Updated: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Join IvyWise college admissions counselors as they explain the importance of having a productive summer and share suggestions to identify the best activities, independent projects, and summer programs for your interests and goals.
Whether you’re in ninth, 10th, or 11th grade, it’s important to find any opportunity you can to build a strong profile for college applications. One of the best ways to build a strong profile is by participating in summer programs — though it’s important to get an early start to avoid missing application deadlines.
Summer programs, sometimes referred to as pre-college programs, often take place on college campuses. These programs come in various formats, including virtual and in-person, short-term and long-term, and day programs or residential. They offer a wide range of options to fit different interests and schedules.
You can find a program for any passion you wish to pursue. Completing one or more summer programs during high school is a great way to demonstrate to admission committees that you are a specialist in your field of interest — what we like to call a “pointy” student. Bonus: These programs also show that you are capable of handling academic rigor.
The examples we provide below are just a few of the programs available. You can find many similar programs at colleges and universities across the U.S. and abroad. Program requirements and deadlines can vary widely, so it’s important to be aware of what you need to submit with your application and ensure everything is submitted on time.
These programs focus on specific academic interests. Credit-bearing programs allow students to take college courses alongside current college students, earning college credits. Non-credit-bearing programs, on the other hand, provide valuable learning experiences without the pressure of grades.
Example: The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer more than 70 synchronous online courses in subjects like artificial intelligence, creative writing, international relations, and bioscience. Students can earn college credits and experience the rigor of Stanford’s academic environment. Stanford offers two sessions — each running for two weeks — though students are only permitted to enroll in one course per summer.
Students interested in the arts can find intensive programs that often require auditions. These programs help students develop their artistic skills and build a creative portfolio they can later submit if they apply to an undergraduate program in the arts.
Examples: The Juilliard Summer Performing Arts Program offers young musicians, dancers, and actors the chance to train with Juilliard faculty and perform in professional settings. This two-week program takes place in Orlando, Florida.
More interested in the visual arts? The High School Summer Art Intensive at NYU allows students to immerse themselves in New York City culture while working with practicing artists and learning new mediums and technologies.
These programs focus on developing leadership skills through hands-on experiences and workshops.
Example: The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers programs in areas like business, engineering, and medicine, where students participate in simulations, workshops, and lectures to develop their leadership abilities. These programs are held on college campuses, such as Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, Northwestern, Virginia Tech, UCLA, and more.
Some programs are designed to help students explore niche areas within their primary academic interests, allowing for deeper exploration and understanding.
Example: The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT is a highly competitive program where students conduct original research in science and engineering under the guidance of experienced mentors. During this six-week program, students complete intensive STEM coursework for one week followed by a five-week research internship.
Aside from helping you build your profile for college admissions, participating in a summer program offers other benefits:
Don’t forget the memories (and friends!) you will make when you participate in a summer program. Who knows — you could even end up writing about your experience for one of your college admissions essays.
When selecting a summer program, consider the following:
The ideal time to participate in a summer program is typically the summer after sophomore or junior year. This timing allows you to have a clearer sense of your academic interests and goals. However, it’s important to remember that summer programs are just one way to build your profile. There are many other valuable ways to plan a productive summer break, such as volunteering, internships, MOOCs, outside reading, and independent projects.
Want to take a deeper dive into summer programs? Listen to IvyWise counselors Tasha and Alecia discuss summer programs in Semester 9, Episode 3 of the Just Admit It! podcast.
By carefully selecting a summer program that aligns with your goals and interests, you can make the most of your summer and set yourself up for future success. IvyWise has helped thousands of students identify summer programs and activities that make them more competitive for college admissions. Learn how we can help you plan a summer that will help you achieve your academic goals.
Do you already know what career you want, or are you still exploring your options? A summer internship is a great opportunity to gain work experience and leadership skills, network with professionals, and learn more about a career field you’re interested in — even if you’re still in high school.
Summer break is a great time for students to relax, but summer shouldn’t be spent just lounging around! Students should use this break in their academic schedule to pursue their interests and one way to do that is through reading and research.
Learning doesn’t have to stop just because class is no longer in session. In fact, summer break is the perfect opportunity to learn a new language. Investing time in your daily life to learn a language is not only great for personal growth and cultural appreciation, but it also demonstrates to college admissions committees that you’re motivated to learn outside of the classroom. Keep reading for some language learning strategies and tips.
Summer is just around the corner, but it’s not too late to plan for a productive break! Join IvyWise college admissions counselors and a member of the Summer Discovery team as they explain the importance of having a productive summer and share suggestions to identify the best activities, courses, and programs for your interests and goals.
