If you’re a high school student in Connecticut looking to build academic skills this summer, you’ll find many opportunities to explore subjects of your choice. The summer programs in the list below cover areas like engineering, the arts, science, and policy. You’ll have the chance to learn how to code, analyze policy case studies, and read philosophical texts.
Here are 12 summer programs for high school students in Connecticut that you can check out!
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology, and more
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas. It is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers both quantitative and qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track and type of research, you’ll be paired with a professor or PhD scholar who will mentor you. You’ll create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication. The program also provides a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. UConn Explore Engineering (E2) Program
Subject Areas: Engineering
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: July 14 – 27
Cost: $2,499 (financial aid available)
The Explore Engineering Program at UConn offers high school students an introduction to various engineering disciplines, including electrical, robotics, and computer science. Projects change each year. Last year, students designed and prototyped an underwater remotely operated vehicle for search and rescue. Students also learned how to apply engineering to solve medical issues. In addition to participating in hands-on projects, you will attend speaker sessions and attend recreational activities.
3. Veritas AI
Subject Areas: AI, Coding, Computer Science
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required for the AI Fellowship program
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Cost: AI Scholars: $2,290 (financial aid is available); AI Fellowship: $5,400; Combination (AI Scholars + AI Fellowship): $6,900. Financial aid available for AI Scholars
Veritas AI offers programs for high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science. Students learn various concepts in data science and artificial intelligence like neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, coding using Python, and more. Through the AI Scholars program, students build real-world projects in groups of 3-5 to showcase their interests and skills. You can also apply for the AI Fellowship, where you work 1-1 with mentors from top universities to build unique machine learning projects over 12-15 weeks.
4. Economics for Leaders by the Foundation for Teaching Economics
Subject Areas: Economics, Leadership, Public Policy
Location: Multiple locations, including Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
Application Deadline: Applications will open in December
Program Dates: TBA. Last year multiple one-week sessions in June and July were offered at Yale University
Cost: $2,300 (financial aid available)
The Economics for Leaders Program equips high school students with a strong foundation in economic principles while enhancing their leadership skills. You will attend lectures and engage in hands-on simulations that apply economic reasoning to real-world problems, such as public policy and resource management. The program also includes leadership workshops where you develop decision-making and teamwork skills. It is ideal for students interested in economics, business, or government.
5. Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative High School Student Research Apprentice Program
Subject Areas: Biomedical Science, Health Professions, Medical Research
Location: UConn Health, Farmington, CT or Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Eligibility: High school students who have:
- Completed their junior year with a B average or better
- Are at least 16 years old
- Be from underrepresented backgrounds in the health professions
- Be from a Connecticut high school that has a School-to-Career or Career-to-Work coordinator
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
See full eligibility requirements here
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June – July (5 weeks)
Cost: Free (stipend provided)
The UConn Health High School Student Research Apprentice Program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biomedical and health-related fields. Participants work closely with UConn Health researchers on projects involving laboratory techniques such as cell culture and molecular biology. The program is designed to introduce students from underrepresented backgrounds to careers in the health and biomedical sciences through hands-on research experience, providing a strong foundation for future academic and professional pursuits in these fields.
6. Yale Citizens Thinkers Writers Program
Subject Areas: Humanities, Philosophy, Political Theory
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors from New Haven public schools. Preference is given to students who would be the first in their family to attend college
Application Deadline: March 25
Program Dates: July 14 – 26
Cost: Free (includes tuition, room, board, and travel expenses)
The Yale Citizens Thinkers Writers Program offers high schoolers an intensive introduction to the humanities through seminars focused on philosophy, literature, and political theory. You will work with professors to close-read classic texts, explore complex ideas about citizenship and society, and develop your writing and critical thinking skills through discussions and essays. After completing the two-week summer program, you will continue to meet with the faculty for the rest of the academic year.
7. Yale School of Medicine’s Discovery to Cure High School Internship
Subject Areas: Biomedical Research
Location: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: Students must have completed their junior year of high school, be 16 years of age, and attend a local Connecticut high school
Application Deadline: February 10
Program Dates: TBA
Cost: No information available
This internship places students in cutting-edge biomedical labs where they work on a research project under the guidance of a Principal Investigator. Past interns have worked on microRNA, pregnancy complications, and genetic abnormalities. At the end of the program, you’ll get to present your research findings.
8. Fairfield University’s BASE Camp
Subject Areas: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering
Location: Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups in STEM who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and in good academic standing. Preference may be given to Bridgeport applicants
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: TBA
Cost: Free (includes meals and lodging)
The BASE Camp at Fairfield University is a two-week science camp aimed at increasing access to STEM education for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds. The program offers hands-on research experiences in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering. Past projects have included studying the effects of exercise on the body, examining microplastic contamination in penguins, and investigating forensic scientific methods.
9. UConn Pre-College Summer Program
Subject Areas: Engineering, Business, Digital Media, Environmental Science, and more
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who will have completed at least 1 year of high school by the program start and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Certain courses have prerequisites, which you can check here
Application Deadline: June 10
Program Dates: TBA. Multiple week-long sessions from late June to July were offered
Cost: $50 nonrefundable application fee, course fees vary from $2,050 to $8,650 depending on number of courses taken and whether they’re credit or non-credit courses. See details here
UConn’s Pre-College Summer offers a deep dive into disciplines such as robotics, business entrepreneurship, and digital media production. You can gain hands-on experience with university-level tools like Arduino in the engineering labs or editing software like Adobe Premiere in the digital media courses. The program is perfect if you are looking to gain a clearer understanding of the technical requirements in these fields. You will also have the chance to build soft skills like time management and leadership through workshops, seminars, and guest speaker sessions.
10. Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Subject Areas: STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, Cross-disciplinary
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors (ages 16-18) from around the world
Application Deadline: January 10
Program Dates:
- Session I: June 22 – July 4
- Session II: July 6 – July 18
- Session III: July 20 – August 1
Cost: $6,500 (financial aid available) + $90 nonrefundable application fee (fee waivers available)
YYGS is known for its rigorous interdisciplinary approach, blending seminars, simulations, and projects. In the “Politics, Law, and Economics” track, for instance, you will work through real-world policy dilemmas while analyzing case studies. Meanwhile, in the STEM sessions, you can learn about dark matter, brain regeneration, and quantum mechanics.
11. Quinnipiac Summer Programs for High School Students
Subject Areas: Health Sciences, Biology, Cybersecurity, and more
Location: Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in July and August
Cost:
- 1-week residential program: $1,680
- 1-week commuter program: $1,400
- 2-week residential program: $3,360
- 2-week commuter program: $2,400
Quinnipiac Summer Programs for High School Students provides courses across subject areas like game design, storytelling, and data science. In the healthcare career exploration academy, you will develop skills like taking vital signs, suturing, and fabricating custom orthoses. The Public Relations and Social Media Bootcamp will teach you how to draft social media copy that will connect with your target audience. Take a look at the website to learn more about the different programs available at Quinnipiac.
12. Emagination Tech Summer Camp Weekly Sessions
Subject Areas: Programming, Robotics, Game Design, 3D Printing, Digital Art, and more
Location: Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT
Eligibility: Students ages 8-17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until sessions are full)
Program Dates:
- July 15 – 26
- July 29 – August 9
Cost: $3,760 for two weeks (overnight) | $2,080 for two weeks (day camp)
The Emagination STEM Camp at Fairfield University immerses students in a variety of STEM fields, such as programming, robotics, game design, and 3D printing. Participants choose workshops where they engage in hands-on projects, like coding their own video games, building and programming robots, or creating 3D-printed models. The camp blends technology learning with traditional summer camp activities, fostering technical skills and social connections in a collaborative environment.
Image Source – Yale Logo
