A college summer program for high school students is a great way for you to make the most of your summer and see what college life and academics are like. You get to explore your academic interests in depth, dive into complex topics, build your skillset, and even gain hands-on experience at the university lab. Whether you are planning to pursue medicine, engineering, computer science, or even the humanities, a college summer program can level up your knowledge and abilities to a great extent.
If you live in or around New York, you’re in luck. New York is home to several prestigious universities such as NYU, Columbia, Rockefeller University, and many more. Each of these offers summer programs through which you will get to learn from the university’s expert faculty and also gain access to their state-of-the-art resources and laboratories. These programs also come with useful networking opportunities that can be useful in the future.
To help you get started, here are the top 15 college summer programs for high school students in New York. You can also check out our blog on 15 best STEM research opportunities for high school students.
1. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free. A $1,000 stipend is provided
Program dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering program is a free 10-week college summer program for high school students in New York that focuses on hands-on lab research in STEM fields. As a participant, you will be assigned to one of the program’s available labs, which range across fields like molecular bioengineering, machine learning, genomics, and even music. You will assist a professional researcher or scientist with their research project while also receiving support for college applications. At the end, you will have the chance to present your findings at a poster symposium.
2. Brain Research Apprenticeship in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free. A stipend is provided, but the amount is not specified. Previous cohorts have received $1,000 stipends
Program dates: 7 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Applications open in October
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who live in New York City and are enrolled in one of the Zuckerman Institute’s New York City-based partner programs.
The Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia program offers an intensive neuroscience research experience for high school students under the guidance of a mentor. As a participant, you will be connected with a neuroscientist and work on a research project in one of Columbia University’s research labs, culminating in a research poster and presentation. The program consists of a training session in the spring, which is followed by the summer internship component. Previous students have worked on topics such as cuttlefish camouflage behaviour and the effects of stress on brain development.
3. RockEDU’s Jumpstart Program
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost: Free. Stipends are awarded to students facing financial hardship
Program dates: After-school sessions from February 27-June 12, Summer Science Research Program from June 23-August 7
Application deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and attend an NYC high school
This is a two-part program that begins with after-school sessions during the spring, where you learn the basic tools of scientific research. This is followed by the Summer Science Research Program, during which you will work on a research project in teams of 8-10 scholars, along with 3 mentors to guide your work. Previous students have worked on projects around RNA virus discovery, nanobody binding patterns, and silkworm biomaterials. By the end, you will have learned about the entire research process from formulating a hypothesis to analyzing data and presenting your work at a symposium. However, this is a selective program that only accepts 16 high school students per cohort.
4. Columbia University’s Hk Maker Lab
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free. Travel and lunch stipends are provided after the completion of the program
Program dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who attend a NYC public or charter school and can demonstrate educational or economic disadvantage
Columbia University’s Hk Maker Lab is a college summer program for high school students in New York who are interested in engineering design. The program consists of two parts, the first of which is SHAPE, a 3-week program that offers project-based courses in sub-fields of engineering like robotics, biomedical engineering, data science, and more. The second half of Hk Maker Lab is a 2-week interdisciplinary component during which you will develop a form of digital media, like an app or a website, that solves a global issue.
5. CCNY College Now STEM Research Academy
Location: You will be matched with one of City University of New York’s campuses
Cost: Free. Some students are eligible for a $1,575 stipend
Program dates: Spring component from February 11 – May 22, Summer research internship from June 30 – August 7
Application deadline: January 16
Eligibility: New York City Public High School sophomores and juniors who meet the given prerequisites
The CCNY College Now STEM Research Academy offers high school students hands-on experience in scientific research. The program includes a springtime course in research science and a summer research internship under the mentorship of a CUNY or CCNY faculty member. You will spend the internship conducting research in one of CCNY’s labs and end the program with a completed project and poster presentation. The program will try to assign you to an area of their interest.
6. NYU’s Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free of cost
Program dates: July 14 – August 8
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are residents of New York City and Nassau County
New York University’s CS4CS is a three-week college summer program for high school students interested in computer science and cybersecurity. As a participant, you will dive into fundamental topics like “white-hat” hacking, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, privacy, data usage, and more. Through the program, you will improve your coding and programming abilities and engage in real-world security analysis. The curriculum also includes theatre-based communication workshops.
7. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: All high school students who are at least 15 years of age and are NYC residents
New York University’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities is a 5-week summer program that dives into technology, entrepreneurship, and science. As a participant, you will explore urban living and smart cities, using interdisciplinary learning to develop an innovative product or service. In the process, you will learn about coding, microcontrollers, circuit deployment, as well as economics, product development, pitching, and copyrights.
8. Columbia University’s State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program dates: The summer program generally takes place in the month of June
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 with an 80% grade average, particularly in math and science
Columbia University’s State Pre-College Enrichment Program, earlier known as Columbia STEM, is a free college program that focuses on teaching high school students about medicine and related STEM fields. The program includes courses on medicine, biochemistry, anatomy, organic chemistry, cognitive science, psychology, geometry, calculus, physics, and more. Aside from the summer session, the program also offers a session during the academic year that takes place on Saturdays. Additionally, you will also be able to attend PSAT/SAT preparation courses and career development workshops.
9. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: Free, however, if you choose the residential track you will need to pay $2,360.25 as residential fees
Program dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are US citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years of age
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program is a research program that allows high school students to join a professional research group and take charge of a research project. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you will conduct hands-on research and culminate your work in a research abstract and poster. There are several research areas available, from biochemistry and civil engineering to neurobiology and astronomy. The program also includes workshops, tours, and a closing poster symposium.
10. Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s Summer Institute
Location: Four available locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Newark.
Cost: A stipend is provided at the end of the program, based on participation
Program dates: This is a 6-week program that takes place during the summer months
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Women and gender-expansive high school students who live in New York or Newark
The Sadie Nash Leadership project’s Summer Institute is an enrichment program for high school students interested in the humanities, particularly in areas like social justice, leadership, and identity. The 6-week program aims to improve your critical thinking and abilities to analyze complex issues. Previous iterations of the program have included courses on activism in America, education for liberation, and the anthropology of gender. They have also involved workshops on topics like self-defence and field trips to museums or digital companies like VICE.
11. University of Buffalo’s CSExplore Camp
Location: University of Buffalo, Getzville, NY
Cost: Free of cost
Program dates: August 5-8
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: All high school students
The University of Buffalo’s CSExplore Camp is a three-day college summer program for high school students who want an introduction to the field of computer science. The program covers all the fundamental topics and includes hands-on activities like working with circuits, programming a robot, and designing a video game. In addition to this, you will also get a chance to visit the university’s research labs to learn how computing can solve real-world problems.
12. Stony Brook University—Research Experience for High School Students
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $4,000. There are additional fees if you require room and board
Program dates: June 26 – August 8
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 3.8. Students must also meet these prerequisites
Hosted by the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, Stony Brook University offers this seven-week program for high school student that combines academic instruction and a research experience in the field of materials research. As a participant, you will be able to design and develop an original research project with the support of faculty members. You can expect experiments, laboratory activities, and a final symposium to present your findings. Previous students have worked on topics within broad areas like clean energy generation, robotics, tissue engineering, biopolymers, and materials under extreme conditions.
13. NYU’s Democracy Scholars Program
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free of cost
Program dates: July 6-26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are NYC residents
NYU’s Democracy Scholars is a three-week residential summer program for high school students interested in political philosophy and social justice. While getting a firsthand experience of college life, you will dive into college-level texts, learn how to analyze them and improve your critical thinking in general. In addition to this, you will also receive support for college applications and the chance to work on a civic leadership project during the academic year. The projects generally address complicated issues around education, immigration, gentrification, and more.
14. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers opportunities for high school students to develop an independent research project across a broad range of subject areas. While this is not a college-run program, the program pairs high school students with PhD mentors from top universities who offer 1-on-1 mentorship. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
15. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. You can apply here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that you have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – The Rockefeller University