10 Selective Summer Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 17 hours ago
- 6 min read
For middle schoolers, summer is a good time to enhance your knowledge and get a step ahead in your academics. To do so, you can opt for summer programs in a diverse range of subjects and topics. Many programs tend to be rigorous and selective, helping you make the most of your summer learning experience.
In addition to academics, you engage in hands-on activities that enable skill development. You interact with experienced professionals and faculty as well as like-minded peers, all of whom become part of your network. So, if you are looking for selective summer programs, here are some options for you to choose from.
10 Selective Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Varies, financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Highly selective
Program dates:Â 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application deadline:Â Varies by cohort
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 6 to 8
Middle schoolers looking to pursue research may opt for Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. This is a guided research program where you are paired with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in their respective fields. During this program, you conduct original research and gain specialized knowledge in your chosen subject. You learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, which enables you to build crucial skills. Through feedback and writing coaching sessions, you polish your research and develop scientific communication skills. You can opt for the Junior Research and Publication Program, where you can publish your research in academic journals.
Location:Â Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost:Â $75, full scholarships available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â 7 to 14 students per class
Program dates: June 23 – July 30
Application deadline:Â February 27
Eligibility:Â Middle school students enrolled in public or parochial schools in New Haven, CT
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation is a selective program that lasts for 6 weeks. It offers a rigorous curriculum that prepares you for advanced college academics. You attend humanities and investigations classes in the morning and an elective in the afternoon. Humanities courses include art, writing, poetry, and philosophy. Similarly, investigations classes cover STEM subjects like biology, chemistry, finance, and architecture. In addition to classroom learning, you can socialize and access a range of resources.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Varies, financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Not specified
Program dates:Spring cohort: 25 hours across 10 weeks on weekendsSummer cohort: 25 hours across 2 weeks on weekdays
Application deadline:Â Rolling deadlines
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 6 to 8
Students curious about technology and developments in the field can consider an interdisciplinary program such as Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program. This program helps develop a foundational understanding of AI and machine learning. You study a range of topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. After completing the theoretical learning, you apply the lessons to a practical project. This project must use technology to solve a real-world challenge in any field of your choice. Past students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Location:Â New York City
Cost / Stipend:Â None
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Selective
Program dates:Â July 6 to July 31
Application deadline:Â May 15
Eligibility:Â Rising 7th and 8th graders who are New York City residents
NYU’s SoSC program is a selective course that teaches you engineering and technology. In this program, you learn coding and microcontroller programming in addition to electronics and circuitry basics. You also study the theoretical dimensions of environmental and urban science. Cumulatively, all these topics are applied to the group project you work on. You conduct research on an urban problem and come up with an engineering and technology solution. This project aims to make cities safer and more sustainable. At the end of the program, you present this project to the cohort.Â
Location:Â Columbia University, New York City
Cost / Stipend:Â None
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Competitive
Program dates: Summer session: July 6 to July 31 | Academic year session: October to May
Application deadline: Summer: April 15 | Academic year: November 1
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 7 to 12 who plan to pursue medicine or related STEM fields and hold an 80 percent grade average, with strong performance in math and science
S-PREP is a high school and college preparatory program for ambitious students. If you are interested in medicine or related STEM subjects, this program could be a suitable option for you. Through classroom lectures, you learn a range of topics like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Brain & Cognitive Science, Ready for PreMed, Physics, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Statistics. The program helps you prepare for standardized tests for high school and college. Besides academics, the program offers college preparation and career development workshops, college & academic counseling services, field trips, and college tours.
Location:Â Purdue University, West Lafayette
Cost / Stipend:Â Fully funded
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Limited spots
Program dates:Â June 9 to June 13
Application deadline:Â April 17
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 7 and 8
Physics Inside Out is for students who wish to learn and explore physics. The program teaches you physics fundamentals in a college environment. This is a selective program where you learn the foundational elements as well as the real-world applications of physics. During the program, you attend classroom lessons and participate in hands-on lab activities. Faculty and research staff provide insights regarding developments in the field and their career trajectories. You can tour the college campus, facilities and nearby landmarks. Thus, from the nano to the astro, you gain a holistic view of physics.Â
Location:Â Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
Cost:Â $700
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â 24 students per grade level
Program dates:Â June 29 to July 9
Application deadline:Â First come, first served
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 7 and 8
This is a selective program by Stony Brook University that allows you to delve into various science subjects. You can pursue this program to complement your school curriculum and develop a scientific temperament. 7th graders take classes in physics, chemistry, microbiology, and ecology in a lab environment. 8th graders can study biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental chemistry through case studies and interactive demonstrations. Thus, you conduct research and build research skills through practical activities. Your daily activities involve reading, computer searching, writing, and group work.Â
Location:Â Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh
Cost / Stipend:Â None
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Selective
Program dates:Â July 13 to July 17
Application deadline:Â March
Eligibility:Â Rising 8th and 9th graders
The Summer Engineering Experience is a week-long program for middle and high schoolers to learn about engineering, math, and science. Middle schoolers can participate in the Making & Engineering track that teaches engineering and design concepts. During the week, you complete two projects. For the first project, you work in a group for a structured assignment. For the second project, you can complete it individually or in small groups. Both teach you problem solving, design, and critical thinking.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â From $2,599
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â 6 students per cohort
Program dates:Â July 6 to July 31
Application deadline:Â Not specified
Eligibility:Â Students aged 11 to 18
Berkeley offers a coding academy for students interested in AI and data science. You begin by learning Python, which allows you to enter the world of big data. Through the program, you discover how to create visualizations, build machine learning models, and apply AI in the real world. The program is structured with lecture and cohort time. You learn new concepts and techniques during the lectures and maintain a coding notebook as you go. Cohort time involves small groups where you complete different practical projects by applying the theoretical concepts. You also conduct original research as part of the program. By the end, you will have a portfolio of work and a certificate of completion.
Location:Â Online or in person at Northwestern University, Evanston
Cost:Â $990 to $6,025, depends on course length
Acceptance rate / Cohort size:Â Small classes
Program dates:Â Varies by course
Application deadline:Â One week before the start date
Eligibility:Â Students in grades 6 to 12. Additional academic criteria depend on the course.
Northwestern’s CTD is designed for academically advanced students. It offers several courses that are selective and accept limited students. Eligibility criteria vary according to the track, but you can expect the courses to be rigorous. You can select the course you want to learn more about and develop critical and creative problem solving. Most programs blend theory with practice to enable hands-on learning and skill building. You also receive the opportunity to meet and learn from industry professionals who provide insights into various career pathways.Â
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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