2026 Best Summer Programs
An increasing number of selective colleges now scrutinize how applicants spend their summers during high school. In response to this trend, thousands of providers鈥搃ncluding both universities and private companies鈥搊ffer academically-themed summer programs for teens. These programs vary from free-to-extremely expensive, and highly-selective-to-open enrollment. With such a bevy of options, teens will likely need expert guidance in order to successfully locate an ideal-fit program that will fully support their future academic and career dreams.聽
To answer this need, our list of the Best Summer Programs is here to serve as your comprehensive guide. For your convenience, the list is sortable by discipline and location and contains relevant data and information about each recommended program.
- Designed for high school students interested in medicine and the life sciences, with online coursework developed and taught by Harvard Medical School faculty and experts.
- Students complete a final project and earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School鈥檚 Pre-College Online Program.
- Courses available in areas such as medicine, medical research, biochemistry, genetics, immunology, pharmacology, and physiology.
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Residential -
Online Option - Min. Session Length: 2-4 weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program
- Washington, D.C.
- Students 13 and up are eligible to participate.
- Multi-length enrichment and college-credit bearing courses are available online throughout the year.
- Choose from a variety of different course subjects, including medicine, leadership, law, psychology, investing, marketing, and more.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week (2, 4-week also available)
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 13+
Wake Forest Online Immersion Program
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Designed for high school students ages 13 and up, the Wake Forest Online Immersion Program offers a variety of courses taught by Wake Forest professors.
- All courses culminate in a Final Capstone Project that allows students to demonstrate what they’ve learned in the program and students will earn a Certificate of Completion from Wake Forest University
- Courses are currently available in areas such as: Business, Medicine, Cancer, Psychology, Sports Medicine, Bioscience, Women’s Medicine, Investing, and Law.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1, 2, & 4-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
Rice University Precollege Program
- Houston, Texas
- Online courses are available year-round to students 13 and older.
- Dive deeper into topics such as genome engineering, physiology, aerospace, law, economics, and more.
- Courses culminate in a special capstone project.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: Multi-length courses available year-round
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 13+
Dartmouth Precollege Online Program
- Hanover, NH
- With flexible, dynamic lessons and mentor support, students 13 and older can explore multiple fields of study and find their passion from the comfort of home.
- Each course concludes with a final capstone project and students will earn a Certificate of Completion from Dartmouth.
- Current course offerings are available in disciplines like: Finance, Entrepreneurship, Law, Psychology, Regenerative Medicine, and Biology.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1, 2, & 4-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
William & Mary Pre-College Online Program
- Williamsburg, VA
- Designed for high school students ages 13 and up, and offers a range of compelling topics, covered in-depth, through online coursework led by William & Mary professors.
- All students complete a final culminating project and earn a Certificate of Completion from William & Mary.
- Courses available in Constitutional Law, Medicine, Cognitive Psychology, and Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2-4 weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program
- Notre Dame, IN
- Students 13 and older can study with Notre Dame faculty anywhere, anytime, at their own pace, since the program is available year-round.
- Upon successfully completing a course’s capstone project, participants will earn a Certificate of Completion from the University of Notre Dame.
- Current course offerings are in the areas of Biology, Business, Finance, Law, Medical Research, and Psychology.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2-4 weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13 and up
Northwestern Pre-College Online Program
- Evanston, IL
- Online courses are taught by renowned Northwestern University faculty and feature dynamic video lessons and interactive tools.
- All students complete a Final Capstone Project. Upon successful completion of a course, students will earn a Certificate of Completion from Northwestern University.
- Available courses are available in areas such as: Artificial Intelligence, Law, Medical Research, Business Innovation, Psychology, Engineering, Medicine, and the Business of Sports.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2-4 weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 13+
- Virtual summer options for elementary, middle, and high school learners.
- A variety of asynchronous academic courses that enable students to complete a semester of coursework in 4 weeks or a full year’s curriculum in 8 weeks.
- Courses include: Algebra and Honors Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, Calculus, AP: Calculus AB + BC, Computer Science, Statistics
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4-Week & 8-Week Options
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: K-12
LaunchX
- California & Online
- Hands-On Entrepreneurship: Students build real startups, solve authentic business problems, or work directly with early-stage companies through immersive in-person and online programs.
- Multiple Program Formats: Offers residential programs in San Diego as well as several online options, ranging from intensive startup accelerators to part-time startup placements.
- Selective & Impact-Driven: Designed for motivated high school students seeking practical experience in innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship that translates into compelling college applications.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2-week sessions
- Application Deadline: March 4
- Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
Integem
- California & Online
- Designed for students interested in artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, AR/VR, game design, research, and entrepreneurship.
- Programs emphasize hands-on, project-based learning, allowing students to build AI robots and drones, create immersive 3D AR games and animations, and develop real-world technical portfolios.
- Offerings include AI & Robotics Programs, Frontier Research with PhD mentors, and an online Startup Academy focused on turning ideas into real ventures, with options available both in-person (California) and online.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 6-18
- Selective Summer at Hopkins programs offering college-level academics for high school students.
- Options include two-week Pre-College Programs, Summer Term courses, and the five-week Next Generation Scholars Academy.
- Courses are offered online and on campus in Baltimore, with opportunities to earn academic credit.
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Residential
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Online
- Min. Session Length: 2-weeks
- Application Deadline: 3/10/26
- Eligibility: Rising 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th
Montclair State University Pre-College Summer
- Montclair, NJ
- Residential pre-college program offering one-week academic intensives for high school students.
- Programs span STEM, business, arts, education, psychology, law, and the performing arts.
- Proximity to New York City allows for experiential learning and field-based exploration.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, & 12th
Where There Be Dragons – Summer Abroad
- Multiple Locations
- Offers Summer Abroad programs (2-6 weeks) and Gap Year semesters (6 weeks to 3 months) for high school and college students.
- An industry-leading ratio of 4:1 of 12 students to 3 instructors.
- 2026 locations include China, Nepal, Indonesia, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Guatemala, Cambodia, Bolivia, and more.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 10 Days - 6 Weeks
- Minimum Costs: $5,550 - $9,950
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 15-22
St. John’s College Summer Academy
- Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NM
- The summer program is modeled after St. John鈥檚 discussion-based, interdisciplinary method of teaching great books.
- Available in-person at the Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico campuses, as well as online.
- 2026 sessions include: Week with Shakespeare, Sight and Insight, Wisdom and Wilderness, Courage and the Soul, and more.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: 5/1/26 (Priority)
- Eligibility: Ages 15-18
Eckerd College Pre-College
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Designed to challenge your imagination and encourage your creative growth.
- Our programs immerse you in accelerated hands-on learning experiences that combine classes led by Eckerd College faculty, guest speakers, collaborative workshops, and off-site trips.
- Programs include: Marine Science, AI Ethics & Technology, Coastal & Wildlife Ecology, Animal Studies, and Sharks & Rays.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, & 12th*
SOCAPA (School of Creative and Performing Arts)
- NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, Burlington VT
- Offers 2 and 3-week Summer Intensives in Acting & Musical Theatre, Dance, Filmmaking, Music, & Photography.
- Online 6-week option is available in Screenwriting during the academic year.
- Locations include NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Burlington, VT.
- Students ages 14-18 are eligible for this residential program aimed at creative teens.聽
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2, 3 & 6-week sessions
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 9th-12th grade
Vanderbilt Summer Academy
- Nashville, TN
- One-week and two-week summer courses are offered through Vanderbilt University鈥檚 Programs for Talented Youth.
- VSA courses are accelerated and designed to meet the needs of gifted and high-ability students.
- With up to 6 hours of academic activities per day, participants will stretch their intellectual boundaries while enjoying life on this beautiful Nashville campus.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 1-2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Grades 7-12
The Summer Liberal Arts Institute – Carleton College
- Northfield, MN
- Live and learn like a college student for 1, 2, or 3 weeks this summer at one of Carleton College’s Pre-College Programs.
- Test-drive what a liberal arts college is like before applying, boost your college applications with hands-on academics, and create new friendships.
- Unique interdisciplinary courses and topics, including Computer Science, Humanities, Neuroscience, Music, Sports Analytics, and more!
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Residential
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Online Option
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College Credit
- Min. Session Length: 1-3 Weeks
- Minimum Costs: $1,500
- Application Deadlines: 2/2/26 & 3/2/26
- Eligibility: Current 9th, 10th, 11th
- A full virtual program that allows you to complete up to two semesters of college language coursework in just two summer months.
- Enjoy full immersion into the Chinese, Japanese, and Russian languages from home.
- 3.5 or 7-week sessions at the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 3.5 weeks/7 weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: HS & College Students, Adult Language Lovers
Barnard College Pre-College Programs
- New York, NY
- The NextGen Leadership Institute & The Athena Summer Innovation Institute offer 3-week course options.
- The Pre-Baccalaureate Program is 7 weeks long and allows students to earn college credit.
- Experience NYC while learning from Barnard faculty with bright students from around the globe.
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Residential
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Online Option
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Commuter Option
- Min. Session Length: 3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, 12th
National Student Leadership Conference
- Multiple Locations
- The NSLC hosts programs in 30 different career areas at 14 top universities across the US as well as in Canada and the UK.
- Offerings range from artificial intelligence to fashion design to marine biology.
- Students engage in hands-on education across different fields of study and gain authentic college experiences that prepare them for their futures.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 6-18 days
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 6th-12th Graders
MasterScholar Pre-College Summer Programs
- New York, NYC; NJ, NC, & CA
- Selective, hands-on academic summer courses covering a wide range of subject areas all focused on research skill-building, academic writing, and critical thinking.
- Programs hosted on-campus at Barnard College of Columbia University and University of California, Santa Barbara; additional programs are hosted in collaboration with faculty from Princeton University and Duke University.
- Offerings range across the social sciences, humanities, and STEM disciplines.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 2-3 Weeks
- Application Deadline: 6/10/25
- Eligibility: High school & gap year students, 15-19
- A selective, six-week online experience for ambitious high school students looking to develop leadership skills, business acumen, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Daily interactive seminars led by Harvard faculty, Forbes 30 Under 30 investors, and top executives covering topics in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
- In addition to classes, workshops, and mentorship, EVERY student at VTSP gets an internship at a startup!
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: 2/28 (Early); 4/14 (Regular)
- Eligibility: High School/Gap Year
- Online courses and internships available in Business, Medicine, Law, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, International Relations, Creative Writing, and Career Exploration.
- All programs are taught by world-elite instructors from top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard
- Each course has a version for ages 12-14 and one for ages 15-18.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 12-18
Seville Abroad
- Seville, Spain
- Offers immersive educational experiences that allow students to fully embrace Spanish culture while gaining valuable academic and personal growth.
- Programs provide an authentic, enriching journey through Spain, whether you’re a high school student, a gap-year traveler, or part of an educational tour.
- With Seville Abroad, you will find your second home away, a place you will always want to go back to and an experience which will live long in your memory!
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: 13-18 years old
MundoLengua: Transformative Life-Changing Spanish Programs
- Seville & C谩diz, Spain
- Flexible programs in Seville and C谩diz combine 1-3 weeks duration, AP庐 and IB庐 academic options, and interactive Spanish immersion experiences.
- Small groups and personalized guidance create a supportive, home-away-from-home environment with close teacher interaction and trusted host families.
- Cultural engagement beyond the classroom fosters independence, confidence, and global awareness through local traditions, guided visits, and community-based experiences.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1-3 Weeks
- Cost: $2,990 - $4,100
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 14-17
Futures Forge – Skills for Success
- Boston, MA
- Learn about, and practice, the skills and attributes that are critical to success in college and your career 鈥� but aren鈥檛 taught in conventional schooling.
- Rapidly accelerate your development, working with exceptional peers in dynamic, challenging, and exciting projects.
- 2-week session held in Boston for students 15-19.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 2 Weeks
- Application Deadline: April 7 & Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 15-19 (+ Testing Requirement)
- 3-week and 5-week options that allow for a meaningful immersive language experience and a comprehensive exploration of rural Spain.
- LITA offers small, intimate groups of 12-16 students and three group leaders leading to personal, highly authentic immersive experiences.
- Exciting opportunities for community internships and self-directed research projects.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 3-5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, 12th
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Pre-College Programs
- Savannah & Atlanta, GA
- SCAD offers two engaging pre-college programs to ignite your creativity, SCAD Summer Seminars and SCAD Rising Star.
- The Rising Star program runs from June 29-July 25th; Summer Seminars are six-day sessions in June/July.
- Course options include fashion, film, game design, illustration, graphic design, and more.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week - 4 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 14-18
Alfred University Summer Programs
- Alfred, NY
- Offers 30 different Residential Academic Institutes, Residential Sports Clinics, and Day Sports Prospect Clinics.
- Each Academic Institute or Sports Clinic is staffed by a faculty member or coach, who will be able to both educate and challenge students with a college level experience in a safe and supportive environment.
- 2025 offerings include Auditioning for Theater & Film, Songwriting in the Natural World, Darkroom Photography, Astronomy, Media & Politics, Emerging Curators, and more!
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Residential
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Online
- Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Future Physicians America
- Orlando, FL
- Students in our 6-week program publish in PubMed indexed medical journals as first authors. These are the same journals read by academic physicians, not a high school journal.
- Participants present their research at the Annual SE Society of Academic Emergency Medicine meeting, alongside residents, medical students and faculty.
- The program is taught by board-certified practicing physicians, who are medical school faculty.
- The 6-week program also has built in physician shadowing opportunities.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1-6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Grades 4-12
Miami University Summer Scholars Program
- Oxford, OH
- 1-week, in-person sessions on campus at the Miami University.
- Course offerings in engineering, business, art, science, fashion, architecture, health professions, media production, computer science, and more.
- Students participate in lively discussions, hands-on projects, and real-world experiences with our faculty.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 1 Week
- Application Deadline: 5/1/25
- Eligibility: Rising Juniors and Rising Seniors
Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions
- Albuquerque, NM
- Summer Treks are open to students 8-18 and offer hiking, hands-on science, cultural exploration, and place-based education in the American Southwest.
- Cottonwood Gulch uses a project-based experiential learning model to provide a framework for learning, which involves negotiation, compromise, dissonance, challenge, and evolving perspectives.
- A wide array of treks are available including a Prairie Trek, a Southwest Art Trek, a Mountain Desert Trek, a Paleontology Trek, a Family Trek, and more!
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Residential
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Online Option
- Session Length: 1-5 Weeks
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Eligibility: Ages 8-18
- Students can choose from Acting on Camera, Screenwriting, or Production.
- Core and elective courses are art of the program.聽
- Most accepted students hail from the top 30% of their high school class.
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Residential
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Online Option
- Min. Session Length: 4鈥�6 Weeks
- Application Deadline: March/Rolling
- Eligibility: 10th, 11th, 12th
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