Are you a highschool student trying to further your education this coming summer? Do you desire to develop your knowledge on a subject that interests you?
Summer programs are the proper solution for you. These programs give you a first-hand experience of school life, while allowing you to explore your interests. Plus, you'll meet other highschool students who share your interests.
Nothing pushes your knowledge harder than talking with other individuals who share the identical interests as you. You learn as much out of your peers as from books and teachers. Sometimes more.
Some summer programs are expensive, but in this text, I’ve only picked free ones. We strongly believe education needs to be accessible to everyone, and never gatekept by wealth.
Keep reading this text to search out out what to search for in a summer program.
Why Go for a Summer Program?
It's possible you'll think that summer programs are just for individuals who must get up to the mark to affix certain colleges. That's not entirely true. Joining a summer program is a superb solution to explore a subject.
Let’s say you have an interest in a writing career. You set your eyes on a school with an attractive writing program, but are unsure when you’re actually that considering writing.
By joining a summer program that teaches writing, you’ll be capable to know if you want it without committing to a multiple-year’s course. If you find yourself not enjoying writing, you’ve learned lots about yourself and your passions. Should you realize you want writing due to this system, you’ll be better prepared for faculty.
The truth is, summer programs will make your college application much stronger, since you’ll prove that you might be:
- Concerned about the course’s topics
- Willing to go the additional mile to learn
Imagine you’re a committee and also you get two applications with comparable skills. You’d pick the one with the summer programs that align to your college over the opposite.
Why Pick a Program over Another?
The first reason to select a program needs to be personal interest. Pick a subject that interests you, and search for a summer program that talks about it.
But not all programs are created equal. Here's a list of things to think about when you're looking for a summer program:
Goal
Your goal is the very first thing you need to consider before trying to find a summer program. Do you simply need to learn more a few hobby of yours? Do you desire to improve your college application? Perhaps you simply need to meet other like-minded students who share your passion.
Regardless of the case, you need to first establish your goals. They might be your primary guide in picking the fitting summer course for you.
Topic
The course’s topic must interest to you. There must be a reason for you to select a summer program. Even when you find yourself dropping out of a program you don’t enjoy, at the least you should have learned something about yourself.
Be sure to don’t waste your time.
Location
While most courses moved to online due to pandemic, the country is gradually reopening. It’s not unreasonable to expect at the least some programs to return being taught in person. It's essential to consider whether you might be willing to relocate to follow a specific program, and if not, search for something closer to you.
Prestige
If you might be attending summer programs to bolster your college application, pick a program that may impress the varsity’s administration.
The more restrictive this system, the more prestigious they're. Being selected for a program that only allows few students to participate in them is far more valuable than a summer program that lets anyone join.
Don't make the error of assuming that cash = prestige. There are many programs which are valuable and free.
Selectivity
This point is strictly linked to the previous one. Selective programs are better on an academic and career standpoint, but they could no be what you're looking for. All of it depends in your goals, and the way much effort you might be willing to place in.
The 8 Best Summer Programs
Making this list was hard. I don’t personally know your goals or interests. Thus, I focused on making it as inclusive as possible. You’ll find many alternative courses on this list that concentrate on a plethora of topics.
There’s something for everyone on this list. As an added bonus, I’ve added a piece after this list that may let you know good alternatives to summer programs that provides you with comparable benefits, although a few of them aren’t as formal.
⚠Warning: while the programs on this list are free to attend, some would require you to pay a small fee while you get accepted, usually of $50. I’ll state clearly which of them have an admission fee and which of them don’t.
Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement
The Annenberg Youth Academy is a highly selective program where students study writing, public speech and debate, critical thought, and other subjects related to communication, with a deal with mass media and journalism.
What makes this program so valuable?
It’s an intensive three-weeks summer camp that's very selective. Only 28 students are accepted in it each summer. Students are picked from 5 counties within the Los Angeles area. This system will drastically improve the scholars’ abilities in the sphere of communication.
Due to the pandemic, the campus might be conducted online as opposed to in person.
PennState Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
- Admission fee: $50 (provided that accepted)
If economics and business is what interests you essentially the most, then PennState’s BOSS course is correct up your alley.
This can be a one-week virtual program for highschool students considering embarking on an instructional journey to learn more about business. It’s an important place to begin for those trying to learn more about the present economic climate and business administration.
That is the one course on this list with an admission fee. I still included it since it’s quite low, and you simply need to pay it while you get accepted.
Getting admitted into this program is not any easy feat. Applying to this program is like writing a mini college application. It's important to submit an announcement of purpose, provide your highschool transcript, and even a letter of advice from certainly one of your highschool professors.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
SAMS is a program focused on teaching scientific topic to its attendees. Topics include biology, mathematics, and physics. This system is a superb introduction to a possible career in STEM.
What makes SAMS so great is its deal with scientific topics without neglecting topics like writing. Attending SAMS will vastly improve any student’s reasoning skills, while also offering them an important introduction to STEM disciplines. Students who successfully complete this program often find yourself as excellent STEM scholars.
Another perk of attending this program is the hands-on experience: while this year the course might be held online, there'll still be workshops within the second week of August where students will meet with alumni and other students, and can work on STEM-related projects.
Sounds great? We aren’t finished yet. From the workshops until December, students will receive further academic support from the staff. What’s there not to like?
This system is totally free, but you'll still have to purchase books and supplies. However, if you might be in poor economic conditions, you would possibly have access to funds for these.
Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
Including this can be a bit like cheating, because it’s a set of many alternative summer programs. Nonetheless, if you might be unsure of what you desire to do that summer, it's worth to take a look at this list.
NYU Tandon School Computer Science for Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is a hot topic nowadays, so if you are interested in computers and are interested in the world of ethical hacking, cryptography, and cybersecurity, it's best to absolutely apply for this program.
You don’t need any prior knowledge of the subject to get essentially the most out of this program. All you would like is a pc or laptop, an honest internet connection, and a willingness to learn.
There's a lack of cybersecurity experts within the US, so the job market is often searching for more qualified people. The sphere also pays well.
This system runs for 3-weeks, 5 days every week, from 9 AM to 2 PM. It offers a solid introduction to the world of cybersecurity and computer science. You might be eligible to use if you reside around New York City, and might demonstrate your commitment through your application.
JCamp
Should you’re considering journalism, you'll be able to’t go wrong with JCamp. It’s a 6-days training camp where students learn from veteran journalists and media thought leaders.
This system teaches topics akin to fundamentals of leadership, journalism ethics, the importance of diversity in media coverage. There's a strong deal with diversity and listening to different voices and opinions coming from different cultures.
Despite the association’s name, this system shouldn't be limited to Asian Americans students. All you would like is to be a highschool student and have a robust interest in journalism. Applying is free, and so are the prices of this system, of lodging, and traveling to the place.
GirlsWhoCode Summer Immersion Program
This can be a little bit of an outlier in comparison with other programs on this list since it focuses on girls. It's held by a non-profit whose mission is to empower women to enter technology jobs.
That is by far essentially the most intensive program, because it lasts a whopping seven weeks, and focuses on computer science and coding.
What’s great about this program is that it's available in multiple locations across the US, so try to be able to search out one near you. The downside? It’s just for girls, so if you're a man, you’re out of luck.
This camp is a wonderful intro to computer science, so when you’re a lady trying to improving your skills within the technological field, it's best to absolutely apply for this one.
Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)
TASP is certainly one of essentially the most respected summer programs within the country, so I had to incorporate it on this list. Unfortunately, it was suspended for 2021 and has resumed operating in 2022, so I had to put it last. If this course was open, it could absolutely be in the highest 3, even perhaps in the highest 1 of this list.
It's a six-week seminar where students are encouraged to learn via discussion, as opposed to lecturing. This system distinguishes itself from others due to the standard of the education it offers. While you join TASP, you'll be able to expect to get assigned intellectually challenging articles and writing assignments.
TASP is extremely sought-after in the school admission world. Collaborating on this program gives you a strong advantage over the competition.
Warning: TASP was closed for 2021. Operations has resumed in 2022.
Alternatives to Summer Programs
If what you’re after is experience and don’t particularly care about standard academic learning, there are other ways to realize experience in your field of choice.
For instance, when you were considering writing, you could possibly take the matter into your personal hands and begin writing online. Open your blog, publish articles on Medium, or you'll be able to even try to work with magazines or local newspapers. The sky is the limit.
Another grand avenue to realize relevant experience is volunteering. Internships/summer jobs are also useful, though it could be hard to get the sort of work you're looking for. They provide you relevant real-world experience, and can look great in your future college applications.
Have an interest in biology? Offer to volunteer at a zoo, or a marine park. There are always ways to progress your education that don’t require formal academic training. Take into consideration your goals, and the way you'll be able to reach them. Start from the top and work your way backwards to determine the fitting steps to take.
Conclusions
There you've got it, an inventory of one of the best free summer programs for highschool students. It doesn't matter what you desire to do, you’ll find something that catches your interest on this list.
Remember, always start together with your goals. Do you desire to explore a subject? Or are you actively looking to enhance your knowledge in a specific field? Are you trying to strengthen your eventual college application?
You’ll need to answer all of those questions before applying for any summer program. Some students are searching for a more casual experience, while others are all about future academic success. There isn't a wrong or right answer on this case. It’s your life. Make your personal choices.
So what are you anticipating? Enroll right into a free summer program today, and level up your academic career!
Also Read: 7 Easiest PA Schools To Get Into (2022 Updated)
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