Harvard Summer Programs

During the course of each summer, Harvard University plays host to a number of summer programs geared specifically toward high school students. Participants in the different Harvard summer programs get the opportunity to experience pre-college living at Harvard as well as great academics on the university’s campus.

This post contains information on all of the available Harvard summer programs for high school students, including the application process and the schedule of available sessions.

Does Harvard have Summer Programs?

Does Harvard have summer programs? The Harvard Summer School provides students of all ages with an academically challenging environment in which to participate. Participating students in Harvard summer programs have the option of either living on campus or studying online. Participants have the option of enrolling in one of more than 300 different courses offered by Harvard University in order to earn college credit. You have the ability to select the summertime activity that best suits your needs.

Every year, the university hosts three distinct Harvard summer programs geared specifically toward high school students. These events are hosted on campus and are made possible by the institution. When they do take place in person.

• Harvard Pre-College Program
• Harvard Secondary School Program
• Harvard Academies @ Home

Harvard’s Pre-College Program

Students in high school who are interested in participating in an intensive summer enrichment program have the option of enrolling in Harvard’s Pre-College Program. This curriculum would be a good fit for high school students who are mature and committed to their academics. Participants in the pre-college program attend one class that does not count toward their degree and participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities with their classmates over the course of two weeks.

Students receive a written evaluation from their teachers at the conclusion of the program. This evaluation can be a fantastic addition to their college applications if they are submitted.

Students have a choice from among thirty different classes that fall into the following categories:

• Business and Leadership
• STEAM
• Race, Gender, and Ethics
• Speech, Writing, and Literature
• Psychology, Medicine, and Public Health
• Law, Politics, Philosophy, and History

The Secondary School Program

Consider the versatile 7-week Secondary School Program offered by Harvard University for high school students who are looking for a longer summer enrichment program. Participants in the program get access to over 200 different classes and can earn academic credit for the courses they attend, which are taught by Harvard faculty members.

The Secondary School Program offers a variety of classes that put an emphasis on several career tracks. These classes give students the opportunity to figure out what they want to study in college. Participants have access to various advising services so that they may make sure they are enrolling in the most appropriate classes based on their unique interests.

The following categories are covered by the career pathway courses offered in 2023:

• Animal Transgenesis: A Laboratory Primer on Genetics
• Becoming a Brain Scientist: Neuroscience and Psychology Research
• Basic Journalism in the Digital Age
• Connecting to the World Through Chemistry
• Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• Problem Solving and Project Design
• Start-Ups from the Perspective of Business and IP Law

Harvard Academies @ Home

Students in high school are given the opportunity to receive instruction from Harvard undergraduates through the Harvard Academies program. Participants in Academies are able to engage in intensive study of whichever academic fields most pique their interest because of the program’s combination of theoretical instruction and practical application. In the year 2023, students have the choice of attending classes either on or off campus.

Participants in the Academies who are interested in gaining on-campus experience in 2023 have the option of pursuing either Business, Coding, or Pre-Medical programs. In addition, Pre-Law and Politics are both available through the online platform. The goal of the initiative is to facilitate connections between high school students and mentors who are currently enrolled as undergraduates at Harvard.

How to Apply for Harvard Summer Programs?

Having known the different Harvard summer programs offered by the university, you might wonder how to apply for Harvard summer programs. The committee that decides who gets into Harvard is seeking candidates who are mature, academically motivated, and who match both of the following criteria:

• Will complete their high school education and enroll in the first year of college in 2024 or 2025
• Have reached the age of 16 by the 17th of June in 2023, and will not reach the age of 19 until after the 31st of July in 2023

The prospective student is the only person who can create an account and fill out the application; neither the student’s parents nor guardians, agents, counselors, nor anyone else may do so on their behalf.

It is Harvard’s recommendation that the application not be completed on a mobile device. For the application, you may use either a laptop or a desktop computer. As part of the application process, you will be given a few brief essay prompts to complete. It’s possible that accomplishing this task on a mobile phone will be difficult. As a result, it is strongly suggested that you complete your application on a conventional desktop or portable laptop computer.

After you have finished your application, you will receive an email directing you to log in so that you may check the status of your application after it has been submitted. Bear in mind that during each summer, you are only permitted to submit an application for one of the Harvard summer programs offered, either the Pre-College Program or the Secondary School Program. The summer term for which you apply is the only one for which admissions decisions will be considered genuine. You are unable to postpone your enrollment in the program until a subsequent summer session.

Complete an online application and provide any other documentation that is requested, including the following:

• The application fee, which is non-refundable and costs $75. To get your application started, there is no charge required. Only at the point where you actually submit the application will you be required to pay the non-refundable application fee.
• Counselor report: Within the application, you have the option to request that a link be forwarded to your counselor.
• Transcripts from the 9th grade up to the grades in fall 2022: Documents such as progress reports, report cards, and educational summaries from your high school may fall under this category.
• There is an online form for the Rules and Media Release, and the application allows you to request that a link be provided to your parent or legal guardian.
• If English is not your first language, you are required to include the results of a language proficiency test such as the TOEFL iBT or the IELTS in your application.

On the TOEFL, successful applicants often have scores greater than 103, with a score of 25 on the written component; on the IELTS, successful applicants have scores greater than 7.5, with a score of 7 on the written section. The Cambridge English Exam and the TOEFL iTP are two tests whose results are not accepted here.

Make careful to book an appointment for your test as early as possible so that it does not cause a delay in the processing of your application. In order to complement your application, you have the option of submitting an interview and a writing sample through InitialView; however, these cannot take the place of the TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Is Harvard Summer Programs Worth It?

Knowing the different summer programs offered, is Harvard summer programs worth it? The majority of colleges and universities provide high school students with the opportunity to spend the summer studying on campus. Younger pupils are given the opportunity to play at becoming college students, strolling across the quad to their higher-level classes as any other student would do during the academic year. This opportunity typically comes in the form of residential programs that last for many weeks or months.

It is debatable whether or not this was their original intent. The majority of universities and colleges publicly assert that the purpose of impressive-sounding programs like the ones from the Harvard summer programs they provide is to provide high school students with a taste of what it is like to be a college student. They consume their meals in the cafeterias, sleep in the residence halls, and most significantly, they participate in the same rigorous academic coursework as they would if they were matriculated, students. It will be beneficial to your education.

The majority of pupils, particularly those who may feel understimulated or underwhelmed by the usual high school course load, may view this possibility as something out of their wildest dreams. It is in everyone’s best interest to broaden the educational horizons of high school students by introducing them to new fields of study, more difficult academic challenges, and subject matter that is outside of their typical curriculum. The majority of high schools do not provide courses in areas such as global health, film studies, journalism, modern art, or public policy; therefore, a program like Harvard summer programs is the ideal opportunity for your student to investigate these areas.

In addition, accepted students are accorded the status of Scholars rather than that of simple Campers. In order for a student to really get interested in anything and get a head start on their college career, it may be necessary for them to spend the summer at a well-known university among other students who share their interests.

There are some misconceptions and drawbacks to these programs that parents need to be aware of. On the other hand, this may appear to be a great investment for high school students who are excited for the next chapter in their academic careers. However, this is something that parents need to be aware of.

Will Attending a Summer Program Guarantee Admission?

So, will attending a summer program guarantee admission? The quick answer is probably not, at least not in a way that is directly relevant. It is imperative that pre-college summer programs like Harvard summer programs not be viewed in any way as a backdoor into the respective colleges and universities to which they are attached. The vast majority of these programs have no bearing on the undergraduate admissions procedures of the colleges to which they are attached.

There is a strong emphasis placed by Harvard University on the fact that participation in these programs does not ensure acceptance to Harvard. Your application to any other institution or university will be strengthened if you attend Harvard Summer School and do well there. In addition, the Secondary School Program provides a wide variety of options that are geared toward assisting you in navigating the college application process, gaining admission to the college of your choosing, and improving your performance when enrolled in a college environment.

With the exception of the most prestigious programs, college admissions officers are well aware of the high acceptance rates and price tags of many pre-college programs, and they won’t necessarily view acceptance into one as a significant achievement unless the program in question is one of the most prestigious programs available. It’s possible that they’ll simply interpret it as evidence that your family is well off.

Despite this, it might be beneficial for your child to participate in a program like Harvard summer programs before they head off to college. It is important to keep in mind that many summer programs get their professors from the faculty of the college that hosts them. This means that even less selected programs may nevertheless present academic challenges. In addition, if your child is given the opportunity to enroll in a class that complements their existing passions and areas of expertise, this will highlight their dedication to the topic at hand and strengthen the profile they are attempting to construct for the purposes of their college applications.

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AdmissionSight can help you put your best foot forward when applying to college this fall. Contact us today for more information on our services.