Summer Programs
Many students choose to spend parts of their summer at math or science programs. There are different types of programs for students: Camps, Research Programs, and Independent Internships. It’s always a good idea to get out of the house, learn, and make friends instead of wasting time. This page contains a brief description of the many opportunities summer time presents. Here is our POWERPOINT PRESENTATION debrief if you missed it.
If you want to go to wonderful places (like college) and don't want to read our debrief, attend our summer programs meeting or click on this link: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer
If you want to go to wonderful places (like college) and don't want to read our debrief, attend our summer programs meeting or click on this link: http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer
Camps
Summer camps are residential programs geared towards the exploration of certain topics. Daily activities like lectures, demonstrations, and field trips provide students with an extensive curriculum in STEM fields. Camps are a great way to spend the summer if you would like to glimpse a topic in math or science. Three notable examples are listed below.
SSP: The Summer Science Program (SSP), is a six week camp in either astrophysics or biochemistry. The host campuses for the astrophysics sessions are New Mexico Tech and the University of Colorado Boulder, and the focus of the astrophysics session is determining the orbit of an asteroid. For biochemistry, the host campuses are Purdue University and Indiana University, an the focus is designing a molecule to inhibit fungal activity. Admissions are incredibly competitive. More information can be found HERE.
COSMOS: This is a four week residential camp held at four UC campuses: UCSD, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Santa Cruz. Applicants choose several “clusters,” topics of the most interest to them, which include anything from Biomedical Engineering to Video Game Design to number theory. More information can be found HERE.
EPGY: Education Program for Gifted Youth. This is a three week program hosted by Stanford University. The courses offered are not STEM exclusive. The science courses that are offered include cryptography, quantum mechanics, and anthropology. More information can be found HERE.
SSP: The Summer Science Program (SSP), is a six week camp in either astrophysics or biochemistry. The host campuses for the astrophysics sessions are New Mexico Tech and the University of Colorado Boulder, and the focus of the astrophysics session is determining the orbit of an asteroid. For biochemistry, the host campuses are Purdue University and Indiana University, an the focus is designing a molecule to inhibit fungal activity. Admissions are incredibly competitive. More information can be found HERE.
COSMOS: This is a four week residential camp held at four UC campuses: UCSD, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Santa Cruz. Applicants choose several “clusters,” topics of the most interest to them, which include anything from Biomedical Engineering to Video Game Design to number theory. More information can be found HERE.
EPGY: Education Program for Gifted Youth. This is a three week program hosted by Stanford University. The courses offered are not STEM exclusive. The science courses that are offered include cryptography, quantum mechanics, and anthropology. More information can be found HERE.
Research Programs
Depending on your interests, you may choose to participate in a research program instead of a camp. You’ll have a much more “independent” feeling; participants are matched with a professor and placed in a lab, and will spend a majority of their time working on a project in lab. Of course, there’s always time for fun with evening activities!
RSI: The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a cost free, six week residential program sponsored by and hosted on MIT. It is perhaps the most well known program, and deservedly so. Admissions are beyond competitive; only 50 US and 30 international students are selected to attend. If you wish to find more information on RSI and how to apply, click HERE.
SIMR: Every year many of our students apply to Stanford’s SIMR program. This is an eight week program which pays a $750 stipend, and participants work as interns at Stanford Institute of Medicine. As always, the application process is competitive. More information can be found HERE.
YSP: Another popular choice for Saratoga students. This is a six week program held at UC Davis with a research focus on biological sciences. More information can be found HERE.
SSTP: The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) is a six week residential program hosted by University of Iowa. It pairs students with professors in biology, computer science, chemistry, and more based on both student and mentor preferences. More information can be found HERE.
Garcia: The Garcia Summer Research Program is a six week program at Stony Brook University in New York. This program offers a variety of research projects for high school students to choose from, and students work closely with graduate students on their projects. More information can be found HERE.
UMass Research Intensives: Hosted at University of Massachusetts at Amherst, this research program provides a good opportunity for underclassmen to get research experience by doing a project with a professor. Most of the research is biology-related, but the program is not as competitive as the other ones listed. More information can be found HERE.
RSI: The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a cost free, six week residential program sponsored by and hosted on MIT. It is perhaps the most well known program, and deservedly so. Admissions are beyond competitive; only 50 US and 30 international students are selected to attend. If you wish to find more information on RSI and how to apply, click HERE.
SIMR: Every year many of our students apply to Stanford’s SIMR program. This is an eight week program which pays a $750 stipend, and participants work as interns at Stanford Institute of Medicine. As always, the application process is competitive. More information can be found HERE.
YSP: Another popular choice for Saratoga students. This is a six week program held at UC Davis with a research focus on biological sciences. More information can be found HERE.
SSTP: The Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP) is a six week residential program hosted by University of Iowa. It pairs students with professors in biology, computer science, chemistry, and more based on both student and mentor preferences. More information can be found HERE.
Garcia: The Garcia Summer Research Program is a six week program at Stony Brook University in New York. This program offers a variety of research projects for high school students to choose from, and students work closely with graduate students on their projects. More information can be found HERE.
UMass Research Intensives: Hosted at University of Massachusetts at Amherst, this research program provides a good opportunity for underclassmen to get research experience by doing a project with a professor. Most of the research is biology-related, but the program is not as competitive as the other ones listed. More information can be found HERE.
Independent Internships
You can also undertake an independent internship with a college professor. The best way to find an internship that suits you is not by spamming over 100 college professors with emails. Spend time understanding what a professor’s lab groups works on, and spend time crafting a short email that introduces yourself and your intentions. Stanford University has been a popular destination for sent emails; a link to their advice on contacting professors can be found HERE.
Of course, the lists above is not at all exhaustive; it merely displays the programs that our students most frequently apply to. Remember to come to our two meetings dedicated entirely to Summer Programs. For a list of top tier programs from MIT Admissions, click on the link below:
http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer
Of course, the lists above is not at all exhaustive; it merely displays the programs that our students most frequently apply to. Remember to come to our two meetings dedicated entirely to Summer Programs. For a list of top tier programs from MIT Admissions, click on the link below:
http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/summer