Best college summer programs in STEM for high school students?

I'm very interested in STEM and I'm looking for summer programs that cater specifically to high school students. Do you know of any that are prestigious or would really help boost my college application?

Sure, there are quite a few esteemed summer programs for high school students with a focus on STEM. These programs let you delve deeper into specific STEM fields, potentially helping to strengthen your college application.

1. Research Science Institute (RSI): RSI is a free six-week program organized by MIT and the Center for Excellence in Education. It's renowned for offering research-intensive experiences, giving students the chance to conduct original, cutting-edge research in state-of-the-art university laboratories, hospitals, and corporate research facilities.

2. Summer Science Program (SSP): This six-week residential program is quite rigorous, focusing on astronomy and biochemistry. You'll get hands-on experience designing research projects, collecting data, and interpreting results.

3. MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science): Another free program hosted by MIT, MITES is a six-week residential program aimed at promoting minorities in STEM fields. It is competitive and offers rigorous academic instruction.

4. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR): An eight-week program where students are immersed in biomedical research. You'd be paired with a Stanford faculty member to conduct a specific research project in one of several placed research areas.

5. Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS): For those interested in math, PROMYS is a six-week summer program at Boston University designed to encourage motivated high school students to explore the creative world of mathematics.

Remember to take into consideration that the majority of these programs are highly selective and competitive, so it's important to prepare a strong application. The deadlines for these programs often fall in the earlier part of the year, so make sure to keep track and start working on your applications well in advance. Good luck with your exploration into STEM!