12 Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia
Finding a great summer opportunity within your state can be difficult. Because we're a group of research nerds, we wanted to compile opportunities for students looking for research opportunities and programs in Georgia!
In this article, we list 10 of the best in-person programs in Georgia that provide an immersive learning experience and enrich you as a scholar. Some programs have a fee associated with them, some are free and others provide a stipend. There is something here for everyone!
Application deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: 10th and 11th grade students from Newton County School System and Putnam County Charter School System
Program dates: June 26, 2023 – June 30, 2023
Location: Oxford College of Emory University
Fee: Free
This summer program at Emory University aims to prepare you for college life and aid you in choosing a career pathway. As an enriching residential program, it includes academic seminars and interactive sessions in several subjects, workshops on the basics of college life, field trips, and social gatherings. The 2022 cohort studied English, and political science, and worked in chemistry labs.
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Georgia. A recommendation by a teacher or mentor is required
Program dates: June 11, 2023 – June 16, 2023
Location: Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Fee: Free
Hosted by the non-profit 21st Century Leaders, this leadership program is ideal for those who are interested in STEM and environmental fields of study. As one of the 100 selected students, you would attend workshops, team-building exercises, and round table conferences with real-world business leaders. Professional development is a key result of this competitive program. You can also opt for 21CL’s business or healthcare program, but keep in mind that those have a registration fee.
Application deadline: March 31, 2023
Eligibility: Open to students of 15-17 years of age from underserved backgrounds
Program dates: June 5, 2023 – June 9, 2023
Location: University of Georgia
Fee: Free, covered by the B.L.A.C.K Engineering Scholarship
Short for Building Leaders through Analysis, Conceptualization, and Knowledge, this residential summer camp offers a deep dive into engineering. Through the one-week camp, you will design engineering solutions, analyze data, and work on hands-on projects. Only 20 campers are selected per cohort, making this free program relatively competitive. Women can also consider the Women ExCEL in Engineering summer camp, which is also covered by a scholarship. Other summer camps, available in several different subjects, can be found here.
4. Veritas AI - AI Fellowship
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship.
The AI Fellowship program will have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions pertaining to the students background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
Application deadline: March 31, 2023
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors who will be 16 years old on the first day of the camp
Program dates: June 26, 2023 – June 30, 2023, for Session 1 and July 24, 2023 – July 28, 2023, for Session 2
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, Atlanta
Fee: Free
Organized by the David J. Sencer CDC Museum and focusing on public health, the DDC is a highly competitive program accepting 30 students from hundreds of applications. It is a fast-paced and immersive camp during which you will look at several subjects like epidemiology, global health, data analysis, disease surveillance, public health law, and more. Previous editions have included mock press conferences, lab sessions, and lectures.
Application deadline: March 27, 2023
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the sophomore year and are of at least 16 years of age
Program dates: June 5, 2023 – June 23, 2023
Location: University of Georgia
Stipend: $12/hour
Ideal for those looking to gain exposure in STEM and engineering, this is a 3-week summer internship. You will engage in hands-on research, be mentored by professionals, attend workshops, visit labs, and more. The project will culminate in a three-page report on the internship and a team project and presentation. This is a residential program but students are allowed to return home on the weekends.
The applications for the 2023 batch are closed but the dates should be similar for 2024.
Application deadline: November 15, 2022, for the nomination deadlines and January 11, 2023, for the student application deadlines
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Program dates: June 18, 2023 – July 15, 2023
Location: Georgia Southern University
Fee: Students only need to cover travel expenses and the cost of basic supplies
GHP is a residential program that provides academic and cultural enrichment that differs from regular classroom studies. To apply, you will need to be nominated by your school for one of the program’s many areas of study (ranging from music and dance to mathematics, agricultural research, and more). It does involve a lengthy admission process but once accepted, you will attend classes in the mornings and afternoons and spend evenings in interactive sessions.
The applications for the 2023 batch are closed but the 2024 program will follow a similar timeline.
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 are closed but will open in October 2023 for the following year.
Eligibility: Rising or graduating seniors who are at least 17 years old by the first day of the program
Program dates: June 5, 2023 – July 14, 2023
Location: Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University
Stipend: $2,400
More of a niche than the other programs on this list, you will spend the six weeks of this internship focused on cancer research. It is an immersive clinical experience where you will work one on one with a researcher or clinician, conduct lab research, attend lectures from specialists in the field, and present a final project during a symposium on the last day. Each cohort includes 10-12 students so consider the program’s selectivity while applying.
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors
Program dates: June 18, 2023 – July 21, 2023
Location: SCAD, Savannah, and Atlanta campuses
Fee: $6,165
Perfect for students considering creative careers, SCAD offers this pre-college program so you can get a taste of university life and the experience of studying a creative subject all while earning college credit. Animation, film production, architecture, equine care, fashion technology, painting — there is a wide array of courses from which you can select two courses that suit your interests. Not only will this program enhance your portfolio but completing it with a high GPA could increase your chances of enrolment in SCAD as an undergraduate!
Application deadline: 19 March 2023
Eligibility: Open to students who are at least 16 years old
Program dates: July 10, 2023 – July 21, 2023, for the Georgia Tech version, and June 19, 2023 – June 30, 2023, for the 4C Academy version
Location: Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta or the 4C Academy in Albany
Fee: Free
STEP is organized by The Georgia Tech Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and sponsored by a number of companies, associations, and government bodies including Lockheed Martin, the Georgia Center of Innovation, and the Georgia Space Grant Consortium. It is an engineering-focused program where students work in teams on active Georgia Tech research. You will work on a real-world problem, design a solution with a Georgia Tech faculty mentor, and present it during a poster session. With
The applications for the 2023 batch are closed but the 2024 program will follow a similar timeline.
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Eligibility: Rising 10th to rising 12th graders with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Program dates: June 6, 2023 – July 14, 2023
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine
Fee: $1,000
If the idea of conducting your own scientific investigation sounds intriguing, then this research program by the Morehouse School of Medicine is the ideal choice for you. You will be matched with an MSM research mentor on a project in the field of biomedical research and will work on the same throughout the 6 weeks of the program. Alternatively, if you’re eager to learn over doing research, you can opt for the other option in the S.T.E.A.M. Academy which is a 3-week session that looks at healthcare app development, anatomy, career explorations, and more.
Seeing as you’ve scrolled down this far, here is a bonus program for your consideration:
Application deadline: Applications for 2023 are closed, the deadline for 2024 is TBA
Eligibility: Current 9th graders who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and attend high school via a scholarship
Program dates: Through 10th, 11th and 12th grades
Location: Morehouse College
Fee: Free
While this is not just a summer program, SMASH Academy offers too much value to not include on this list. Organized by the non-profit Kapor Center, SMASH is a free three-year program where you will spend each summer as a college resident, immersed in STEM studies, and attend monthly programs during the school year. The program will cover several STEM subjects, SAT and college prep, and even offer networking opportunities with professionals. As Morehouse College is a historically black men’s college, this program is also limited to black men.
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are passionate about research then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
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: Stock image