Summer programs for high school students offer a wide range of activities, everything from sleepaway camps to scientific research to chances to study abroad. Each of these programs is different, with their own strengths and offerings, but one thing students often find themselves grappling with is the simple question of where they鈥檙e going to stay during a summer program.听Many summer programs do offer housing to students, often included in the cost of the program. Others, however, take an approach which can best be described as 鈥淭hat sounds like a you problem.鈥� In this article, we鈥檙e going to look at how housing works for summer programs, briefly at those that provide it, and then more deeply at those who don鈥檛, and how students can deal with that while still taking advantage of some amazing programs. Let鈥檚 jump right in!
Summer Program Provided Housing
Many summer programs do provide housing for students. In sleepaway camps, of course, that鈥檚 part of the overall appeal, but this is true for many other programs as well. Generally, these programs take place at colleges, and students stay in dorms that are devoid of undergraduate students for the summer.
This is a good experience for students, and gives you a taste of college living. These dorms are generally gender segregated and supervised, but still offer a degree of freedom and flexibility, and are generally quite close to wherever on campus students are taking part in program activities. These programs often have after-hours activities as well, social events that take place in and around housing, much like you find at college.
Other summer programs offer housing because it鈥檚 structurally important to the program. Field schools, for example, are rare for high school students, but do include housing in the cost. So too do overseas programs, many of which have students stay with volunteer host families. For all of these, housing is part of the summer experience, and contributes to what you learn.
What to Bring
As a brief aside, we鈥檙e going to cover the things you should (and should not) bring with you to a summer program like this. The basics are well known of course; appropriate clothing and plenty of it, toothbrush, spending money, comfortable shoes; the things you鈥檇 take with you on every trip. Others, however, are far more situation dependent.
Many dorms require you to bring your own bedding, though this depends on the housing program; once you are accepted into one of these programs, they will have a list of things you will need to bring, check this carefully. Likewise, you鈥檒l need to bring your own towels and shampoo to dorms. Programs which have you staying in other locations, such as with host families when studying abroad, will have their own lists.
You should avoid bringing too much, or anything too big. You are only there for a short time after all, not moving in permanently like when you actually go to college. This is a taste, an appetizer, and should be treated as such.
Summer Programs Without Housing
Some summer programs do not provide housing at all. These are generally the smaller research internships, where you work in a lab on ongoing projects, getting a chance to contribute meaningfully to ongoing research (we鈥檒l have some examples of these programs later in this article). These programs do not provide housing, leaving students to fend for themselves.
Some of these programs limit applicants to local students for this reason, not wanting to force logistical challenges on students and their families. Others, however, are much broader in the students they鈥檒l take. If you are interested in one of these programs, we鈥檒l go through common housing options.
Friends or Family
It鈥檚 possible you have an aunt or cousin or some other relation who happens to live in the city where the program is based. This is extremely convenient if so, and solves the housing problem neatly if you are on good terms with them and they have room for you. This may not always happen, but is a good place to begin looking.
If you do stay with family, make sure to be a good guest. Do your share of the chores, pitch in where needed, and don鈥檛 cause them unnecessary hassle. After all, if you end up in a similar situation in the future, you want them to look back on the experience of having you as a guest with fondness.
Subletting and Short-Term Rentals
It is possible to rent apartments on a short term basis, especially in college towns, when many students leave for the summer. If you are under 18, you will not be able to do this yourself, but will need a parent to do the renting and paperwork. We advise looking for studios or other apartments where you can live alone, rather than sharing with roommates.
These can be quite expensive, but are generally cheaper than long term rentals. Cost, of course, depends on both city and area. You will be in charge of your own meals and maintaining your space if you do this, something both exciting and occasionally nerve wracking for high school students, but good experience for what鈥檚 to come. We advise having parents or other relatives visit regularly to make sure you鈥檙e settled, and to answer any questions you may have.
Sublets are usually furnished apartments, which is good, though you will need to bring your own sheets and towels, much like a dorm. The exact rules are dependent on the apartment, make sure to read them carefully before singing anything.
Extended Stay Hotels
Certain hotels offer discounts for extended rentals. These are generally more expensive than apartments, but can be a good option for shorter programs. Hotels will not rent out rooms to high school students, so your parent or guardian will need to do the checking in and pay for the room.听
Some of these offer kitchen spaces, others do not. This can be a downside, and leave you dependent on takeout or microwaveable meals, which can get both expensive and unhealthy. We advise looking for one with some kind of kitchen space, or only relying on hotels for shooter programs.
Summer Programs Without Housing
Now that we鈥檝e looked at how housing at summer programs works in general, we鈥檙e going to take a look at some great summer programs which do not provide housing to students. This is by no means going to be an exhaustive list, but serves instead to showcase the kinds of programs that have this setup.
(SIMR)
Run by Stanford University (as the name might suggest), this is an eight-week research program where students conduct hands-on research under the guidance of a mentor in one of Stanford鈥檚 medical labs. There are multiple different institutes within SIMR with different areas of focus, students are assigned to one to work at based on their interests.
The program is free to participants, with only a $50 application fee. There is, however, no housing provided. Indeed, this is what the program themselves has to say about housing:
While they do not limit the program to students who live in the area, it is limited based on your ability to find someplace to stay for the summer. The Bay Area particularly has a shortage of housing, so their concern here makes sense. This is a great program, but we advise not applying if you don鈥檛 have a sure place to stay for the eight week duration of the program.
(ARISE)
Run by the Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, this is a research internship for current sophomores, juniors, and seniors (who are at least 16), where they are paired with a research mentor and work under them for eight weeks in the summer. There is no cost for this program, indeed, interns are paid $18 an hour for their time and work.
The program does not provide housing of any kind. It is mainly intended for local students, but unlike SIMR, there is no requirement that you be one or show proof of housing when you apply; they simply state that finding housing is your responsibility, as is making it to the lab for the hours you are assigned.
This program is based in Madison, not a terribly large city, and with the university there is a plethora of housing options, as we discussed previously in this article. Many of the programs which do not provide housing do provide a stipend or payment, as this one does. This may not be enough to fully defray the costs of the program or rent, but can make them more attainable for students without significant financial resources.
Run by the American Chemical Society, this project serves to partner high school students with research labs across the country. Students then work in these labs for eight to ten weeks over the summer (duration dependent on the lab). What you do specifically depends on the lab itself, but all students get hands on lab and research experience, learning under an experienced mentor.
Students from all over are eligible to apply, but housing and transportation are not provided by the program. They advise only applying to labs you can commute to. The program is free of charge, and a $4,000 stipend is awarded to participants who complete the entire summer.
You must be within 300% of federal poverty guidelines to be eligible for this program. You must be a current sophomore, junior, or senior, have taken at least one course in chemistry, and demonstrate significant interest in the field of chemistry. Prior lab experience is preferred, but not required.
Final Thoughts
Summer programs provide amazing opportunities for students, not least of which is a chance to try for some limited independence, living away from home, managing their own schedule, and getting a small taste of what life will be like in college and beyond. This can be challenging, but that challenge is part of the excitement, and a major part of any significant learning experience.
Not every program is a good fit for every student, and not every housing experience is either. Some students may thrive living in college dorms, others may prefer to stay with family. Some programs will take a student to new heights, others may do nothing for them at all. If you are looking for assistance finding the best summer programs to fit your needs, then 吃瓜官网 can help. Our mentors are skilled at helping students get to the root of their interests, and finding the best programs to support their desires. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we鈥檙e always happy to hear from you.
