14 Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
- Stephen Turban
- May 5, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 20
Summer is finally here (well, almost)! It's a great time to soak in some sunshine and de-stress. But, it is also a great opportunity to broaden your horizons, explore new passions, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
If you're a student in Michigan, you're in for a treat! The Great Lakes State has an incredible range of summer programs across various subjects. Whether you're a tech whiz, an art aficionado, or an aspiring doctor/scientist, Michigan has a summer program for you.
In this blog, we're going to dive deep into the best summer programs in Michigan for high school students. We'll explore everything from hands-on STEM workshops and research mentorship programs to immersive art experiences. You’ll find options that are free (or even pay you a stipend) and paid.
Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility:
You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.
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!
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
Application deadline: March 27
Eligibility: All high school students who are US residents
Program dates: July 23 – July 28
Location: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
Fee: Free
Organized by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics - Center for the Evolution of the Elements (a network of 24 institutes), PAN is a week-long program. Through the combination of lectures and hands-on work, you will study the atomic nuclei as well as their connection with the fields of astrophysics and cosmology. And the highlight — you will be conducting nuclear physics experiments in a renowned rare-isotope lab!
Application deadline: January 4
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders
Program dates: June 25 – August 5
Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan
Fee: Free
Having a 3-5% acceptance rate, TASS is one of the most sought-after high school programs in the country. It’s ideal for those looking to pursue humanities degrees as the curriculum covers social studies and encourages critical thinking. You will attend seminars, engage in debates, write essays, and participate in a public speaking program. This is a fully funded program and a highly prestigious option for students aiming for the Ivy League.
Note: This program highly encourages applications from students who belong to underrepresented communities.
Application deadline: April 3
Eligibility: Rising seniors who are at least 16 years of age
Program dates: June 23 – August 18
Location: C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development
Fee: Free
A relatively recent initiation of the same Discovery to Cure program at Yale University, the DTC is a prestigious opportunity for students to engage in biomedical research. You will be paired with a mentor and work on an individual project, covering the entire research process from hypothesis to a 10-minute presentation of the findings. This program is a great way for you to get hands-on work in a professional lab but do keep in mind that the application process requires the involvement of a school representative.
Another amazing opportunity in the field of medicine is WSU’s Biomedical Career Advancement Pipeline Program, where you will participate in advanced experiments and get certified lab training!
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students who are Michigan residents and currently in the 11th grade
Program dates: TBA
Location: University of Michigan
Stipend: $2,800
As a participant in this engineering program, you will receive a lab placement and conduct research under the guidance of the university’s faculty. The program included research topics like ‘Autonomous Drone as an Educational Tool’ and ‘Optical Components and Materials’. During the six weeks of this program, you will split your time between lab work and experiencing college life.
Application deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Students from the 9th to 11th grades
Program dates: July 16 – July 21
Location: Michigan State University
Fee: Free
A slightly offbeat option, this program lets students explore the wide array of careers in the fields of agriculture sciences and natural resources — environmental science, agribusiness, agriculture engineering, agriculture education, and more. The program offers practical experience in the field through demonstrations, tours, and hands-on activities. MSU also has a similar four-week research mentorship program known as the Multicultural Apprenticeship Program.
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors who are at least 16 years of age, with preference given to students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities
Program dates: June 12 – July 21
Location: University of Michigan
Stipend: An unspecified stipend is offered which will be paid in three installments
This research internship program is an opportunity for students to work alongside a team from the life sciences department and engage in hands-on research. For the course of six weeks, you will be completely immersed in research work using the university’s sophisticated labs and equipment. Since the program usually works with cohorts of six students, consider that it can be quite competitive to get into.
Paid Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Program dates: July 10 – July 28
Location: University of Michigan
Fee: $3,600
Financial assistance: Students can apply to the Watson A. Young Scholarship for financial aid
ArcStart is a residential pre-college program that serves as an introduction to architecture, with a focus on design. You will work in a college studio, take part in skill workshops, use specialized drawing and design tools, and visit architectural firms. The design creations you work on will help you build your personal portfolio, which is beneficial for college applications.
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
Program dates: June 25 – August 12
Location: Michigan State University
Fee: $4,000
Financial assistance: Need-based scholarships are available
The HSHSP is a research-intensive program meant for students who are looking for practical research experience under expert mentorship. You will work on an individual project as part of a mentor’s larger project and culminate the program with a presentation on your research. The focus of this program is on the process of inquiry and increasing the student’s knowledge of research with resources they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
If you are particularly interested in the field of chemistry, then you can consider Project Seed, organized by the non-profit American Chemical Society at Michigan State University. In this research-led program, you will spend 8-10 weeks working on a research project with a graduate student, under the guidance of a professor. You will also receive a stipend!
Application deadline: There is a priority deadline in January after which students are accepted until the cohort is full
Eligibility: Any high school student
Program dates: You can choose from one-week, three-week, and six-week sessions
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts
Fee: $1,750 for a one-week session, $6,550 for a three-week session, $9,980 for a six-week session
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships are available
Organized by the Interlochen Center for the Arts, a non-profit corporation, this camp is known for its high-quality arts education. You can choose from a number of fields, including creative writing, film and new media, dance, visual arts, music, and theatre. Do keep in mind you’ll be required to send an audition/portfolio of work during the application. During the program, you will develop your art skills and explore the art form while getting all the perks of a summer camp — outdoor activities, wonderful friends, and more.
Application deadline: April 12, however, applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors, with 25-40 students accepted at each site
Program dates: July 31 – August 6
Location: University of Michigan
Fee: $2,100
Financial assistance: Partial scholarships are available
EFL brings economics and leadership development together, honing students in the skill of decision-making. As a participant, you will learn how to use economic concepts and analysis to make public policy choices. The residential program is hosted by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, which operates a subsidiary of The Fund for American Studies (a non-profit organization). Only one student per high school is admitted in the program so we recommend applying as soon as possible to increase chances of acceptance.
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students from grades 9 – 11
Program dates: July 30 – August 4
Location: Michigan Technological University
Fee: $325
Financial assistance: Several need-based scholarships are available
Women in Engineering, just one of the many options available in MTU’s Pathway Programs, will give you an overview of the career options in the field of engineering and science. Areas of engineering include mechanical, computer, environmental, electrical, chemical, biological, and more. Apart from seminars, you will also work on research projects, meet people from the industry, and engage in team competitions.
Application deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0, African-American, Latine, and Native American students are encouraged to apply
Program dates: June 18 – June 30
Location: University of Michigan
Fee: $3,250
Financial assistance: Full and partial need-based scholarships are available
If you’re aiming for a business career, this pre-college program is ideal to learn the fundamentals of the field while also exploring career paths. As part of the 60-student cohort, you will attend college-level classes, network with industry leaders, and explore how companies are run through action-based learning. During the program, students developed and presented solutions to real-world corporate challenges!
If you’re looking for a more affordable program in the field of business, consider the MREACH program. It’s free and takes place from August to April, on Saturdays.
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.
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