10 Best Summer Programs for High School Students in Florida
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 21, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: May 19
If you're in high school, summer break is a great time to take on challenges, learn something new, work on a research or passion project, and explore your interests. Florida has a range of summer programs that cater to all interests and skill levels. Besides expanding your knowledge, a summer program can show college admissions officers that you're academically curious and motivated.
We’ve curated a great list of programs so that you can make the most of your summer in the Sunshine State. Whether you're interested in STEM, social sciences, or the performing arts, Florida has got you covered! Here are the 10 best summer programs for high school students in Florida. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Medicine Summer Institute by FSU is a highly selective program that offers students an introduction to medicine and healthcare. You will be introduced to various clinical settings and provided with information about scholarships and university mentoring programs. You will learn about college life and the medical school curriculum through faculty-led presentations about medical topics. You will attend lectures, conduct experiments in the lab, and participate in clinical simulations. The program also offers opportunities to shadow physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Application Deadline: Applications close in late January.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.3
Program dates: Session 1: June 11th - June 16th | Session 2: June 25th - June 30th | Session 3: July 9th - July 14th
Location: Florida State University
Fee/Stipend: $1,400
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Miami University's Summer Scholars Program offers high school students college-level courses in a variety of subjects. Some examples of courses include Beginning Design: Architecture and Interior Design, Engineering: Design and Build an Interactive Robot, Exploring Game Design, and The Role of Data Science in the Modern World. These courses allow you to explore your interests and expand your knowledge in fields such as design, engineering, technology, and data science.
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: High school students who have completed sophomore or junior year, with an average GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
Program dates: Session 1: Sunday, July 9 - Friday, July 14 | Session 2: Sunday, July 16 - Friday, July 21
Location: Miami University
Fee: Enrollment Fee - $350 | Program Fee - $730
St. Petersburg College offers a summer theatre program for high school students interested in acting, directing, stage management, and other aspects of theatre production. You will work with professionals to develop your skills and put on a production at the end of the program.
Application Deadline: Applications are in the form of Auditions - May 22-23
Eligibility: High school students
Program Dates: Performances on June 23-24 at 7 p.m., and June 24-25 at 2 p.m.
Location: Arts Auditorium, SPC Clearwater Campus
Fee/Stipend: Two scholarships worth $500 each. Financial assistance is available for students who demonstrate financial need, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and are committed to completing a Fine Arts degree program.
FSU provides a diverse range of summer programs, covering STEM, humanities, language courses, and more. You can choose from various programs, such as iCamp for exposure to computing and technology careers, American Legion Boys and Girls State to learn about local, county, and state government, and the Saturday-at-the-Sea Summer Day Camp for nature investigations. The College Reach Out Program includes leadership training, life management skills, music appreciation, and more!
Application Deadline: May 12
Eligibility: Must be enrolled in grades 6-8, be Florida residents, and be able to swim.
Program Dates: Varies by program. Click here for the link to the session dates.
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Fee/Stipend: Varies by program; financial aid is available. Click here for details.
Florida A&M University offers a range of summer programs for high school students to explore various fields, enhance academic skills, and engage in college-level coursework. Some examples of these programs include the AGRI-STEM Summer Program and Forestry and Conservation Education for those interested in agriculture and food sciences, as well as the Engineering program for those interested in technology and innovation. Other programs, such as the Emerging Pharmacists program and the Creative Crafts program, provide opportunities to explore fields like healthcare and the arts while gaining valuable skills and experiences.
Application Deadline: June 16
Eligibility: Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Program Dates: July 8 - July 15
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Fees: $700 Residential (staying on campus) | $500 Non-Residential (staying off-campus)
The Asolo Repertory Theatre and Eckerd College have partnered to offer young artists the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals and create stories that promote social change. Through the program, you will develop artistic skills and inspire change by creating works of art.
Application Deadline: 25th July
Eligibility: Rising junior or senior in the fall who resides in St. Petersburg or nearby communities.
Program Dates: Varies by program. Click here for the link to the session dates.
Location: Eckerd College
Fees: Vary by program, ranging from $500 to $1,499. Click here for the program fees.
For high school students interested in computer science, algorithms, and programming competitions, this summer program is a great way to enhance their skills. The program is designed to prepare you for contests like USACO, CodeForces, and ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) through a two-week curriculum that includes instruction on algorithms and data commonly used in competitions, practice competitions, and individualized coaching.
Application Deadline: Varied by program. Click here for the link to program deadlines.
Eligibility: Must currently be enrolled in grades 9-12 and at least 15 years old by the start of the program.
Program Dates: July 9 – 21
Location: Orlando, Main Campus
Fees: $3,000
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers a four-week summer camp that exposes high school students to the college experience while exploring various career paths in flight, mechanical engineering, global security, and NASA astronautics. The program covers diverse topics, including space flight history, propulsion theory, orbital mechanics, Space Shuttle operations, and U.S. space policy, and provides three college credits upon completion.
Application Deadline: Applications close in April.
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18
Program Dates: June 25-July 14
Location: Daytona Beach, FL
Fees: $4,500
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image source: FSU Young Scholars Program logo