If you’re interested in coding, enrolling in a summer program is a great idea. You can launch your academic and career readiness in computer science (aka CS). Uniquely to computer science, any independent or project-based coding work you engage in at any age counts. So, you can start now towards your professional development and hiring prospects! Take some time this summer to dive deeper into your coding and computer science interests in an engaging, immersive environment. Sound good? To help you out, below is a list of coding summer programs for aspiring programmers. Don’t worry, because Empowerly is here to help you plan your summer.
What do I need to know about coding and computer science summer programs?
Looking for a rewarding and educational summer experience? Computer science camps are the perfect choice for high school students interested in expanding their knowledge of computer programming and technology. These summer CS programs offer a comprehensive curriculum designed to enhance programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. With a wide range of hands-on activities, workshops, and projects, computer science camps provide an immersive learning environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Explore the exciting world of coding, robotics, game development, and more, while connecting with like-minded peers and industry professionals. Discover the top computer science programs for high school students and equip yourself with invaluable skills for future academic and career success. Start your journey into the fascinating realm of technology and computer science this summer with a computer science camp.
Here’s what to know…
The first thing to remember is that all competitive CS programs require applicants to have a strong background and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). However, options vary by computer science camp in how much prior programming knowledge is required. In other words, some require attendees to know some coding languages already; others won’t require any prior knowledge at all. Depending on your starting point, you can find different opportunities to better suit your initial exposure level.
In addition to offering students a range of immersive and rigorous learning experiences, the opportunities detailed below are highly selective. Not only that, they are hosted by nationally-recognized universities, nonprofits, and government institutions. For that reason, attending such computer science programs for high school students provides better academic preparation and personal enrichment. Students in attendance gain the opportunity to visit and utilize campus resources, in addition to working closely with high-caliber mentors.
These camps are no walk in the park, however, and typically rank as academically or intellectually challenging. Because of this, it also demonstrates a commitment to computer science. Attending and thriving at one of these opportunities demonstrates the ability to handle significant responsibility and problem-solving.
How will an online summer computer science program for high school students help me?
Above all, students sometimes wonder exactly how a summer CS program will benefit them. Firstly, the ability to expand your resume is important. Building up a theme in your extracurricular activities helps your overall student profile come together. In fact, demonstrating initiative in your extracurriculars is a big boost.
Secondly, at computer science camp, you’ll begin to amass a concrete portfolio of work. With these samples and experience under your belt, you’ll be able to continue advancing forward. Not only that, you’ll be able to build the soft skills for working in professional settings. Learning things like professional emails, as well as how to receive and give constructive criticism, are key skills later in life. Regardless of where your educational path takes you, these acquisitions are valuable.
In conclusion, all of these learning opportunities will set you ahead of the rest of your class. By taking the time to research these opportunities, you’ve taken the first step towards achieving this for yourself! We will first share a few noteworthy programs. Following, we share a list of coding and computer science summer programs categorized by state.
Noteworthy Computer Science Summer Programs
Looking for coding and computer science summer programs? As discussed, these programs offer a fantastic opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and skills in technology. With a focus on hands-on learning, participants engage in coding workshops, algorithm design, web development, and more. These summer programs often feature experienced instructors, collaborative projects, and a supportive learning environment. Whether you’re a beginner or have some coding experience, these programs cater to various skill levels. Gain valuable insights, explore new technologies, and enhance your problem-solving abilities by enrolling in a coding and computer science summer program near you.
In this section, you can review some of the foremost options for computer science summer camps out there. Not only will laboratory experience set you apart, but you’ll also be a better candidate for summer coding programs for college students later. We’ve included descriptions and some details for students to learn more. For the most updated status, however, we recommend checking each program’s individual website.
Let’s get started!
BlueStamp Engineering
BlueStamp is a coding and computer science summer program available in San Francisco, Palo Alto, and New York. Students choose all of their projects to work on. This six-week summer program starts in June.
Additionally, students may also apply to a two-week prerequisite program. This program engages a three-to-one student-to-staff ratio and entrepreneurship guest lecturers. Students also have the opportunity to build working programming prototypes.
For both programs, students document and retain ownership over their creations. This also means that students can use their original working programs however they like! Some want to enter them into academic competitions or evolve them at their leisure. Ultimately, participating in BlueStamp gives a glimpse of a day in the life of many types of software engineers.
Penn Engineering Summer Academy
Similarly, PESA offers coursework in computer science, robotics, nanotechnology, and networks. However this program runs for three weeks in July, and tuition is $7375 with financial aid available.
MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
WTP is open to female rising high school seniors. To clarify, it is a four-week summer program. During the program, students explore engineering through classes, labs, and projects. For example, the focuses offered include Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering.
Truly, WTP is a great opportunity. However, admission to WTP is quite competitive. Though it comes with a tuition price of $3,500, students demonstrating certain financial needs can attend for free.
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
BWSI is a four-week residential program for rising high school seniors. Most importantly, students learn to navigate a race car. Further, the program wraps up in a Race Day to test prototypes. However, earning a qualification requires a teacher nomination and an online application. Still, great news: this program is free.
Google Computer Science Institute
Google’s version is a three-week intro to coding for high school seniors. Because of this goal, the program aims to train emerging tech leaders and innovators. Not only that, it is held in multiple states each summer, with an inside look into Google operations.
Also, participation in this coding and computer science program is free.
AI Scholars
AI Scholars is a pre-college enrichment program. In fact, AI Scholars was developed and taught exclusively by Stanford Ph.D. students. As a result, the program focuses on experiential learning. Beyond that, the program guides students to work on a mentor-led, socially impactful AI project in their field of interest.
Their two-week summer program will be conducted in Palo Alto in June. It is also available for grades 9-12 in San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and New York. Finally, find them at international locations (including India and Dubai)!
Addendum
In this addendum section, we have additional recommendations. However, these are more highly specialized. But we also believe they are worth an honorable mention for how they stand out. When researching which programs might be the best fit for your student consider these options.
The following provides an intro for high-performing students who are less familiar with CS:
- Girls Who Code (girls only)
- MIT Women’s Technology Program (girls only)
On the other end of the experiential spectrum are these two computer science programs for high school students:
- Markedly, the Research Science Institute (RSI) selects applicants with tangible or direct hands-on experience.
- Cornell University Summer College has a high demand because it offers college academic credit for participants.
And, these two computer science summer camps provide a stipend for participants:
- NASA internships
- The Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program
Coding and Computer Science Summer Program List by State
While this list of computer science summer camps is not intended to be completely comprehensive, it is useful to have a starting point. So browse to see what options are popular near you!
Getting involved in summer camps for computer science and coding will help you stand out from peers in your geographical region. Whether or not you are able to travel, these location-based camps remain at the top.
Finally, if you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
In fact, Empowerly has a whole research team that excels in this area. Basically, you can send in a question and receive expert advice and further reading, like this! Overall, we’re here to help.
Arizona
- Arizona State University – AI4ALL
California
- Beall Center – Coding + Design
- BlueStamp Engineering
- iD Tech – The AcademyNEXT Experience
- Juni Learning
- Santa Clara U Summer Institute for Humanitarian Computing
- Stanford:
- AI4ALL
- Girls Teaching Girls How to Code – Code Camp
- TechKnowHow
- Techlab
- UC Berkeley- AI4ALL
- UC San Francisco – AI4ALL
- UCLA
- Application of Nanoscience summer institute
- Design Media Arts (DMA)
- Game Lab
- Code, Sleep, Repeat
- AI Camp
- 42 coding camp HackHighSchool
Florida
- Stetson – Computer Science: Cybersecurity
Georgia
- Duke’s Artificial Intelligence @Georgia Tech
- Georgia Tech Hands-on Tech Day Camp
Illinois
- Illinois Tech
- The Big Data Visualization Institute
- Computational Science course
Maryland
- University of Maryland – AI4ALL
Massachusetts
- Boston Leadership Institute – BIG DATA
- Boston University – AI4ALL
- MIT – Women’s Technology Program
- Wolfram High School Summer Camp
Michigan
- University of Michigan – AI4ALL
New Jersey
- New Jersey Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology
- Princeton – AI4ALL
New York
- Columbia U – Matlab: Computer modeling for science and technology
- Columbia University – AI4ALL
- Cornell – Introduction to Robotics with Arduino
- NYU, Tisch School of the Arts – Game Center
- Stony Brook University – IACS Computes! HS Summer Camp
- Syracuse: Cybersecurity – Hackathon Challenge
Pennsylvania
- Bryn Mawr College – Alexa Café Program
- Carnegie Mellon – Summer Pre-College National High School Game Academy
- CodeNow
Texas
- Engineering and Computer Science Summer Camps
- UT Austin:
- Code Longhorn
- Cybersecurity Camp
- First Bytes
- Robotics Summer Camp
Washington, DC
- Georgetown – Introduction to Data Science Academy
- iD Tech camps
Washington State
- DigiPen Pre-College Program
- Experience America The Game Experience
- University of Washington – Computer Science programs
Multiple States
- Digital Media Academy:
- 3D Modeling & Design Summer Camps
- AI and Machine Learning
- Coding and Programming
- Made by Girls
- Education Unlimited
- Emagination Computer Camps
- Girls Who Code
- Google Computer Science Summer Institute
- iD Tech camps
- Kode With Klossy
- Microsoft – DigiGirlz High Tech Camps
- Vision Programming camps
Online
- National Cyber League Summer Camp
- Self-study AP Computer Science Principles online class
After Computer Programming Summer Programs Applications: What Comes Next?
Here are two key reminders to help you make the most of your valuable experience once you’re off to the races. If you’ve worked hard to this point and managed to land a summer camp experience you’re excited about, congrats! Here are a couple of pointers to get you started on the right foot!
Firstly, take notes on your projects, skills or lessons you’ve learned, and memorable activities. The more detailed you’re able to be, the more detail you’ll have to draw upon later. You may revisit these notes when writing a college essay, reflecting on your accomplishments in a cover letter. Most of all, keeping them up-to-date while you’re working ensures they retain as much accuracy as possible. It’s much easier to do this work now than struggle to recall facts without any help later!
Secondly, get out of your comfort zone and talk to your teammates at the camp. That may mean collaborating more closely with your fellow peers, asking more questions with the instructors, or making a point to get to know your team leaders. At a competitive coding and CS camp, it is a great chance to practice these interpersonal skills of networking and connecting with professionals in your desired field. Learn everything you can from everyone. What’s more, don’t be hesitant to exchange (professional) email addresses to continue connecting after the camp is over!
Coding summer programs provide invaluable opportunities for students to develop essential skills in computer science and programming. These programs offer hands-on learning experiences, exposing students to coding languages, algorithms, and problem-solving techniques. Participating in a coding summer program can help students enhance their logical thinking, analytical skills, and creativity, all of which are highly sought after in today’s digital age. By gaining proficiency in coding, students open doors to numerous future career opportunities in technology-related fields.
One of the key benefits of coding summer programs is the practical application of coding skills. Students have the chance to work on real-world coding projects, allowing them to see the direct impact of their coding abilities. Whether it’s developing a website, creating a mobile app, or designing a game, these projects provide students with a tangible outcome that showcases their programming skills. This hands-on experience not only boosts their confidence but also builds a strong foundation for further exploration and growth in the field of coding.
Coding summer programs also foster collaboration and teamwork among students. Many coding programs encourage group projects, where students work together to solve complex coding problems. This collaborative environment simulates real-world work scenarios, where teamwork and effective communication are vital. Students learn how to effectively collaborate, share ideas, and leverage each other’s strengths, enhancing their interpersonal and teamwork skills. These skills are transferable to various aspects of life and future careers, making coding summer programs beneficial for personal and professional development.
Attending a coding summer program can also provide students with a competitive edge when it comes to college admissions and future career prospects. In today’s digital era, coding and computer science skills are highly valued by colleges and employers alike. Demonstrating coding proficiency through a summer program showcases a student’s commitment, initiative, and passion for technology. It can set them apart from other applicants and open doors to prestigious universities and internships. Moreover, coding skills are in high demand across industries, offering students diverse career opportunities and the potential for lucrative and fulfilling careers. Coding summer programs offer numerous benefits for students, including the development of coding skills, practical application of knowledge, collaboration and teamwork, and improved college and career prospects. These programs empower students to navigate the digital landscape, explore their creativity, and prepare for the increasingly technology-driven world. By investing time in a coding summer program, students gain invaluable skills that can shape their future and provide a solid foundation for success in the ever-evolving field of coding and computer science.
Is It Hard To Get In?
Getting into a summer coding program requires a combination of factors, including a strong interest and passion for coding, a solid foundation in computer science concepts, and a commitment to learning and growth. Most summer coding programs have specific prerequisites, such as a basic understanding of coding languages like Python, Java, or C++, as well as familiarity with fundamental programming concepts. It is crucial for aspiring participants to invest time in learning and practicing coding skills before applying to increase their chances of acceptance.
Another important aspect of gaining admission to a summer coding program is a well-prepared application. Most programs require applicants to submit their academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and sometimes a personal statement or essay. It is essential to showcase academic achievements and highlight relevant coding experiences or projects completed outside of school. Additionally, participating in coding competitions or extracurricular coding clubs can demonstrate a dedication to coding and a willingness to go above and beyond in pursuing the field.
Competition for summer coding programs can be intense, as they often attract highly motivated and talented students. To increase the likelihood of acceptance, it is advisable to start the application process early and thoroughly research the specific requirements and expectations of the program. Taking advantage of resources such as coding tutorials, online courses, or coding bootcamps can help applicants strengthen their coding skills and demonstrate a commitment to self-improvement. Additionally, showcasing any personal coding projects, such as websites, apps, or games, can significantly enhance an application and demonstrate a proactive approach to coding outside of formal education.
Gaining admission to a summer coding program requires a combination of factors, including a passion for coding, a solid foundation in computer science concepts, a well-prepared application showcasing relevant experiences and achievements, and a commitment to continuous learning and growth. By demonstrating a strong interest in coding, preparing a compelling application, and actively engaging in coding-related activities, aspiring participants can increase their chances of being accepted into a summer coding program and embark on a valuable and rewarding educational experience.
Final Notes
In conclusion, applying to summer programs is similar to applying to colleges. The first step is finding the right program; the second step is building the perfect application. Similarly, try to apply for reach, target, and safety programs. The competitiveness of applications for these top STEM summer programs can rival the competitiveness of undergraduate college admissions—the key is to come prepared. Hard-working students dedicated to becoming great applicants can distinguish themselves from the pack.
However, these aren’t the only avenues to continue developing your brain over the summer vacation. For example, you can see this article for tips about engaging in self-directed summer research activities instead of summer program attendance. A combination of traditional summer STEM camps and self-driven activities is best of all! What’s more, some of these summer programs can be expensive; there’s no shame in finding activities closer to home. Ultimately, you’ll need to work out your summer strategy based on your overall college strategy.
Coding summer programs provide students with valuable opportunities to enhance their coding skills and explore the world of computer science. These programs offer a focused and immersive learning experience, where students can dive deep into coding concepts and programming languages. By participating in coding summer programs, students gain hands-on experience in problem-solving, logic, and algorithmic thinking, which are essential skills in today’s technology-driven world. These programs often incorporate project-based learning, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world coding challenges and develop practical coding solutions.
One of the key benefits of coding summer programs is the exposure to cutting-edge technologies and industry practices. These programs often feature guest speakers, workshops, and visits to technology companies, providing students with insights into the latest trends and innovations in the field of coding. By learning from industry professionals and experienced instructors, students can stay updated on industry standards and gain a competitive edge in their coding abilities. This exposure to real-world applications of coding can inspire students and help them envision potential career paths in technology.
Coding summer programs also foster collaboration and teamwork. Many programs encourage students to work in groups or participate in coding competitions, fostering a collaborative environment where students can learn from each other, exchange ideas, and tackle coding challenges together. This collaborative aspect helps students develop their communication and interpersonal skills, which are essential in the tech industry. Moreover, working in teams enables students to experience the importance of collaboration and learn how to effectively work with others to solve complex coding problems. Coding summer programs can open doors to future educational and career opportunities. Many renowned universities and tech organizations offer coding summer programs, and participation in these programs can bolster a student’s college applications or resume. It showcases a student’s dedication, passion for coding, and willingness to invest time and effort into honing their skills. Additionally, some coding summer programs offer mentorship or networking opportunities, connecting students with professionals in the industry who can provide guidance and advice. These connections and experiences can be invaluable when seeking internships, job opportunities, or further educational pursuits in the field of coding.
Coding summer programs provide students with a multitude of benefits. They offer a focused and immersive learning experience, exposure to industry practices, and the opportunity to apply coding skills to real-world challenges. These programs foster collaboration, teamwork, and communication skills, and can open doors to future educational and career opportunities. By participating in coding summer programs, students can enhance their coding abilities, gain insights into the tech industry, and set themselves up for success in the rapidly evolving world of technology and computer science.
Empowerly can help you forge this balance. Likewise, many of our students have been successfully admitted to most of these summer programs. If you’re looking to take your experience one step further, you can also seek out summer coding programs for college students. Talk to one of our enrollment experts to find out how Empowerly can help you thrive!
Connie
Gelyna Price