Rice University Summer Programs: A Guide for High School Students

Summer research programs and internships provide high school students with invaluable extracurricular opportunities, particularly for those interested in pursuing STEM degrees. These programs offer a significant advantage in the college application process by providing hands-on experience, introducing advanced topics, and allowing students to work closely with experts in their fields. College admissions officers highly value students who demonstrate a commitment to learning beyond the standard coursework through research and extracurricular activities. Participating in such programs helps develop critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, which are beneficial regardless of the chosen career path.

Overview of Summer Programs at Rice University

Rice University offers various summer programs for high school students, catering to different interests and skill levels. These programs range from STEM-focused camps to entrepreneurship ventures, providing a diverse array of opportunities for young scholars to explore their passions and gain valuable experience.

The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies

The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies' Center for College Readiness offers various enrichment programs for middle and high school students. Formerly known as Houston Enriches Rice Education, the HERE Project has become the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL) and is now a part of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

DREAM Program

DREAM seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students in STEM degree programs, particularly engineering. DREAM is structured on a foundation of long-term mentoring.

Creative Writing Camp

The Creative Writing Camp, a collaboration of Rice’s School Literacy and Culture and Writers in the Schools, has been a widely respected Houston-area summer camp for 26 years.

Rice ELITE (Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering) Summer Camp

The Rice ELITE (Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering) Summer Camp is a 1-week day camp for high-potential high school students (i.e., rising 9th-12th grade) who are aiming to be the next-generation of leaders in engineering.

RUSMP Math Camps

RUSMP offers one-week activity-filled half-day math camps for students entering 2nd-grade through 7th-grade.

Say STEM Camp

Say STEM Camp is a 6-day, 5-night residential summer camp covering topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Rising 8th-12th grade students will learn the math and science behind cool and surprising things in their lives. Then they'll learn how to communicate them effectively by oral presentation and graphic design. Students will interact with college professors, experience life on a college campus, and develop skills in teamwork. Students from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have attended the camp in past years. A special section of the camp is offered to rising 12th graders in the top 3 students of their high school class.

Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie): Rice University Pathfinder

Join the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) for Rice University Pathfinder, a transformative 2-week residential program designed for high school students (rising Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors) ready to explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship. This isn’t your traditional summer program, where students sit in lectures and learn about theory. Instead, they learn by doing. Participants create their very own venture and dive headfirst into customer discovery, prototyping, and business modeling with an idea that you are passionate about.

Pathfinder Program Structure and Activities

A typical day includes workshops, hands-on lab sessions, field trips, and networking activities. Pathfinder helps you craft a standout college application by turning your passion into a tangible project. You’ll take an idea from start to finish, building something meaningful that showcases your unique interests and ambitions. Students will work on their venture idea in teams over the course of the Pathfinder Program. Students will have an opportunity to be named a L.I.L.I.E. (Launching Innovative Leaders in Impactful Entrepreneurship) Innovator based on their performance at the Pathfinder Demo Day. L.I.L.I.E. Innovators (pending Rice University attendance) will be considered for the L.I.L.I.E.

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The Lilie team is not involved in the Rice University admission or enrollment process. We welcome parents and students to the Rice University Admissions team. Tuition for Early Bird Applicants is $6000*. Application deadline is March 15, 2026. Tuition is $7000 for all other applicants. Pathfinder Demo Day is the program’s finale, where students present their business ideas to prominent entrepreneurs from Houston’s ecosystem for feedback and recognition. Parents are welcome to attend the Demo Day on the penultimate day of Pathfinder.

Pathfinder Application Process

Our application process is designed to identify passionate, curious, and driven high school students who are eager to explore the world of entrepreneurship.

Step 1: Submit a completed application to the Lilie team via our Pathfinder Application link. Early Bird Application deadline is March 15th.

Step 2: If accepted, you will be provided a link to pay your tuition fee. Tuition for Early Bird Applicants is $6000*. Application deadline is March 15, 2026. Tuition is $7000 for all other applicants. This is a 2-week residential program hosted by the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) at Rice University. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer academic credit for Rice University Pathfinder participants. Early Bird Application deadline is March 15th. After the Early Bird Application deadline, applications and admissions are rolling until April 15th.

REA Summer Engineering Experience (SEE)

Absolutely! In keeping with the REA mission that supports, honors, and connects Rice engineers before and after graduation, we launched the REA Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) to help a wide range of students obtain their first engineering experience in a professional work environment. We believe that students who have been accepted to Rice and want to be engineers, can be engineers. However, many students often do not get an opportunity to experience real world engineering and might become disillusioned with engineering. As a result, we target early tenure students who are completing their freshmen or sophomore year, but we also prioritize working with juniors who have not yet had an engineering experience. We work extensively with the Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP) to identify promising candidates and to support applicants through resume reviews, mock interviews, and informational panels. RESP’s mission is to ensure that students of high potential who attended under-resourced high schools, particularly low-income and first-generation students, persist, thrive, and graduate at the same rate as their peers, and that these students achieve their academic and professional aspirations as scientists and engineers. We also work with other Rice engineering organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Our opportunities and panels are open to all interested students.

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The REA SEE was launched in the fall of 2020 and resulted in the placement of two interns at Blade Energy Partners in the summer of 2021. Our program expanded the following year to place seven interns at four host companies: Blade Energy Partners, Unified Industries, Clutch Sports Data, and Key Capture Energy. We have had tremendous success placing students at host companies in the past few years and look forward to placing even more interns for the summer of 2026. Check out our social media pages throughout the summer to learn more about what our SEE interns are up to. We look forward to hearing from you!

Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship Program

The PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship at Rice University is a fully-funded, three-week internship program for high school sophomores and juniors from underserved households in the Houston area, made possible by the PATHS-UP initiative. PATHS-UP stands for Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations, and this program is designed to provide exposure to advanced topics like digital circuitry, engineering research, computer science, and physics for underserved populations. The program aims to encourage these students to pursue future careers in STEM and the healthcare sector.

Program Structure and Curriculum

Over the course of the program, you’ll be introduced to the science behind cutting-edge digital devices and wearables commonly used in healthcare. You will be mentored by university researchers and graduate students on how to construct your own device. This tinkering and experimentation will provide you with plenty of exposure and experience in modern research techniques, the fundamentals of physics and electronics, as well as soft skills like scientific writing and communication.

In the past, the Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship took place in two cohorts. The next batch is likely to be similar. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, from the fundamentals of digital health technologies to the practical aspects of conducting research and developing solutions for healthcare challenges. The program also includes seminars and workshops on topics like STEM career paths and the college admissions process.

You will be working at Rice University’s state-of-the-art research facilities, and since the batch is only 12 students, you’ll benefit from personalized guidance and instruction from the project mentors and assisting graduate students. By the end of the program, you’ll create a digital healthcare device that mirrors commercially available products, providing an opportunity to put your theoretical learnings to the test. The project provides plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your peers, preparing you for teamwork in college or professional research environments.

Eligibility and Application

Unlike many other summer research programs and internships, Young Scholars is a targeted program with a unique application process. Each eligible school in the Houston area has a Digital Health Young Scholars Summer Program representative who will be able to assist you with the application process. While applications are currently closed, they will open in Spring for the new batch, and results will be announced by the third week of May.

Pros and Cons of the Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship

Pros:

Unique focus on health disparities: The program specifically addresses healthcare challenges faced by underserved populations, giving you a chance to make a meaningful impact in communities through your work.
Strong mentorship: The small batch size provides excellent one-to-one interaction with faculty mentors, providing personalized guidance throughout the program and helping you develop both research skills and professional relationships.
Access to top-tier facilities: As a participant, you’ll have access to cutting-edge technology and research tools at Rice University, giving you exposure to professional research environments.
Fully funded program: The program is free to attend for underserved students in the Houston area, making it accessible to most families.

Cons:

Entry is competitive: With a limited number of spots available, the application process can be tough, so you’ll need to make sure you apply to other summer opportunities as well.
Three-week commitment: The program demands full-time commitment during the summer, which could limit your availability for other activities.
Targeted program with limited eligibility: Since this is a fully funded program with a specific objective, you can’t apply unless you belong to the target population.

Is the Program Legitimate?

The PATHS-UP Young Scholars Digital Health Summer Internship Program at Rice University offers valuable exposure to science and engineering in healthcare for underserved families in the Houston area. It’s a great opportunity to build a strong knowledge base in physics, electronics, and engineering research and learn how to apply it in a mentored setting. With its strong mentorship, access to top facilities, and focus on addressing health disparities, the experience gained here can set you apart in the college admissions process.

Additional Opportunities: Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

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