A wide variety of summer programs allow high school students to experience college life and experiment with different subjects both academic and enriching. Some are highly selective while others invite everyone. Check back as we increase the 2018 list.
CSSSA- The California State Summer School for the Arts
Application open – deadline 2/28/17
The California State Summer School for the Arts is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented artists of high school age. CSSSA provides a supportive environment in which students hone acquired skills and explore new techniques and ideas for an intense and exciting learning experience.
The USC Summer Program
Application open
USC Summer Programs extends a tradition of excellence to outstanding high school students through unique 4 and 2 week summer courses. Accepted students to the USC Summer Programs will balance academic and campus life as they prepare for college in the nation’s entertainment center – Los Angeles, California
St. John’s College Summer Academy
Application open
Our summer program for high school students (ages 15 to 18) is modeled after St. John’s discussion-based, interdisciplinary method of teaching the great books. A hands-on introduction to college life, our program helps students hone their reading, critical thinking, and discussion skills. With engaging workshops and awesome off-campus excursions, the Summer Academy is a blast.
Marlboro Pre-College Program
Application open
During the Pre-College Program at Marlboro, you will explore interdisciplinary interests, gain new perspective, and meet passionate people. Aimed at rising juniors and seniors (ages 15-18), this experience allows you to get a taste of liberal arts education and to discover what college learning is all about. College credit available.
Economics for Leaders
Application open
Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a selective, engaging summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economic thinking into the process of decision-making in a hands-on, experiential environment. Exciting group-learning activities that focus on leadership development also form a core component of the EFL programs.
Berklee College and Pre-College Summer Programs
Application open
Unleash your creativity this summer with students from all over the world and renowned faculty who are the very best at what they do. Whether you’re a pre-college student in middle school or high school, a college student, or beyond, if you’re passionate about music, theater, dance, entrepreneurship, or composition, there is a Berklee summer program for you.
Middlebury Summer Language Academy
Application open
The Academy’s approach to language learning, modeled after the pedagogy utilized at Middlebury College’s renowned Language Schools, gives students the opportunity to spend four weeks immersed in language and culture. By signing the Language Pledge®, students commit to speaking in their target language 24/7, while engaging in meaningful cultural exploration projects, resulting in unrivalled language gains.
Hampshire College Pre-College Summer Program
Application open
Experience Hampshire College while you’re still in high school. Get a sense of our innovative approach to learning and what life is like on Hampshire’s campus during our 2-week pre-college sessions every summer in July. Pre-college participants live in the dorms, eat in the dining commons, and are immersed in rigorous and exciting fields of study. Led by current Hampshire faculty, recent graduates, and experienced alumni, our pre-college programs are intended for rising high school juniors and seniors.
A large selection of programs to choose from
Oui-Connect
Application open
Direct Exchange offers US students the opportunity to go abroad. For the first 2-3 weeks (up to the families) a French student of the same age as your teenager will come stay with your family & learn about an American way of life. At the end of these weeks, your teen will then go back with the French student to his or her home & the roles will be reversed. Your student will have the opportunity to learn about French culture & improve their French speaking skills while being fully immersed. They will be more comfortable with their new international friend.
(This is their only program where American students can go abroad. They also have programs for hosting foreign students.
Compass USA Abroad
Application open
Homestay is all about your relationship with your international host family. Compass USA provides worry-free quality homestays in France and Spain. From its food to its art, Europe is one of those rare destinations whose reality completely lives up to its reputation. And as a possible homestay location there is arguably no better place in the world, because the European host families where you will gain a practical, living knowledge of the French culture and language by sharing European life with your host family.
If you participate in a direct exchange, your natural family will then host your French or Spanish host-sibling.
The Yale Young Global Scholars Program
Application Closed
The Yale Young Global Scholars Program (YYGS) is a summer academic enrichment and leadership program that brings together outstanding high school students from around the world for intensive two-week sessions on Yale’s campus in New Haven and the Yale Center Beijing in China. YYGS offers six unique sessions in New Haven and one session in Beijing, China.
COSMOS- The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science
Application Closed
COSMOS is an intensive four-week summer residential program for students who have demonstrated an aptitude for academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Talented and motivated students completing grades 8-12 have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty, researchers and scientists in state-of-the-art facilities, while exploring advanced STEM topics far beyond the courses usually offered in California high schools. Through challenging curricula that are both hands-on and lab intensive, COSMOS fosters its students’ interests, skills, and awareness of educational and career options in STEM fields.
Telluride Association Programs
Application for 2018 is now closed.
Telluride Association Summer Programs (TASP) and Telluride Association Sophomore Seminars (TASS) are designed to bring together young people from around the world who share a passion for learning. Telluride students attend a seminar led by college and university faculty members and participate in many other educational and social activities outside the classroom.
This program is highly competitive and free.