Top 20 Best Free Online Summer Programs For High School Students – Summer is the perfect time for high school students to know more about a current interest or discover new interests. Apart from the knowledge, it can be an added merit to their CV.
Today, most competing colleges give free summer programs for high school students. Lots of these programs are provided for free or at relatively low costs and are an impressive addition to your study application.
Read this article to learn about the top 20 free online summer programs for high school students.
Top 20 Best Free Online Summer Programs For High School Students
- Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
- Summer Institute for the Gifted
- Cornell University Curie Academy
- Business Opportunities Summer Session at Penn State
- Sadie Nash Summer Institute
- Telluride Association Summer Programs (TASP)
- Carnegie Mellon University Summer Opportunities for Access and Inclusion
- NYUSPS Aspire
- Program in Algorithmic and Combinational Thinking
- Inspiring Girls Expeditions
- American Collegiate Adventures
- Berklee Summer Programs
- Bentley University Summer Athletic Camps
- University of New Hampshire Upward Bound Summer Program
- Summer Academy for Math and Science
- Pre-College Programs
- Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
- Princeton Summer Journalism Programs
8 Best Free Online Summer Programs For High School Students
- Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
- Business Opportunities Summer Session at Penn State
- John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
- Carnegie Mellon University Summer Opportunities for Access and Inclusion
- NYUSPS Aspire
- Program in Algorithmic and Combinational Thinking (PACT)
- University of New Hampshire Upward Bound Summer Program
- Pre-College Programs
1. Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
Cybersecurity is one of the most essential (and lucrative) fields in today’s modern world. Through this program, high school students gain knowledge about the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science. It is founded to “reduce difficulties that past events have created in the underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM.”
2. Business Opportunities Summer Session at Penn State
Business Opportunities Summer Session is a 2-week residential program for high school students interested in gaining a business education in college. It is an opportunity for these students to sit for college preparatory courses and business fundamentals taught by Penn State faculty.
Participants will also be opportune to see what college life is like by living in a college dorm during their 2-week stay at the University Park campus at Penn State.
3. John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) has long been lauded for its rigorous summer programs, hosted at a variety of college campuses in the U.S. and overseas. High-achieving students experience team-building activities, intensive academics, and much more at CTY.
CTY, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins University leadership, has decided to cancel Session one of their 2020 Summer Programs, along with all courses at their Hong Kong sites. Session two programs are still cautiously being planned for, but could also be canceled.
The website also notes that they’re exploring new and current, virtual ways to assist families in coping with this unprecedented situation.
4. Carnegie Mellon University Summer Opportunities for Access and Inclusion
This summer programs allow young people and seniors to focus on creativity and problem-solving, in a challenging and helping environment, which offers basic elements for future studies in a rigorous university environment.
The course selection includes Fine Arts, STEM, Artificial Intelligence fields, and more. There will be no tuition, room, or board fees for students selected to learn these programs.
5. NYUSPS Aspire
Rising high school juniors from underrepresented communities who will be 1st-generation college students may apply to this college prep and mentoring program hosted by NYU. Starting with a 1-week college immersion intensive, which consists of classes and workshops, in the summer, the program continues to assist participants throughout the rest of high school.
You will attend workshops about the college application process, essay writing, standardized testing, and financial aid to assist you to prepare for college.
6. Program in Algorithmic and Combinational Thinking
Upcoming computer scientists and mathematicians won’t want to overlook PACT, a unique 5-week summer program that provides students an opportunity to dive deep into the world of theoretical computer science. It’s funded by Rutgers University and the National Science Foundation.
The only requirements for this program are “High school algebra, the willingness to work hard and be challenged, and, above all, the passion to learn.”
PACT’20 will run virtually during the Summer of 2020. They are still hammering out times, fees, and logistics to accommodate students from different parts of the US, and across the world.
7. University of New Hampshire Upward Bound Summer Program
The University of New Hampshire Upward Bound Summer Program was established to assist eligible students to achieve their higher education goals through a free, federally funded college preparatory program.
During their 6-week summer residential program, students stay on the campus of the University of New Hampshire and take academic courses as well taking part in enrichment activities, learn knowledge from tutoring and attend career workshops, and college visits, and assist navigate through the application process of the university.
8. Pre-College Programs
Pre-college summer programs are created to give high school students a taste of what it’s like to stay on a college campus while also gaining knowledge something. Lots of these programs are selective and expensive.
Some schools, like Duke, have fully canceled their programs. Others, like Harvard, are providing online synchronous versions of their courses and programs. Without the on-campus experience and camaraderie, it’s difficult to justify the costs of some of these programs.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that enrolling in any of these free summer programs for high school students this year is not important to get admission to a selective university.
It is advisable that students who are looking for an exciting summer experience outside their area while developing their student applicant profile, check the above-listed top 20 best free online summer programs for high school students.
Frequently Asked Question(s)
High School Summer College allows high-achieving students between 16-19 years to access undergraduate courses at Stanford University. This eight- or nine-week experience provides academic, social, and intellectual opportunities not found in a high school classroom.
The Stanford Summer High School College Program isn’t really selective; anyone who are willing to pay the cost of $15,000 (for just 8 weeks) can get in.
Less selective schools may just take your GPA/Grades at face value, but, assuming you’re planning on applying to top schools like Princeton and Stanford, you shouldn’t have to worry about freshman year grades, as these schools will go through a more rigorous process of figuring out the story behind your grades
There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.
Reference(s)
- https://blog.collegevine.com/ – 12 Free Summer Programs for High School Students
- https://kiiky.com/ – 21 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in 2022
- https://kamerpower.com/ – 25 Free programs for high school students 2022: Online and on-site
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