UCLA Summer Institute // Short + Sweet

This is when it starts: Applying for prestigious summer programs that serve as a conduit for academic enrichment and, let's be honest, that wow the admissions committees.

You already go to school for 10 or so months out of the year, taking AP and Honors classes, so what's the big deal? Well, the big deal is that you want to show the admissions committees that you understand the value of learning outside of the traditional classroom. Colleges want to know that you understand that learning is a way of life, not just something that just starts and stops at the chime of a school bell.

And, no, you don't have to do something crazy like conducting hardcore science research under a Nobel Laureate (unless if you want to). There are programs out there that you would actually want to pursue.

UCLA hosts a litany of summer institutes geared toward high schools students-- long-term programs and short-term intensive programs. And, some of them are actually interesting.

Teen ArchStudio // For those who are interested in Architecture

List of the Short-Term Intensive Programs

Art Institute

Dance - Theater Intensive

Design | Media Arts Institute

Global/Green Business Week for Young Leaders

International Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs: Model United Nations

Mock Trial Institute

Nanoscience Lab

Sci | Art NanoLab

Teen ArchStudio

Writing Workshop