11 Engineering Pre-College Programs for High School Students
Exploring engineering pre-college programs is a solid way for high school students to gain a competitive edge academically and prepare for a future in engineering. These programs provide hands-on experience and exposure to real-world engineering challenges, allowing you to build a strong foundation in the field. Not only do they bolster college applications by showcasing commitment and passion for engineering, but they also help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in top universities!
In this blog, we will cover the ten engineering pre-college programs for high school students!
1. Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science
As a SAMS Scholar, you'll start with a virtual skill-building session before diving into the in-person program. Over six weeks, you'll engage in a rigorous curriculum, work on hands-on projects, and connect with peers and mentors. The curriculum includes seminars in math and science, a STEM-related project advised by faculty or graduate students, and writing workshops focused on college applications. The program wraps up with a symposium where you'll showcase your work!
Location: Carnegie Mellon University Campus, PA
Dates: June 22 - August 3, 2024
Application Deadline: May 1, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Must be a current junior in high school, at least 16 years old, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and demonstrate an interest in STEM and commitment to diversity.
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship. These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship.
The AI Fellowship program will have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
3. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024 for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024 for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of 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 such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
Pre-collegiate summer courses at this prestigious university span two weeks and cover a wide range of STEM subjects, including computer science, math, physics, and statistics, in addition to biology and computer science. Harvard's pre-college program offers high school students the chance to live on campus and enjoy a taste of college life, just like other summer programs connected to universities.
If you’re interested in learning more about the courses offered at Harvard, you can look at our piece on 10 Tech Summer Programs at Harvard Summer School!
Location: Harvard University Campus, MA
Dates:
Session I - June 23-July 5, 2024
Session II - July 7-19, 2024
Session III - July 21-August 2, 2024
Application Deadline: April 10, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: $5,550 + $75 application fee
Eligibility: Open to high school students who must be at least 16 years old and not more than 19 years of age.
5. Boston University Research in Science & Engineering (RISE)
The RISE program at Boston University offers a program for high school students interested in science. Over six weeks, you'll engage in university laboratory research, collaborating with top-tier faculty, postdocs, and grad students to advance your STEM skills.
RISE has two tracks: Internship and Practicum. In the Internship track, you'll work 40 hours a week on research projects in fields like biology, chemistry, engineering, and more, culminating in a Poster Symposium. The Practicum track offers a more structured approach, focusing on computational neurobiology, with lectures and group research projects.
Internship students dive into hands-on research, while Practicum students focus on computational projects with guidance from BU instructors. An added bonus is workshops that are aimed at building your academic and professional skills!
Location: Boston University Campus, MA
Dates: June 30 - August 9, 2024
Application Deadline: February 14, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates)
Cost: $5,350 for tuition + extra charges
Eligibility: Must be a current junior in high school and a domestic student.
Brown Pre-College offers 1- to 6-week courses in a wide array of subjects. You can explore topics like environmental studies, medicine, leadership, law, psychology, mathematics, creative writing, and history. The Engineering Biomedical Systems course provides an introduction to biomedical engineering analysis, specifically relating to device design and tissue engineering approaches.
In the Biomedical Engineering: The Smart Design of Medical Implants and Devices course, you will learn how engineers think as they explore the field of biomedical engineering. You will be taught the fundamentals of naturally-derived tissue replacement materials, synthetic replacement materials, cell interactions with materials, and the mechanical properties of materials.
Location: Brown University Campus, RI
Dates: 1 to 6-week courses throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Check the dates on the course website.
Cost: Varies by course length and format
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12 must be between the ages 14 to 18.
7. Columbia University Summer Immersion: New York City
You can immerse yourself in the college experience with Columbia University's Residential Summer Program in NYC. You can explore over 70 courses across various subjects, with four hours of class each weekday and a two-hour midday break. You will be exposed to the range of disciplines offered in engineering, from Mechanical to Biomedical Engineering. You will also review the professional ethics for engineering.
You'll learn from world-class instructors who challenge you to think critically and creatively. Upon completion, you'll earn a Columbia University Certification of Participation and an instructor evaluation, boosting your college application. You’ll attend classes twice daily, enjoy a variety of activities and workshops, and explore NYC. Residential students live in Columbia's dorms, which have easy access to campus resources and city life. Resident Advisors ensure your safety and well-being.
We’ve covered this blog in detail, which you can check out here!
Location: Columbia University, NY
Dates: Session A - 3 Weeks: June 24–July 12, 2024
Session B - 3 Weeks: July 16–August 2, 2024
Session AB - 6 Weeks: June 24–August 2, 2024
Application Deadline: Check the website for details according to the session.
Cost: 3-Week Residential Program Cost: $12,449 per session
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international students who will be enrolled in grades 9–12 in the fall and students currently enrolled in grade 12. Students must be 16 or over to be eligible.
8. CURIE Academy at Cornell University
CURIE Academy at Cornell University is a one-week residential program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors eager to explore engineering. You'll spend a week on Cornell's campus, living in dorms and attending daily classes led by Cornell Engineering faculty. The program includes hands-on research projects, networking opportunities, and nine field sessions across various engineering majors.
You’ll engage in classes, collaborate on a research project, and participate in sessions focused on the admissions process. This program provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of engineering.
Location: Cornell University Campus, NY
Dates: July 14 – 20, 2024
Application Deadline: February 15, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: $1,850 (scholarships available)
Eligibility: Must be a high school sophomore or junior with a GPA of at least 3.0, having completed or planning to complete certain AP STEM courses.
Note - Open to all identities, with a focus on supporting traditionally excluded populations in STEM.
9. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation
Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Pre-College Program courses let you experiment, design, create, and learn to think like an engineer alongside peers from around the world. You’ll tackle projects like designing a device for user well-being, improving wind energy efficiency, or building a spaghetti bridge that holds 200 pounds! Plus, you can earn college credit!
You can choose from three programs:
Explore Engineering Innovation: Covers chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and materials science.
Biomedical Engineering Innovation: Focuses on solving biological and medical problems.
Sustainable Energy Engineering: Studies energy production and its social and political impacts.
We’ve covered this blog in detail, which you can check out here!
Location: Johns Hopkins University, MD
Dates: In-person: July 1 – July 26, 2024; Online: June 24 – August 2, 2024
Application Deadline: May 14, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: Varies by course
Eligibility: Open to high school students; specific requirements depend on the course chosen.
The ESTEEM Research Mentoring Program (Engineering Science and Technology to Energize and Expand Young Minds) and the Summer Engineering Research (SER)-Quest is a 4-week program for rising high school seniors.The program aims to recruit talented students to the A. James Clark School of Engineering.
During ESTEEM/SER-Quest, you'll explore engineering through a research project, develop a research proposal, and learn about college applications, financial aid, and career readiness. Additionally, you'll also network with undergraduate and graduate students.
Location: University of Maryland, MD
Dates: July 8 - August 2, 2024
Application Deadline: May 3, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to all students, with a focus on underrepresented groups. A Minimum of 3.2 GPA with no C's in Math and Science courses. Significant interest in engineering and should have completed Chemistry with a B or better. Must be ready to take Pre-Calculus by 12th grade and must have completed 11th grade by June 2024
11. Summer Engineering Exploration (SEE) CAMP
The Society of Women Engineers at the University of Michigan hosts the one-week residential Summer Engineering Exploration Camp (SEE Camp). SEE Camp is an introductory program designed to introduce participants to various types of engineering.
Throughout the week, small teams of students will utilize the engineering design process to solve a design challenge. In addition to learning more about engineering at the University of Michigan, campers will gain knowledge of numerous engineering specialities and industries!
Note- Despite the SEE Camp being hosted by the Society of Women, it's open to everyone!
Location: University of Michigan, MI
Dates: July 7 to July 13, 2024
Application Deadline: March 1st, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost: $650
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all genders going into grades 10-11, especially those with limited access to engineering resources.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of engineering, consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
Image Source - CMU Logo