Time to Apply! Amazing Teen Programs

Now is the time to connect teens with these amazing summer programs.

By Sylvia Vukosavljevic & Jennifer Wright

Academic summer camps offer students an edge in the college application process, and many of the best are not only close to home but surprisingly affordable—even free! There is a curriculum out there for nearly every teen’s academic interest, and Thanksgiving break is the perfect time to start preparing.

Following Their Bliss
From mathematics to arts, summer programs offer teens the opportunity to explore subjects that pique their deepest interests and the chance to find peers who share their passions. “These are unforgettable experiences,” says Robert Jaffe, Director of Inner Spark at California State. “If you have a kid who is really arts motivated, they’re usually outsiders at school,” Jaffe notes. “They come here into communities with their natural peer groups, people who are drawn together by what they’re interested in. That’s a magical thing for kids at this age. It’s all about finding out what you really love to do—what gets you up in the morning.”

Exploring Options
Inner Spark is just one program that offers teens the chance for self-discovery. Pamela Burnett, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of California at Davis, suggests parents and teens investigate all their options. “Many university campuses offer a variety of programs. The Early Academic Outreach Program is year-round... MESA programs want to attract underserved students.” 

Free Programs
Families can choose programs based on a wide variety of criteria, from competitiveness to budget. If budget is your bottom line, Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) and MESA offer completely free summer enrichment programs. Questbridge grants scholarships to students attending top camps. 

Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Teens interested in careers in medicine and the sciences attend classes and receive extensive college admissions counseling. Many are eligible for ten units of high school science credit. 

MESA at Sacramento State & UC Davis
Math, engineering, and science students in grades K-12 and from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible.

QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship
QuestBridge is a non-profit program that links bright, motivated low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation's best colleges.

Financial Aid Available
The following camps offer significant financial aid, with some even covering the full cost of tuition, based on need.

Center for Talented Youth at San Francisco State (CTY-Johns Hopkins)
For students in grades 10-12, The Civic Leadership Institute at San Francisco State extends teens’ unique perspectives on civic engagement and social issues.

InnerSpark at California State
InnerSpark offers students (grades 8-12) a four-week training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing and film. Participants receive up to three college credits and are eligible for Herb Alpert Scholarships for Emerging Young Artists. Awards range from $2,500 to $40,000.

Stanford University Math Camp (SUMAC)
A four-week program designed for juniors and seniors with exceptional talent in mathematics, SUMAC lets teens work on math problems in class Monday through Thursday. Fridays are reserved for group research assignments.

UC Davis-Young Scholars
A six-week curriculum accepting forty high-achieving sophomores and juniors with a passion for the natural sciences. Teens complete research projects and help publish journal-quality papers with faculty.

The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
A month-long camp for math and science students in grades 9-12, COSMOS’ students attend subject-specific classes taught by UC Davis faculty. Last year, former COSMOS participants received approximately $50,000 in college scholarships.

Jaffe urges teens who are interested in participating in any of these programs to start applying at Thanksgiving—not before summer break. “If you’re serious about doing the kind of thing we are, the biggest piece of advice I have is to take the assignments seriously and plan ahead.” 

Sylvia Kovac is a self-confessed helicopter mom who has worked as an undergraduate application evaluator for Princeton University Admissions. She has also ghost written and copy edited several entries in America’s Top Internships and The Internship Bible (both published by vault.com and The Princeton Review), taught high school English, written resumes professionally, and developed web content for a variety of career websites.

Jennifer Wright is a mom and English Language Arts teacher. She has worked as an outreach educator, directing summer programming for high school students at the University of Michigan Medical School and Drexel University. She has also worked as an educational consultant for Hewlett Packard and the Capital City Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania.