Application Status: Apply Now!

When an application goes live for VSA, you will complete your application by visiting the “Apply Now” section of our website. Programs for Talented Youth uses SchoolDoc as the online application platform.  With this option, you may upload test scores and other eligibility criteria, indicate your course preferences, and select a preferred payment method for the nonrefundable application fee. If you have applied for other programs using SchoolDoc, you can use your previously created account to login and submit a VSA application.

***After March 15, 2023, Rolling Admissions Continues if Spots Remain.

Fee: 
One week session $1975
Two week session $3975

Water is critical for human life. You interact and ingest water every single day and don’t think twice. How do you know, however, that the water you are drinking is clean when pollution is leading to a variety of problems associated with global human health? Ensuring you and future generations have access to safe water is the job of environmental scientists working in the specialized field of water quality. In this course, you will have the opportunity to work as an environmental field scientist, analyzing the health of the water in Middle Tennessee! In your research, you will consider questions, such as ‘How do scientists measure/quantify the level of contamination in a water source?’ and ‘How do we treat contaminated water?’, as well as ‘What are the impacts on human health?’ You will collect data from field surveys and experiments, use descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze your results, and present your findings to your peers like a research scientist. In your final project, you will write and present to your class a mock white paper to the TN Department of Environment and Conservation detailing your research findings and offering recommendations for potential new laws and regulations. Expect to leave this course knowing how to code in R (the standard in statistical programming languages) and how to describe and analyze data sets from the environmental sciences. Expect also to leave with a newfound appreciation for the work of field research and for the processes that govern and shape the natural waters around us.

Greg Smith is the instructor of Interdisciplinary Science and Research at John Overton High School in Nashville, TN. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from Vanderbilt University in 2019, where he relied on concepts and techniques from geology, ecology, and chemistry to understand the dietary habits of extinct megafauna (large mammals like elephants, camels, and bison). Now, he leverages his diverse scientific background and passion for education to teach high school students how to be scientists! His students carry out independent research projects, give presentations at national science competitions, and get their hands dirty working with multiple business partners outdoors in the beautiful area surrounding Middle Tennessee. In his free time, Greg enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and yoga with his wife, Lauren, and his two children, Harvey and Gwendolyn. Greg loves teaching and hopes to inspire future generations of scientists to follow their dreams!

This program is offered in two sessions
- Rising 11th and 12th Grade One Week Program
- Rising 11th and 12th Grade Two Week Program

Rising 11th-12th Grade

In order to determine if VSA’s accelerated courses are a good fit, all students are required to submit qualifying documentation as part of their application. There are two eligibility documentation options. Below is a description of each option.
- Option 1: Submission of Test Scores
Students applying to Vanderbilt Summer Academy who select this option should submit qualifying documentation at the time of application. Please note that test scores in the 90th percentile and above for age group in one or more sections on an advanced achievement assessment (ACT, SAT, PSAT) OR any other nationally normed standardized assessment (such as state testing, MAP/NWEA testing, ITBS, or ERB) if advanced achievement assessment scores are not available suggests that VSA would be a good fit academically for a student. We also accept cognitive measures (i.e., WISC-V, CogAT, Otis Lennon, Stanford-Binet) and out-of-level test scores (i.e., ACT in 7th grade). Individual ability and/or achievement assessments from psychologists are also accepted. All pages of the individual evaluation and assessment need to be included. Test scores should be less than three years old.
When reviewing scores, we look specifically at strengths and accelerated achievement in the content area(s) for selected course(s) of interest. For example, if a student is applying to a humanities course, the VSA team is looking at reading/writing/ELA test scores. PTY does not have cutoffs for standardized test scores in order to apply to the program. Also, please note that scores above the 90th percentile do not automatically guarantee admission into the program based on VSA’s randomized admissions process.
- Option 2: Portfolio
At this time, due to the impact that COVID has had on testing availability and requirements, VSA is allowing for an option that does not require test score submission to determine program eligibility.
Please note, although selecting the portfolio option does not hurt a student’s chances of admission, VSA strongly encourages students to submit test scores (option 1).
Required Portfolio Components (3 Components):
     - Transcript: Grades of As and Bs in the most academically advanced courses offered at the student’s school typically suggest that the VSA program would be a good academic fit. Through the transcript review process, we are looking for students who are highly motivated. PTY also understands that extenuating circumstances might impact a student’s grades. Please make sure to provide annotation if the student’s grades do not accurately demonstrate their ability and motivation to participate in an accelerated academic environment.
Transcripts can be submitted as a picture or screenshot of a student’s unofficial record but must include the student’s name and show grades for the 2021-2022 school year and the fall 2022 school year.
     - Two Educator Recommendations: Students should request recommendations from two educators (teachers, administrators, or counselors) by sharing the link below. When your recommenders complete the form, the completed form will be emailed to PTY. Please do not request that your recommenders write a letter or submit a recommendation in any method other than the following form. The form takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
https://pty.vanderbilt.edu/PTY_educator_recommendation/ 
An application will not be considered complete, even though it may be marked as 100% in our application portal, until PTY receives two educator recommendations.
     - Resume: Submit a one-page resume as part of your application, so the VSA admissions team has a better understanding of your interests and extracurricular activities. Knowing more about you helps VSA staff determine if this program is a good fit. The resume should include extracurricular activities, work/volunteer experience, awards, and honors, etc.

Do you recommend Vanderbilt Summer Academy?

STEM

Program

Pre-med

Environmental Science

Field Research

Ecology

Highly-selective

College-campus

Summer

Public Health

Research

Water Quality and Public Heath: An Introduction to Field Research in Environmental Science

Vanderbilt Summer Academy

Application Components:
- Student and parent/guardian personal information
- Preferences for SHAPE session and course
- Respond to two required written questions
- Choose one of the three optional questions to answer
- Copy of most recent high school transcript (submitted by teacher or counselor)
- Letter of recommendation (submitted by a math or science teacher)
- Resume (submitted by applicant)

Columbia's Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE) is a selective pre-college program for rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates. SHAPE is geared toward students with an aptitude for STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

SHAPE consists of two, three-week summer sessions. Students may attend one or both sessions. Each 3-week session offers college-level, project-based courses in engineering taught by prestigious faculty at Columbia University. Students engage with peers and Columbia University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners through interactive programming, site visits, and workshops.

Students will choose a subject and participate in one introductory college-level engineering course for the duration of their session. The program also features electives, college preparation, support from Columbia students, and other workshops. Please note that SHAPE is a pre-college program taught by faculty, but it does not provide college credit. Students will also visit the MakerSpace. The MakerSpace is equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC tools for digital fabrication. Students are required to complete a safety training before using the space and will only do so under close supervision. Some classes will use the Makerspace on a regular basis to build prototypes.

Criteria:
- Current high school students are eligible to apply 
- Attendance: We ask students to take program attendance seriously. However, if you are unable to attend during one or more days of the program, please let us know as soon as possible.

Columbia SHAPE Engineering Summer Program

Columbia Engineering Outreach Programs

Former Participant of Columbia Pre-College Programs

Will doing Columbia University High School Summer Program give me a better chance into Columbia? 

Finally: the truth about Columbia University High School Program

Computer Science

Math

Technology

Sustainability

Biomedical Engineering

Coding

Robotics

Engineering

Climate Change

Science

Electrical Engineering

Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)

Columbia University Engineering

Components: 
- Online Application
- High School Transcript with at least 2.5 years of grades. Please contact us if your transcript does not have at least 2.5 years of grades. 
- Two Letters of Recommendation: one from a current teacher and one from a guidance counselor

(Please note: SAT/PSAT/ACT test scores are optional for 2023 at Yale Summer Session. Applicants who are unable to complete an exam or who choose not to report exam scores will not be disadvantaged.)

This program includes both intensive language study, encompasing both semesters, ITAL S130 & S140, of Intermediate Italian, and cultural, with the course ITAL S235: Tuscany between Past and Present: A Literary, Historical, Cultural, and Geographical Journey in Tuscany (and beyond), while living and studying in the Tuscan city of Siena, engaging in travel and cultural encounters in Tuscany and Rome.

Requirements:
- Entering the senior year of high school (summer after junior year) or freshman year of college (summer after senior year).
- 16 years of age or older by their program start date.

The Best Summer Programs for High School Students

Folklore

International

Humanities

History

Architecture

Italian culture

Italy

Intermediate Italian I

Yale Summer Session

Apply using this link. => https://inspiritai.typeform.com/to/yq7Al8WT  

AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.

Student Outcomes
AI Project
Students work on a mentor-led group project in a domain of their choice and present their work to peers and instructors on the final day. They gain access to an online platform for continuous learning after the program, including additional projects in a variety of domains.
stephen-dawson-qwtCeJ5cLYs-unsplash.jpg
AI careers and ventures
Students learn about the AI research and industry work of the instructors in domains such as healthcare, transportation, and specialized chat applications. They receive guidance on pursuing a career in AI moving forward!
zoomlesson.png
Pre-college Preparation
Students go through workshops on preparing for top-ranked CS/AI programs in the US, gaining inspiration from successful Stanford admission essays and learning how to communicate their project experiences effectively.


Prereqiuisite:
High School Students (Grades 9 to 12) or equivalent. 
No prior programming or computer science background required, but an interest in AI is appreciated!
Advanced cohorts are available for students with prior programming experience.

A.I. Scholars Live Online

About

Sessions

Applications

Eligibility

Ratings

Selectivity

Financial Accessibility