Your Summer Starts Here
SummerPlanningGuideforFamilies
Families often ask what students should be doing over the summer. While there isn’t one “right” path, summer can be a valuable time for students to explore interests, gain experience, and build skills before the next school year begins.
To help make planning easier, we’ve gathered more than 100 reputable summer programs and internships in one place. Inside this guide, you’ll find a variety of options, from academic enrichment and career exploration to hands-on experiences and leadership opportunities.
Some students use the summer to strengthen college and scholarship applications. Others simply want to try something new or learn more about a potential career path. Wherever a student is in their journey, meaningful summer experiences can help them grow in confidence and direction.
We hope this resource helps your family find opportunities that fit your student’s interests, schedule, and goals. We’re here to support your student’s journey.
Imagine Scholarships
Supporting Your Student
SupportingStudentsandFamilies
At Imagine Scholarships, we know that planning for college can feel overwhelming at times. Our goal is to make the process more manageable by providing clear, reliable resources that help students and families move forward with confidence.
This summer opportunities guide is just one of the ways we support our community. Throughout the year, we provide tools, reminders, and resources to help students stay organized, explore their options, and prepare for life after high school.
Here’s how we support families:
Scholarship Search & Matching
Helping students find scholarship opportunities that align with their background, interests, and goals.
College & Career Exploration
Resources to help students explore majors, colleges, and future career paths.
Internships & Enrichment Opportunities
Experiences that allow students to build skills, try new interests, and grow in confidence.
Financial Aid Guidance
Clear information to help families understand FAFSA, grants, and college funding basics.
Organization & Planning Tools
Simple ways to track applications, deadlines, and important next steps.
Upcoming Tips & Updates
Helpful reminders, planning support, and seasonal resources throughout the year.
We’re grateful to be part of your student’s journey and hope this guide helps your family find opportunities that make this summer both meaningful and productive.
70SummerPrograms forHighSchoolStudents
Summerprogramsforhighschoolstudentscanprovide valuableopportunitiesforthemtoexploretheirinterests,build skills,andgainexperiencesthatwillhelpthemintheir academicandcareerpaths
MIT Research Science Institute (RSI): A prestigious program offering hands-on research in STEM fields
Fordham University Pre-College Program: A program offers a wide range of courses in various formats and fields, including STEM, humanities, social sciences, business, and the arts
NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth and Space Science (SEES): Allows students to work with NASA scientists on real-world research projects
University of Miami Pre-College: Offers both credit and noncredit programs for high school students seeking to gain college experience before graduating from high school
UT Austin Summer High School Research Academy (HSRA): Five-week hands on research program for high school students at UT Austin
Humanities and Social Sciences Programs
Sustainable Physics and Materials: In all programs, students will experience the challenge and excitement of a career in research.
Gettysburg College Summer Programs: From enriching academic programming to meaningful social connections, the week-long experience is unforgettable!
Summer Journalism Academy at Boston University: For students interested in a career in journalism.
Columbia University Summer Immersion Program: Offers various humanities and social science courses.
Leadership in the Business World at the University of Pennsylvania (LBW): Focuses on entrepreneurship and leadership.
Business and Entrepreneurship Programs
Mercy University Summer Leadership Academy: Learn about leadership and business careers from Executive Faculty who have worked at top global companies
Babson Summer Study for High School Students: Provides entrpreneurial studies and hands-on projects
LaunchX Summer Program: Helps students build real-world startups
NYU Precollege Business Program: Offers courses on business and marketing
Actuarial Science Summer Camp: Week-long intensive programs for rising high school seniors designed to help them decide if they’re interested in actuarial careers.
ArtsandPerformingArtsPrograms
Concordia University Texas Camps: Hands-On Learning for Future Marketers, Musicians
Pratt Institute Pre-College Program: The four-week PreCollege Summer Intensive Program immerses you in credit-bearing courses in art, design, architecture, and writing.
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Pre-College Program:
Provides intensive training in visual arts and design
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Summer Programs: Offers programs in filmmaking, dance, and drama
Juilliard Summer Performing Arts Programs: Provides music, dance, and drama training
EnviornmentalScienceandOutdoorPrograms
Dallas Arboretum Summer Camps: Spark your child’s imagination with hands-on STEM investigations and garden adventure.!
The Ecology Project International (EPI): Focuses on hands-on enviromental research in different ecosystems
Duke University Pre-College Programs: Provides a chance to study marine biology
Embry-Riddle Summer Camp @ Aeronautical University: Experience the perfect mix of academic challenges and summer fun
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Inspires students from around the world to explore academically rigorous learning opportunities through online and residential enrichment programs
HealthandMedicalPrograms
Standford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP): Provides medical research opportunities for aspiring doctors
Georgetown University Medical Summer Program: Offers hands-on medical training and exposure
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Medicine & Health Care: Focuses on medical and health sciences.
John Hopkins Summer Program in Medical & Health Studies: Focuses on medical and health sciences.
Boston Leadership Institute: Medical Research: Provides medical research experience
TechnologyandCodingPrograms
Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program: Provides free coding classes for girls.
Computer Programming with AI Summer Camp: Explore the future of technology and a career in computer programming or data science
ILLINOIS TECH Summer Programs: Cover topics such as coding and programming, robotics, sustainability, science and research, and more.
MathILy-EST Summer Program: MathILy-EST is an 8-week intensive summer research experience for exceptional firstyear college students
Wentworth Institute of Technology Pre-College Programs: Hands-on learning opportunities in science, engineering, and design
Government and Public Policy Programs
Geneseo Summer Academy: Live and Learn Campus: Take exciting classes led by real college professors in subjects like art, politics, science, and writing
Texas Workforce Commission Youth Internships: The Texas Internship Challenge encourages students to participate in the thousands of internships
Bank of America Student Leaders Program: Combines leadership training with a paid internship
Georgetown University's Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service: Focuses on nonprofit leadership and social change.
Austin City High School Summer Internship Program: High School interns are placed at various locations based on their future career interests.
InternationalPrograms
Oxbridge Academic Programs: Offers summer programs at prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge Sensors Directorate Internship Program (SDIP): Advancing Innovative Research Solutions
The Grainger College of Engineering Summer Research Program : An outstanding opportunity for aspiring scientists and faculty to learn from leading experts in computer science.
Sandia National Laboratories Internships: Applying classroom theory in a real-world work environment.
School of the New York Times: Global Leadership Academy: Offers journalism and leadership programs in international settings.
ScienceResearchPrograms
Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT: Offers research in mathmatics, science, and engineering
Cyberinfrastructure Research for Societal Advancement @University of Texas at Austin: Students receive training using national CI by integrating the learning of computational science, data-enabled science Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Chemical Assembly at the University of Nebraska: Engaged in cutting-edge research for the future!
REU: AI, Data Analytics, and Mixed Reality for Smart and Connected Health: This interdisciplinary experience prepares participants for advanced STEM studies and careers
MOREOPTIONS
Summer Pre-College Programs at Marist University
Cornell University Summer College
University of Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS)
The Summer Science Program (SSP) in Astrophysics and Biochemistry
Brown Leadership Institute
Texas Governor’s Office Internship
Texas A&M Engineering Summer Camps
Adelphi University Pre-College Program
Alfred University Pre-College Programs
Washington University in St. Louis High School Summer Scholars Program
Manhattan University High School Programs
USC Online Pre-College Programs
Harvard Pre-College Program
Writers Week at Sarah Lawrence College
Boston University High School Honors Program
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Summer Programs
University of Maryland's Young Scholars Program
USC Summer Program
Summer Discovery at UT Austin
The Great Books Summer Program
MOREOPTIONS
A Day in the Life of a Dietitian: Exploring Careers in Nutrition
Texas State University Honors Summer Math Camp
Summer Programs at Cornell University
Food is a Passport Let’s Use It!
Texas Tech Whitacre College Explore Engineering Camp
Tarrant County Youth Programs
Tufts Pre-College Programs
UT Arlington Summer Camps
Bobcat Theatre Camp at Texas State University
Syracuse University Pre-College Programs
UNT Summer Camps
Summer College Readiness Program at Landmark College
Summer Tech Camps & Academies at Stanford
Boston University Summer Challenge
Rice University Summer Youth Activity Program
South Texas College Youth Camps
University of Houston Summer Camps
Texas A&M Camp SOAR
TAMU-CC Summer Camps
St. Philip's College Summer Programs
MOREOPTIONS
Parsons School of Design Pre-College Academy
Mystic Aquarium and University of Connecticut Avery Point REU
University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design Pre-College Programs
Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art
Pratt Institute Pre-College Program
Ringling College of Art and Design Pre-College Perspective
Syracuse University Summer College for High School Students
Black Hills Applied Ceramic Engineering
