Summer Programs To Help Aid Your College Applications

It’s only fall, but applications close soon!

Thrive Scholars

• $500 stipend given to you each year for the first two years
• $1000 stipend given to you each year for the remaining four years (Total of $5000 after the whole program)
• Free laptop
• 45% of Thrive Scholars attend Ivy League+ Institutions (including UChicago, Stanford, MIT, and Duke)

• FREE Six year program detailing extensive college preparation and career support
• Junior Year Summer: 6 weeks at Amherst College, earn college prep, letters of recommendation, one on one counselors, summer classes
• Senior Year Summer: 6 weeks at Northwestern entailing college support

(Deadline: December 14)

Thrive Scholars Cont.

• 2 Year Summer Academies: Local academies based in LA and NY (well LA for us) that gives you all the benefits of Thrive but for only 2 Years!
• It will be hosted on USC’s campus

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LEDA Scholars

• FREE 6 year program of college and career support
• Writing instruction with College Professors
• ACT and SAT Prep Offered
• 7 Week Summer at Princeton University
• Historically, LEDA Scholars have a high acceptance rate into Princeton University

(Deadline: December 10)

USC Bovard Scholars

(Open October 2025, Deadline: January 16)

• All-expense paid 3-week summer program at USC detailing extensive college application preparation (One week virtual, two weeks in-person)
• Free SAT/ACT Test Prep
• Gain access to professional college counselors for a full year
• College Success and Leadership Development Workshops - explore careers, majors, and Financial Aid

• 94% of of Bovard Scholars have been awarded no-loan financial aid packages and scholarships covering full tuition
• 80% of Bovard Scholars are enrolled at a Top 30 university or liberal arts college, as ranked by US News and World Report.

Research Science Institute (RSI)

• Free research program hosted by MIT
• Take intensive STEM classes at MIT, conduct full research paper under experienced mentors and scientists, and then present it at an annual conference
• High school juniors are eligible
• Applications are not open yet

Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)

• Offered on Yale’s campus
• 2 weeks long, multiple sessions available
• NOT Free, though they offer financial aid and scholarships
• $80 application fee EA (Dec. 17, 2025), $95 RD (Mar. 15, 2026)
• *Full Financial Aid is available
• Lectures based on chosen academic focuses

MITES Summer

• Six-week, FREE on-campus program at MIT → meet people all over the country
• Take five rigorous, rewarding math, science, and humanities courses → gain a head start!
• Participate in lab tours and social events → hands-on experience!
• Benefit from college admissions → gain advice from professionals!
• Firsthand insights into STEM degrees and careers
• Application opens November 2025

Want to pursue a STEM field?

Gain hands on STEM experience?

Get a head start on rigorous courses?

MITES Semester

• FREE six-month hybrid learning STEM and college preparation experience
• Starts in June and ends in December
• Engaging rigorous online courses and weekly virtual webinars
• Live and online during evenings
• In-depth college prep such as essay review, mock interviews, etc
• Engage with admission counselors
• Each student will receive a written evaluation from their instructor at the end
• Must be a high school junior
• Due February 1

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Summer Science Program (SSP)

• Rigorous 5-week residential summer hands-on research experience
• Engage in advanced research in astrophysics, biochemistry, or synthetic chemistry while living on a college campus
• PAID PROGRAM (financial aid available)
• Application TBD, typically opens mid-December and closes mid-late Feb.

Carnegie Mellon Summer Academy for Math and Sciences

• Must be a junior in high school and at least 16 years old
• Need to demonstrate strong interest in STEM

• FREE 6 week program allowing students to develop a deeper understanding of STEM
• Part 1: virtual jumpstart focusing on skill-building
• Part 2: Scholars will be in courses and meetings for full days during the time

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Questbridge College Prep Scholars

• Must be a high school junior
• Earning primarily A’s in most challenging courses offered (avg. GPA: 3.93)
• Preferably low-income and first-generation, but Questbridge will consider your application in context
• Receive guidance and resources
• Opportunity to attend highly selective summer programs for FREE!
• College Prep Scholars are six times more likely to become a Questbridge finalist and Match!
• Application opens early February

Bank of America Student Leaders

• Eight-week paid summer internship with local non profits
• 35 hours a week
• Gain early work experience and leadership skills
• Summit in Washington, DC -> all expenses paid
• Open to juniors and seniors
• Expected to open late Fall-Winter 2025

What should you do?

Ask early for your recommenders! Once you ask, it’s out of the way.

Request your transcript through Powerschool.

Which programs do you want to do? College prep or academic focus?

List out all extracurriculars and awards. Send these to your recommenders

Start early to get feedback and keep revising. Also, REUSE

Take the SAT/ACT, and if you don’t score well, it doesn’t matter.

Decide/Plan

Ask for LOR

Get Transcript

Make a resume

Start essays

Test! (It’s okay if you don’t)

Follow @ahsapambassadors on Instagram