MIT is well-known not only for its tough academic environment but also for providing transformative experiences for high school students. For individuals looking to delve deeper into STEM disciplines, entrepreneurship, or research, Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students offer an opportunity to pursue their interests and gain practical experience. In this article, we’ll look at some of the popular summer programs at MIT for high school students in 2025, highlighting opportunities that promise to push and inspire students to achieve new heights in their academic and personal development.
Research Science Institute (RSI)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a prestigious six-week Summer Program at MIT for High School Students designed for juniors who demonstrate exceptional talent in the STEM fields. The program begins with a week of intensive classes led by outstanding professors that cover advanced themes in scientific theory. It is then followed by a five-week research internship, during which students work on specific projects under the supervision of experienced mentors. These mentors are often scientists and researchers from MIT and other prestigious universities. The program is held on the MIT campus.
Eligibility: Every year, over 3,000 people apply to the Research Science Institute program. Approximately 80 students are chosen, with roughly one-third coming from international backgrounds.
Application: The application process includes submitting transcripts, standardized test scores, recommendation letters, and a research proposal. Applicants are assessed on their academic performance and potential for research.
Test scores: PSAT/SAT with a Math score of at least 740 and an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) score of at least 700. ACT with a Math score of at least 33 and a Verbal score of at least 341.
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MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
The MIT BWSI is a four-week program that typically runs during the summer, and is one of the prestigious Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students. It allows high school pupils to engage in sophisticated technological projects, offering them practical skills in areas such as robotics, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI).
BWSI provides a variety of project-based, workshop-style courses that address advanced STEM topics. For example, the Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix teaches students about autonomous systems by programming a small racecar to navigate a challenging track. Build a CubeSat allows students to design and build a miniature satellite while learning about space systems engineering.
Eligibility: BWSI accepts high school juniors and seniors with a solid foundation in math and science. As one of the Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, it is free but highly competitive, requiring a teacher recommendation and proof of the student’s STEM aptitude.
Application: Students must first take an online preparatory course. After successfully completing the course, individuals can apply for the summer program. The application often includes essays, instructor recommendations, and standardized exam scores.
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Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
The Women’s Technology Program (WTP) at MIT is a 4-week, highly selective summer program, and one of the prominent Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, designed to expose high school junior girls to engineering and computer science. The initiative aims to inspire young women with little or no prior engineering experience to pursue STEM careers, especially in fields historically underrepresented by women.The focus of WTP in 2024 is on mechanical engineering. Students get the opportunity to explore concepts in statics and dynamics, material science and machine design.
Eligibility: The program targets high school juniors who will be rising seniors during the summer. As one of the exclusive Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, only around 60 students are accepted each year based on academic performance, teacher recommendations, and personal essays demonstrating the applicant’s motivation and potential for success in engineering.
Application: The application is free, and it also includes sponsored housing, meals, and supplies. The program opens in November and closes in January.
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MIT Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
The MIT Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES) program is a six-week summer experience, and one of the highly regarded Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, designed for high school juniors interested in pursuing careers in STEM. During the program, students take rigorous courses in calculus, physics, life sciences, and humanities. These courses are comparable to freshman-level college coursework, providing participants with a solid foundation in STEM.
Eligibility: MITES is geared toward high school juniors, particularly those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds in STEM. As one of the inclusive Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, it aims to support racial and ethnic minorities (such as African Americans, Hispanic students, and Native Americans), low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.
Application: The application includes essays, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores (PSAT, SAT, or ACT), and a demonstration of academic excellence and interest in STEM. The program enrols about 70 students at each intake. The application and program are free for all enrolled participants.
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LaunchX
LaunchX is a prominent entrepreneurship program for high school students that teaches them how to launch a start-up company. As one of the sought-after Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, LaunchX offers an intense summer experience where students acquire entrepreneurial skills through hands-on learning and practical experiences. While the program is not officially organized by MIT, its organizers collaborate with prestigious institutions like MIT, Northwestern University, and the University of Pennsylvania, utilizing these top-ranking schools as hosting locations. This makes LaunchX one of the notable Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students interested in entrepreneurship.
Throughout the program, participants collaborate in teams to develop their company concepts into viable enterprises. The process entails market research, product creation, prototyping, business modeling, and pitching to investors or mentors.
Eligibility: LaunchX is targeted towards high school students and the selection criteria are based on students having an entrepreneurial mindset, collaboration skill, leadership potential and academic performance on math, science and business.
Application: Students need to write essays that showcase their entrepreneurial spirit, leadership experiences, problem-solving abilities, and reasons for wanting to join the program.
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Summer Springboard Fundamentals of Engineering
The Summer Springboard Fundamentals of Engineering program is a two-week immersive experience at MIT, and one of the highly sought-after Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students. It is designed to introduce participants to various branches of engineering, focusing on hands-on learning and problem-solving.
The curriculum covers essential concepts in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and civil engineering, along with robotics and computer programming. As part of this Summer Program at MIT for High School Students, participants also receive an introduction to MATLAB, a powerful computational programming language widely used in scientific and engineering applications. This allows students to apply their programming skills to real-world engineering challenges.
Eligibility: The program is opened to all high school students
Application: Application details for the year 2025 are released! The program costs $5,498 for residential students and $3,198 for commuter tuition. The program is highly competitive, accepting only 15-20 students per session. There are two available sessions: one starting on June 22, 2025, and another on July 4, 2025.
Test scores: TOEFL of 490 on paper test or 60 on iBT test, 450 in SAT Reading/Writing.
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MIT Mathroots
MIT MathRoots is a two-week summer program hosted by MIT PRIMES, and it is one of the esteemed Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, designed to accelerate the mathematical talent of high-potential high school students. The program takes place on the MIT campus during the summer.
An example of a past project might be exploring graph theory applications, where students investigate the properties of various graph types and their uses in computer science, such as network design and social network analysis. This makes MathRoots an excellent choice among the Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students interested in deepening their mathematical knowledge and skills.
Eligibility: The program is aimed at rising high school seniors with a strong passion for mathematics, particularly those from disadvantaged or underserved communities.
Application: MIT Mathroots enrols around 20 students each time.
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MIT offers a selection of highly prestigious and immersive Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students, providing exceptional opportunities for academic advancement, hands-on research, and personal growth. Whether your interests lie in mathematics, science, engineering, or innovation, programs such as RSI, MathRoots, and MITES allow you to explore your passions in depth while connecting with like-minded peers from across the globe. These Summer Programs at MIT for High School Students are designed to inspire and equip the next generation of leaders in STEM fields.
