Summer is the highest-leverage time on a student's calendar. A focused summer program lets you go deep on a subject, live on a college campus, and produce something tangible while school is out. Pennsylvania spans the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon, plus strong healthcare and tech hubs in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Options include selective pre-college programs at universities, STEM intensives like SSP and COSMOS, arts and writing institutes, and free, fully funded programs for students with financial need.

How you spend your summers tells colleges what you choose to do with unstructured time — a powerful indicator of genuine interest.

How to get started with summer programs

1. Start in the fall — the best summer programs have December–February deadlines for the following summer.
2. Prioritize selective, free or aid-supported programs (SSP, MITES, COSMOS, TASS) over pay-to-play enrichment.
3. Pick programs that go deep on one interest and produce something tangible — a project, portfolio, or paper.
4. Line up recommendations early and give teachers three weeks' notice with a short brag sheet.
5. Have a strong plan B: a local research reach-out, a self-directed project, or a virtual program you can run yourself.

Featured programs

Browse 10+ curated programs for high school students:

• Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences — PA PGSS: Transform your STEM skills with this free, 5-week summer program at Carnegie Mellon. Gain hands-on experience and boost your college applications thro
• UPenn Summer Academies — UPenn: Transform your summer with a 3-week in-person program exploring business, STEM, or medicine. Gain hands-on experience to boost skills and strengthen c
• Carnegie Mellon Architecture Pre-College — Carnegie Mellon University: Architecture program at CMU featuring studio-based learning. Design projects, digital fabrication, and portfolio development at top architecture schoo
• CMU Drama Pre-College — Carnegie Mellon University: Drama program at CMU's top-ranked School of Drama. Conservatory-style training in acting and production.
• Carnegie Mellon National High School Game Academy — Carnegie Mellon University: Game design and programming intensive at CMU. Learn game development from CMU faculty.
• University of Pennsylvania Management & Technology Summer Institute — University of Pennsylvania: Combined Wharton business and Penn Engineering program. Interdisciplinary summer experience at Penn.
• Penn Summer Academies in Biomedical Research — University of Pennsylvania: Immerse in a 3-week in-person biomedical research summer program at Penn. Gain hands-on lab experience, enhance STEM skills, and boost your college ap
• Wharton Summer High School Program — University of Pennsylvania: Master business fundamentals in Wharton's summer program for grades 10-11. Build skills in marketing, finance, and management to boost college applica
• LBW (Leadership in Business World) — Wharton School - UPenn: Elevate your leadership and business skills in this Wharton summer program for grades 10-11. Gain hands-on experience, build your resume, and excel in
• Alpha Workshop for Young Writers — Alpha Workshop for Young Writers: Selective residential workshop for 20 science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers ages 14-19 at Pitt-Greensburg each July; admission is judged anonym

Frequently asked questions