Summer Programs near DC that don’t cost the world

Image of student using a soundboard

George Mason

Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Commuter or Remote: Students who live in Northern Virginia and can commute to one of three GMU sites or students looking for a remote science research project from anywhere can join the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) to work “one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason University and collaborating institutions using state-of-the-art technology across many disciplines”. Program costs are approximately $1300 covering 8 weeks of research mentorship and 3 college credit hours transcripted as “COS120: Introduction to Research”. 

https://science.gmu.edu/assip

Conflict Resolution Youth Summit

4 day program in June costing under $900. Provides experiential learning in “leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and community engaged dialogue “.

https://carterschool.gmu.edu/prospective-students/conflict-resolution-youth-summit

University of Lynchburg

Summer Scholars Institute

A bit further away from DC, students interested in Health Professions can enroll in this fully residential, one-week program for less than $1000. 

MICA Summer Pre-College programs in the Arts

2 and 4 week programs help students considering a major in the arts experience life at art school. Fields include traditional studio arts as well as Graphic Novels, Animation, Product Design and Textiles/Fashion. 

https://www.mica.edu/academics/youth-and-teen-programs/programs-for-teens/precollege

Virginia Tech

C-TECH 2 – Biomedical Engineering

Students will explore the field of engineering by participating in hands-on sessions with faculty from across VT’s engineering faculty. Each student will perform one “biomedical engineering themed design project”. Program is residential for 2 weeks for $2500

https://eng.vt.edu/ceed/ceed-pre-college-programs/c-tech2.html

University of Mary Washington

Summer Enrichment Program

One week program in mid-July for 10th-12th graders includes exploratory courses in an amazing (and unique) set of fields. Fully residential and only $1200 including off-site trips. 

Hampton University

Rising Seniors or Graduating High Schoolers considering an HBCU will especially benefit from Hampton’s 5-week long summer “Rising Seniors” or “Summer Only” program (including options for students between high school and college) earning college credit in two common general-ed requirements: history, oral communications, or a social science for only $2660 including tuition, room and board. The program does not include as much social programming as the other programs; students should be prepared to live pretty independently.

James Madison

Summer Honors Institute

This non-credit, one-week program with hands on seminar experiences with JMU faculty is only $1500, covering all academic and residential expenses. Students will take one college-style seminar every morning and choose from several elective workshops across the campus’s academic fields each afternoon.

https://www.jmu.edu/outreach/programs/all/honorscamp/index.shtml

Major Spotlight: Occupational Therapy

Students who want to help people, but not go into healthcare or teaching could consider Occupational Therapy. OT’s help people with physical, mental or educational impairments become more independent. This field is a combination of problem-solving, inventive thinking, and building client confidence and motivation. Colleges in the mid-Atlantic with great OT programs include:

  • Shenandoah’s 6 year combination BS and Doctorate is for students who are confident in choosing OT for their career. Shenandoah is a little over an hour outside of DC and also has great programs in theater.
  • Duquesne University offers a 4.5 year BS and MS in Occupational Therapy, closely aligned in the first year with a variety of other health sciences majors.
  • Long Island University’s BS/MS in Occupational Therapy can be declared as a major after an initial year of exploratory studies and prerequisite fulfillment.