15 Summer Programs in Tennessee for High Schoolers
What’s Covered:
Wondering how you will spend your summer? Summer programs—also sometimes called pre-college programs—offer an excellent solution. Summer programs allow high schoolers to explore their passions, experience college firsthand, and learn new skills. There are summer programs for just about every grade level and area of interest, so you’re bound to find something that suits you.
We’ve rounded up 15 summer programs in Tennessee to help you find a program that suits your unique interests and goals.
15 Summer Programs in Tennessee
1. Design Matters! Camp: Big Orange and Big Design
There is no previous design experience needed for this immersive design experience. Students will apply design skills to challenging activities, take field trips to draw inspiration and practice their design interpretation skills, and visit the innovative Fab Lab to see how college students study and explore design.
Affiliate College: The University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $875-$1,075
Deadline: N/A
2. Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy
This five-day immersive experience provides underrepresented students with an introduction to accounting and the different careers available in accounting. They’ll meet with a diverse group of business professionals to get insight into the field and even receive some college prep.
Affiliate College: The University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Grades: 10th only
Cost: Free
Deadline: 3/31/22
Additional requirements:
- Transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Essay
3. Business Education for Talented Students (BETS) Program
Underrepresented students learn about various business fields during this ten-day residential program. Participants will meet with local business professionals and work in teams to prepare and present a project simulating a real business venture. They’ll also get to experience college firsthand and gain insight from faculty and students about college life.
Affiliate College: The University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Grades: 11th only
Cost: Free
Deadline: 3/31/22
Additional requirements:
- Transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Essay
4. Women Empowered through Business (WEB Institute)
This summer program is aimed at underrepresented female high school sophomores and is designed to introduce them to fields in both technology and business. Topics covered over the program’s five days include coding, computer technology, entrepreneurship, personal branding, supply chain management, business analytics, and professional development.
Affiliate College: The University of Tennessee—Knoxville
Grades: 10th only
Cost: Free
Deadline: 3/31/22
Additional requirements:
- Transcript
- Counselor recommendation
- Essay
5. Vanderbilt Summer Academy | Astrophysics
If you’re fascinated by our galaxy and the universe beyond, then this is the course for you! Program participants construct a research question and use computer models to test their hypotheses before gathering observational data to see how accurate the model predictions were.
Affiliate College: Vanderbilt University
Grades: 9th and 10th
Cost: $3,500
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements: Test score at, or above, the 90th percentile for their age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment or any other nationally normed standardized assessment
6. The Force and Literary Criticism: When Darth Vader meets Stanley Fish
Participants in this interesting summer program explore the Star Wars movies and the influence and impact they’ve had since their first release more than four decades ago. Students will look at the saga through the eyes of a scholar and apply a variety of traditional and emerging theories in literary criticism to them—ultimately developing their analytical skills and shaping their view of this extremely important piece of pop culture.
Affiliate College: Vanderbilt University
Grades: 9th and 10th
Cost: $3,500
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements: Test score at, or above, the 90th percentile for their age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment or any other nationally normed standardized assessment
7. Vanderbilt Summer Academy | Exploring Music City: Fandom and the Making of Nashville
Vanderbilt Summer Academy’s Exploring Music City: Fandom and the Making of Nashville is perfect for any student interested in the history and performativity of Nashville’s music scene. Over two weeks, participants will learn the basics of ethnographic research methodology through an immersive experience that includes guest lecturers and class trips to important musical sites throughout the city.
Affiliate College: Vanderbilt University
Grades: 11th and 12th
Cost: $3,500
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements: Test score at, or above, the 90th percentile for their age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment or any other nationally normed standardized assessment
8. Vanderbilt Summer Academy | Med School 101
Rising juniors and seniors with an interest in attending medical school will want to look into this compelling two-week-long course taught by a team of Vanderbilt medical students. Participants will gain firsthand experience in the coursework undertaken by med school students, using many of the same computer and virtual medical simulations to analyze and diagnose real medical case studies.
Affiliate College: Vanderbilt University
Grades: 11th and 12th
Cost: $3,500
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements:
- Transcript
- Completed biology and chemistry
- Test score at, or above, the 90th percentile for their age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment or any other nationally normed standardized assessment
9. Vanderbilt Summer Academy | Introduction to Legal Studies: A Crash Course in Law
This summer program explores the foundational topics that are generally at the core of a first-year law school curriculum, including criminal law, torts, contracts, property, and constitutional law. By the end of this one-week course, participants will have a better understanding of how the law impacts our lives on a day-to-day basis and how to think like a lawyer.
Affiliate College: Vanderbilt University
Grades: 11th and 12th
Cost: $1,875
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements: Test score at, or above, the 90th percentile for their age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment or any other nationally normed standardized assessment
10. Summer Winds Band Camp
This one-week intensive musical summer program is open to students who play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Students participate in ensemble rehearsals, chamber music sessions, and take master class lessons for their instruments. Master classes are taught by Belmont faculty, giving students the same personalized attention they would receive if they were a music major.
Affiliate College: Belmont University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $400-$700
Deadline: N/A
11. String Crossings Camp
Students who play the violin, viola, cello, or string bass have the opportunity to study several musical genres while they rehearse in orchestra and small ensembles of their choice. They’ll master improvisation techniques, learn to “comp” like a pro, and learn what it’s like to be a string student in college.
Affiliate College: Belmont University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $550-$850
Deadline: N/A
12. Summer Vocal Arts Intensive
Students will dive deep into vocal performance as both soloists and chorus members in this week-long intensive. They’ll participate in master classes and can choose a small ensemble in Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, A Capella Choir, Pop/Rock Ensemble, or Musical Theatre. By the end of the week, participants will master both classical and commercial singing styles.
Affiliate College: Belmont University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $400-$700
Deadline: N/A
Additional requirements: One-minute video audition
13. Belmont Piano Invitational
This six-day residential program lets talented pianists specialize in either classical or jazz piano. In addition to group lessons and master classes, students will develop their sight-reading skills, learn music theory, and practice their improvisational skills.
Affiliate College: Belmont University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $600-$800
Deadline: N/A
14. ENGAGE Youth Theology Initiative
This week-long initiative introduces students to how they can combine the Christian religion with leadership to make the world a better place. Students will explore what racial justice and healing would look like, the interconnected history of the Church and the Civil Rights Movement, and how they can become Christian leaders for social good.
Affiliate College: Lipscomb University
Grades: 10th, 11th, and 12th
Cost: $900
Deadline: 5/15/22
Additional requirements: Transcript and minimum 3.0 GPA
15. Lipscomb Summer Scholars
This ten-day summer program provides participants with a firsthand college experience as they tackle real university coursework, meet students from across the country, and explore one of the country’s most vibrant cities: Nashville. Students accepted into the Summer Scholars program are guaranteed admission to Lipscomb University and earn three hours of college credit at the completion of the program.
Affiliate College: Lipscomb University
Grades: 12th
Cost: $900
Deadline: 5/1/22
Additional requirements:
- Minimum SAT/ACT score of 1160/ 24
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Transcript
How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Summer programs have a varying degree of influence on your chances of getting accepted into college. Everything from the prestige of the summer program to the value a school places on extracurriculars—like summer programs—can affect how much sway they have on your college odds.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities are useful for better understanding how colleges value participation in summer programs. Tiers one and two are where summer programs that are held in high esteem, very selective, and not commonly seen by admissions officers are placed. These attention-grabbing extracurricular activities hold a significant amount of weight with most colleges and are likely to boost your admission odds.
Tier-three and tier-four activities are less impressive and more often seen by admissions officers; consequently, they don’t hold the same value as higher-tiered summer programs. That said, lower-tier summer programs often are a boon to a college-bound high schooler’s chances of college admission. For example, they often contain a college-readiness component and build skills that colleges desire, like critical thinking and communication, while also demonstrating a dedication to learning.
Curious about the effect extracurricular activities have on your chances of college admission? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.
