Types of Summer Programs

Experience-Based Summer Programs

 These programs focus on understanding American culture and education, and developing students' leadership, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. The themes are broad, and the duration is relatively short, making applications easier. For students already considering studying abroad, these programs don't directly enhance applications but are suitable for younger students to experience overseas culture and learning environments.

Course-Based Summer Programs

Also known as credit-bearing programs, these are the most popular type. They offer courses designed for students in grades 9-12, allowing them to take 1-2 college courses. Some programs offer credits that can be transferred when enrolling in college. These courses not only demonstrate a student's academic ability but also show loyalty to their dream school. Students can explore academic interests and deepen their understanding of target majors. Academic ability is the core value of course-based summer programs. Maintaining good communication with professors and excelling in class can lead to strong recommendation letters, which are beneficial for future applications.

Research-Based Summer Programs: These are the most prestigious and difficult to apply for. Taught by university professors or postdoctoral researchers, students participate in research projects and often produce academic work such as papers or projects by the end. Research-based programs have higher entry requirements and fierce competition. It's recommended that students accumulate some academic background in lower grades before applying.

How to Choose the Most Suitable Program

• Students in grades 9-10 can participate in credit-bearing experience-based programs.
• Students in grades 10-11 can apply for more challenging and competitive programs.
• Choose programs based on Early Decision (ED) goals to show commitment and determination to admissions officers.
• Select programs based on course offerings and difficulty. If ED goals are not yet determined, refer to the specific courses offered by the schools.
• Choose based on location. If your ideal study destination is a bustling city, consider summer programs offered by schools in areas like New York or Boston.

1. Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (SSHI)

Humanities Summer Program

The Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (SSHI) is an official summer program at Stanford University, taught by Stanford professors. The courses cover various fields such as literature, philosophy, history, and art. It is no exaggeration to say that SSHI is the pinnacle of humanities summer programs for high school students, being one of the most challenging and prestigious. The Summer Humanities Institute (SHI) is a three-week program offering five major humanities courses, aimed at students in grades 10-11.

During SSHI, students can apply for up to three courses. They will have the opportunity to learn and interact with peers from different countries and cultural backgrounds, discussing interesting topics in the humanities and social sciences. Additionally, students will have the chance to engage in college-level paper writing, developing critical thinking and independent research skills.

Application Deadlines:

• Early Application Deadline: December 13, 2024
• Regular Application Deadline: February 12, 2025
• Rolling Admission Deadline: May 23, 2025

Course Schedule:

• Session 1: June 23 - July 12
• Session 2: July 14 - August 2

Classes are held Monday to Friday, with Stanford professors leading discussions in the morning and graduate teaching assistants facilitating in the afternoon. Students will have a significant amount of extracurricular tasks, including assigned readings, group projects, and lecture sharing, with high participation expectations.

2.Leadership in the Business World (LBW)

Business Summer Program

Leadership in the Business World (LBW), established in 1999, is sponsored by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The program aims to provide participants with a top-notch undergraduate business education, fostering their leadership, business skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.

LBW offers students the chance to learn business knowledge in the rigorous and dynamic Wharton classroom, conduct site visits to business companies, interact with business leaders, and engage in team-building activities. Through lectures, case studies, and practical projects, students can learn about various aspects such as marketing, financial management, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Application Timeline:

• Opening Date: December 1, 2024
• Priority Application Deadline: January 29, 2025
• Notification of Results: March 12, 2025
• Regular Application Deadline: April 2, 2025
• Notification of Results: April 23, 2025

Course and Session Schedule:

• Session 1: June 8 - June 28, 2025
• Session 2: June 29 - July 19, 2025
• Session 3: July 20 - August 9, 2025

3.Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)

Humanities and Social Sciences Summer Program

The Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) is a two-week interdisciplinary academic summer program hosted by Yale University. It is considered one of the top ten most difficult summer schools to get into globally, often referred to as the "Hermès" of summer programs. Over two weeks, the program aims to stimulate students' leadership, curiosity, and understanding through a series of courses, lectures, research projects, and team tasks, fostering their global thinking.

Program Highlights: The program focuses on the following areas:

• Innovations in Science & Technology
• Literature, Philosophy & Culture
• Politics, Law & Economics
• Solving Global Challenges

This program does not offer grades or credits; it encourages students to engage in creative research while recognizing their limitations. The YYGS application and admission process is similar to undergraduate applications, with both Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD) rounds.

Application Deadlines:

• Early Action Deadline: October 20, 2024, 11:59 PM (EST)
• Notification of Results: By December 20, 2024, 11:59 PM (EST)
• Regular Decision Deadline: January 10, 2025, 11:59 PM (EST)
• Notification of Results: By March 10, 2025, 11:59 PM (EST)

Course Schedule:

• Session 1: June 22 - July 4
• Session 2: July 6 - July 18
• Session 3: July 20 - August 1

4.MIT LaunchX

Business Summer Program

MIT LaunchX is an entrepreneurial summer program hosted by MIT, later joined by Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan, collectively known as LaunchX. The program aims to cultivate high school students' entrepreneurial spirit and innovation abilities, providing an immersive entrepreneurial environment where they can turn ideas into real business projects while learning various entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.

LaunchX primarily targets high school students in grades 10 to 12 and typically lasts four weeks, with specific dates varying by year and location. The program is intensive, utilizing each day fully to engage students deeply in entrepreneurial practice. LaunchX has campuses in the US and international partner locations, offering facilities such as conference rooms, workshops, and startup incubation centers.

Application Deadlines:

• Priority Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
• Regular Application Deadline: March 1, 2025

Summer Program Dates:

• Ann Arbor Entrepreneurship: June 30 - July 27, 2025 (4 weeks)
• Bay Area Entrepreneurship: July 7 - August 3, 2025 (4 weeks)
• Online Innovation Course: July 22 - August 9, 2025
• Online Entrepreneurship Course: June 17 - July 19, 2025

5.Research Science Institute (RSI)

Comprehensive Research Summer Program

The Research Science Institute (RSI) was established in 1984 through a collaboration between the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). RSI is one of the most prestigious STEM research summer programs globally and is known as one of the most competitive and challenging high school research projects in the United States. The program lasts for six weeks and primarily targets 11th-grade students with outstanding academic abilities and backgrounds.

Application Deadlines:

Application Deadline: December 11, 2024

Program Dates:

June 22 - August 2, 2025

Program Content:
In the first week, students will participate in intensive STEM courses covering subjects such as biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics, to help them build the necessary theoretical foundation and skills.

From the second to the fifth week, students will conduct individual research projects under the guidance of internationally renowned scientists, working in MIT's laboratories. Students will engage in the entire research process, including literature review, research planning, conducting experiments, and data analysis.

In the final week, students are required to prepare and present their research findings to meet academic conference standards, which includes writing a written report and delivering an oral presentation.

Another Option - Embark Exploration Program

Application Deadline: Personalized research projects, please contact Embark for details

Location: online

Eligibility: Varies according to the requirements of different research projects, but basically requires students to have a certain subject knowledge background

Program dates: Determined by the nature of the research project

Cost: Determined by the personalized research project

Founded in 2016, Embark is an educational institution focused on providing customized research training for teenagers. The core team is composed of graduates from prestigious American universities, with more than 3,000 mentors from well-known schools such as Ivy League, MIT, Caltech, Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Embark provides personalized one-on-one research guidance and customizes research topics according to students' interests. Embark helps students systematically develop research skills, establish a solid research framework, connect research with practical applications, appreciate the value of research, and improve problem-solving skills, all of which help them apply for college.

For more information, please visit Embark Exploration Program.