10 Tech Summer Programs at Harvard for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring tech, chances are you’d be looking for a summer program to delve deeper into your interested field, attend higher-level courses and experience the life of a university student!
One of the top choices for any summer school program is the Harvard Summer School program. In this blog, we have listed 10 tech summer programs at Harvard. Do note that while Harvard does offer 4 branches of summer school (a 4-week and a 7-week residential program, offered as a residential, online or commuter program), we will only be including programs that are a part of the 7-week Secondary School Program.
1. Introduction to Computer Science with Python
Course Code: CSCI S-7
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Asynchronous or On Campus
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
If you’re interested in exploring computer science, but have little to no programming experience, this course is a solid option! You will explore problem-solving methods and algorithm development using Python, alongside a brief introduction to Scratch.
Apart from delving into Python, the course covers basic data types and collections such as lists, dictionaries, tuples and sets, control flow, recursion, information hiding and encapsulation using classes and objects.
For a more detailed look into the course, you can view the syllabus here!
2. Building Interactive Web Applications for Data Analysis
Course Code: CSCI S-14A
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Asynchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
In this course, you will process data into a web application, understand both the front-end aesthetics, and the back-end functionality of your application. You will make use of Flask, a Python-based frameworks and D-3 visualization libraries for building your projects. An added bonus is that your projects will be uploaded to the cloud infrastructure.
Do note that you will be expected to have some familiarity with Python, basic data science concepts and experience with front-end development.
3. Intensive Introduction to Computer Science and Data Structures
Course Code: CSCI S-111
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Asynchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
This course covers foundational programming concepts and an exploration of fundamental data structures. The former is covered in the first half of the course where you will dive into topics such as data types, conditional execution, iteration and the key features of object-oriented programming and the manipulation of data stored in files and arrays.
The data structures that you will explore in this course include lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs and the implementation of these structures through array and linked based representations. You will also cover algorithms using these structures and learn techniques for deducing the efficiency of these algorithms.
The problem sets for this course use Java, and this course also covers similar topics required for the AP Computer Science A examination, but it will build your foundation by covering topics on data structures and algorithm analysis that would typically be covered in your second or third semester of a university computer science course.
4. Data Mining, Discovery, and Exploration
Course Code: CSCI S-108
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous or Online Asynchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
This course focuses on unsupervised and semi-supervised learning on scaling and computational efficiency of data mining algorithms. You can expect to use statistical and graph algorithms, alongside a variety of libraries in Python including Scikit-Learn, NetworkX, Neo4J, and Surprise.
By the end of the course, you can expect to have a thorough understanding of common data mining algorithms and their applications for real-world data, understand the limitations and alternatives of data mining algorithms, and apply methods to scale data mining algorithms for large datasets!
5. Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Course Code: STAT S-103
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous or Online Asynchronous or On Campus
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
If you are interested in both biology and data science, this course covers epidemiological studies and the study design, analyses and conclusions behind them. Your course work will involve a mix of textbooks, recent primary literature and a hands-on component such as R-statistical programming using data sets by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Throughout the course, you will explore key data science concepts such as regression analyses, measures of associations between exposure and risks, and confounders and effect modifiers.
6. Data Science: An Artificial Ecosystem
Course Code: STAT S-115
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
This course is unique as it introduces basic concepts in data science solely through articles published in Harvard Data Science Review. In particular, you will cover the evolutionary nature of data science, and the similarities between data science and artificial intelligence.
This course does not only cover data science concepts, it also covers the philosophical conceptualization of data or the use of data in addressing scientific replicability. In addition, you will also explore the cultural aspects of data science such as data privacy and individualized treatments.
If you’re interested in the conceptual background of data science and its implications for society, we recommend this course for you!
7. Introduction to Probability for Engineering and Data Science
Course Code: ENSC S-138
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
In this course, you can explore probability theory and statistics, however, you will learn it in context of their applications in both engineering and data science! The topics you will cover include random variables, distributions and densities, conditional expectations, statistical sampling and Markov chains. To go into more detail about the concepts covered, you can view the syllabus here.
Do note that these courses have the prerequisite of Math S-1a and Math S-1b or their equivalent so ensure you’re familiar and have the required knowledge to enroll in this course.
8. Introduction to Game Development
Course Code: CSCI S-23A
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
If you’re interested in game development, this course is an interesting exploration of iconic games such as Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon to understand the design choices behind the games and how video games are implemented.
Apart from your course instruction, you will have hands-on activities where you will explore the principles of 2D graphics, animation, sound and collision using the scripting language Lue, and the 2D game development framework LÖVE.
An added bonus is that by the end of the course, you would have developed several games of your own!
9. Introduction to Web Programming Using JavaScript
Course Code: CSCI S-3
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
Through this course, you will understand web development through the essential language and the runtime environments that are required to run modern web interfaces. In this course, you will develop a foundation in JavaScript through concepts such as conditionals, objects, scope and closures, Ajax, the DOM, and event handling.
Apart from the concepts, you will be expected to use libraries and frameworks such as jQuery and VueJS. The culmination of the course will result in you writing your own or extending existing JavaScript libraries, and building your own web applications!
10. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python
Course Code: CSCI S-80
Cost: $3,900 - $14,250 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline:
Early Application/ Priority Financial Aid - January 10, 2024
Regular Application/ Financial Aid - February 14, 2024
International Student Deadline - February 14, 2024
Late Application Deadline - April 10, 2024
Program Dates: June 22 - August 10, 2024
Participation Options: Online Synchronous
Eligibility:
Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.
If you are interested in Artificial Intelligence, this course offers an exploration into the concepts that developed technology such as game-playing engineers, handwriting recognition and machine translation!
The concepts you will explore include the theory behind graph search algorithms, classification, optimization, reinforcement learning and other topics that involve artificial intelligence and machine learning!
Do note that this course does have prerequisites such as CSCI S-50, CS50x, or at least 1 year of experience with Python.
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!
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