UCLA's Summer Session: Our Review
If you’re a high school student looking for a variety of summer programs to engage with right before joining university, you may want to consider opportunities at UCLA.
UCLA hosts a number of programs, including
Summer Online Courses - these are singular courses that allow you to learn alongside UCLA students, and gain a sense of what college/upper-level academics will be like. These courses are offered in person.
Summer Intensives - A more credit-based offering, you can attend Summer Intensives online, and complete coursework in 3 weeks, as opposed to the regular timeline that spans for 4+ weeks.
Pre-College Summer Institutes - This offering allows you to take course(s) in a subject of your choice for a period of 1-3 weeks, and engage with theory, hands-on projects and performances, field visits, and guest lectures, to name a few.
Summer Immersion Programs - These are comprehensive programs that are most popular among students that wish to experience college-level academics, campus life, and network with peers and professors before applying to university after their senior year. Summer Immersion Programs are quite holistic, and are split into three components, offering further flexibility. We will be covering this offering in more detail in this blog.
Now, let's dive into a quick overview of the Summer Immersion Program at UCLA.
UCLA’s Summer Immersion Programs present an opportunity for talented high school students to immerse themselves in college life alongside UCLA undergraduates while gaining both an introduction to the collegiate experience and gain college course credit at the same time.
Each program is designed to replicate the undergraduate environment, granting students access to a diverse array of UCLA's academic expertise and resources through engaging lectures, workshops, seminars, and actual UCLA coursework.
1. Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP)
SCIP differs from UCLA’s other summer session programs because it incorporates co-curricular elements alongside rigorous academics. This is to help foster a balance between social and academic success, something that will help you before you embark on your college journey.
Upon completion of SCIP, participants will not only earn college credit but also receive a program certificate. Additionally, they will develop valuable skills in managing college applications, academics, and university life, equipping them for future success.
Important SCIP dates to keep in mind:
Program Dates: June 26 – August 4 (6 weeks)
Program Type: Admission based / In-person
Program Eligibility: 10th – 11th grade in Spring 2023 / 3.5+ GPA
Application Opens: January 3 (Early Action – encouraged) / February 15 (Official Application – required)
Application Deadline: April 1 (Students who require a visa) / May 1 (Domestic U.S. Students)
Decision Deadline: April 15 (Students who require a visa) / May 15 (Domestic U.S. Students)
SCIP is a prestigious summer program with a highly competitive admissions process. To be considered eligible, you must be enrolled in Grades 10-11 as of Spring 2023, with a minimum of a 3.5 unweighted GPA at the time of application.
SCIP encourages students to apply during Early Action (January 3 – February 14) for earlier application review, which will also help you filter out other potential summer programs. If accepted in Early Action, you will be required to complete your Official Application starting February 15, additionally, If you do not apply for Early Action, you will need to submit your Official Application starting February 15.
A copy of your full and completed high school transcript is also required (from 9th grade to present).
Along with your transcript, your resume should include extracurricular activities that speak to who you are and what you are passionate about. Participation in school clubs and programs, along with work experience, leadership roles, awards, and recognitions should be included. A description and timeline of each extracurricular activity should be included.
SCIP also requires a Statement of Purpose as an opportunity to provide the review committee with a preview of who you are, your reasons for applying, and/or how you may benefit from attending SCIP.
If you are an international student who requires a visa to attend, you must review the SCIP’s Unit Requirement and English proficiency requirements that cover the details pertaining to F-1 visa eligibility, requirements, and applications. It also may be helpful to quickly gloss over UCLA Summer Session’s International Student Information page.
2. Summer College Immersion Program + Research (SCIP+)
The UCLA Summer College Immersion Program + Research program differs from SCIP in its emphasis on research and academic discovery. While it does not include physical lab work, SCIP+ is designed to replicate the undergraduate experience, granting students the opportunity to utilize UCLA's extensive academic resources and expertise via UCLA Summer Sessions and the Undergraduate Research Center (URC). SCIP+ students, like SCIP students, will receive college credit, a certificate of completion, and the introductory research skills to successfully manage college academics.
Important SCIP+ dates to keep in mind:
Program Dates: June 26 – August 4 (6 weeks)
Program Type: Admission based / In-person
Program Eligibility: 10th – 11th grade in Spring 2023 / 3.5+ GPA
Application Opens: January 3 (Early Action – encouraged) / February 15 (Official Application – required)
Application Deadline: April 1 (Students who require a visa) / May 1 (Domestic U.S. Students)
Decision Deadline: April 15 (Students who require a visa) / May 15 (Domestic U.S. Students)
Like with SCIP applications, you will be encouraged to apply during Early Action (January 3 – February 14) for earlier application review and you again will be required to complete your Official Application starting February 15. If you do not apply for Early Action, you will need to submit your Official Application starting February 15.
The SCIP+ application requirements and deadlines are the same as SCIP with the exception of the Statement of Purpose bumping up from 500 words total to 1,000 with two new prompts.
3. SCIP Online (eSCIP)
Offering a fully virtual version of SCIP, eSCIP provides the opportunity for students from all over the world to access UCLA’s Summer Session Program from the comfort of their homes.
Designed to emulate a virtual undergraduate experience, eSCIP provides students access to a broad range of UCLA’s academic expertise and resources through virtual lectures, workshops, and seminars, as well as UCLA coursework.
Important eSCIP dates to keep in mind:
Program Dates: June 26 – August 4 (6 weeks)
Program Type: Admission based / Online
Program Eligibility: 10th – 11th grade in Spring 2023 / 3.5+ GPA
Application Opens: January 3 (Early Action – encouraged) / February 15 (Official Application – required)
Application Deadline: May 1
Decision Deadline: May 15
Like with SCIP and SCIP+, you are encouraged to apply during Early Action (January 3 – February 14). The Statement of Purpose for eSCIP is back down to 500 words with yet another prompt.
Note that UCLA also offers a variety of other pre-college programs for high school students, more details of which you can find here.
Our Review
All three of UCLA’s Summer Sessions boast of different qualities. However, unless there is a specific purpose behind joining a research-intensive summer program, SCIP seems to be the optimal choice out of the three. If eSCIP is truly the same as SCIP, just virtual, thenit is recommended that you opt for the on-campus dorm experience, as it is quite important to make connections and network, and experience academics on campus more holistically than through an online experience.
Additionally, you can also work on independent research in AI, through Veritas AI's Fellowship Program!
Veritas AI focuses on providing high school students who are passionate about the field of AI a suitable environment to explore their interests. The programs include collaborative learning, project development, and 1-on-1 mentorship.
These programs are designed and run by Harvard graduate students and alumni and you can expect a great, fulfilling educational experience. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of Python or are recommended to complete the AI scholars program before pursuing the fellowship.
The AI Fellowship program will have students pursue their own independent AI research project. Students work on their own individual research projects over a period of 12-15 weeks and can opt to combine AI with any other field of interest. In the past, students have worked on research papers in the field of AI & medicine, AI & finance, AI & environmental science, AI & education, and more! You can find examples of previous projects here.
Location: Virtual
Cost:
$1,790 for the 10-week AI Scholars program
$4,900 for the 12-15 week AI Fellowship
$4,700 for both
Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Applications for fall cohort have closed September 3, 2023.
Program dates: Various according to the cohort
Program selectivity: Moderately selective
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit past experience with AI concepts or Python.
Application Requirements: Online application form, answers to a few questions pertaining to the students background & coding experience, math courses, and areas of interest.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!
This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are passionate about research, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Mandy Brenner is a current junior at Harvard University. She is concentrating in History and Literature and loves to read and write in her free time.
Image Source: UCLA Newsroom