Summer can be a time for traveling or taking vacations. However, many high school students want to continue learning after school is out for the year.
As eager students quickly discover, many pre-college programs are available for rising high school students.
With over a decade of experience offering rigorous and respected pre-college summer programs, we used our meticulous standards to hand-select the best summer programs for school students interested in technology.
Advice from a Former Admissions Officer
Academic Development Manager | Pioneer Academics Former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Wake Forest University Former Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
The “best” program is always going to be the program that best fits your needs, goals, and interests. Check out my thoughts on things to consider when selecting a summer program here: College Application: Tips on Selecting a Summer Program Meeting Admission Officers’ Standards. “Technology” is an umbrella term that could be applied to nearly any academic discipline in some capacity, and you’ll notice the breadth of options in the list that follows. This is no coincidence, however. The development of modern technology is an inherently interdisciplinary endeavor. While this could be overwhelming, I’d encourage you to view it as an opportunity! If you’re not yet sure what you’d like to study in college or pursue as a potential career, a list like this one is a great place to start. As you scroll through, take note of both the programs that pique your interest as well as the programs that don’t seem to be a good fit. This simple exercise will help you navigate important decisions throughout your college experience. Summer programs can be a great chance to learn by diving head first into the material, regardless of your level of experience to this point. Use this list and of your summer experience as a jumping-off point to your academic exploration.
💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:
Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!
Pioneer Academics gives students worldwide an exclusive opportunity to develop their passion for learning and research. This program is the only fully accredited research program for high school students that’s 100% online. Pioneer uses strict criteria and rigorous standards for teaching and challenging students through an innovative educational process. Students attending Pioneer have vast data and resources necessary to complete independent research projects that change the world. This demanding but rewarding program ends with students completing full-length research papers on their chosen topics. Pioneer publishes the top 3% of its student research papers in the esteemed Pioneer Research Journal.
Human-centered design (HCD) is a problem-solving science growing in popularity. Duke University provides a pre-college summer program focusing on students applying HCD principles to solving technological crises in the global health field. High school students will learn each of HCD’s three phases in these courses: hearing, creating, and delivering. Instructors of this summer program teach students how to develop the knowledge, skills, and collaboration methods to solve problems presented throughout the HCD process. High school students will also examine how Duke’s Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies utilizes HCD in its innovative research and empowerment solutions.
Commuter – $3,200
Session 2: July 5 – 15
Each summer since 1959, the Summer Science Program (SSP) combines exclusive guest lectures, lab sessions, classroom courses, and other special events for a select few students. The SSP accepts 36 high school students (or participants as it refers to them) into its annual program. In this program, male and female students work on hands-on research projects, including analyzing and researching original findings. In 2023 SSP hosts six summer programs, including three Astrophysics and two Biochemistry programs. It will also offer one Genomics program. These pre-college programs accept rising high school juniors and “a few exceptional sophomores.”
Astrophysics, Univ. Of Colorado, June 18 – July 26
Astrophysics, New Mexico Tech, June 18 – July 26
The University of Texas at Austin provides summer programs covering one of technology’s most popular areas: robotics. At the Academy of Robotics, in the renowned Gates Dell Complex, high schoolers can bring their robotic-related ideas to life as they learn C++, Linux, and Arduino programming. Current high school students will learn from distinguished professors and meet with robotic industry reps. This pre-college program lets students use actual tools used in the area of computer science. They’ll also compete with other program students in a robot race. This pre-college program also lets students explore future working opportunities within the fast-growing robotics industry.
The University of California, Berkley, offers one of the top summer programs for high schoolers aged 16 to 17 interested in computer science. Berkley’s programs for high school scholars give students an inside look at programming, coding, and problem-solving while also providing an exclusive peek at college life. These summer college programs begin with students learning about big-picture computer science-related concepts. Then, students participate in a programming project based on their unique interests. Berkley’s instructors formed this academy from the Beauty and Joy of Computing — a course taken by this prestigious college’s students.
$25 – Application Fee
Interested students with a two-week opening during their summer vacation can attend MIT Lincoln Laboratory Radar’s Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE). This free workshop teaches culturally diverse students completing the 11th grade how to construct range and Doppler radars using unique problem-solving skills and strategies. Students attending these pre-college programs also gain the chance to work alongside actual engineers and scientists. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology hosts this yearly program at the end of July at MIT’s college campus in Cambridge and Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington.
Will be held at MIT campus in Cambridge, MA and Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA
Tufts Engineering Design Lab is open for students entering 10th-12th grade or Spring 2023 high school graduates. Students spend time learning how to resolve real-world problems by learning about technology, fabrication, engineering, robotics, and computation. Participants also get to attend exclusive lectures from a wide range of guest speakers in the world of technology. This program’s students also get to explore the topics of 3D printing, laser cutting, Python, Raspberry Pi, and GoPiGo3. Upon completing this program with residential and commuter options, students walk away with a deep understanding of how engineering and design work together while improving their collaboration skills.
Commuter: $4,000
Residential: $5,500
Materials Fee: $200
Session 2: July 23 – August 4, 2023
The University of Michigan’s Society of Women Engineers hosts Summer Engineering Exploration Camp, a week-long residential program for students in grades 10-12. This program teaches high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors about various technological disciplines and has them complete hands-on activities. Unlike most programs, Summer Engineering Exploration Camp builds teams through activities such as tie-dying and kayaking. Students also get the chance to tour the University of Michigan campus while learning about what college life is like.
One of the best programs for high schoolers interested in technology is the Robotics Summer Academy at Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri. This program lets students attend workshops, study, and get an exclusive tour of this university’s engineering laboratories and departments. Students also have the chance to meet and ask questions for SLU’s current engineering undergraduates and business faculty. By the end of these summer pre-college programs, high school undergraduates even have their own robots to take home with them.
One of the top summer programs for students interested in aeronautical technology should consider attending Embry-Riddle’s Aeronautical University Robotics & Autonomous Systems Camp. Students attending these summer courses have the chance to work alongside robotics competition teams and Embry-Riddle faculty. Program students also learn how to design, program, build, and test robotic devices. This program is available to stellar sophomores, gifted high school juniors, and rising seniors. Completing this program could look good on college applications if you’re interested in aeronautics.
Early discount of $50 if registration is completed by April 6, 2023
$30 registration fee
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