Updated October 2026
TL;DR
The Meta Summer Academy (MSA) is a free, six-week summer program at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California, for high school sophomores who live in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City. You need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, a current transcript, and one recommendation, but no prior coding experience is required. MSA focuses on introductory coding, career exploration, and professional skills rather than advanced computer science research. Its 2027 application dates have not been announced. If you want to develop a research project with academic guidance, explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Want to explore a career in technology before college? The Meta Summer Academy (MSA) gives eligible high school sophomores a chance to learn coding, develop workplace skills, and meet professionals at Meta’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The six-week program is free, and you do not need previous coding experience to apply. This guide explains how MSA works, whether it is worth considering, and how it compares with other tech programs for high school students. For more options near the Bay Area, see our list of summer programs for high school students in California.
Meta Summer Academy at a glance
Program name: Meta Summer Academy (formerly Facebook Summer Academy)
Focus: Coding basics, tech career exploration, and professional skills
Who it is for: High school sophomores who live in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Length: Six weeks
Hours: About 30 hours a week
Cost: Free
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Experience required: None
Application window: About December 1 to mid-February
Acceptance rate: Not published. MSA says it has served over 200 students since 2012.
What is the Meta Summer Academy?
MSA is a six-week program that introduces high school sophomores to coding, workplace skills, and careers in technology. Its goal is to help young people reach economic stability and mobility through skill building and early career exploration.
You work inside Meta’s offices, so you see how a large technology company runs day to day. The program is guided and set up for beginners, so you do not need any experience to take part.
When do you apply, and when does the program run?
This table shows the dates from the 2026 cycle and what to expect for 2027. The 2027 dates are not posted yet, so check the MSA site as the cycle gets closer.
| Step | 2026 cycle | 2027 cycle |
| Application opens | December 1, 2025 | Expected around December 1, 2026 |
| Application, transcript, and recommendation due | February 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm | Mid-February 2027; Typically February 15, 2027 |
| Program runs | June 15 to July 24, 2026 | Usually starts the third Monday of June, which is June 21, 2027, so six weeks would end July 30, 2027 |
| Daily schedule | Monday to Friday, about 30 hours a week, usually 9 am to 4 pm | Same pattern expected |
If you are a sophomore now, your window to apply opens in about seven weeks. You can start gathering your materials today.
Who can apply to the Meta Summer Academy?
MSA’s eligibility rules are strict, and the program says it makes no exceptions. To apply, you must:
- Be a sophomore in high school when you apply
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- Live full-time, all year, in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
- Submit a current transcript and one recommendation
- Have no required coding or work experience
The application requirements also say that your transcript must include your first semester grades from sophomore year. If your school does not give grades twice a year, attach a screenshot of your current grades along with your official transcript. Your recommendation can come from a teacher, counselor, school official, or community leader. Only one is required.
How do you apply?
- Check your eligibility. Confirm your grade, your GPA, and that you live in one of the four communities.
- Get your transcript. Ask your school early, because it needs your first-semester sophomore grades.
- Ask for your recommendation. Pick someone who knows you well. MSA says it is your job to check in with them, and you can change your recommender before the deadline.
- Submit online. Check the official Meta Summer Academy website for the current application form and deadline. Submit your application and required documents by the announced deadline; MSA does not consider late applications.
What do you do during the six weeks?
The program runs on a set schedule, usually 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. You learn coding, financial literacy, art and media, and soft skills such as reflection and networking. You also meet Meta employees and executives to learn about their career paths, and you hear from about one guest speaker a week.
One past student said she enjoyed learning how VR games are made. Another said that meeting Meta employees helped her narrow down her career choices. Although the program takes place at Meta’s headquarters, it is an educational program and does not replace a software engineering internship.
What skills can you build?
MSA’s skills fall into four groups. They give you a base for deeper technical learning later in high school or college.
Technical skills
- Basic programming ideas and computational thinking
- Hands-on coding exercises
- A look at how real tech work gets done
- Early practice at solving problems
Career exploration
- Learning about different tech roles, such as engineering, product design, and operations
- Watching how teams from different areas work together
- Seeing how a company decides what to build
Professional skills
- Speaking clearly in group settings
- Presenting and public speaking
- Solving problems in a team
- Workplace manners and managing your time
Personal growth
- More confidence
- A better sense of your strengths and interests
- Ideas for what to try next, such as AP Computer Science, clubs, or other internships
What the program is not
It helps to know what MSA does not offer, so you can set the right expectations. MSA is not:
- A national or international competitive internship
- A research program
- An advanced computer science course
- A guarantee of a future Meta internship. Its FAQ says alumni can apply to Meta University in college, and it will notify alumni of events.
- A production-level software engineering job
- A guaranteed boost for selective college admissions
Think of MSA as a supported first step for local students who want to explore the tech industry.
What do past students say, and what does the data show?
MSA’s Impact page reports what participants say about their own growth. These numbers are self-reported:
- Leadership: 47 percent increase
- Networking: 73 percent increase
- Teamwork: 30 percent increase
- Self-reflection: 23 percent increase
- Communication: 16 percent increase
Brithany (class of 2024) said the instructors were helpful and kind. Jonathan (class of 2024) said he arrived nervous and learned how to feel confident. Anthony (class of 2022) called the community the best part and said friendships formed quickly. Abimbola (class of 2019) said hearing from Meta employees helped clarify her goals. Daniela (class of 2023) enjoyed the VR game workshop and the professional skills sessions.
Together, these stories suggest that MSA’s strongest value is confidence, exposure to careers, and community.
Is the Meta Summer Academy prestigious?
MSA is not built for prestige, and it is not a national, selective program. It is a community program that gives local students a structured look at coding and tech careers.
What it does offer is a place at a major tech company, a stipend, and access to Meta employees for a group of students from four nearby communities. That is rare for a high school student. On a college application, it shows initiative and a willingness to explore a field. It does not guarantee admission anywhere, and you should not treat it as one.
If you are eligible, curious about tech, and want a supportive first step into the field, MSA is a good use of a summer. It can build your confidence, introduce you to people in the industry, and help you choose what to try next. For more local options, see our guide to internships for high school students in the Bay Area.
How does the Meta Summer Academy compare to other tech programs?
| Program | Who can apply | Format and length | Cost | How it differs from MSA |
| Meta Summer Academy | Sophomores in four communities near Menlo Park, with a 2.0 GPA | In person, six weeks, about 30 hours a week | Free | Local, no experience needed, focused on exposure and professional skills |
| Girls Who Code Pathways | Girls and nonbinary students; U.S. students in 9th to 12th grade, international students ages 14 to 18 | Virtual, seven weeks, self-paced | Free | Open across the U.S. and online, with coding tracks you choose |
| CMU CS Scholars | U.S. students who show financial need; sophomores | In person at Carnegie Mellon, four weeks | Fully funded for admitted students | National pool, college-level computer science, merit-based |
| Google CSSI | Graduating high school seniors going to a four-year college | In person or online, about three weeks | Free | For seniors only, with a stronger focus on coding |
MSA is best described as an early, community-focused exposure program. The other three build more technical depth.
How can you get the most out of MSA?
- Learn a little coding first. You do not need it, but basic concepts will help you feel ready. See our list of free computer science programs for high school students for ways to start.
- Join in and ask questions. The students who say they grew the most also say they asked questions and got to know their peers.
- Talk to instructors, speakers, and classmates. You will meet about one guest speaker a week, so use that time.
- Keep notes on what interests you. Write down topics you want to explore after the program.
- Use the summer to plan your next step. Decide which classes, clubs, or programs to try next.
- Stay curious. Students who treat MSA as a starting point get the most from it.
One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program
If you want a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to the Horizon Academic Research Program. It is a selective virtual research program where you do advanced research and write a research paper on a subject of your choice. Horizon has worked with more than 1,000 high school students and offers more than 600 research specializations. You can find the application link here.
Questions to ask before you apply to the Meta Summer Academy
No. MSA requires you to commit to all six weeks, at about 30 hours a week, and the schedule is not flexible. If another program overlaps, you need to choose one.
Partly. MSA gives you breakfast and lunch, and Meta arranges pick-up and drop-off at key local areas, such as libraries. You need to get yourself to and from those meeting points.
Yes. The program includes a stipend, but the amount changes from year to year. MSA shares the current amount in its emails and presentations to the community.
Yes. You can look for tech programs open to students in other areas, including online programs. If you want to design your own project with a professor or PhD mentor, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program