If you’re a high school student looking for a STEM summer camp, the RICE ELITE Tech Camp offers a solid pre-collegiate experience. This 1-week program covers college-level curriculum, taught by faculty at a tier 1 college, and you will get the opportunity to apply engineering principles to real-life situations, and experience the life of a university student.

In this blog, we delve into the details of the Rice ELITE Tech Camp and give you 10 reasons as to why you should apply for this pre-college program!  

What is the Rice ELITE Tech Camp? 

The Rice ELITE Tech Camp is a 1-week pre-college summer program that focuses on engineering and technology! In this program, you will attend college-level engineering lectures which include topics such as machine learning, AI, the Internet of things, data analytics, deep learning and more. You can also expect to participate in real-life simulations where you can apply the engineering design process to develop a deeper understanding. 

This program is created and managed by the engineering faculty from the Rice University School of Engineering and the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership, so it is an excellent opportunity to learn from faculty and experience the workload of a university student! 

What are some of the courses that are offered?

 

There are currently 8 courses you can choose from and these include:

• 3D Modeling & 3D Printing

• Deep Learning: Deploying AI to Maintain Smart Cities

• Learning C++ for Human Spaceflight Engineering

• Learning Python to solve Engineering Problems

• Trifecta Tech: IOT, Machine Learning and Python Coding

• Robotic Engineering

• Robotic Engineering II

• Self-Driving Technology

The last 2 courses are new and will begin starting the 2024 session. 

Where is the camp held?

The primary location for the camp is Rice University in Houston, Texas, however courses are also offered at UCLA, CA and Emory University, GA.

You can opt between a residential camp experience or a choice to commute everyday for the in-person camp, and they offer virtual camps as well. 

When is the application and program dates?

Your camp duration depends on whether you’re opting for the residential or commuter program, however, there are 4 dates to choose from for both. 

In the residential program, you can choose between:

• Session 1 from June 16 - 22, 2024

• Session 2 from June 23 - 29, 2024

• Session 3 from July 7 - 13, 2024, or

• Session 4 from July 14 - 20, 2024.

If you opt to commute (or attend virtually) you can choose between: 

• Session 1 from June 17 - 21, 2024

• Session 2 from June 24 - 28, 2024

• Session 3 from July 8 - July 12, or

• Session 4 from July 15 - July 19. 

There is only 1 date offered at UCLA which is June 13 - 29, 2024 for residential students and June 24 - 28, 2024 for commuters. The same applies for Emory, where the residential program is from July 7 - 13, 2024, while the commuter program is from July 8 - 12, 2024. 

Do note that your session date will depend on the course you are choosing - you can get more information about the dates here!

The applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so there’s no set application deadline. However, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible! 

What is the cost of the camp? 

The residential program costs $3,795, while the commuter camp tuition is $1,695. The fees for the virtual program are $695. 

Who is eligible for this program? 

This program is open to all high school students!

Why should you apply?

1. You will meet new peers and mentors who will help with applications and your future career

This program has passionate and interested high school students, along with faculty who are esteemed in their respective fields. This program is a great networking opportunity, and you will also get to meet like-minded peers who are just as enthusiastic about STEM.

2. You will live on a college campus

This opportunity to live on a college campus for a week gives you the chance to experience the freedom of a college student with peers that you’ve never met before. This program isn’t only appealing for its educational experience, it also will allow you to experience a unique summer.

3. Participating in this program is a great value-add for your applications

While a pre-summer program might be less prestigious than a selective research program, you will benefit from choosing this camp due to its association with Rice - one of the top universities in the U.S. Attending and successfully completing this program will signal to admission officers that your academic caliber is high and you have been able to demonstrate your interest and skills in STEM outside of your classroom.  

4. You can understand how theories can be applied in practical fields

While each of the 8 courses are inter-connected, they all cover various aspects in the field of STEM. In particular, courses such as Deep Learning: Deploying AI to Maintain Smart Cities or Learning C++ for Human Spaceflight Engineering are unique courses where you focus on applying fundamental STEM concepts to a real-life challenge or a particular field. 

You can use this opportunity to signal to admission officers that you’ve explored this subject through its practical applications, which supplements the theoretical knowledge you’ve covered in school!

5. You can explore your career path in detail

This program is taught by engineering professors, researchers, professionals and students who are engaged in different engineering fields. Choosing to attend this program will give you exposure to an array of different career paths in your chosen field! 

6. You will be exposed to particular research areas. 

As each course in this program delves into one particular field in engineering, you will get the opportunity to explore the subject in depth. Covering these newer areas will be helpful when you’re looking for independent projects or even conducting research.

7. This program signals to college admissions officers that you are ready for the rigor of university

One focus of the RICE Elite Tech Camp is exposing high school students to university-level classes. Doing well in this program will definitely signal to admission officers that you have the academic capabilities to cope with the rigor of university.

8. You can benefit from your mentors through LORs or future opportunities

Each program is taught by an expert who is at the top of their field. Connecting with your mentors or professors gives you an excellent network for people who you can approach for letters of recommendation, or even reach out for future research or internship opportunities! 

9. After the program, you will have access to an excellent alumni network

The supportive alumni network from the Rice ELITE Tech Camp is a valuable resource for mentorship, advice and other beneficial networking opportunities which you can take advantage of to improve your application, explore your fields of interest and gain advice on your career path. 

10. The prestige of the program might help with future scholarship opportunities

As we’ve mentioned above, this program is prestigious due to its association with Rice University, so completing this program successfully just showcases your academic capabilities as a student. You can use this experience to apply for merit-based scholarships, as the prestige of this program might make your application stand-out. 

If you’re looking to build unique projects in the field of AI/ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI was founded by Harvard graduate students, and through the programs, you get a chance to learn the fundamentals of AI and computer science while collaborating on real-world projects. You can also 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 data science and AI with us. You can apply here!

Image Source - RICE University Logo