1. RSI Research Science Institute

This is a free summer program for students focusing on science and engineering, combining in-school scientific theory with out-of-school scientific research. It is co-hosted by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and MIT. Although it is a non-credit summer school, RSI is highly prestigious, admitting about 100 of the most capable high school students each summer. Admitted students will first participate in a one-week intensive STEM course taught by professional professors, covering research topics in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, physics, and humanities. Afterwards, they will conduct individual projects under the guidance of experienced scientists and researchers. In the final week of RSI, students must prepare written and oral reports on their research projects. An external panel of scientists from Boston's academic and corporate sectors will select five papers and five presentations for special recognition.

Program Dates:

June 22 - August 2, 2025

Application Deadline:

December 11, 2024, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Location:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Application Fee:

65forU.S.students;65forU.S.students;30 for international students

Program Cost:

Free (includes accommodation and travel for admitted students)

Grade Level:

11th grade

Officially recommended scores: SAT Math at least 740, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing at least 700; ACT Math at least 33, English at least 34. If unable to meet these scores, applicants can compensate with recommendation letters, high school grades, and demonstrated academic potential in math and science activities.

2. The Summer Science Program

Founded in 1959, the Summer Science Program (SSP) is one of the most prestigious science summer programs, with over 90% of participants being admitted to top universities like MIT, Caltech, Harvard, and Yale. Students can choose between astrophysics and biochemistry, experiencing a complete research process firsthand. SSP is not a "camp" but a unique immersive experience, involving a three-person research project to explore the unknown, challenge limits, and understand true science and mathematics.

Program Dates:

Starts in mid to late June 2025

Application Open Date:

December 12, 2024

Application Deadlines:

January 24, 2025 (International students)

February 21, 2025 (U.S. students)

Locations:

UC San Diego, Purdue University, University of Colorado, and New Mexico Tech

Application Fee:

Free

Program Cost:

Adjusted based on family ability to pay; $3,000 stipend available (in addition to financial aid)

Grade Level:

Ages 15-18 (11th grade), a few exceptional 10th graders admitted

3. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn

The UPenn Engineering Summer Academy (ESAP) is a summer engineering program designed by the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering for high school students. Each year, the program admits about 220 motivated and talented students to explore and cultivate their future as engineers at a university level. ESAP emphasizes in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on practice in high-tech fields. The program covers six engineering disciplines, allowing students to choose and study courses based on their interests.

Program Dates:

July 6 - 26, 2025

Application Window:

January 2 - March 1, 2025

Location:

University of Pennsylvania

Application Fee:

$85

Program Cost:

$8,500 (includes tuition, room and board, meals, course materials, and course-related travel)

Grade Level:

9th-11th grade, must be at least 15 years old by program start

4. California Math and Science Summer School (COSMOS)

COSMOS is a four-week official summer camp hosted by the University of California, aimed at cultivating future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. The program is taught by UC professors with undergraduates as teaching assistants. Each campus offers different STEM courses, including biomedical science, computer applications in biophysics and robotics, quantum mechanics and nanotechnology, mathematics, life chemistry, mathematical modeling of biological systems, electro-optical physics, and nuclear technology. Students will engage in classroom learning, discussions, experiments, and field trips under the guidance of UC faculty and researchers. Each campus can accommodate 160 to 200 students, with class sizes ranging from 18 to 24. Due to limited spots, the application process is highly competitive.

Program Dates:

July 6 - August 1, 2025 (UCI, UCSD)

August 2, 2025 (UCD, UCLA, UCSC)

Application Window:

January 8, 2025, 8:00 AM - February 7, 2025, 5:00 PM

Locations:

UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz

Application Fee:

$44

Program Cost:

$5,256

Grade Level:

8th-11th grade at the time of application (few 8th graders admitted)

5. Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces

The Garcia Program, hosted by Stony Brook University, is a research-focused summer program where students participate in cutting-edge research in the field of polymer materials under the guidance of Garcia faculty. This seven-week program focuses on polymer materials, integrating multiple disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Participants have achieved notable success in international competitions, patent applications, and admissions to prestigious universities.

Program Dates:

June 6 - August 8, 2025

Application Deadline:

March 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Location:

Stony Brook University, New York

Application Fee:

$50

Program Cost:

Lab fees TBA + 2507fordoubleoccupancyroom(6/25/25−8/9/25)+2507fordoubleoccupancyroom(6/25/25−8/9/25)+120.00 for meals (approximately one week, more can be added as needed) + $60.25 for health insurance

Grade Level:

16 years old

6. The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics

YSPA is a research program held at Yale University's Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium (LFOP), designed for high school students interested and talented in science, mathematics, and astrophysics who are considering a career in scientific research. Each year, about 32 students participate, including 2-3 students from China. The program consists of two weeks of online self-study followed by a four-week residential program. Students will reside on campus and take classes at the Leitner Planetarium. At the end of the program, students will summarize their research findings in a scientific paper and present them at the YSPA briefing.

Program Dates:

June 24 - August 4, 2024 (2 weeks online + 4 weeks residential)

Application Open Date:

December 31, 2023

Application Deadline:

Typically the first week of March

Location:

Online + Yale University LFOP Observatory

Program Cost:

$7,500

Grade Level:

At least 15.5 years old

7. Secondary Student Training Program

The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP), hosted by the University of Iowa, is a highly recommended research program for high school students by MIT. This program offers a unique learning and social experience, where participants conduct scientific research under the guidance of faculty mentors. Students spend about 40 hours per week conducting research in the laboratories on the University of Iowa campus. The program culminates in a research paper and presentation, focusing on biochemical and laboratory directions.

Program Dates:

June 18 - July 26, 2025

Application Window:

December 16, 2024 - February 14, 2025

Location:

The University of Iowa

Application Fee:

$95

Program Cost:

$7,500

Grade Level:

10th-11th grade high school students

8. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week research-based summer program designed to provide outstanding high school students with an in-depth academic experience. Students can choose courses in natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, or arts based on their interests. The program emphasizes experimentation and practice, with professors personally guiding students through experiments, offering ample opportunities to explore and understand the content intuitively. In addition to full tuition coverage, the program provides room and board subsidies.

Program Dates:

June 16 - August 1, 2024

Application Deadline:

February 15, 2024

Location:

Lubbock, Texas

Application Fee:

$50

Program Cost:

Free, with a $750 tax-free stipend

Grade Level:

11th-12th grade high school students

9. The Summer Science Program

The UF SSTP is a seven-week research program where students collaborate with UF faculty, research scientists, and their teams. Through academic, social, and service activities, students develop important interpersonal relationships, leadership skills, and focus. The UF SSTP (Student Science Training Program at the University of Florida) tends to prefer admitting students from within Florida.

More details about the 2025 program will be released by the end of December 2024. Currently available details are as follows:

Program Dates:

7 weeks (exact dates to be updated on the official website)

Application Deadline:

Rolling admissions until full

Location:

University of Florida

Application Fee:

$50

Program Cost:

To be announced

Grade Level:

Completed 11th grade, entering 12th grade, 16 years or older

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.