Summer Programs for Freshman High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide

Summer programs offer a valuable opportunity for freshman high school students to explore their interests, gain new skills, and prepare for college. These programs range from academic enrichment to skill-based training and can significantly enhance a student's resume and college application. This article provides a comprehensive overview of various summer programs available, including pre-college programs, free programs, and specialized internships.

Introduction: The Value of Summer Programs

Summer break is a crucial time for high school students to engage in activities that foster personal and academic growth. Participating in summer programs allows students to explore potential career paths, develop new skills, and gain a taste of college life. These experiences not only enrich their knowledge but also demonstrate their eagerness to learn and explore their passions, making them stand out in the college admissions process. Summer programs can be a smart investment in a student's future, whether through pre-college programs, passion projects, or free opportunities.

Pre-College Summer Programs

Pre-college summer programs offer high school students a glimpse into college life and academics. These programs, often hosted by top universities, provide a taste of college independence and learning from experts, boosting confidence for the future.

Harvard Summer School Programs

Harvard’s Summer College Programs for high school students are intensive programs designed to give students a glimpse of college and the opportunity to challenge themselves in college-level academics. These programs include:

Pre-College Program: A non-credit two-week residential program designed to give high school students a glimpse of college life on the Harvard campus. After only two weeks of classes, students report feeling much more knowledgeable and open to critical thinking. The total cost of the Pre-College program in 2025 was $5,800, plus a $75 application fee. While all Harvard Summer School courses are college-level, the 2-week Pre-College program does not offer college credit, so you don’t have the pressure of grades.
Secondary School Program: The total cost depends on the number of courses taken and in which format. The Secondary School Summer Program has 4- and 7-week options.

The program you choose will depend largely on the course load you’re looking for. The length of the program may also impact your decision, depending on how much time you are able to commit.

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Emory Pre-College Program

The Emory Pre-College Program is a summer academic program for high school students, giving current sophomores and juniors an exciting glimpse of academic and/or residential life at a top-ranked private university. It offers both noncredit (Pre-College) and credit-bearing (Summer College) courses.

Program Dates and Deadlines for 2026:

Pre-College (noncredit):
- Session A: June 14 - June 27, Deadline: May 1
- Session B: June 28 - July 11, Deadline: May 1
- Session C: July 12 - July 25, Deadline: May 1
Summer College (credit):
- Session 1: May 15 - June 26, Deadline: April 24
- Session 2: June 29 - August 7, Deadline: June 5

Emory offers a wide range of 100+ courses taught by Emory faculty. Students can browse courses by subject, instruction method, and date ranges.

USC Summer Programs

USC offers immersive courses in science, filmmaking, writing, and other subjects, all designed specifically for high school students. Bovard Scholars live on the USC campus for three weeks-getting a taste of college life while learning in a rigorous curriculum. They also receive hands-on support and mentorship from a coach who will guide them through the college admissions process and assist them with their applications and essays. Scholars will take part in career self-assessments and small group activities.

Other Pre-College Programs

Several other universities and organizations offer pre-college summer programs, including:

Columbia University: Offers courses ranging from arts to business and engineering in New York City.
Washington University in St. Louis: Provides a vibrant academic community with summer programs for middle and high school students.

STEM-Focused Summer Programs

For students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), numerous specialized summer programs offer hands-on experiences and in-depth learning opportunities.

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Stanford University Programs

Stanford University offers a variety of summer programs focused on STEM fields, providing high school students with unique research and learning experiences.

AI in Medicine Summer Programs (by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging): Two-week virtual programs aimed at sparking interest and empowering the next generation of AI leaders in medicine.
- Summer Research Internship: Dive into AI's impact on healthcare through expert-led sessions, a hands-on project, & mentorship from Stanford researchers. Open to ambitious high school students entering 9th-12th grade in the fall who want to apply their technical skills to real-world clinical problems.
- Summer Bootcamp Program: A free virtual bootcamp offering a curated curriculum that covers the fundamentals of machine learning in healthcare settings.
Advanced Science Exploratory Program: A non-profit offering educational seminars aimed to ignite excitement about science, scientific research, and scientific career paths. The program offers mentorship, foundations, and focused series of seminars.
Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Summer Internship: A two-week intensive course designed to educate high school students considering careers in science and medicine in cardiothoracic surgical anatomy and physiology. The course includes lectures and skills sessions conducted by Stanford University faculty and surgical residents. Financial assistance is available.
Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP): A week-long, non-residential, in-person program offering high school students the unique opportunity to explore anatomy and health careers.
Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST): Stanford University graduate students mentor high school students from Andrew P Hill High School and James Lick High School towards achieving their goals of answering open questions in science and engineering clever solutions to problems in their society.
Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS): An eight-week research intensive experience for high school students in computational genetics and genomics. Participants conduct research under the supervision of a lab mentor.
Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS): A two-week program hosted by the chemistry department, giving rising juniors and seniors an opportunity to experience cutting edge chemical research while shadowing a graduate student mentor.
Pre-College Opportunities within Energy Research (POWER): A Stanford Energy Club program that offers hands-on workshops to introduce local high school students from historically marginalized communities to topics in sustainability and energy research.
Science Accelerating Girls' Engagement (SAGE): A one-week summer camp for public high school students (age 14-17) hosted by scientists and engineers to share what life is like in STEM professions.
Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Summer Internship Program: A seven-week program where high school and undergraduate students master basic lab techniques, participate in research projects, and present their work under the mentorship of experienced researchers. The program is free to participants.
SIMR - Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program: An eight-week program for high school juniors and seniors interested in hands-on research in immunology, stem cell, cancer, neuroscience, bioinformatics or cardiovascular medicine. Interns earn at least a $500 stipend.
Stanford AI4ALL: Aims to increase diversity in the field of Artificial Intelligence through a three-week online program that combines lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities.
Stanford CARE AI Summer Program for High School Students: A two-week in-person experience designed for high school students passionate about improving health outcomes in Asian communities and beyond. Participants will learn the fundamentals of statistical data analysis, learn to use AI tools, explore critical health topics affecting Asian populations, and develop essential leadership and teamwork skills.
Stanford Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Sumer Internships: This program is designed for high school (rising juniors and seniors) and pre-medical undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in medicine, STEM, medical research and development, or health care design, with a specific focus on Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine.

Other STEM Programs

Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT: A prestigious program where 100 high school juniors participate in research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program: An intensive seven-week summer research program at Texas Tech University for talented high school juniors and seniors.
Simons Summer Research Program: Provides local rising juniors with the chance to gain hands-on experience with research in science, math, and engineering at Stony Brook University.
High Schoolers in the Hub (HITH): A 10-week program for New York City residents who are rising high school juniors or seniors and have an interest in STEM.
Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS) at Carnegie Mellon University: A program for rising juniors to learn about STEM fields, including math, biology, and physics.
Women’s Technology Program (WTP) at Carnegie Mellon University: A four-week residential summer program that introduces female rising juniors to engineering.
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP): High schoolers with a talent for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics serve as apprentices in one of 38 Navy laboratories for eight weeks. Not only is this program free, but participants are paid.

Free Summer Programs

Many organizations offer free summer programs for high school students, making education accessible to all. These programs provide incredible value and opportunities without the burden of cost.

MITES Semester Program (formerly known as MITES): A rigorous six-month program for rising high school seniors.
Telluride Association Summer Seminars (TASS): Explores how power and privilege shape social structures.
Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA) JCamp: A six-day multicultural journalism program for high school sophomores and juniors.
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP): An immersive five-week program for first-generation and low-income high school juniors from Northern California.
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program: Teaches girls and nonbinary students computer science skills necessary to prepare for a tech career.
New York Space Grant Consortium (NYSGC) STEM Research Program: Provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge research.
Summer Medical Education Program (SMEP) at University of Maryland: A five-week program for rising and recently graduated seniors in the Baltimore area that provides the chance to gain hands-on experience with biomedical research in a cutting-edge laboratory.
Construction Management Summer Program at Louisiana State University: Rising 11th- and 12th-grade female students interested in careers in construction management will want to look into this free residential summer program. Participants get hands-on experience with key topics in the field, including safety principles, project management, and preconstruction services.

Other Summer Program Options

Beyond STEM and pre-college programs, there are numerous other summer opportunities for high school students to explore their interests and develop new skills.

Arts and Humanities Programs

Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Journalism at USC (AYA): A three-week academy that gives high school students a taste of college through freshman-level courses in media and journalism.
Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP): A hybrid program including virtual workshops and lectures with a ten-day residential experience for students interested in journalism.

Leadership and Social Justice Programs

Youth Leadership Academy: Students take courses in society, identity, social justice, and other courses to build critical thinking skills.

Business Programs

Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) at Indiana University: A free two-week program for students interested in pursuing business in college.
Summer Business Scholars Program (SBS) at University of Colorado, Boulder: Students in this summer program at the University of Colorado, Boulder, gain hands-on experience studying and creating solutions for real-world business problems.

Specialized Programs

SLAC Summer Internship Program: Participants in this program include high school (ages 18 and older), undergraduate and graduate level college students. Our internship programs are designed to provide students with stimulating, real-world work experiences.
Seeds of Change: Partners Stanford undergraduates in technology disciplines with high school students interested in advancing the participation of women and girls in STEM, and provides an integrated curriculum of mentoring, training and skills development. The program’s goal is to establish and retain young women in technology fields, and create future women STEM leaders.
SPLASHSplash!: offers a Saturday or Sunday on campus full of academic and non-academic classes taught by Stanford students. ESP invites students to attend classes that could vary from completely “non-academic” stuff like cookie baking and origami, to complicated and challenging classes on machine theory or quantum mechanics.
Introduction to Logic High School Summer Camp: The Introduction to Logic High School Summer Session is a two-week, non-residential program offering an introduction to logic from a computational perspective.

Other Opportunities at Stanford

Brain Day: An annual event in which volunteers from the Neuroscience program take real human brains to middle school classrooms across Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park.
Camp Cardinal: Offers an experienced team of counselors, innovative programming, and daily activities.
Campus Walking Tours: The Stanford Visitor Center offers a range of no-cost tours, exploring the highlights of Stanford’s beautiful campus.
Cardinal Kids Club: Children under 14 can join the Cardinal Kids Club to receive free general admission to many Stanford athletic events; notices of clinics conducted by Cardinal teams; and a free t-shirt and membership card.
ESP (Educational Studies Program): offers a Saturday or Sunday on campus full of academic and non-academic classes taught by Stanford students.
Health Career Collaborative (HCC): A student-driven health career exposure & mentorship program that connects 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students from East Palo Alto Academy to undergrads, medical and graduate students, and faculty at Stanford.
High School Chemistry Outreach: The Stanford Chemistry department teamed up with American High School in Fremont to bring in novel hands-on guided inquiry lab experiences.
Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math & Physics Courses: These online courses are designed for motivated and academically advanced high school students to explore their intellectual passions, develop analytic reasoning and creative thinking, and study directly with expert instructors.
SUMMET (Stanford University Mathematics Mentorships for Emerging Talent): is a one-week residential program aimed at potential first-generation college students interested in engineering, science, and technology.

How to Choose the Right Summer Program

Choosing the best summer program requires careful consideration of your goals, interests, and available resources. Here are some steps to help you make the right choice:

Identify Your Interests: Think about what subjects or activities you enjoy and want to explore further.
Set Goals: Determine what you hope to achieve from the program, whether it's gaining new skills, exploring a career path, or enhancing your college application.
Research Programs: Look for programs that align with your interests and goals. Consider factors like program length, location, cost, and eligibility requirements.
Compare Programs: Compare the opportunities presented by each program and select the one that best matches your goals.
Check Requirements and Deadlines: Research the requirements and structure of each program to find the one that suits your needs. Apply as early as possible, since spots fill up quickly.
Consider Cost and Financial Aid: Determine costs based on your chosen program and course. Explore additional funding options and review payment and refund policies. Many programs offer financial aid or fee waivers.
Seek Advice: Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice as you navigate your summer options.

Alternatives to Summer Programs

While summer programs offer structured learning experiences, there are alternative ways to spend your summer productively:

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Independent Projects: Take on an independent project, such as writing for your own blog or conducting research.
Internships: Although most internships are reserved for college students and graduates, you can still find some opportunities for younger people.
Paying Jobs: Colleges understand that students may need to earn money. Summer is a great time for teens to relax and recharge after a busy school year.

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