Competitive Summer Program Deadlines

If you're a 9th, 10th, or 11th grade student, have you thought about your plans for the summer? It may seem to too early to think about the summer, but if you're interested in applying to competitive summer programs, application deadlines can be as early as December!

For example, MIT's prestigious Research Science Institute is now accepting applications until December 11th from domestic and international students who are in 11th grade. 

Not all programs are competitive, however, and the majority of summer program applications are due between February and April. 

When searching for summer programs, the important question to ask is: how will this program help me develop the skills and knowledge I need for completing an academic capstone project? 

We recommend that students build up a portfolio of activities over the years, starting in 9th grade and culminating in an academic capstone project the summer after 11th grade.

During college applications, the academic capstone project carries a lot of weight. It's used to answer essay questions such as "Why do you want to attend our university?" It's also useful to talk about in a college interview, a resume, and recommendation letters.

So if you haven't started thinking about summer programs yet, start brainstorming today!