7 Summer Programs for High School Students in Atlanta
Summer programs provide high school students with a solid opportunity to explore their interests, gain practical experience, and strengthen their academic and professional profiles. These programs offer a diverse array of experiences, from hands-on research and internships to creative arts and entrepreneurship, all within a supportive and enriching environment.
Whether you're interested in diving into advanced research, exploring the arts, or launching a business venture, summer programs can be great in helping you achieve your goals. For students in Atlanta, here’s a list of 7 summer programs across STEM and non-STEM subjects. We’ve included pre-college summer programs, internships, and research programs open to high schoolers in Atlanta!
The Lumiere Education Research Programs provide high school students with an opportunity to delve into university-level research across a diverse range of academic disciplines. These programs are crafted to help develop essential research skills, and offer mentorship from experts affiliated with academic institutions. There are 3 main offerings to choose from -
The Individual Research Program: A 12-week course featuring personalized mentoring, writing coaching, and workshops, culminating in a 15-page research paper.
The Premium Research & Publication Program: Extends over 16-20 weeks, providing more in-depth mentorship, additional coaching, and guidance toward publishing the research.
The Research Fellowship: Spanning 6-12 months, this program offers extensive mentoring, original data collection opportunities, and comprehensive support for publication.
Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: $2,800. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4).
The CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp (DDC) is an interdisciplinary educational program that offers high school students a deep dive into the world of public health and epidemiology. Held at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, this camp provides an experience of the diverse and impactful work undertaken by the organization. As a fast-paced and academically demanding program, DDC immerses students in a range of public health topics, challenging them to think critically and work collaboratively as part of a diverse team of aspiring disease detectives.
In this camp, you will be introduced to a broad spectrum of public health such as global health issues, the epidemiology of infectious and chronic diseases, and injury prevention. Activities are designed to be highly interactive and engaging, where you will get the chance to participate in re-created outbreak investigations, mock conferences, laboratory sessions, and much more. Additionally, the camp also delves into the intricacies of data analysis and surveillance, equipping students with the skills to collect and interpret public health data.
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, Atlanta.
Cost: This program is fully funded.
Program dates: June 24 - July 28, and July 22 - July 26.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors who will be 16 years old on the first day of the camp.
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI provides high school students with an in-depth introduction to the fields of data science and artificial intelligence (AI), offering several tailored programs to suit different levels of experience and interests. Founded and led by Harvard alumni, these programs offer a strong foundation in AI concepts and practical know-how, along with the opportunity to work on significant projects under the guidance of experienced mentors.
Veritas AI offers three distinct programs to high school students interested in artificial intelligence.
The AI Scholars Program: Designed for beginners, this program provides a foundational 25-hour course covering key AI topics like linear regression and convolutional neural networks, culminating in a collaborative group project.
The AI Fellowship: A more advanced 12-15 week program, the AI Fellowship is ideal for students with some programming experience. It offers one-on-one mentorship to develop a novel AI project, with a focus on creating a significant and original contribution to the field.
Deep Dive Programs: These specialized tracks, such as AI + Medicine and AI + Finance, allow students to explore AI applications in specific industries. The curriculum includes focused projects and case studies to deepen understanding in these areas.
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $1,490 for the AI Scholars program (The 10-week boot camp) | $4,200 for the AI Fellowship (the 12–15-week 1-1 mentorship) | $4,700 for both. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Multiple cohorts run throughout the year.
Application deadline: Rolling. Applications for the summer are between February and May.
Eligibility: High school students from around the world with a keen interest in AI can apply. For the AI Fellowship program, applicants will either need to complete the AI Scholars program or have had experience with AI concepts or Python.
Participants in the Summer Scholars Research Program are selected from a competitive pool of applicants, with only ten to twelve students chosen to work closely with Winship's physicians and lab-based researchers.
Each student is paired with a mentor, who guides them through a research project involving various aspects of oncology, including molecular biology, clinical trials, patient care, and epidemiological studies. Beyond the lab, the program includes a schedule of activities designed to broaden your perspectives on the field of oncology such as academic as well as career-oriented lectures from a diverse group of specialists, field trips to notable institutions such as the David J. Spencer CDC Museum and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Location: Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta
Stipend: Participants receive a stipend of $2,400 upon completion of the program.
Program dates: June 10 - July 19.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in October.
Eligibility: Rising or graduating seniors who are at least 17 years old by the first day of the program.
The Science, Technology, and Engineering Pipeline (STEP) Program at Georgia Tech is a unique and immersive experience for high school students in the Atlanta area, particularly those interested in engineering. Sponsored by the Georgia Tech Daniel
You will be grouped into teams and assigned a challenge problem, which is inspired by ongoing research efforts at Georgia Tech. These problems are open-ended and have no pre-designed solutions, encouraging students to think creatively and innovatively. Under the guidance of Georgia Tech faculty mentors, students work collaboratively to design, develop, and prototype solutions. After the two-week program, you present your work in a poster session to a panel of academic and industry experts.
Location: Georgia Tech campus, Atlanta
Cost: Free. The program is fully funded.
Program dates: July 8 – July 19.
Application deadline: March 22. Acceptance notifications are sent by April 3.
Eligibility: High school students residing in Georgia who are at least 16 years old can apply.
As a participant, you will receive one-on-one guidance from SCAD's faculty who provide personalized mentorship throughout the course. The curriculum spans a variety of disciplines, offering introductory foundation studies, general education classes, and major-specific electives. Completing the program with a high GPA can significantly bolster your application to SCAD or other institutions, as the credits earned may be transferred, offering a head start on your college education.
Location: Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah and Atlanta campuses)
Cost: $6,334; need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: June 16 – July 19
Application deadline: May 31. Applications typically open in September.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors can apply.
The MSM S.T.E.A.M. Academy: Authentic Research Academy is a program designed for high school students, particularly those interested in exploring careers in biomedical research and the broader STEAM fields. This program is designed to expose students to scientific research, providing you with hands-on experience in lab settings and exposure to cutting-edge scientific instrumentation and techniques.
During the six-week program, participants are paired with research mentors from the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), who guide them through scientific investigations. The curriculum includes mini-courses and workshops on topics such as health equity, careers in the health sciences, critical thinking, and career planning.
Location: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta.
Cost: $1,000
Program dates: June 4 - July 12
Application deadline: Applications are typically open from February to March.
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th through rising 12th-grade students with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Image Source - Emory University Logo
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.