Top Tuition-Free High School Summer STEM Programs
In contrast to tuition-based programs, which are frequently referred to as “pay to play,” many of the most prestigious and competitive high school summer programs are free. ”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text].
High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors have the opportunity to volunteer through the Al and Trudy Agress Summer Health Corps Program. Students participate in panel discussions and tours that introduce them to various health disciplines while they work in a hospital department or unit. They will also meet BIDMC clinicians.
Only 30 students are accepted each year. Participants receive a meal card.
The Clark Scholars Program, which is held each summer at Texas Tech, enables students to work with a small group of like-minded students on worthwhile research.
A premier summer program for high school students is housed in one of the best cancer research and treatment facilities in the nation. Participants carry out their own independent research projects, go to training sessions, and take field trips to learn about clinical work. They will learn laboratory methods and acquire practical experience through HOPP.
The program runs for eight weeks. Students present their research at a poster session at the conclusion of HOPP. They will also receive a stipend for their participation.
This competitive summer program focuses on genetics and genomics research. When the program first begins, students who are at least 18 and have finished 12th grade work on an independent research project with the guidance of JAX staff. At the culmination of the program, participants present their findings.
For this 10-week program at Highseas or the University of Saint Joseph, only 40 students are chosen. In addition to providing students with a $6,000 stipend, the program also provides room and board.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers rising high school seniors interested in engineering and science careers, many of whom are from underrepresented or underserved communities, the opportunity to pursue their passions. Students complete five courses in math, physics, life sciences, and the humanities. They also take part in admissions counseling, lab tours, and social activities.
During the summer between their junior and senior years of high school, young women can participate in the WTP program, which allows them to study mechanical or electrical engineering. This course is intended for learners with little to no background in computer science or engineering and is taught by MIT graduate students.
High school students can collaborate on biomedical research projects with renowned researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) thanks to the HS-SIP program. A small number of positions are available in Hamilton, Montana; Framingham, Massachusetts; Phoenix, Arizona; and Detroit, Michigan, but the majority of students will work at NIH campuses in Bethesda, Baltimore, and Frederick, MD. For their work, students earn a stipend.
The first free program to integrate practical research with science-based coursework, RSI is housed at the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and fuses theory and practice. 80 students conduct actual, independent research projects every year, collaborating with top researchers and creating their own strategies. Five weeks later, they present conference-style reports on their work. The Rolls Royce of high school STEM programs, this is an extremely competitive and prestigious program.
Residents of Western New York can participate in this program to gain experience in scientific research as high school juniors. Students specialize in one of the following nine fields: biostatistics, cancer biophysics, cancer cellular/molecular biology, cancer genetics, cancer prevention/epidemiology, health behavior/cancer health disparities, molecular pharmacology and cancer therapeutics, tobacco regulatory science, or tumor immunology.
The Neural-Vascular Link in Head and Neck Cancer, The Role of Heat Shock Protein in Prostate Cancer Progression, and Cigarette Filter Ventilation and its Correlation with Risk and Sensory Perceptions in America’s Leading Cigarette Brands are a few projects that students have previously concentrated on. Participants will also participate in seminars with experts in the field and receive classroom instruction on cancer basics in addition to carrying out a research project.
At Stony Brook University, Simons enables motivated students to take part in practical research in the fields of science, math, or engineering. These Fellows experience life at a research university by working with faculty mentors to learn laboratory techniques, join actual research teams, and gain exposure to laboratory equipment. They also attend faculty lectures and events.
For those who commute, the course is free to attend; for those who live on campus, there is a housing fee. A $1,000 stipend will be given to participants once the program is over.
High school juniors and seniors have the opportunity to conduct practical research as part of the SIMR program, an 8-week summer internship, with the guidance of Stanford University faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and researchers.
Participants concentrate on a project related to medicine in one of eight institutes for research, including immunology, neurobiology, cancer biology, bioengineering, stem cell and regenerative medicine, cardiovascular biology, bioinformatics, and genetics and genomics. They can also choose to enroll in the bioengineering bootcamp, which has no lab component.
For their work, students receive a $500 stipend at minimum. Additionally, grant money is accessible to help underrepresented groups in the field. NB: The admissions process favors Bay Area applicants.
Students from underrepresented groups in STEM can study subjects like biology, physics, computer programming, and more at Carnegie Mellon University and even receive college credit. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, practical projects, and engagement activities, CMU faculty and staff also oversee a demanding curriculum that allows students to connect with like-minded peers from across the nation.
The program is divided into two parts. During Part 1, participants engage in skills-building work virtually. In the second part, students move into CMU residence halls and spend four weeks attending classes, meetings, and presenting their work at a symposium before the program comes to a close.
Modeling microbes in milk and cheese, silkworm biomaterials, RNA virus discovery and bioinformatics, and ant social biology are just a few of the numerous research areas that SSRP scholars have worked on while participating in this supervised biomedical research program at the esteemed Rockefeller University.
SSRP, which is available to high school juniors and seniors aged 16, gives students the chance to conduct research while being guided by mentors from the Rockefeller community. Additionally, they will participate in discussions, lab meetings, trainings, and workshops pertaining to careers where they will learn skills and get guidance on navigating the scientific world. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”. vc_custom_1657303118349{padding-right: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”].
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Paid High School Summer STEM Programs
Since they are only open to students who can afford the costs, although many do offer financial aid, pre-college programs with tuition fees (often high ones) are typically regarded as less prestigious than those that are free or offer a stipend. However, many of these programs are selective and can provide students with the chance to develop their skills and gain exposure to careers in science.
Examples include:
Talented students in grades 8 through 12 have the opportunity to collaborate with academics, scientists, and researchers at top research institutions within the University of California system, including UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz. For students interested in a career in STEM, COSMOS, a four-week residential program, is the best option.
The curriculum emphasizes advanced STEM topics and is lab- and hands-on-intensive, taking place in state-of-the-art facilities. Beyond the confines of a typical high school curriculum, students can develop their skills and pursue their interests.
This intensive seven-week program, which combines independent, original research with formal instruction, is open to talented rising seniors. They will create their own projects with the assistance of Garcia Center faculty, students, and staff.
Additionally, students have the chance to carry out research by taking part in the Mentor Program, where they will collaborate with a faculty mentor all year long. Alumni of the program have received widespread acclaim for their work in national competitions; some have even had their research published in journals, received patents, and been inducted into the National Young Inventor’s Hall of Fame.
Students who participate in HSHSP work with renowned researchers at Michigan State University, one of the top 50 research universities, to conduct research on topics in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics. Through one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the U.S., participants with interests and goals in the STEM fields tackle difficult problems. S. HSHSP encourages qualified minority students and disabled individuals to apply.
A six-week residential program at Boston University, PROMYS was established in 1989 with the intention of introducing motivated high school students to various areas of mathematics. While attending lectures, taking part in advanced seminars or lab projects, and performing their own numerical experiments, students receive daily problem sets, advice, and feedback from undergraduate counselors.
Additionally, they cooperate with classmates and experience dorm life and extracurricular activities in college.
Students immerse themselves in hands-on experimental science through SSP. They delve deeply into subjects like astrophysics, biochemistry, and genomics while working in small groups of peers and faculty, referred to as “living and learning communities.” This is the only program of its kind that is managed, funded, and governed by its own former students and faculty. Having been started in 1959, it is also one of the pre-college programs with the longest history.
Students practice science in real life as well as learning about it. There are no grades; instead, students collaborate and engage in real science work while adhering to a Code of Honor.
Independent Research
Students can enroll in a variety of three-year research programs at high schools, which can be very rewarding. These programs assist students in finding a research area of interest, contacting professors researching that area, and obtaining beneficial research internships and opportunities. Once in high school, many of these students continue to collaborate with these professors over the summer to make significant contributions.
This work can also be entered into science competitions including regional competitions, ISEF, Regeneron (the most prestigious science competition), and JSHS. Often students can also publish research depending on the level of mentorship. This type of work can be as valuable and even more so than participating in some of the programs listed above.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Pre-college programs can be useful for identifying your interests in a variety of subjects, but they are generally easy to get into, have low admissions standards, and don’t hold as much weight in the college admissions process as the more selective programs mentioned above. Contrary to popular belief, enrolling in a pre-college program at a prestigious university will not give you a better chance of admission.
Here is a selection of science-based pay-to-play services that we think are valuable.
Recall that there are literally hundreds of pay-to-play services, many of which now use a “mentor-based” structure. Choose wisely because the quality of these programs varies greatly and many of them may be a complete waste of your time and energy.
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Massenberg Summer STEM Institute
FAQ
Is Summer STEM Institute discontinued?
a virtual summer program for pre-college scientists and leaders from around the world NOTICE: We regret to inform you that the Summer STEM Institute (SSI) will no longer be offered due to uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and new variants.
Is SSI prestigious?
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