Don't spend all summer sitting on your couch. There are tons of enrichment programs out there that can help you discover your passions and strengths. (It doesn't hurt that the right summer session can look good on your college application, too.)
Below is a list of summer programs in California for high school students. Dates, prices and info here was gathered for your convenience only. Please doublecheck with each organization to confirm details.
GENERAL
UC Berkeley Summer Session
Students who have completed 10th grade by the start of summer can take classes taught by Berkeley professors and earn college credit.
When: June 23-Aug. 15 or July 7-Aug. 15
Cost: $270 per unit, plus $385 registration fee
http://summer.berkeley.edu/mainsite/
type_highschool.html
UCLA
College-level classes open to motivated high school students. One- to six-week Summer Institutes on topics such as art, chamber music, dance, mock trial, world music, acting, Persian and Russian are also available.
Costs and dates vary. Visit
http://www.summer.ucla.edu/HighSchool/overview.htm
UCSD Academic Connections
Courses in physical and social sciences, engineering, and arts and humanities for students with minimum 3.3 GPA entering grades 10-12. Instructors are typically UCSD doctoral students.
When: July 6-26
Cost: $3,450 with housing, $2,550 without housing
http://academicconnections.ucsd.edu/index.cfm
USC Summer Seminars
Students entering 11th and 12th grade can earn USC elective credits at seminars. Topics include acting, debate, engineering, electric guitar, architecture and writing.
When: July 6-Aug 2
Cost: $4,710 includes tuition, housing, field trips and books
http://www.usc.edu/dept/admissions/programs/summer/
The Princeton Review College Discovery Experience
Where: UCLA
When: June 22-July 4 or July 6-18
Two-week college admissions prep program for students completing grades 10 and 11. Includes college essay workshop and campus visits.
Cost: $3,499
www.summerfun.com
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Junior Statesmen Foundation - California Symposium on Leadership and Politics
Meet legislators and discuss public policy.
Where: UC Davis
When: Aug. 11-14
Cost: $475
Deadline: Accepted until full
http://www.jsa.org/political-symposia/political-symposia.html
Junior Statesmen Foundation: Los Angeles Symposium on Leadership and Politics
Five-day exploration of Southern Californian politics. Includes meeting political leaders and staff of Los Angeles Times.
Where: UCLA
When: Aug. 10-14
Cost: $495
Deadline: Accepted until full
http://www.jsa.org/political-symposia/political-symposia.html
Junior Statesmen Foundation Summer Programs
Classes and activities for students interested in government and public service. Programs take place Stanford, as well as Georgetown, Princeton and Yale. Freshmen expecting to graduate from high school in 2012 can apply to the Freshmen Scholars Program.
Cost: $4,450, including tuition, housing, meals, textbooks and all academic expenses.
When: Multiple sessions from June through July.
Deadline: June 1
http://www.jsa.org/
MATH AND SCIENCE
Cal State Fullerton Project M.I.S.S.
When: July 7 – August 1, 2008
Program for college-bound female students in 10th- and 11th-grade to enhance their math skills.
Contact: Debra Bush, 714-278-7921
USC Science Camp for High School Women
Field-oriented program at Catalina Island to explore ecological and biological principles. For girls who have completed 8th, 9th or 10th grade
When: July 11-18
Cost: $1,545, includes tuition and housing
http://www.usc.edu/dept/admissions/programs/summer//high.shtml
ECONOMICS
Chapman University – Vernon L. Smith High School Workshop in Experimental Economics
Five-day commuter workshop on economics for rising juniors and seniors. Free, and lunch is provided. Students might even earn money if they succeed at economic experiments.
When: July 7-11
Deadline: Open until filled
http://chapman.edu/ESI/workshops/HS_ExpEcon.asp
JOURNALISM
California Scholastic Press Association summer workshop
Two-week workshop for budding journalists at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Instructors include reporters fro the Los Angeles Times and The Orange County Register.
When: July 13-25
Cost: $975, including lodging and meals
Deadline: May 2
http://cspaworkshop.org/home.htm
ART, ANIMATION AND DESIGN
The Art Institute of California – Summer Studio Workshop
Four-day workshop in various topics, including advertising, culinary arts, fashion, and video game design.
When: June 24-27 at Orange County location. Check Web site to see programs at other locations.
Cost: Tuition $150, tuition with housing $600.
http://summerstudio2008.com/orangecounty/
http://summerstudio2008.com/west/
Otis College of Art and Design – Summer of Art
Four-week pre-college art program for students 15 and older.
When: July 7-Aug 1
Cost: $2,454. Scholarships available.
Deadline: June 25
http://www.otis.edu/index.php?id=172
CSU Dominguez Hills – Summer camp in video game art and design
Four-day workshop on developing graphics for video games. Open to students ages 11-17.
When: Aug. 6-9
Cost: $279
http://csudh.edu/extendeded/videogamecamp.htm
Academy of Art University - Pre-College Summer Art Experience
Six-week intensive program offers up to four classes. For all high school students. Classes include illustration, animation and costume construction.
When: June 19-Aug. 2.
Cost: $525 registration fee, plus supplies. Tuition is free.
http://www.academyart.edu/degrees/summer_artexperience.html
Art Center College of Design – Summer workshops
Five-day workshops for all students on topics including comic book illustration, T-shirt start-up, and photography.
When: July through mid-August
Cost: $350 per class
http://www.artcenter.edu/sat/index.jsp
(Select courses, then choose Summer Workshop from the drop down menu at Area of Interest.)
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising – 3 Days of Fashion
Three-day fashion workshops at FIDM’s Irvine (June 20-22), LA (June 22-24), San Francisco (June 22-24) and San Diego (June 22-24) campuses.
Cost: $200
http://www.fidm.edu/Admissions/days-of-fashion/index.html
California College of the Arts – Pre-College program
Art classes in Oakland for students who have completed sophomore, junior or senior year.
Cost: $2,500. Housing costs $795.
http://cca.edu/academics/summer/precollege/index.php
ARCHITECTURE
USC Exploration of Architecture
Introduction to college-level architecture for incoming 11th- and 12-graders considering a career in architecture, engineering or urban planning.
When and costs: Two week program runs July 6-19 and costs $2,835, plus fees. Four week program runs July 6-Aug 2 and costs $4,710, plus fees.
http://arch.usc.edu/Programs/SummerPrograms/ExplorationofArchitecture
Southern California Institute of Architecture – Making + Meaning, The Foundation Program in Architecture
Five-week course for students interested in architecture.
When: Starts third week of July
Tuition: $2,750, plus $275 lab fee and $150 course materials
Deadline: Rolling basis until end of June
http://sciarc.edu/portal/programs/making_meaning/index.html
MUSIC
Stanford Jazz Camp
Six-day jazz camps for students ages 12-17 at Stanford University, playing jazz at beginning to advanced levels
When: July 20-25 or July 27-Aug. 1
Cost: $970 for tuition, or $1,600 for tuition, housing and meals.
http://stanfordjazz.org/education.html
