There are a couple of things that can fit under the broader umbrella of summer programs but for the sake of this specific post a summer program will be defined as a program, taking place during the summer, that is sponsored by a university, college, school or private organization.
- A summer program can be anywhere from 4 days to 10 weeks or more.
- More often than not the day to day activities of the program will be decided by the institution or organization.
- Each summer program will have its own specific purpose. This purpose varies and it is up to the student to decide which program best matches their interests and their goals.
- For example, if you are interested in getting an introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship you might want to take USC’s Exploring Entrepreneurship[link] 4 week summer program whereas if you are more interested in gender studies you might want to take Wellesley College’s 4 week Pre-College Immersive Program and choose the Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies[link] elective.
How is a summer program different from an internship?
As stated above each summer program has a direct focus and the curriculum is created by the institution or organization to push students toward that focus. What this means is that, as a rule of thumb, you know exactly what will happen on a day to day basis. When researching the summer program of your choice many will provide sample schedules for the days or weeks that you will be a part of the program.
An internship works differently. Some universities and private organizations will provide pathways to internships. For example, Boston University offers a six week RISE internship[link] and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers a minimum 8 week Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research [link]. However, unlike with summer programs there is no set schedule for these internships. In partnership with a professor, scientist, or professional in the field you will be conducting your own research or working on a project that has already been established. It will be up to you and your mentor as to how each day will play out.
In Conclusion
That doesn’t mean that you can’t think of an internship as a summer program but it does mean that not all summer programs are internships. This is where research is crucial. You have to know what it is that you want from a summer opportunity. Are you looking for a a program that will let you explore a major you are considering but you don’t want it to be too intensive? Then you might consider an NSLC or NYLF program[links]. Easy to get into, short and not very intensive. Maybe you’re thinking of an opportunity where you get that every day guidance, have a set schedule but also mixes in the opportunity for you to do research you are interested in. Well then you might like the UC COSMOS program[link]. On the other hand, if you are looking for that opportunity to really test your skills and make concerted efforts in your field of choice then you can consider more research intensive internship type summer programs such as The Garcia Center for Polymers Research Scholar Program at Stony Brook University. [link]
So what should you look for when deciding on a summer program? Check back next week when we discuss this topic. [when that article comes out this can be changed to a link to that article]