Start exploring Leadership & Gifted summer programs for high schoolers

Dates:

Jul 10–24, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$3,900–$4,300

Location:

Charlottesville, VA

Grades:

Sophomores, juniors, or seniors at time of application (VA residents only)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Early Action Nov 30, 2026 · Final Jan 4, 2027

Two-week residential civic leadership program at the University of Virginia for a cohort of roughly 32 Virginia high schoolers, built around three learning modules (Virginia government and politics, Virginia public policy, and advocacy skills) and culminating in a graduation ceremony; the 2027 program is not offering graded college credit.

Residency restriction: VA residents

Dates:

Jun 28–Jul 15, 2027

Length:

18 days (about 3 weeks)

Cost:

$9,750

Location:

Leiden, the Netherlands (with excursions from Amsterdam to Antwerp)

Grades:

Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders (completed grades 9–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority · Dec 30, 2026

Three-week seminar in Leiden for a small group of intellectually ambitious high schoolers, studying the historical and philosophical texts behind Jewish thought and the modern world in seminars of no more than ten, with museum, archive, and historic-site visits and kosher meals and Shabbat observance.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 30, 2027 (2 weeks options)

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$7,500

Location:

New Haven, CT (Yale University)

Grades:

Completed 10th-11th grade (ages 16-18)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Regular Jan 6, 2027

Two-week residential academic session at Yale in one interdisciplinary track: Innovations in Science & Technology, Politics, Law & Economics, or Solving Global Challenges.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 21–Aug 6, 2027 (2 weeks (12 days) options)

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)

Cost:

$6,250

Location:

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Grades:

Rising juniors and seniors (graduating high school in 2028 or 2029; completed grades 10-11); 16 years old by June 13, 2027 and under 19 through July 31, 2027

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 13, 2027 · Regular Feb 10, 2027 · Late Mar 31, 2027

Two-week residential, noncredit program at Harvard where high school students live on campus and take one college-level course from nearly 30 options (average class size 15), with three hours of class a day plus college-readiness workshops, academic talks, social events, and trips around Boston and New England.

Dates:

Jul 22–31, 2027

Length:

10 days

Cost:

$0

Location:

Charlottesville, VA (University of Virginia)

Grades:

High school sophomores and juniors (at time of application)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Jan 19, 2027

Fully funded cultural exchange at the University of Virginia pairing 20 American high schoolers with 20 Japanese students as roommates, with daily Japanese language classes, seminar-style discussions, cultural presentations, and activities like a Japanese summer festival and karaoke night.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 19–Jul 21, 2027 (10-day seminar (12 days on campus) options)

Length:

10-day seminar (12 days on campus)

Cost:

$0

Location:

Notre Dame, IN (University of Notre Dame)

Grades:

Completed 11th grade

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

Credit:

1 transferable Notre Dame credit (on satisfactory completion)

Students live in Notre Dame residence halls and spend the session in one seminar taught by Notre Dame faculty, with activities outside class.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 16–Jul 28, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$5,150

Location:

Legon, Ghana

Grades:

Current grades 9-12

Format:

Residential (Homestay)

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

Students choose one course or track.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 16–Jul 28, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$5,350

Location:

Cape Town, South Africa

Grades:

Current grades 9-12

Format:

Group Housing

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

50 hours of hands-on community service alongside local NGOs (e.g., supporting the unhoused, hospitals, schools, or vulnerable children) framed around Nelson Mandela's legacy; includes IsiXhosa language/culture sessions. Two-day trip to Johannesburg (Mandela's House, the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill) and a boat trip to Robben Island.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 16–Jul 28, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$5,150

Location:

Merida, Mexico

Grades:

Current grades 9-12

Format:

Residential (Homestay)

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

50 hours of hands-on service embedded with a local NGO in Merida, working in key staff roles supporting children and families and learning about social policy, fundraising, and health initiatives. Excursions include Chichen Itza, cenote swimming, and the mangroves of El Corchito.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 16–Jul 28, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$5,150

Location:

Mohammedia, Morocco

Grades:

Current grades 9-12

Format:

Residential (Homestay)

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

50 hours of service based out of the American Language Center (ALC), mentoring underprivileged youth, tutoring English, or running environmental projects at local schools, alongside structured discussion seminars on ethical volunteering. Overnight excursion to Marrakech, including a village visit in the Atlas Mountains and a camel ride in the Agafay Desert. No previous Arabic language experience required.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 16–Jul 28, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$5,150

Location:

Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Grades:

Current grades 9-12

Format:

Residential (Homestay)

Deadline:

Jan 20, 2027

50 hours of service-learning with NGO Acción Callejera, running a summer camp for underprivileged local children. Visit to the Museum of Mirabal Sisters. Excursions to mountain areas and cacao farms near the coast.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 7, 2027 (2 weeks options)

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$8,299

Location:

Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania)

Grades:

Rising 10th–12th graders (completed grades 9–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 27, 2027 · Final Mar 17, 2027

Students work in teams to develop a startup concept, test it with potential customers, and pitch it to a panel of judges, with classes taught by Wharton faculty.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 7, 2027 (2 weeks options)

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$8,299

Location:

Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania)

Grades:

Rising 10th–12th graders (completed grades 9–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 27, 2027 · Final Mar 17, 2027

An intensive two-week introduction to finance taught by Wharton faculty.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 7, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$11,899

Location:

Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania)

Grades:

Current 11th graders (rising seniors); 3.5+ unweighted GPA

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 27, 2027 · Final Mar 17, 2027

Students take classes with Wharton faculty and business leaders, run business simulations and work on team-building and leadership projects.

Dates:

Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week examining the three branches of government, political parties, public opinion and interest groups through lectures, debate exercises and congressional simulations, with visits from elected officials, Capitol Hill staff, lobbyists and policymakers.

Dates:

Jul 11–17, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on how democracies handle conflict, covering elections and electoral violence, democratic endurance and erosion, polarization and populism, with a crisis simulation and talks from professors, activists and policymakers.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 24, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week exploring the international system, instruments of foreign policy, international law, terrorism, nuclear weapons, global health and development with Georgetown faculty, specialists and practitioners.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 31, 2027 (1 week options)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week introducing jurisprudence and how laws are adjudicated, covering constitutional law, the jury system, sentencing and Supreme Court controversies, with legal professionals and a mock criminal trial.

Dates:

Jul 18–24, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on homeland security, cybersecurity, arms proliferation and how intelligence is collected, analyzed and disseminated, with tours of government institutions and meetings with civilian, military and intelligence officers.

Dates:

Jul 25–31, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on America's role in a changing world, from Congress, the presidency and the press in foreign policy to the Atlantic Alliance, great-power competition and the future of American foreign policy.

Dates:

Jun 13–26, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$5,075–$6,465

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Two weeks taking a business idea from design thinking and prototype testing through market research to a business plan, with guest entrepreneurs, communication and networking practice, and a final team pitch competition.

Dates:

Jun 20 – Jul 3, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$5,075–$6,465

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Two weeks on marketing fundamentals from traditional campaigns to social media and data analytics, with industry speakers and a marketing firm visit, ending with students creating and pitching their own campaigns.

Dates:

Jun 13–26, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$5,075–$6,465

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Two weeks behind the scenes of the sports business, covering sports law, marketing, sponsorships, contract negotiation, facility and brand management, with industry executives and panel discussions.

Dates:

Jul 5–24, 2027

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$7,085–$9,085

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors; at least 15 by check-in (completed grades 9–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Three weeks exploring pathways to social change, including community-engaged research, organizing, direct service, policy advocacy and social entrepreneurship, through classes, workshops, small-group dialogues, reflection sessions and site visits in Washington, D.C.