The 23Fall application season is gradually drawing to a close
And similarly about to close
are summer program applications
Miss this wave
and you'll have to wait another year!
In recent years, many international students, in order to "get ahead from the starting line," have chosen to attend summer programs at renowned universities during high school to enhance their backgrounds and gain admission to higher-ranked colleges. This has made summer program competition so fierce that it sometimes rivals undergraduate admissions.
The benefits of attending high-impact summer programs for undergraduate applications are also clearly visible.
Take the Summer Science Program (SSP) as an example—a research summer program affiliated with MIT and Caltech. Nearly 90% of its participants are admitted to top universities like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, a testament to its prestige. SSP's overall acceptance rate is around 9%, with an even lower rate for international students.
So, while summer programs are intensely competitive, they are undeniably valuable!
With the full recovery from the pandemic, a wave of high-quality summer programs are returning to in-person formats this year! While enriching knowledge, they also let students experience the charm of university campuses firsthand.
To this end, CheersYou（清柚教育） has compiled a list of top U.S. summer programs still accepting applications as of now, including program names, suitable participants, session dates, and application deadlines, for your reference.
2023 Top U.S. Summer Programs
Next, CheersYou（清柚教育） will select 10 representative summer programs from three major fields—STEM, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Business—to analyze and interpret for you.
STEM Summer Programs
Research Science Institute - RSI
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a six-week intensive STEM summer program jointly sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Each year, it invites only 80 academically outstanding high school students globally, with a mere 5% acceptance rate—and full scholarships for all admitted.
The program runs for six weeks, covering fields such as chemistry, mathematics, statistics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, neuroscience, biomedicine, and computer science.
In the first week, students attend intensive STEM courses, and for the remaining five weeks, they work with professors to conduct research from scratch, culminating in conference presentations and written reports.
The RSI Distinguished Lecture Series runs throughout the program, featuring prominent professors and scientists—including many Nobel laureates—who engage with students in evening talks and discussions.
Note: RSI is extremely competitive, so it is advisable to submit your application early rather than waiting until the deadline.
- Eligibility: G11
- Program Dates: June 25 – August 5, 2023
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://www.cee.org/programs/research-science-institute
The Clark Scholars Program
The Clark Scholars Program is unique in that it welcomes outstanding students from virtually any academic field—not only those gifted in natural sciences and mathematics, but also humanities or arts students.
The program includes seven weeks of coursework, weekly seminars, group discussions, and field trips. In this research environment, students cultivate critical thinking skills and career interests.
Admission is highly competitive, with only 12 students accepted each year. For instance, in 2011, the average SAT score of admitted students exceeded 2276, and PSAT exceeded 223. Admitted students attend free of charge.
Most Clark Scholars participants go on to attend top U.S. universities such as Stanford, Duke, Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, etc., making the outcomes truly impressive.
- Eligibility: At least 17 years old
- Program Dates: June 18 – August 3, 2023
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/honors/academicsandenrichment/affiliatedandhig...
Stanford University Mathematics Camp - SUMaC
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) is an academic program designed to help high school students expand their mathematical abilities, offering three-week courses to those passionate about math. Due to the pandemic, this year's program will be fully online.
In this program, high schoolers engage in advanced courses, lectures, guided research, and group problem-solving, much like college students and researchers. They delve into higher mathematics through lectures, guided research, and problem-solving, exploring current research directions, historical significance of key mathematical areas, and even interdisciplinary applications.
SUMaC offers two tracks: Program I focuses on abstract algebra and number theory, covering topics like constraints of straightedge and compass constructions, cryptography, and symmetry in structures; Program II centers on algebraic topology, exploring methods to analyze shape properties using algebraic concepts like groups.
Since SUMaC is a non-credit program, students can freely choose research topics based on their interests.
- Eligibility: G10-G11
- Program Dates:
Session 1: June 19 – June 30, 2023
Session 2: July 10 – July 21, 2023
- Selectivity: A
- Official Website: https://sumac.spcs.stanford.edu/
Management & Technology Summer Institute - M&TSI
The Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) is a rigorous, fast-paced, interdisciplinary credit-bearing summer program designed for high school students interested in technology and management.
Jointly sponsored by Penn Engineering, the Wharton School, and the Jerome Fisher Program, its faculty comprises top professors and successful entrepreneurs.
Each year, M&TSI selects 50–75 students globally, making competition extremely fierce. Over three weeks, students study technology and management, present self-made tech products at a product fair, and visit business groups focused on tech development.
In addition to coursework, students go on field visits to companies and R&D facilities, participate in intensive team projects, and engage in other activities designed to teach the principles and practices of technological innovation.
- Eligibility: G11-G12
- Program Dates: July 9 – July 29, 2023
- Selectivity: A
- Official Website: https://fisher.wharton.upenn.edu/management-technology-summer-institute/
Humanities & Social Sciences Summer Programs
Telluride Association Summer Program - TASP
The Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) officially returned in 2022.
As one of the nation's most prestigious and successful academic summer programs—and one of the best and most difficult to get into—TASP has an acceptance rate around 4-5%.
The program's caliber is such that around 90% of its alumni are admitted to top institutions like MIT and Harvard. It is fully funded, including tuition and room and board.
Starting in 2022, TASP will offer two new programs replacing the former TASS and TASP: Telluride Association Summer Seminar - Critical Black Studies (TASS-CBS) and Telluride Association Summer Seminar - Anti-Oppressive Studies (TASS-AOS).
Framed within anti-racist pedagogy, these programs explore history, politics, literature, art, and more, helping students recognize and critique social inequalities such as racism.
This year, students will have the opportunity to experience this six-week humanities journey at Cornell University, the University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan.
- Eligibility: G11-G12
- Program Dates: June 25 – August 5, 2023
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://www.tellurideassociation.org/our-programs/high-school-students/
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute - SSHI
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (SSHI) consistently ranks among the top 10 highest-value summer programs and is also one of the most difficult humanities summer programs for Chinese students to gain admission to. However, it is slightly less competitive than TASP.
The program is two weeks, online, and non-credit/non-graded. Through intensive study of a specific topic in literature, history, or philosophy, students leverage Stanford's excellence in the humanities and social sciences—delving deeply into texts and ideas, writing college-level papers, and engaging in complex arguments through academic writing and discussion.
SSHI's prestige drives rising applicant numbers each year. It is reported that roughly one-third of participating 12th graders eventually receive a Stanford offer. Aspiring Stanford applicants may want to get a head start.
- Eligibility: G10-G11
- Program Dates:
Session 1: June 25 – July 14, 2023
Session 2: July 16 – August 4, 2023
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://summerhumanities.spcs.stanford.edu/
Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute - MNJI
The Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute (MNJI), also known as the "Cherub Program," is a five-week summer program in journalism and media for rising seniors seeking insider insights into professional journalism and wanting to connect with peers equally passionate about the field.
Each year, 84 high school students from around the world gather on Northwestern's Evanston campus and are each assigned a mentor. Mentors provide feedback on assignments and meet weekly with students.
Students build a foundation in reporting, writing, and editing through assignments spanning print, video, audio, photojournalism, and digital storytelling. By summer's end, students return home not only with experience in writing news stories, features, and opinion pieces but also with connections and friendships with fellow aspiring journalists.
Reportedly, a quarter of Medill Cherub participants receive Northwestern admissions offers, so those dreaming of Northwestern should seize this opportunity.
- Eligibility: G11-G12
- Program Dates: June 25 – July 21, 2023
- Selectivity: A
- Official Website: https://cherubs.medill.northwestern.edu/2019/
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars - NDLS
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars (NDLS) is an extremely competitive credit-bearing summer program, with an acceptance rate even lower than some Ivy League–level summer programs. Over 10 days, students hone their critical thinking, research, and presentation skills.
The program primarily examines topics affecting the global community and the environment, with students engaging in vigorous discussions and powerful intellectual exchanges. In this environment, students refine their arguments and strengthen their leadership through enhanced communication and analytical skills.
Outside class, students experience campus life like Notre Dame undergraduates—ice skating, karaoke, trivia, etc. Each year, 120 students worldwide are admitted with full scholarships covering tuition, room, and board.
- Eligibility: G11
- Program Dates: July 22 – August 2, 2023
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://precollege.nd.edu/leadership-seminars/
Business Summer Programs
NYU Stern Pre-College - NYU Pre-College
NYU Stern Pre-College is one of the summer programs under the NYU Pre-College umbrella, offering rising 11th and 12th graders from around the world courses on fundamental business concepts.
The six-week program, taught by world-renowned NYU faculty, covers subjects such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, and psychology.
Students gain access to NYU's unique resources, community, and global network.
Whether students already know their intended major or wish to explore unfamiliar subjects, NYU's summer program is one of the best ways to develop skills and prepare for college.
- Eligibility: G10-G11
- Program Dates: July 5 – August 16, 2023
- Selectivity: A
- Official Website: https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/high-school-programs/precollege.html
LaunchX Young Entrepreneurs Program - LaunchX
LaunchX - Young Entrepreneurs Program, originally MIT LaunchX, was founded at MIT.
Each summer, high school entrepreneurs from around the world come to LaunchX to build a company from the ground up. Guided by mentors, industry experts, and coursework, students collaborate in teams to solve business challenges.
During the program, students identify market positioning, set entrepreneurial goals, conduct market research, design products, and execute marketing and company operations.
MIT and LaunchX also help connect students with relevant industry contacts to provide ongoing support for their ventures.
- Eligibility: G9-G12
- Program Dates:
June 18 – July 15, 2023 (Entrepreneurship Program)
June 25 – July 22, 2023 (Entrepreneurship Program)
July 23 – August 5, 2023 (Innovation Program)
- Selectivity: A+
- Official Website: https://launchx.com/summer-program/
For more details or application specifics about these programs, please visit their official websites.
Time waits for no one—summer program deadlines are right around the corner. Interested students should get moving and not miss the deadlines!
We wish everyone the best in securing that dream school offer. May the new year bring academic success!
