Jumpstart Your Summer: 10 Programs with Fall and Winter Deadlines

Summer can seem far away on the horizon, but for many high school students, now is the time to start planning to make the most of those sunny months ahead. Getting a jump start on summer program research and applications is key, as popular programs can fill up fast and early deadlines come sooner than you may think. To get your summer planning underway, here are 8 enriching program examples that all have application deadlines in the fall or early winter.



Carleton College: Summer Liberal Arts Institute Pre-College Programs: Storytelling

The Storytelling Through Different Lenses program at Carleton College’s Summer Liberal Arts Institute is a three-week exploration of storytelling from the perspectives of cognitive psychology, American studies, creative writing, and film music. Students examine how and why humans create stories, how stories shape understanding, and what makes a story effective. Using Star Wars: A New Hope as a central text, participants analyze storytelling techniques and consider how narratives are formed from visual, auditory, and experiential cues. Led by Carleton faculty, this immersive program combines academic rigor with creative practice to deepen students' storytelling skills. It’s open to high school students eager to understand storytelling's impact on human perception and community.


Applications open in December, with a deadline of February 3, 2025.


MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP)

The MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP) is a four-week summer program designed to introduce high school rising seniors, particularly those with little or no engineering background, to the field of mechanical engineering. This rigorous, residential experience focuses on hands-on learning through classes, labs, and team-based projects, all taught by MIT graduate and undergraduate students. WTP is specifically aimed at students who are underrepresented in engineering, including those from underserved communities or schools with limited STEM resources. The program encourages applications from students unsure of their future studies, providing an opportunity to explore engineering in a supportive and collaborative environment. With an applicant pool of top math and science students, only 20 participants are selected for this unique academic experience.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 15, 2025.


Carnegie Mellon University: Pre-College Summer Programs - Drama

Carnegie Mellon University's Pre-College Drama is an intensive 6-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors seeking training in theater performance, production, and design. Students focus on developing skills for college auditions and interviews through coursework taught by CMU faculty, including classes in acting, technical theater, and music theater. The rigorous curriculum aims to simulate the experience of pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with participants attending classes for 8 hours per day and participating in workshops, lectures, and projects. Students live on campus and can choose to concentrate their studies in acting, design/production, or musical theater.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of February 1, 2025.



Imagine Cup

The Imagine Cup is a premier global competition for student entrepreneurs, inviting teams to create tech solutions that tackle pressing real-world challenges. Hosted by Microsoft, the program empowers students to harness AI on the Microsoft Cloud while competing for a grand prize of $100,000 USD and a mentorship with CEO Satya Nadella. Participants can choose from key areas like health, education, and sustainability, gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools and expert mentorship. The program’s multi-phase structure supports students as they move from idea to market-ready product, with added benefits like networking events and community support.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of December 31, 2024.


University of Michigan: Ross Summer Business Academy

The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week pre-college program designed for rising high school seniors to explore the world of business at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Participants engage in hands-on learning, gaining insights into business operations and problem-solving, while exploring potential career paths. The program offers an authentic college experience, with classes, workshops, field trips, and networking opportunities with faculty and industry experts. Through collaborative projects and action-based learning, students develop key leadership and teamwork skills. Scholarships are available, making this opportunity accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 21, 2025.


Barnard College: The NextGen Leadership Institute

The NextGen Leadership Institute is a 3-week summer pre-college program at Barnard College for high school students to explore leadership through a feminist lens. Students take courses in one of seven tracks like STEM, writing, political science, and art and design workshops focused on developing leadership skills. The program includes field trips, projects, and opportunities to meet women leaders, aiming to help students gain confidence and skills to pursue careers in today’s workforce. By embracing the relationship between gender and leadership, the institute pushes students in new directions to become trailblazing leaders.

Applications are open now, with a deadline of February 10, 2025.



University of Pennsylvania: Wharton MoneyBall Academy

The Wharton Moneyball Academy is a three-week summer program at the University of Pennsylvania where rising high school juniors and seniors dive into sports analytics. Sponsored by the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, the program focuses on using data for sports-related decision-making and teaches advanced statistical concepts beyond typical high school courses. Students learn to code in R and analyze sports data similarly to methods seen in platforms like FiveThirtyEight and Fangraphs. The curriculum includes networking opportunities, guest speakers from the sports industry, and exposure to real-world applications. Graduates earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate, recognizing their expertise in data-driven sports analytics.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 29, 2025


Boston University Tanglewood Institute

The Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) is an intensive summer music program in Lenox, Massachusetts for musicians ages 14-20 seeking premium training. Its special relationship with the Boston Symphony Orchestra allows students to learn from world-class professionals while immersed in the Berkshires arts community. Through masterclasses, private lessons, and performances with faculty from prominent music schools, BUTI provides young musicians with unparalleled growth opportunities near the summer home of the BSO. The program focuses on intensive instruction and experiential learning for talented youth seeking to develop their musical abilities.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 17, 2025


Lewis & Clark: Fir Acres Writing Workshop 

The Fir Acres Writing Workshop is a two-week residential creative writing program for high school students, held on the scenic Lewis & Clark College campus in Portland, Oregon. Sixty students from across the country gather to explore poetry, fiction, and creative prose, guided by experienced, published faculty in daily workshops. Evenings feature social gatherings, readings, and opportunities to engage with visiting writers from the college’s distinguished Visiting Writers Series. The program seeks to inspire young writers with an immersive, pre-collegiate experience that emphasizes creativity and connection in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of January 1, 2025.


FBI: Youth Leadership Program
The FBI National Academy Associates’ Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is an intensive, eight-day leadership experience for high school sophomores and juniors, aiming to develop socially conscious and service-minded leaders. This program, hosted by a nonprofit law enforcement network, offers free, competitive entry to 62 selected students from across the U.S. and international locations. The curriculum includes courses on ethical leadership, time management, fitness, and resiliency, along with practical sessions on firearms safety and social media awareness. Participants are nominated by their local FBINAA chapters based on high academic standards and demonstrated good citizenship. The program culminates in a graduation ceremony, where students leave with new skills and connections to positively impact their communities.

Applications open in late November, with a deadline of February 3, 2025


Lehigh University: Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive

The Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive (IGEI) is a four-week summer program at Lehigh University, designed for high school students to develop skills in entrepreneurship, business, leadership, and intercultural understanding. Through immersive, hands-on learning, participants tackle complex global challenges in collaborative teams, learning to innovate and problem-solve in diverse cultural contexts. The program emphasizes teamwork, encouraging students to leverage each other's strengths toward shared goals rather than individual accolades. Students gain practical experience in entrepreneurship by exploring real-world needs and solutions that can benefit communities globally. Open to U.S. and international students aged 15-17, IGEI fosters globally minded leaders ready to drive meaningful change.


Applications are open now, with a deadline of February 14, 2025.



Share by: