Summer Program Offerings

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Prestigious Summer Programs
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Summer Program Offerings

At AdmissionSight, we work with our students to craft together a competitive list of summer programs to showcase their initiative and sense of intellectual curiosity. A common question that is asked in the college applications is, “How did you spend your last two summers?” We’re able to address this question through the lens of their deep summer program experiences. 

Our staff of editors spend an inordinate amount of time helping students craft together a compelling application, increasing their odds of getting accepted into a highly selective program. These prestigious summer programs are recognized by admissions officers and can dramatically improve an applicant’s academic and extracurricular standing, and thereby increase their odds at getting into a highly selective university.

We’ve placed our students into every one of these summer programs below, which represents a small sample of the highly competitive summer programs that our students get admitted into.

1) Research Science Institute (RSI)

Each summer, 80 of the world’s most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.

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2) Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)

A Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) is a free six-week educational experience for high school juniors that offers challenges and rewards rarely encountered in secondary school or even college. Each program is designed to bring together young people from around the world who share a passion for learning. Telluride students, or TASPers, attend a seminar led by college and university scholars and participate in many other educational and social activities outside the classroom.

3) Simons Summer Research Program

The  Simons Summer Research Program gives academically talented, motivated high school students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math or engineering at Stony Brook University. Simons Fellows work with distinguished faculty mentors, learn laboratory techniques and tools, become part of active research teams, and experience life at a research university.  

a computer science student working in front of the camera
a female high school student looking happy

4) Stanford Summer Humanities Institute

Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is a three-week, residential enrichment program that allows passionate students to dive deep into the humanities, exploring rich fields of inquiry that are rarely taught at the high school level.

5) Summer Science Program (SSP)

For over six decades, SSP’s immersion into hands-on experimental science has challenged and inspired talented teenagers from around the world. Working in teams of three, participants complete a research project, with each team acquiring original data and analyzing it. The intense 39-day schedule adds field trips, guest speakers, and much more. The experience changes their lives, paying dividends in college and beyond.

a group of college students looking at the camera
an industrial engineer doing inventory

6) Michigan State High School Honors Science, Math & Engineering (HSHSP)

The Michigan State University High School Honors Science/Engineering/Mathematics Program (HSHSP) is a seven-week, intensive summer research program designed for motivated students from across the United States who wish to gain more experience conducting research while living on the campus of a major research-intensive university.

7) Iowa Young Writer's Studio

The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is a creative writing program for high school students at the University of Iowa, housed in the Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing. The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio offers a summer residential program as well as online courses. The Studio gives promising high school-age creative writers the opportunity to share their writing with teachers and peers, receive constructive critique, participate in writing exercises and activities, and attend (actually or virtually) readings and literary events.

a female student studying in a library
a male student studying intently

8) Kenyon Review Young Writer's Workshop

Young Writers is an intensive two-week workshop for intellectually curious, motivated high-school students who are eager to develop their creative and critical abilities with language—to become better, more productive writers and more insightful thinkers. For over three decades, Young Writers has provided a dynamic and supportive environment where students can stretch their talents, discover new strengths, and challenge themselves in the company of peers who share their interests.

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