. More information: contact your high-school counselor or state department of education.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Research Science Institute. Founded by Admiral Hyman Rickover, RSI is the nation's premier summer program for aspiring science whiz kids. The program lasts six weeks and everything except transportation is free. Students who get in here can probably get in anywhere. Deadline: February 1. More information: www.mit.edu.

U of the South-Sewanee Summer Bridge Program -- The Bridge Program in Math and Science at Sewanee is a three-week residential experience for twenty rising high school seniors. Selection of students will be based on academic performance and their potential to contribute to and enrich campus diversity. Sewanee's facilities include state-of-the-art equipment, computerized classrooms, and a 10,000 acre campus that provides ample opportunity for research and recreation. The mathematics experience is an introductory calculus class. The science is research-oriented and culminates with a multimedia group presentation.  Deadline March 15 www.sewanee.edu/bridgeprogram

University of the South -- Freeman Asian Cultural Experiences at Sewanee (FACES) -- A two-week, tuition-free program on Asian Studies. Prefers students entering grade 12. The University of the South (Sewanee) is a selective liberal arts college in rural Tennessee. Deadline: March 15. More information: www.sewanee.edu.

Telluride Association Summer Programs -- One of the nation's most prestigious summer programs. Six-week seminars focus on thematic issues in the humanities and social sciences. Locations include Cornell University and University of Michigan. Nomination required in December. Deadline: January 31. More information: www.tellurideassociation.org.

WabashCollege -- Opportunities to Learn About Business. Open to rising 12th graders, this week-long program is ideal for students considering a business major. Wabash is a small, all-male liberal arts college in Indiana. (The program is coed.) Deadline: April 15. More information: www.wabash.edu.



Minority Students(for disadvantaged students of any background)

Carleton
College -- Liberal Arts Experience. Open to students between 10th and 11th grade, the program lasts for one week and pays for all expenses, including travel. Carleton is a highly selective liberal arts college in Minnesota. Deadline: February 15. More information: www.carleton.edu.

CarnegieMellonUniversity -- Summer Academy for Minority Students. Offers six weeks of study for students in underrepresented groups who are interested in science and math. CMU is one of the nation's premier technically-oriented universities. Open to students who have completed grades 10 or 11. Deadline: April 1. More information: www.cmu.ed

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Minority Introduction to Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Science. Offers six weeks of tuition-free study and all the fun of Boston in the summer. Open to students who have finished grade 11. Attendees must pay transportation costs. Deadline: early February. More information: www.mit.edu.

Quest Scholars Program -- A small, highly competitive program that offers a five-week summer program and five years of subsequent mentorship to low-income, at-risk students. Based at Stanford and open to students who have completed grade 11. Deadline: early spring. More information: questscholars.stanford.edu.

Telluride Association Sophomore Seminars -- Six-week program open to African Americans that focuses on topics relevant to the black experience. Small and highly competitive. Nomination required in December. Deadline: January 31. More information: www.tellurideassociation.org.

Noteworthy

Concordia Language Villages
-- Serving nearly 10,000 students per year, Concordia offers the finest in summer language instruction is available for students in grades 3-12. Languages include Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Deadline: spring. More information: www.cord.edu/dept/clv.

EleanorRooseveltCenter at Val-Kill -- Girls' Leadership Workshop. A nine-day program for girls who will enter grades 10 or 11 that includes a diverse assortment of themes ranging from citizenship to the arts. Requires a token fee of $200. Deadline: February 28. More information: www.ervk.org.

Landmark Volunteers -- Offers two weeks of community service in places ranging from Acadia National Park in Maine to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. Open to students in the summer after grades 9, 10, or 11. Fee in the form of a tax-deductible $875 contribution. Deadline: March 31. More information: www.volunteers.com.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Women's Technology Program. Not free, but at a cost of only $1,000 for six weeks, the WTP is definitely a bargain. Open to students after completion of 11th grade. Deadline: February 1. More information: www.mit.edu.

U.S. Military Academies -- West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy offer low-cost, week-long programs that provide a taste of military life. Recommended for students who are considering the academies. Deadlines: early spring. More information: contact the academies.

University of Notre Dame -- Summer Introduction to Engineering. ND offers this three-week program for less than $1,000 to students who have completed 11th grade. Other programs include an introduction to architecture and a low-cost week-long program for Catholics that focuses on church teachings. Deadline: early spring.
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