The right plan makes all the difference in successful summer program admissions
When I first met Valeri last October, she was very frustrated. She’d been rejected from COSMOS and a few other summer programs she’d applied to in her freshman year. Looking ahead to sophomore summer, she was unsure how to proceed.
What a perfect scenario for the Blue Stars team! We love cool puzzles like finding the perfect summer programs for a student interested in neuroscience, Alzheimer’s research, and computer programming. Once we helped Valeri define a best-fit list of programs – consulting our database of over 500 programs – we next mentored her on application strategy and crafting essays that convey her unique interests and experiences.
The result? Valeri was accepted to all three programs she applied to: The Bioengineering Summer High School Internship Program at UCSD (BE-SHIP), the Neuroscape Internship at UCSF, and COSMOS!
Choosing BE-SHIP, Valeri had a blast working in a lab focused on synthetic biology and regenerative medicine. She’s now continuing her research during the school year. She’ll certainly receive extra attention from admissions readers at top schools for this advanced pre-college work.
By working with a mentor on her summer applications, besides these great results, Valeri gained valuable life skills most teens don’t learn in high school:
- Identifying her interests and matching them with opportunities outside of the classroom
- Writing a “mini-memoir” personal essay in her own authentic voice
- Managing her time while working on a large, complicated project
Applying to summer programs is the perfect way to practice in advance what it is like to apply to college. Attending summer programs next leads to amazing growth experiences and more clarity about possible future majors and careers.
To make your life easier, I’ve located my 10 favorites below. I’ve also included a short list of ultra-competitive programs at the end of the post. I hope this gives you new ideas for helping your teen plan for a summer that contributes to both personal growth and admissions success!
Dr. M’s 10 Favorite Summer Programs
An extra list of ultra-competitive programs
If your teen is laser focused on scientific research and/or is hoping to attend an elite school in a STEM subject, here is a list of some of the most competitive summer programs in the country.
Be sure to also check out this in-depth article on the Best Art Schools In The World. It’s an advanced and updated guide with more than 2,500+ words and with more than 35+ universities to pick from.
Interested in learning more about our services? Contact us or schedule a free meeting with a Blue Stars counselor now!
Resources to help teens and their families navigate the college admission process
Our collection of stories, interviews, and tips provides insight and strategies to navigate the complex college planning and application process.
Learn, be inspired, and cultivate personal growth. From campus tours to interviews with former Blue Start students, choose the video that resonates with your personal journey.
Join us in our next webinar about college prep and other college related themes.
Free Workbook for Students
Start today! Go through these strategic exercises to help you sketch out your plans for all four years of high school.
- Learn key traits important to top colleges.
- Write your first personal narrative
- Branch out, exploring interests and defining activities.
- Set goals and create your 4-year college planning timeline.

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