Secondary School Program (4-week)

What this program actually is

Secondary School Program (4-week) is a pre-college run by Harvard University. It's built for 9th grade–12th grade students who want to work in person alongside Harvard University on work in your field of interest.

There is a program cost. Check the official site for need-based aid; many similar programs offer partial or full scholarships and don't advertise them prominently.

Who it's for

Programs like this get the strongest applications from students who can point to a specific reason they want this one — not just "any research program" or "any internship."

• Students in 9th grade–12th grade — check the official page for exact grade cutoffs before applying.
• Open to students nationwide (and often internationally — verify on the official site).

Typical day-to-day in programs like this

The following describes what participants generally do in pre-colleges of this shape — not a confirmed schedule for Secondary School Program (4-week). Always check the official program page for the actual activities.

• Engage with a structured program in your field of interest.
• Meet peers and mentors you wouldn't otherwise cross paths with.
• Leave with something concrete — a project, credential, network, or a clearer sense of what to do next.

How to apply well

Selection is competitive but not unrealistic. A thoughtful application usually beats a decorated one.

• Start with the deadline: unknown. Work backwards — most students underestimate how long recommendations and essay drafts take.
• Read the official page twice before writing anything. Note the exact prompts and word counts.
• Answer the actual question. Reviewers read hundreds of essays; specificity beats polish.
• Submit at least 24 hours before the deadline. Portals crash. Files fail to upload. Give yourself the buffer.

Cost, funding & logistics

Cost and logistics kill more applications than eligibility does. Sort these out before you get emotionally invested.

• Format: In person in Cambridge, MA.
• There is a program cost. Check the official site for need-based aid; many similar programs offer partial or full scholarships and don't advertise them prominently.

After the program

The most valuable thing you leave Secondary School Program (4-week) with is usually not the credential — it's the two or three people you met and the one concrete thing you made. Keep in touch with your mentors and peers; they're the beginning of a professional network in your field of interest.

Add the program to your resume, but also write down (for yourself) what specifically you learned, what you'd do differently, and what question you now want to answer next. That reflection is what turns a summer into a direction.