Many students here at Maggie Walker, being the academic, college admissions-oriented people they are, might be looking for a summertime activity to bolster their college applications. Or, you might be thinking, “Why would I fill up my one reprieve from school with more school?” Of course, academic summer programs aren’t for everyone, but they can be a great way to learn material not offered at Maggie Walker, explore a new place, and meet other students!

The Summer Science Program (SSP) is one of the most prestigious programs for astrophysics, biochemistry, and genomics. SSP accepts primarily current juniors, though sophomores are considered. This program is entirely research-based, so you will get hands-on experience you can’t get anywhere else. This in-person program has several host campuses, such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Purdue University among others. Although different programs and locations have varying dates, most run from June to July 2024. The application process includes short answer questions and a minimum of two teacher recommendations. Applications are due on February 16 and decisions will be announced mid-April. SSP is a great opportunity for STEM-focused students!

Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering program (RISE) is another competitive hands-on STEM opportunity that you should consider. Located on Boston University’s campus, students will get to choose what subject they would like to conduct research in, under the mentorship of BU faculty. This program lasts six weeks from June 30 to August 9. Applications are open to high school juniors and include multiple essays and two recommendation contacts. RISE is divided into the Internship and Practicum tracks, though both conduct research in a lab and culminate in a poster symposium. This is a great program if you are willing to devote almost your entire summer to it.

JCamp is an initiative by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) to train students across the country in journalism. Despite the organization’s name, this week-long program is open to all high school students. Running from August 3 to August 9 in Austin, Texas, JCamp consists of lectures, field trips, and workshops. JCamp has a more involved application process with essays, recommendations, and even a short video, all due March 1. However, one major appeal of JCamp is that  AAJA covers all expenses, including airfare, housing, and meals, making this program 100% free to attend. 

I hope this gave you a good starting point to look for the best program for you. If no formally organized program appeals to you, you can also try emailing university faculty to see if they’d be willing to mentor you or contacting local organizations and seeing if they are accepting interns. Best of luck for whatever you end up pursuing!

Information retrieved from The Summer Science Program, Boston University, and Asian American Journalists Association.