Summer Writing Opportunities for High School

Looking for ways to show off your talent with the written word? There are many opportunities during the summertime available for refining writing skills. There’s no better time to sit down in the shade and focus in. We’ve compiled a list of the more prestigious opportunities, which are available below. Review the options and see which of the following might be the best fit for you.

Summer writing opportunities for high school students give applicants a chance to spread their wings and see what they can create. Not to mention, many of these camps pair students with accomplished writers and faculty. Building mentor relationships can be invaluable for young minds.  

These opportunities are offered across the country with a broad scope of genres and goals. Most require applications and charge tuition fees, but the experience could help you stand out in college admissions. The following list of summer writing opportunities for high school students should help jumpstart your search.

If you’re concerned with how to choose, don’t be afraid to ask questions. There are primary factors that will influence your decision, like location, date, and cost. On the other hand, you may want to consider what type of writing style you prefer. 

New York City, NY

“This summer, join students from around the world to explore, discover and learn alongside – and from – people with unique perspectives and personal experiences that may differ from your own. Take a front-row seat and get ready to pursue your passions, seek new challenges, embrace new adventures and think critically and creatively.”

Boston, MA

“The Summer Journalism Academy at Boston University gives students ages 14 to 18 the opportunity to expand their skills and prepare for college, either through a residential experience on campus or through remote instruction from home.

Each academy instructor is also a working journalist, so what’s taught is grounded in real-life experience. What's more, each lesson is tied to its practical application, by giving students actual reporting assignments. Each day is a sample of life as a news reporter.”

New Haven, CT

“The Yale Daily News Summer Journalism Program is a one-week intensive course in journalism for high-school students. The program is run entirely by undergraduate staff members of the Yale Daily News. During the course of the week, high-school students participate in workshops on the fundamentals of reporting and writing, attend lectures by guest speakers from major national publications and work hands-on reporting a story. The week culminates with the production of an issue of the Yale Daily News.”

Pittsburgh, PA

“In this program, you explore writing, film, design, art, and culture through traditional, historical, and contemporary lenses, on CMU’s campus and throughout Pittsburgh. Throughout the weeks, you produce a body of work anchored in what you have learned about digital poetics and short-form writing, discovered how films are developed and made, and engaged with what knowledge and stories visual design choices express.”

Although not directly related to journalism as the other opportunities, this opportunity can help improve your critical writing skills with credible faculty.

Bronxville, NY

“Each day, participants attend writing and theatre workshops led by prose writers, poets, and performance artists. Included in the week are mini-workshops taught by program faculty, graduate students, and guest artists. Rooted in the Sarah Lawrence College tradition of one-on-one interaction, the program offers students the opportunity to meet in small groups with workshop leaders. The program also includes faculty and student readings and a celebration of student work on the final day of the program.”

Although not directly related to journalism as the other opportunities, this opportunity can help improve your critical writing skills with credible faculty.

Washington, DC

“Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works with lectures by renowned literary figures from around the D.C. area, dynamic courses with Georgetown graduate student instructors, and insightful, productive feedback from your peers. This combination of workshops and tutorials will help you generate and polish a wealth of new poems, stories, and personal essays, and allow you to experiment with innovative forms in the field of creative writing.”

Although not directly related to journalism as the other opportunities, this opportunity can help improve your critical writing skills with credible faculty.

Washington, DC

“The Social Justice & Public Policy Academy introduces you to the complex role of public policy through the lens of social justice. You will explore models and methods of public policy in order to gain an interdisciplinary understanding that will allow you to analyze injustice. You will reflect on the meanings of democracy, justice, power, and equity; investigate how advocacy leads to social change and impacts public policy.”

Los Angeles, CA

“The Writing Summer Institute is designed for ambitious high school students who seek to strengthen their writing and discussion skills to get a step ahead in preparing for university. For over twenty years, UCLA Writing Programs has helped undergraduates successfully meet the challenges of university education. Through this three-week program, UCLA’s highly regarded writing specialists will help college-bound students prepare for academic challenges at the college level. All activities will demystify the unstated differences between college and high school writing.”

Manhattan, NY

“Our Writing and Literature Track encourages writers to find their voice and share it with the world. Students will spend their mornings learning from Barnard instructors in courses such as The Art of the Essay, Writing New York, and playwriting, on the same campus where writers like Greta Gerwig, Zora Neale Hurson, Jhumpa Lahiri got their start. Afternoons will be spent in intensives focused on developing a writing portfolio, getting published, and careers for writers.”

New York City, NY

“For six weeks, you can earn college credits, connect with NYU faculty and classmates, and explore interests that will shape your academic future. Precollege offers rising 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to experience life as a college student, and take advantage of everything NYU has to offer. Whether you already know what you want to major in, or you want to try out a subject you've never studied before, NYU Precollege is the best way to develop your skills and prepare for college.”

There is a humanity and social science track, allowing you to take courses in sociology, psychology, writing, and more.

Next up, in no particular order:

• Dow Jones News Fund - Multi-state https://dowjonesnewsfund.org/high-school-student-program/news-fund-workshops/ 
• Multicultural Journalism Project - Tuscaloosa, AL
• Iowa Young Writer’s Studio - Iowa City, IA
• University of Virginia Young Writers Workshop - Sweet Briar, VA https://www.theyoungwriters.org/
• Smith College Creative Writing Workshop - Northampton, MA https://www.smith.edu/academics/precollege-programs/creative-writing
• Alpha Young Writers Workshop - Greensburg, PA https://alphawritersworkshop.org/

In this article, we’ve discussed some of the best summer writing opportunities for high school students. At each of these potential workshops, young writers can set themselves apart from the crowd. In turn, these accomplishments and accolades also distinguish top candidates in the college admissions process. To learn more about how to find the right summer writing opportunity for your high school student, reach out to Empowerly. We help students develop a quality extracurricular narrative and channel their experiences into a compelling college application. The future is within your reach!