15 Fall College Readiness Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
College readiness programs are a valuable way to start preparing early for the transition to higher education. As a middle school student, you can use these programs to develop advanced academic skills, explore new subjects, and gain exposure to college-level academics. These programs also allow you to build confidence, develop study habits, and connect with mentors. Some residential programs also help you experience campus life.
Running alongside the school year, fall college readiness programs allow you to stay engaged in enrichment learning during the semester. These programs are often hosted by prestigious universities and educational organizations, giving you access to resources and faculty that can shape your future academic path. To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down the 15 best fall college readiness programs for middle schoolers that are rigorous, selective, and offer strong mentorship and networking opportunities.
15 Fall College Readiness Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Stanford University (virtual fall meetings)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Mid August to December
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 7 from low income households (under $90,000)
SMSSP helps you build long-term study habits by extending your summer learning into the school year. Through weekly meetings, you’ll practice skills like note-taking, time management, and problem-solving under the guidance of Stanford mentors. The program is designed to make advanced coursework more accessible as you move into high school. You’ll meet in small groups during the fall, giving you steady feedback from Stanford-affiliated mentors.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program. Up to 100% need based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs you with a mentor from a top university to explore your academic interests in depth. Over the course of the fall, you’ll choose a subject you’re curious about, like history, STEM, or social sciences, and work one-on-one to build a project around it. The process includes developing research questions, learning how to find and analyze sources, and putting your ideas together into a presentation. You’ll finish the program by presenting your work to your mentor, practicing the same skills you’ll need in high school and beyond. Along the way, you’ll get personalized feedback that helps you grow as a learner.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Select Saturdays starting February 8
Application Deadline: Registration opens before each session and closes when full
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 8. Open to all genders
Yale’s Girls’ Science Investigations runs a series of free Saturday workshops in physics, chemistry, and engineering. Each session mixes demonstrations with small-group lab activities where you test and record results. The goal is to show you how science connects to the real world while building confidence in hands-on inquiry. Sessions are led by Yale faculty and graduate students, so you get to learn directly from practicing scientists.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program. Need based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 8
Veritas AI Trailblazers introduces you to artificial intelligence through a beginner-friendly curriculum designed specifically for middle schoolers. You’ll learn Python programming and key concepts like regression, image classification, and neural networks. Mentors from top universities guide you through interactive lectures and coding sessions. The program emphasizes collaboration, so you’ll work in small groups with peers and get close attention thanks to the 5:1 mentor ratio. Past student projects have included classifying music genres and building simple AI tools, giving you a sense of how technology can solve real problems.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: September to November, weekly on Sundays
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 5 to 8
ORMC is a math circle that emphasizes deep exploration of problem-solving beyond the school curriculum. You’ll work on challenging topics in algebra, geometry, number theory, and logic in a collaborative environment. The sessions build persistence, creativity, and communication, all of which prepare you for advanced coursework. You’ll study directly with UCLA mathematicians and graduate students in weekly sessions, experiencing how university-level math is taught. This exposure helps you see math not just as calculation but as discovery.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective. Several hundred students chosen
Dates: Vary by program
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in grades 6 to 12 from New Haven, West Haven, and Orange/Amity public schools. Students must be nominated by a math or science teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator
Yale’s Pathway to Science gives you access to Yale’s campus and introduces you to advanced science topics through multiple events and seminars. Faculty and graduate students lead the sessions, which are designed to spark curiosity and build understanding of STEM fields. You will often tour Yale labs, giving you exposure to real research environments across subjects such as coding, health, physics, robotics, and more. Students continue to participate in Pathways until they graduate from high school or transfer to a school that does not qualify for Pathways. For those who are not a part of the local qualifying schools, there are also numerous open-to-the-public events and programs that any K-12 student can attend. You can learn more about those by signing up for their Youth Events Newsletter, which covers year-round STEM programs.
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary yearly. To be determined
Application Deadline: Vary yearly. To be determined
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 12, with emphasis on underserved communities
Math CEO is a community-based program that connects middle school students with UCI faculty and undergraduates for weekly enrichment. Sessions focus on math problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills, with the aim of preparing you for advanced coursework in high school. Families are also included through college-planning workshops that emphasize readiness. Most sessions take place on the UCI campus, giving you regular exposure to a real college environment. The free and supportive nature makes it especially valuable for first-generation and underserved students.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: To be determined
Application Deadline: To be determined
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 8 in NYC only
NYU’s CACTUS program introduces you to engineering, coding, and computer-aided design through a project-based approach. Over the fall semester, you’ll work with Arduino microcontrollers to build functioning prototypes and solve real-world challenges. You’ll collaborate with your peers on team projects and present your final prototypes at a showcase. With its combination of coding, electronics, and design, CACTUS gives you a real taste of college-level STEM work.
9. Rutgers University–Newark Center for Pre-College Programs — Pre-College Academy Saturday Programs
Location: Center for Pre-College Programs, Newark, NJ, and remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple Saturdays throughout the year
Application Deadline: Not specified; you can apply here
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 12. Additional criteria may apply depending on the chosen program
The PreCollege Academy invites students to engage in college readiness, academic enrichment, and career exploration through Saturday workshops. You’ll participate in small-group sessions that blend mentorship, academic skill-building, and exploration of STEM, writing, and future study planning. Sessions are designed to promote college-level thinking, help you build foundational study habits, and connect you with university-level instructors and peer-mentors. Middle school students are eligible for the Rutgers Future Scholars Program, the PreCollege Academy, and the Trio Talent Search Program. The Rutgers Future Scholars-Newark Program, in particular, is designed for low-income, first-generation college-bound students, and you can apply in the 7th grade. If you are admitted to Rutgers University after completing this selective 5-year program, you are eligible for a tuition-gap scholarship! Fill out the interest form here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 to 8
ASU Prep Digital runs a virtual middle school program designed to build the foundation for college readiness. You’ll enroll in core academic subjects as well as electives that help you explore future pathways in STEM, humanities, or the arts. Courses emphasize flexibility and independence, preparing you for the kind of self-directed learning college requires. You’ll also benefit from mentorship and academic counseling designed to connect middle school work with college pathways. While it’s a broader semester-long program rather than a short enrichment course, it gives you consistent academic rigor throughout the fall.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Varies based on income
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 30 to July 25. Fall dates TBD
Application Deadline: April 11. Fall dates TBD
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 to 12, grouped by grade level
This fall program builds college readiness through problem-solving workshops in advanced math. You’ll work on topics such as combinatorics, number theory, and logic, going beyond what’s covered in school. The focus is on persistence, clear reasoning, and mathematical communication. Sessions are held on the University of Chicago campus and are led by faculty and graduate students, so you experience a true collegiate environment. By the end, you’ll have practiced the same habits of thought that high-level mathematicians use.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course and track. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Vary by course, track, and cohort
Application Deadline: Vary by course, track, and cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 2 to 12
CTY’s online programs give you access to courses in math, science, writing, and computer science, and more. These are designed for advanced learners who want to go beyond what school typically offers. You can choose from different online or in-person formats, based on your learning preferences. As a participant, you’ll work with CTY instructors in structured weekly sessions, with homework and projects that simulate college-level expectations. If you want academic rigor during the school year, CTY is one of the most trusted options.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $575. Need based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: October 8 to November 19
Application Deadline: Varies by track
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 3 to 8; more details here
Northwestern’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) runs fall online enrichment courses across a wide range of subjects, from science and math to writing and social studies. You’ll take part in structured weekly lessons with readings, assignments, and instructor feedback. Some courses include opportunities to collaborate with classmates on group projects or discussions, helping you practice teamwork and communication.
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: $395. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: October 11 to November 15
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Students in grades 4 to 8
This program is designed for academically motivated students who want to challenge themselves during the school year. You’ll take part in weekend courses over six Saturdays in a single subject, such as mathematics, science, technology, or writing, each led by Northwestern faculty or instructors. ‘Finding Patient Zero’ and ‘Persuasion Primer’ are two examples out of the various courses offered. As a participant, you’ll work independently, in pairs, and in small groups, giving you the chance to collaborate closely with your peers and mentors. The courses are set up to be up to two years beyond your current grade level, offering a rigorous way to extend your learning beyond the standard school curriculum.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $550
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: October 18 to November 21
Application Deadline: August 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 to 9
This mentorship-based program pairs you with Vanderbilt instructors for a project-driven experience. There are multiple topics in various subjects offered every year, and you can choose one that aligns with your interests. Topics range from biomedical science to law, society, and medicine, among others. You’ll meet weekly in small groups to explore your chosen topic in depth. The program emphasizes collaboration with both mentors and peers, often leading to a final group presentation. With its academic rigor and mentorship focus, this is a solid introduction to college-style study habits and research.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Stanford University logo