Columbia University pre-college has some good programs, in person or online.

TASS
MITES
Telluride

Another DCUM thread on this subject
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1113902.page

US News
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/exploring-pre-college-summer-programs-for-teens


Yale Young Global Scholars (competitive admission process)
This academic and leadership program at Yale University brings together more than 2,000 students from 150 countries and all 50 U.S. states to tackle interdisciplinary topics through international perspectives.


UCSB (competitive admission process)
https://www.summer.ucsb.edu/registration/type-of-student/high-school-students

https://www.summer.ucsb.edu/programs/research-mentorship-program/overview

https://www.summer.ucsb.edu/programs/summer-research-academies/overview


Wharton Business School
Global youth summer program for HS students
https://globalyouth.wharton.upenn.edu/why-wharton-global-youth/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SearchGlobalYouthProgram&utm_content=general&utm_term=(keyword%7D&gad_source=1


Oxford (England)
https://oxfordsummercourses.com/?utm_term=summer%20school%20programs&utm_campaign=Oxford+Summer+Courses_Google+Ads+Search_US_Tier_1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD5HHvpqPr5EZMM73TBQWR778WMGg



The National Student Leadership Conference - immersive pre-college experiences for MS and HS students
https://www.nslcleaders.org/?gad_source=1


Georgetown
https://summer.georgetown.edu


Rice University
https://discover.worldstrides.com/rice-elite-tech-2024/?camp_src_id=RETK-12426&utm_campaign=retfy24&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_content=rsa_non_virtual&cp_adgroup=summerprogram&utm_term=academic%20summer%20camps&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=691318357173&utm_term=academic%20summer%20camps&utm_network=g&utm_placement=&utm_adposition=&utm_phone=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADHXlLxzV8V7Mdxxcv1atuAcH28dT



Many many more

there are many legit programs that also have a high cost unfortunately. you can't dispute quality of program/viability just because it costs $2-3 K. that's usually to cover the faculty, room & board.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is interested in singing or theater, I highly recommend the summer program at Oklahoma City University -- Kristin Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU. The program is run by the director of opera and musical theater, and for the Ultimate Summer Experience, they do a full length musical. The students come away with SO MANY skills. It is the best program. My DD attended that and one at Carnegie Mellon, and OCU blew CMU away in terms of skills.

Yet, another pay to play.
TOTAL COST for 3 weeks:
$4,800

Sure, but it's a legitimate program. You are paying to stay on campus for 5 weeks and eat in the cafeteria, among other things. You also spend more than 8 hours a day training and in rehearsal.

+1 OCU is legit and noteworthy in the field

TASS

Many highly prestigious and selective programs have associated fees; simply having a cost doesn't make it "pay to play." The distinction is whether any student who can pay is accepted, as opposed to there being a rigorous selection process.

In science, some of the well regarded and highly selective options include Summer Science Program, Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics, Research Science Institute, and Boston University RISE. These can be incredible experiences for very talented and motivated kids, allowing them to push their limits and enjoy collaborating with like-minded peers.

Depends on the field.

In history, WM NIAHD is the real deal. In foreign language, a college with a state department critical language institute, like IU Bloomington, Brwyn Mar, Arizona or Middlebury (Midd is multiples the cost though). Pitt also is som goo things with summer language. I had a kid do each and the programs excellent— and in both cases taught by university faculty.

I wouldn’t send a kid to one of these programs as a leg up in admissions though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your child is interested in singing or theater, I highly recommend the summer program at Oklahoma City University -- Kristin Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU. The program is run by the director of opera and musical theater, and for the Ultimate Summer Experience, they do a full length musical. The students come away with SO MANY skills. It is the best program. My DD attended that and one at Carnegie Mellon, and OCU blew CMU away in terms of skills.

Yet, another pay to play.
TOTAL COST for 3 weeks:
$4,800

Sure, but it's a legitimate program. You are paying to stay on campus for 5 weeks and eat in the cafeteria, among other things. You also spend more than 8 hours a day training and in rehearsal.

Anonymous wrote:If your child is interested in singing or theater, I highly recommend the summer program at Oklahoma City University -- Kristin Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU. The program is run by the director of opera and musical theater, and for the Ultimate Summer Experience, they do a full length musical. The students come away with SO MANY skills. It is the best program. My DD attended that and one at Carnegie Mellon, and OCU blew CMU away in terms of skills.

Yet, another pay to play.
TOTAL COST for 3 weeks:
$4,800

If your child is interested in singing or theater, I highly recommend the summer program at Oklahoma City University -- Kristin Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU. The program is run by the director of opera and musical theater, and for the Ultimate Summer Experience, they do a full length musical. The students come away with SO MANY skills. It is the best program. My DD attended that and one at Carnegie Mellon, and OCU blew CMU away in terms of skills.

Any no tuition, no fee, no nothing program is worth more than pay-to-play summer programs. Some of these have acceptance rate lower than Harvard, Princeton , Columbia. If your kid gets it, high chance Harvard, Princeton, Columbia will take him or her.

Keep in mind that these programs are a good way to get a taste of a quasi-college experience, and/or to test-drive a particular school’s facilities. They have absolutely no bearing on admissions decisions for that school, or a similar school.

TL;DR: Just because you paid for your kid to live at Harvard for two weeks, doesn’t mean they will be henceforth be seen as “Harvard material.”

What is your kid interesting in studying, credit/non-credit, and how much are you willing to spend?

My kid attended Syracuse pre-college program and enjoyed it. They were considering Syracuse for their college list so it was a good opportunity to experience the school and try out their potential area of study.

As we are ramping up with college research we've come across a handful of universities with pre-college high school programs.

I would love if we could compile a list of recommendations.