STEM Summer Programs: Master List

Are you an aspiring engineer or doctor? Do you have your eye set on The Top STEM Schools in the Nation and Their Programs? Or maybe even a BS/MD Program? It’s no secret that these are highly-competitive programs. Thankfully, there are lots of science summer programs that can help bolster your college applications.

Attending a STEM summer camp while you’re in high school is a great way to gain practical experience while demonstrating your commitment to your prospective field. There is a wide variety of summer STEM programs to choose from; some focus on completing original research projects, while others offer a more traditional curriculum.

If you’re looking to enrich your vacation with STEM summer activities, you’re probably interested in learning more about the best STEM summer camps. There are lots of pre-college summer programs that emphasize STEM extracurricular activities. In this article, we will review some of the best STEM summer programs, so if you’re interested in learning more about STEM-related extracurriculars, you’ve come to the right place!

List of 28 STEM summer programs

The following list features some of the best STEM summer programs, including several free STEM summer programs with great reputations! If you’re interested in STEM extracurriculars, take a look at our list below for valuable summer opportunities that may be available to you.

AI4All

Three-week programs
Programs offered on 11 college campuses
Focuses on Artificial Intelligence
Most programs are free to attend

Bethel College Summer Science Institute

Online summer STEM research program
Open to students entering 10-12 grade
Encourages close interaction with faculty

Carnegie-Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science

Six-week program
Offers STEM seminars
Open to underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students
Free to attend

Carnegie-Mellon University’s Computer Science Scholars

Six-week program
Focuses on Computer Science
Open to underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students
Free to attend

Cornell CATALYST Academy

Week-long engineering research program
Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
Scholarships available

Clark Scholars Program

Seven-week intensive research program
Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
Held at Texas Tech University
Free to attend (includes housing and meals)

The Garcia Program

Seven-week program
Held at Stony Brook University
Opportunity for continued mentorship
Focuses on original research projects

GirlsWhoCode Summer Immersion Program

Two-week immersion program and six-week self-paced program
Focuses on coding and understanding the tech industry
Open to students in 9-12th grade who identify as girls or nonbinary
Free to attend

Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program

Eight-week biomedical or computational lab-based internships
Held at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Manhattan, NY)
Housing not provided

Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program

Ten-week program
Offered on two college campuses (Bar Harbor, ME, and Farmington, CT)
Focuses on genetics and genomics research
Open to high school and undergraduate students

Lincoln Laboratory Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE)

Two-week program
Open to rising high school seniors
Students work with skilled engineers to build radar systems
Free to attend

Mathcamp

Five-week program
Focuses on advanced topics in mathematics
Free for low-income students

MDI Biological Laboratory High School Summer Research Fellowship

Six-week STEM research fellowship
Offered to 100 students each summer

Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)

Six-week program
Focus on science and math
Open to rising high school seniors
Free to attend

MIT Online Science Technology and Engineering Community (MOSTEC)

Program completed over the course of 6 months
Online and in-person components offered by MIT
Open to rising high school seniors
Free to attend

MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)

Four-week program
Open to rising high school seniors
Focuses on mechanical engineering
Free to attend (no housing provided)

Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) Summer Program

Week-long program
Offered on two college campuses
Focus on astrophysics and nuclear research
Free to attend

Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)

Six-week program
Held at Boston University
Open to students who’ve completed 9-12th grade
Free for low-income students

Princeton Laboratory Learning Program

Five to six-week internships
Held at Princeton University
Focuses on science and engineering
Free to attend (no housing provided)

Research Science Institute (RSI)

Six-week program
Held at MIT
Emphasizes the formal research process
Free to attend

Roswell Park Summer Cancer Research Experience Program

Seven-week program
Students must live in Western NY
Open to rising high school seniors
Stipends provided

Simons Summer Research Program

Seven-week program
Held at Stony Brook University
Open to rising high school seniors
Free to attend (no housing provided)

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program

Eight-week program
Held at Stanford University
Open to high school juniors and seniors
Free to attend

Summer Science Program (SSP)

39-day program
Offered on various college campuses
Open to rising high school juniors
Emphasizes Biochemistry, Genomics, and Astrophysics
Free for low-income students

Summer Science Research Program at the Rockefeller University

A seven-week biomedical research program
Held at The Rockefeller University
Open to high school juniors and seniors
Free to attend

Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics

Four-week program
Held on the University of North Carolina campuses
Open to rising high school juniors and seniors living in NC
Free to attend

The National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program

Eight-week internships
Held at the National Institute of Health
Free to attend/stipends provided

UPenn Biomedical Research Program

Three-week program
Held at UPenn
Focuses on cellular, molecular, and genetic```html aspects of biology
Scholarships available

Key takeaways and moving forward

College admissions are becoming increasingly competitive, and if you have your heart set on attending one of the Top STEM Schools in the Country, you’ll need to find ways to stand out from your peers. Engaging in STEM summer activities — either through a pre-college summer program or through a self-designed passion project — is a great way to prepare for your college applications. Attending one of the best STEM summer camps is also a great way to learn how to demonstrate leadership skills in high school. In the meantime, if you need help with your college application strategy, reach out to learn more about our services.

STEM Summer Programs: Master List

Dive into our master list of STEM Summer Programs. Gain practical experience, bolster your college applications, and ignite your passion for STEM. Start your journey today!

rcotayo2024-09-30T15:01:15-04:00May 25, 2023|Choosing a college & College lists|

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Plan your career change by identifying goals and transferable skills, reflecting on your finances, and cultivating confidence.

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Getting Into West Point and The Air Force Academy

Unlock the secrets of getting into West Point and the Air Force Academy. Learn about eligibility, application steps, deadlines, and more. Start your military journey today!

rcotayo2024-09-30T08:56:03-04:00May 23, 2023|Choosing a college & College lists|

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Students with military aspirations are likely interested in attending West Point or the Air Force Academy. But how do you get into West Point? And is it hard to get into the Air Force Academy? Unlike other institutions of higher education, West Point and the Air Force Academy have medical and physical fitness requirements, in addition to several other extra steps, such as securing a Congressional nomination. This is why it’s important to complete your research carefully and to give yourself plenty of time to complete all of your application materials.

In this article, we will review eligibility requirements, application steps, and deadlines associated with West Point and the Air Force Academy. So if you’re wondering, “Is it hard to get into West Point?” or “How do you get into the Air Force Academy?” don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place!

How to get into West Point

The first step to knowing how to get into West Point is knowing how to apply to West Point. Unlike other institutions of higher learning, West Point applicants are subject to a few more requirements. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and understand each step of the application process thoroughly. After all, the West Point acceptance rate is only 11%. So you need to complete your application carefully!

With an average admitted GPA of 3.9, you’ll need to focus on the importance of course rigor and your high school GPA. Knowing how to demonstrate leadership skills in high school will also be key in your West Point application.

Eligibility requirements

There are a few eligibility requirements that will determine whether or not you have a chance at being admitted. These requirements are crucial in terms of how to get accepted to West Point. They are as follows:

At least 17 but not 23 or older
US citizen
Not married
Not pregnant
Not legally responsible for child support

Understanding the West Point application process

In addition to the average GPA to get into West Point, you’ll need to complete an interview, medical examination, and fitness assessment, as well as secure an official nomination. If this sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry! We’ll review each step carefully.

Complete the candidate questionnaire

The first step to getting into West Point is to complete the Candidate Questionnaire. If eligible, you will receive your West Point Candidate Portal credentials by email within 24-48 hours. It’s important to note that the West Point application becomes available to high school juniors on February 1st.

Connect with your field force representative

The next step is to find and connect with your local Field Force representative. Field Force representatives are local volunteers from the U.S. Military Academy. These representatives will be an invaluable resource throughout your application process. You will also need to schedule an interview with them as a part of your application.

Schedule an interview

After you’ve connected with your Field Force representative, you’ll need to schedule an interview. If you need tips on how to complete a successful interview, review our articles, How To Answer ‘What Are Your Career Goals?’ in an Interview and Popular College Interview Questions and How to Answer Them. You’ll also want to reflect carefully on the question “Why West Point?” before your interview. Make sure you have several compelling and specific reasons why you’d like to attend!

Apply for a nomination

One of the most important steps in regards to how to get into West Point Academy is applying for a Congressional or Service-Connected nomination. Locate your Congressional Representative or Senators in order to apply for a Congressional nomination. If you have questions about securing a nomination, refer to West Point’s article on the topic here. Nominations are required for all applicants and must be received by January 31st.

Schedule your medical exam

Another key step in regard to how to get into West Point military academy is to schedule a medical examination. Schedule your exam as soon as possible, as it can take several months to become qualified. Reach out to the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) in order to schedule your exam.

Complete the fitness assessment

You will need to take the Candidate Fitness Assessment as a part of your West Point application. According to West Point’s website, the assessment includes the following six events:

Basketball throw (from a kneeling position)
Cadence pull-ups or flexed-arm hang (women’s option)
40-yard shuttle run (for time)
Modified Sit-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
Push-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
1-mile run (for time)

Complete your standardized tests (SAT/ACT or PSAT)

Finally, you must complete and submit your standardized test results. Review our SAT study plan and schedule templates to help prepare you for your exams. Your scores must be received by February 28th. It is also worth noting that according to US News: “Half the applicants admitted to West Point have an SAT score between 1200 and 1440 or an ACT score of 28 and 33.”

List of required documents

Use the list below as a checklist; this will help you stay organized during the application process. Remember to check in about individual deadlines so that your application is fully complete on January 31st (the overall application deadline).

Key dates to remember

The application window opens on February 1st for high school juniors
Application Deadline: January 31st
SAT/ACT scores must be received by February 28th

If you’re interested in applying to West Point, start your application here.

How to get into the Air Force Academy

Similarly to West Point, the first step to knowing how to get into the Air Force Academy is knowing how to apply to the Air Force Academy. Again, there are certain requirements to get into the Air Force Academy that go above what’s expected of applicants applying to different types of colleges and universities.

With an overall acceptance rate of 12% and an average admitted GPA of 3.85, you’ll need to focus on the importance of course rigor and your high school GPA. Knowing how to demonstrate leadership skills in high school will also be key in your Air Force Academy application.

Curious about West Point vs. Air Force Academy application requirements? Continue reading for more insight and information.

Eligibility requirements

There are a few eligibility requirements that will determine whether or not you have a chance at being admitted. These requirements are crucial in terms of getting into the Air Force Academy. They are as follows:

At least 17 but not 23 or older
US citizen
Not married
Not pregnant
Not legally responsible for child support

Understanding the Air Force Academy application process

In addition to the average GPA to get into the Air Force Academy, you’ll need to complete an interview, medical examination, and fitness assessment, as well as secure an official nomination. Don’t worry; we’ll review each step carefully!

Complete the pre-candidate questionnaire

Complete your Pre-candidate Questionnaire as soon as March 1st of your junior year of high school. This questionnaire will determine whether or not you are eligible to apply to the Air Force Academy. If eligible, you will receive your portal login information.

Apply for a nomination

Similarly to West Point applications, you will need to secure a Congressional nomination as a part of your application. Locate your Congressional Representative or Senators to get started on this integral part of your Air Force Academy application.

Schedule your medical exam

Reach out to the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) to schedule your medical exam. Schedule your exam as soon as possible, as it may take several months to become qualified.

Complete the fitness assessment

The Air Force Academy Fitness Assessment features the same six events as the fitness exam used by West Point. The events are as follows:

Basketball throw (from a kneeling position)
Cadence pull-ups or flexed-arm hang (women’s option)
40-yard shuttle run (for time)
Modified Sit-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
Push-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
1-mile run (for time)

According to the Air Force Academy website, your fitness exam may be “administered by any physical education teacher, Service Academy Liaison Officer or JROTC instructor…It is your responsibility to arrange for a qualified person to conduct your examination.”

Complete your standardized tests (SAT/ACT)

Finally, you must complete and submit your standardized test results. Review our SAT study plan and schedule templates to help prepare you for your exams.

According to the Air Force Academy’s website: “Students who score below 620 Evidence-based reading and writing or below 580 math on the SAT reasoning test and below 24 English/reading and 25 math/science on the ACT normally will not be competitive for an appointment directly into the Academy. However, they will be considered for the prep school or a Falcon Foundation Scholarship.”

List of required documents

Key dates to remember

The application window opens on March 1st for high school juniors
Application Deadline: December 31st

If you’re interested in applying to the Air Force Academy, start your application here.

Key takeaways and moving forward

The best way to prepare for your West Point and Air Force Academy applications is to familiarize yourself with the application process and know precisely what is expected of you. Start each step as early as possible and keep track of any pertinent deadlines. One of the most significant factors in regard to how to get into West Point and how to get into the Air Force Academy is securing an official nomination. Connect with your local West Point and Air Force Academy representative for advice on how to best navigate this process. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your high school or college career, reach out to learn more about our services.