10 Summer Programs in Texas for High Schoolers
What’s Covered:
You don’t mess with Texas is a popular saying in the Lone Star state and certainly holds a kernel of truth when talking about its summer programs for high schoolers. Offerings include everything from STEM-focused courses at some of the largest universities in the U.S. to hands-on, high-tech-focused courses at colleges that are among the most prestigious in the nation.
Keep reading to learn about ten great high school summer programs in Texas.
10 Summer Programs in Texas for High Schoolers
1. McCombs Six-Day Experiences
This excellent six-day residential summer program gives rising high school juniors and seniors a glimpse at college life—living on campus, interacting with faculty, and meeting like-minded peers. The program is aimed at outstanding African-American, Latino, Native American, and first-generation students, along with students who have overcome social or economic hardships. That said, all students are welcome to apply.
Affiliate College: University of Texas at Austin
Grades: 11th and 12th
Cost: Free
Deadline: 4/1/22
Application requirements:
- Transcript
- Letter of recommendation
- Essay(s)
2. High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Participants in this science-based summer program will gain first-hand research experience working in the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Natural Sciences laboratories alongside its faculty and students. Research projects cover fields that include biochemistry, biology, environmental science, genetics, neuroscience, genome engineering, data analytics, and ecology. Participants are awarded course credit at the end of this five-week immersive experience.
Affiliate College: University of Texas at Austin
Grades: 10th, 11th, and 12th
Cost: $3,500
Deadline: 3/20/22
Application requirements: Essay
3. Advancing Into STEM
The perfect summer program for high schoolers with an interest in STEM, participants in this week-long residential program tackle areas like discrete mathematics topics, statistics, coding, atmospheric science, rockets, and engineering design. They’ll also make time to prepare for the reading and mathematics sections of the SAT.
Affiliate College: Texas A&M University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $1,499
Deadline: 3/14/22
Application requirements:
- Essay
- Transcript or letter of recommendation
- Completed algebra 1 and biology and/or physics (recommended)
4. Honors Camp
Deep dive STEM topics like discrete mathematics, statistics, coding, atmospheric science, aerospace (rockets and drones), and engineering design while also preparing for standardized tests at this incredible two-week summer program. Participants are also given the opportunity to work alongside university researchers and their teams, giving them direct experience with the research process and a deeper understanding of what to expect from college STEM programs. This is a very competitive program—in 2021, its acceptance rate was just 31% and in 2020 its acceptance rate was a scant 18%.
Affiliate College: Texas A&M University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $2,599
Deadline: 3/14/22
Application requirements:
- Transcript
- Essay
- Letter of recommendation
- Standardized test scores
- Completion of algebra II, pre-calculus, biology, and physics (recommended)
5. Aerospace & Aviation Academy
This summer program is aimed at students with their heads in the clouds. That is, those with an interest in aviation and aerospace. Over the program’s two weeks, participants stay on Rice University’s campus and experience a slice of college life while hearing from the school’s renowned faculty, government space scientists, representatives from NASA, and a former NASA astronaut. Another highlight of the program is the chance to design, prototype, revise, and launch a satellite that will collect information that participants will analyze.
Affiliate College: Rice University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $5,595
Deadline: N/A
Application requirements:
- Essays
- Letter of recommendation
6. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
These week-long summer camps are tailored to teach college-level engineering curriculum to high school students, while also improving college readiness and building leadership skills. Participants engage in a variety of STEM-based activities and learn to solve real-world problems through the engineering design process. Topics covered include machine learning, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, data science, 3D printing, deep learning, and data analytics.
Affiliate College: Rice University
Grades: 8th-11th
Cost: $1,495-$3,495
Deadline: N/A
7. Schieffer Summer Journalism Camp
This two-week residential program is designed to instill the fundamentals of digital reporting in its participants—learning how to generate story ideas, develop them, and turn them into content for newscasts and websites. Over the course of the program, students will build their critical thinking and writing skills, and meet professionals working in the Dallas/Fort Worth media to learn about careers in the field.
Affiliate College: Texas Christian University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $2,000
Deadline: N/A
Application requirements:
- Essay
- Letter of recommendation
8. TCU Neeley Analytics Academy
This great summer program helps participants understand how companies like Amazon know what you want to buy and why your social media features products you’re interested in purchasing. During this one-week residential experience, students will hone their data analytics and market research skills, and discover how businesses use those skills to improve profitability. Students will live on TCU’s campus and learn from its esteemed business school faculty, giving them valuable insight into college life.
Affiliate College: Texas Christian University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $1,500
Deadline: 4/30/22
Application requirements:
- Transcript
- Personal statement
- Teacher recommendation
9. TCU Band Camp
TCU Band Camp offers a few interesting tracks for high school musicians, including:
- Music and leadership: combines paying in large ensembles and masterclasses with leadership training
- Color guard: focused on all aspects of color guard, from technique to performance skills
- Drum major: build drum major-specific skills like conducting and vocal commands while also containing a leadership component
These summer camps leave participants prepared for success in marching band, concert band, solo, and chamber music.
Affiliate College: Texas Christian University
Grades: 9th-12th
Cost: $325-$595
Deadline: N/A
10. Story Lines
Participants in this course dig into what makes a captivating story as they explore the content and meanings of short stories and films. Similar to a college seminar, students will gain a better understanding of what makes fiction work—from a creative writer’s point of view—whether on the page or on the screen. This summer program also seeks to inspire participants to pick up their pens and create!
Affiliate College: University of Houston
Grades: 10th, 11th, and 12th
Cost: $500
Deadline: 3/15/22
Application requirements:
- Transcript
- Test scores
- Teacher/counselor recommendation
How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
The benefit of participating in a summer program varies depending on a multitude of factors, such as the standing of the program itself and the value individual colleges place on extracurricular activities like summer programs.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities provide good guidance for understanding how colleges view your participation in summer programs. Tier-one and -two activities have the most influence on your chances of college admissions, as these activities are rare, impressive, and attention-grabbing.
Tier-three and -four activities are more common, less esteemed, and have less weight on college admissions. Lower-tiered extracurriculars still provide a benefit to participants, however. For example, they demonstrate your motivation for self-improvement and desire to explore fields of interest. Many summer programs also have a college readiness component, which can give you a leg up on other college applicants.
Are you interested to learn what colleges think of your participation in a summer program? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors including grades, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars like summer programs to estimate your chances of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.
