Summer Opportunities

There are many incredible summer programs that provide invaluable hands-on experience in an array of careers such as medicine, journalism, engineering, and more; even better, some of these programs offer a stipend in addition to free room and board. Participation in a selective summer program can make your resume stand out, and may lead to scholarships and job opportunities.  Applications start as early as December and January, so start your research early!

The following information is an excerpt from The Fiske College Deadline Planner by Edward B. Fiske and Bruce G. Hammond. Among the hundreds of summer programs available to high school students, the following lists offer a selection of the best and most interesting ones.

Free Programs (Highly Competitive)

Bill of Rights Institute's -- Constitutional Academy.
Summer, college-level opportunity for outstanding high school juniors and seniors interested in history, American government, and personal liberty. The program allows students to deepen their understanding of the constitutional principles through readings, discussions, and active learning experiences under the guidance of a faculty of distinguished teachers and college professors. Early application deadline is Friday, January 11. More information: www.constacademy.org.

Claremont McKenna College -- Step Up To Leadership Program.
Open to rising 10th and 11th graders nominated by their principal, this week-long program affiliated with CMC's Kravis Leadership Institute is free but does not include transportation costs. Claremont McKenna is a selective private college in southern California. Deadline: Spring. More information: www.cmc.edu.

Clark University -- Summer Science Program.
Students who are between 11th and 12th grade can enjoy three free weeks of thematic science study at Clark, a medium-sized university in Worcester, Massachusetts. Deadline: March 15. More information: www.clark.edu.

Congressional Page Program
Students can spend a summer, a semester, or a year delivering messages to members of Congress -- and getting paid for it. Two four-week sessions for 66 students each are available in the summer. Students live in their own residence hall and get paid at the equivalent of about $14,500 per year. More information: contact your Senator or Member of Congress.

Governor's School
The programs vary by state, and not all states have a governor's school. The schools vary in length and focus but are typically housed on a university campus. Most are free. More information: contact your high-school counselor or state department of education.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Research Science Institute. Founded by Admiral Hyman Rickover, RSI is the nation's premier summer program for aspiring science whiz kids. The program lasts six weeks and everything except transportation is free. Students who get in here can probably get in anywhere. Deadline: February 1. More information: www.mit.edu.

University of the South -- Freeman Asian Cultural Experiences at Sewanee (FACES)
A two-week, tuition-free program on Asian Studies. Prefers students entering grade 12. The University of the South (Sewanee) is a selective liberal arts college in rural Tennessee. Deadline: March 15. More information: www.sewanee.edu.

Telluride Association Summer Programs
One of the nation's most prestigious summer programs. Six-week seminars focus on thematic issues in the humanities and social sciences. Locations include Cornell University and University of Michigan. Nomination required in December. Deadline: January 31. More information: www.tellurideassociation.org.

Wabash College -- Opportunities to Learn About Business
Open to rising 12th graders, this week-long program is ideal for students considering a business major. Wabash is a small, all-male liberal arts college in Indiana. (The program is coed.) Deadline: April 15. More information: www.wabash.edu.

Carleton College -- Liberal Arts Experience
Open to students between 10th and 11th grade, the program lasts for one week and pays for all expenses, including travel. Carleton is a highly selective liberal arts college in Minnesota. Deadline: February 15. More information: www.carleton.edu.

Programs Focused on Minority Students or Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Carnegie Mellon University -- Summer Academy for Minority Students
Offers six weeks of study for students in underrepresented groups who are interested in science and math. CMU is one of the nation's premier technically-oriented universities. Open to students who have completed grades 10 or 11. Deadline: April 1. More information: www.cmu.ed

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Minority Introduction to Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Science
Offers six weeks of tuition-free study and all the fun of Boston in the summer. Open to students who have finished grade 11. Attendees must pay transportation costs. Deadline: early February. More information: www.mit.edu.

Quest Scholars Program
A small, highly competitive program that offers a five-week summer program and five years of subsequent mentorship to low-income, at-risk students. Based at Stanford and open to students who have completed grade 11. Deadline: early spring. More information: questscholars.stanford.edu.

Telluride Association Sophomore Seminars -- Six-week program open to African Americans that focuses on topics relevant to the black experience. Small and highly competitive. Nomination required in December. Deadline: January 31. More information: www.tellurideassociation.org.

Low-Cost or Noteworthy

Concordia Language Villages
Serving nearly 10,000 students per year, Concordia offers the finest in summer language instruction is available for students in grades 3-12. Languages include Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Deadline: spring. More information: www.cord.edu/dept/clv.

Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill -- Girls' Leadership Workshop
A nine-day program for girls who will enter grades 10 or 11 that includes a diverse assortment of themes ranging from citizenship to the arts. Requires a token fee of $200. Deadline: February 28. More information: www.ervk.org.

Landmark Volunteers
Offers two weeks of community service in places ranging from Acadia National Park in Maine to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. Open to students in the summer after grades 9, 10, or 11. Fee in the form of a tax-deductible $875 contribution. Deadline: March 31. More information: www.volunteers.com.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology -- Women's Technology Program
Not free, but at a cost of only $1,000 for six weeks, the WTP is definitely a bargain. Open to students after completion of 11th grade. Deadline: February 1. More information: www.mit.edu.

U.S. Military Academies -- West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy offer low-cost, week-long programs that provide a taste of military life. Recommended for students who are considering the academies. Deadlines: early spring. More information: contact the academies.

University of Notre Dame -- Summer Introduction to Engineering. ND offers this three-week program for less than $1,000 to students who have completed 11th grade. Other programs include an introduction to architecture and a low-cost week-long program for Catholics that focuses on church teachings. Deadline: early spring. More information: www.nd.edu

Links to Additional Resources

College Board- How to find a Summer Internship

Hoagies' National & International Summer Program Listings

University Summer Program Listings

Internships for High School Students

Cogito Searchable Summer Program/Internship Database

Bio1Stop's List of Summer Opportunities in the Biological Sciences