4 Summer Programs in Alaska for High Schoolers
Summer’s no sweat when you journey to Alaska! Check out this article for tips on programs to join once school lets out.
Do you need help finding and applying to summer programs? Our Mentorship Program helps students build their portfolios with the best activities.
Why Are Summer Programs Beneficial for High Schoolers?
For many, summer is the beacon of light on the horizon, a safe harbor after months of high school coursework. When June arrives, it can be tempting to relax. However, some of the best memories you’ll make in high school might be waiting for you in a summer program. Here are a few reasons we think applying to a summer experience is a great use of your time.
Get out of your comfort zone. By high school, many students learn how to get decent grades. Then, when they graduate, they realize that the real world doesn’t work the same way a classroom does. You can prepare for life beyond school by testing the waters at a summer program.
Explore new areas. So much of what the world has to offer is local––that is to say, you only learn about most phenomena by stepping outside your neighborhood. Summer programs offer a safe environment in which to explore a new college campus, patch of wilderness, city, or industry.
Look good for colleges. Schools expect you to use summer to continue exploring your interests. A lot of campuses will consider you more seriously if you attended one of their programs. If you are thinking of applying to college, a summer program can be a good first step towards building a strong extracurricular profile.
Which Programs Are Near Me, and How Do I Apply?
Brown Environmental Leadership Lab
Brown University
Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
Program Cost: $5,810
Application Deadline: March 25th
This two-week program is a great way to learn how you can be socially and environmentally responsible in your own neck of the woods. Learn more by visiting the program website.
Eligibility: All 9-11th grade students are encouraged to apply.
Ready to Apply? You can find the full application online. You will be asked to respond to these three essay prompts:
- What do you hope to learn in the program to which you are applying, and why is that program of interest to you?
- What areas of study are you interested in?
- What contributions do you hope to make in and outside of the classroom?
ANSEP Acceleration Academy
University of Alaska–Anchorage (UAA)
Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
Program Cost: $0
Application Deadline: March 1st
Spend five weeks diving into your future STEM degree on UAA’s campus. Learn more on the program website.
Eligibility: To apply, the minimum prerequisite is Intermediate Algebra, but preferred placement is Trigonometry and Calculus or higher.
Ready to Apply? You can find the full application online. You will be asked to write a 500 word response to the following essay prompt:
How do you plan to contribute to the future of Alaska?
Della Keats Health Sciences Summer Program
University of Alaska–Anchorage (UAA)
Grades: 11th
Program Cost: $0
Application Deadline: March 1st
In this intensive four-week course, you will take a tour of healthcare careers you can pursue at UAA. If making a lasting impact in medicine is your dream, visit the program website today to learn more.
Eligibility: Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Member of an ethnic minority background
- Resident of rural Alaska (off the road system)
- First Generation American
- First Generation College Attendee
- Non-native English speaker
- Member of a low-income household
Ready to Apply? You can find the full application online. You will be asked to respond to the following essay prompts in 150-200 words:
- Which health science/behavioral health profession do you most want to pursue? Briefly highlight your life experiences, talents, and personality traits that you feel would make this as a good career choice for you.
- Describe a health, behavioral or mental health problem you have observed in your community, and what do you think are some strategies that may be used to address this problem?
- Choose one person you have known that has had a large impact on how you live your life. Describe how that person influenced you.
- What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far?
- Why are you interested in attending the Della Keats Health Sciences or the Summer Research Program?
VISIONS | Service Adventures
Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
Program Cost: $5,850
Work and live at the base of the Wrangell Mountains in an Athabascan Native village. In this program, students will learn carpentry and power tool skills to participate in construction projects, ranging from home repair to wood shed building. You will live off the land and witness the beauty of Alaskan wilderness.
Ready to Apply? You can find the full application online. Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What made you choose a VISIONS program?
- What do you hope to gain from your experience?
- VISIONS programs can be challenging in terms of projects, group living, and being in a new place. What is something you might need to challenge yourself with this summer?
- Are there any physical or emotional concerns you have for yourself about participating in a program like VISIONS?
- What is something you feel you’d add to the group experience?
- Would you be coming by yourself or with a friend?
- Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or anything you would like to share at this time?
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