7 Free Summer Programs for Chicago High School Students
Summer programs can be a valuable investment for students looking to explore career paths, gain practical experience, and develop skills beyond the scope of high school. These experiences offer unique personal and professional development and can have a positive impact on your college applications.
Fully funded programs are particularly helpful for college admissions because they tend to be more competitive. Participating in a free summer program such as the ones listed here can show admissions officers that you stand out amongst a pool of accomplished high school students.
Here are 7 free summer programs for high school students in Chicago.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school
Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: The summer cohort runs from June to August, the Fall cohort from September to December, the Winter cohort from December to February, Spring from March to June
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The main summer deadlines are March 15, April 15, and May 15
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 PhD 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: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school
Program Dates: July 21 – 26
Application Deadline: March 5
This program, held at the University of Chicago, offers high school students a unique STEM learning opportunity. It begins with a virtual mathematics preparatory course hosted by Schoolhouse.world, after which students benefit from a week-long residential experience on campus. During this week, you will participate in classes, tours, and lectures on various STEM disciplines.
You will hear from the UChicago faculty and alumni in various fields, including computer science, mathematics, and molecular engineering. You will also visit the Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and other cutting-edge research facilities. This program aims to promote inclusivity and diversity in STEM by offering students from various backgrounds access to STEM education and exploration.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors OR rising college freshmen who can commit to 4 hours per day on weekdays for the 2-week program
Program Dates: 2-week, part-time program that typically runs in the second half of July
Application Deadline: March 4
Stipend: $500 taxable stipend
This multi-institutional program aims to give women and other underrepresented students an introduction to the scientific community. It is funded by the American Cancer Society and is ideal for students interested in medicine, particularly cancer biomedicine. Up to 20 trainees are enrolled each year. The program involves hands-on cancer research with a home laboratory kit.
You will research genetics and work on a patient case study project as you explore key facets of cancer science and care. Faculty lectures, skill-building workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities further enhance the experience and ensure that you have the knowledge and resources to pursue a biomedical career.
Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students as well as first-year college students at City Colleges of Chicago and Illinois institutions
Program Dates: June 24 – August 2
Application Deadline: May 2
An intensive summer experience, the Digital Scholars Program was launched in 2020 and has served over 250 students. It aims to diversify the pool of Illinois students who are interested in tech-related or computer science degrees. The program is especially focused on serving Black and Latinx, CPS and Chicago-area, young women and first-generation students.
Courses include Data Science Discovery, Exploring Electrical Engineering, Swift Mobile App Development & Design, and Foundations in Computer Science & Coding. You will also benefit from making industry connections through networking opportunities, including workshops and daily talks. Skill-building efforts in collaboration, communication, and personal brand-building further enhance this course and ensure you will receive a holistic experience that boosts your career readiness.
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and college students. Post-graduate students are also welcome!
Program Dates: 4 to 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Stipend: Paid internships are offered for eligible Chicago Public High School students in the College First program
Chicago Botanic Garden’s Science Career Continuum has two main programs for high schoolers: Science First and College First. In the Science First program, about 40 students are selected from various Chicago Public Schools to travel to the Garden and spend 4 weeks building new skills. These include honing their observational skills in display areas such as the Waterfall or Rose Gardens, interviewing plant geneticists in research labs, and learning about predator-prey relationships through educational games.
Upon completing the Science First program, students are invited to apply for College First. College First is a paid internship program offered to about 20 eligible Chicago Public High School students, which includes career mentorship and college prep and assistance.
You will spend 7 weeks exploring various science careers and have access to the Garden’s resources as you learn about native plants and ecosystems. You will also work on research projects and presentations in preparation for your academic and professional career.
Location: Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school or college students
Program Dates: Rolling dates
Application Deadline: Rolling deadline. Applications must include a single PDF with a cover letter, resume, transcript, writing sample, and ARDC printout (if applicable)
Stipend: None
This is a highly competitive program that enables high school students to work closely with a recognized legal organization, offering a challenging but rewarding experience.
It gives you a realistic picture of what working in law and public service entails. You can work on diverse legal projects, conduct research and analysis, and shadow attorneys and law students to gain first-hand insights into how the legal system works. While there is no one-on-one mentorship involved, this is a great program for students who wish to hone their research skills.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: Current 11th-grade students who are at least 15 years old and enrolled in a U.S. high school
Program Dates: July 28 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 5
Cost: The application fee is automatically waived for any applicant who selects any Enrichment Program as their first choice
This is a week-long residential program that introduces students to various careers in the energy and policy sector. It includes rigorous discussion-based classes, lectures, reading, and collaborative practical projects. This helps you learn about current issues in climate and energy as well as the academic and professional opportunities available in the field.
The program includes a tour and discussion panel at Invenergy's Chicago headquarters, where the organization’s members discuss their experiences in the industry. You will gain a clearer understanding of what you can achieve with a STEM degree. To apply, you must submit an online application, transcript, supplement, essays, at least one teacher’s recommendation, and one parent/guardian’s confirmation email.
Note: Please keep in mind the following information is for 2024-2025, though dates tend to be similar year on year.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.