U.S. summer programs offer valuable learning opportunities for both domestic and international students and serve as a unique extension of higher education. These programs differ in credit options, research focus, cost (free or paid), and format (lecture, professional, or experiential).
High-quality summer programs often have competitive application requirements, including an application form, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and sometimes personal statements or interviews. Some programs may even prefer applicants with SAT scores, giving students an early glimpse into the U.S. college admissions process.
General Academic Programs
Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
- Overview: A highly selective research program where students receive one-on-one mentorship and participate in weekly field trips, networking events, and seminars.
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Location: Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas), on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: 17+ years old, 11th-12th grade students
- Application difficulty and requirements: Extremely competitive; requires an extensive application with essays, transcripts, test scores, three recommendation letters, and an extracurricular activities list.
Yale Young Global Scholars
- Overview: A prestigious program bringing together students from 130+ countries and all U.S. states, offering interdisciplinary study across four academic themes.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut); the 2025 program will be held online.
- Eligibility: 16+ years old, 10th-11th grade students who have not previously attended the program.
- Application difficulty and requirements: Highly competitive; requires a detailed application with essays, transcripts, short answer responses, and two recommendation letters.
Humanities and Social Sciences
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
- Overview: Hosted by Stanford University, this summer program offers courses in literature, philosophy, history, and the arts, taught by Stanford professors. Students experience an immersive academic environment and may receive recommendation letters from distinguished faculty.
- Duration: June to August
- Location: Stanford University
- Eligibility: 10th-11th grade students.
- Application difficulty and requirements: High difficulty; strong English communication and writing skills required. Requires an online application, academic transcripts from the past three years, a humanities/social sciences work sample (such as an essay or research paper), one recommendation letter from an English, history, or social sciences teacher, an optional video essay, and standardized test scores.
Journalism Programs
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
- Overview: Designed for low-income students interested in journalism, this program offers workshops and lectures led by industry leaders and scholars. It culminates in the publication of The Princeton Summer Journal.
- Duration: 10 days
- Location: Princeton University (New Jersey), on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: 11th-grade students with a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrated financial need, and a passion for journalism; 9th-10th graders can register for future notifications.
- Application difficulty and requirements: Extremely competitive, three-stage process including essays, transcripts, recommendation letters, school report, published works, and a final phone interview.
Summer Journalism Institute (SJI)
- Overview: Hosted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, this program offers seminars and hands-on print and digital journalism training.
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Location: Arizona State University, on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: High school students nationwide with an interest in journalism.
- Application difficulty and requirements: High difficulty; requires an online application.
Business Programs
Bank of America Student Leaders
- Overview: Offers paid internships for students passionate about community service, followed by a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Location: Internships at local nonprofit organizations; summit in Washington, D.C.
- Eligibility: 11th-12th graders who can legally work in the U.S. and have strong academic records; Bank of America employees’ relatives are ineligible.
- Application difficulty and requirements: Very competitive; requires a recommendation letter.
Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
- Overview: Hosted by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, this program includes courses, company visits, and team projects focused on business concepts.
- Duration: Three 3-week sessions
- Location: University of Pennsylvania, on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: 10th-11th graders with leadership experience.
- Application difficulty and requirements: Extremely competitive; requires transcripts, recommendation letters, and essays. Non-native English speakers must submit language proficiency scores.
Management & Technology Summer Institute
- Overview: A collaboration between Penn Engineering and the Wharton School, focusing on business and engineering concepts with hands-on prototyping opportunities.
- Duration: 21 days in July
- Location: University of Pennsylvania, on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students with strong academic and leadership credentials.
- Application difficulty and requirements: Extremely competitive.
Young Women’s Institute
- Overview: A program for young women interested in business, featuring workshops and case studies in a college setting.
- Duration: 4 days
- Location: Indiana University Bloomington, on-campus housing provided.
- Eligibility: 11th-grade female students
- Application difficulty and requirements: Competitive; requires an application with essays, transcripts, a resume, and a minimum GPA of 3.5.
When selecting a summer program, students should align their choices with their overall college planning, academic strengths, and interests. Top U.S. university summer programs have limited spots, and application timelines vary. Many competitive programs use rolling admissions and fill up quickly. It is crucial to research early, select the right programs, and submit your applications on time!
At Ivy Talent, we provide families with the right resources and guidance to make the process easier. Contact us for more information on how to get your child into the ideal program.
Date: May 12th, 2025