2021 Summer Programs with February Application Deadlines
Elton Lin
As we mentioned in our recent article about 2021 Summer Programs with January Application Deadlines, summer program deadlines are fast approaching with the turn of the new year. Summer programs are prime opportunities for students to challenge themselves and delve more deeply into their interests without the stress of the academic year, and with so many accomplished students vying for a spot, these summer programs usually require applications. Though it may still be winter, many applications for competitive summer programs, with all of their supplementary material and requirements, close in February. Take a look at these programs with upcoming February deadlines, and perhaps you'll find a summer opportunity here that your student won't want to miss:
The UPenn Wharton Management and Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) is a rigorous business and technology summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors. As the program is partnered with Penn Engineering and the Wharton School, the M&TSI offers students tutelage under both UPenn faculty and current leading entrepreneurs. For three weeks, students attend engaging classes, visit companies and their R&D facilities, work on a prototyping project with their like-minded peers, and receive expert feedback, all in the name of further pursuing the intersection between business and technology. Priority deadlines for M&TSI’s residential summer program applications are February 26th.
COSMOS, or the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, is a prestigious four-week summer residential program for accomplished students from eighth to twelfth grade with a particular interest in professional or academic STEM careers. COSMOS challenges students beyond the STEM material they learn in their high school classrooms, with hands-on lab work and expert tutelage. Students apply to one of four of the University of California’s COSMOS campuses—UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz—and only about 160-200 students are accepted to each. COSMOS also plans for its Summer 2021 session to be entirely online due to COVID-19. Applications, which require registration, are due February 19th.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a highly competitive seven-week paid summer research program that accepts only 12 students (rising high school juniors and seniors) every year. These select few students receive the opportunity to conduct hands-on research with leading experts and university faculty on and gain research opportunities in all of the University’s academic research fields of study. Students are given room and board, a $500 meal card, and, after successful completing their project report, a whopping $750 tax-free stipend. Applications are due February 8th.
The Lillehei Heart Institute (LHI) Summer Research Scholar program offers prestigious summer scholarships for ten weeks of cardiovascular disease research to high school juniors, seniors, and undergraduate students. The LHI aims to give highly qualified students the opportunity to delve into intensive basic or clinical research in a laboratory setting under expert mentorship, receiving an hourly stipend. These scholarships also allow students to go on field trips and attend seminars to explore various aspects of clinical, industrial, and academic medicine, all meant to open the door to future careers in medicine and cardiovascular science. Applications are due February 1st.
Stanford Clinical Summer Internships offers two to three weeks of invaluable hands-on clinical experience to high school and pre-med undergraduate students. Activities include simulations of real medical cases, visits to actual emergency rooms and clinics, guided dissections and sessions with medical experts and medical school admissions officers, all of which create a transformative experience for its select few medically-minded students. Stanford CSI offers two separate summer sessions every year and is to be held virtually in Summer 2021 after great online success in 2020. Applications are due February 21st.
The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is a highly prestigious and selective pre-professional summer program for artists in all fields, including visual arts, animation, dance, film, music, theater, and creative writing. Not only do students hone their craft over the course of these four weeks under professional artists, but they do so in an environment with passionate peers and interdisciplinary collaborations. Graduates of CSSSA are officially named California Arts Scholars and they join the ranks of other prolific CSSSA graduates (including Zac Efron and Alex Hirsch) and gain many professional opportunities at places such as Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar for animation students. Applications are due February 26th.
These February deadlines are just around the corner, so if any of these summer programs have sparked your interest, it's time to get started on those applications! You'll be one step closer to a valuable, fulfilling summer experience. For other specific topics or suggestions, feel free to request a free consultation for some thoughts about summer programs.