Atlanta

A Better Chance – National *
Grades: 4-9
A Better Chance seeks to increase substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. This is done by facilitating their entry into independent college preparatory schools. Through its network of member schools, A Better Chance is able to leverage an estimated $20+ million per year in financial aid for talented, economically disadvantaged youth of color. More than 96% of A Better Chance's graduates go on to college directly after high school, a majority entering our country's most selective colleges.

Academically Interested Minds (AIM) – Kettering University
Grades: 11
AIM (Academically Interested Minds) is a five-week residential pre-college summer program which began in 1984 and has continued to thrive over the years. The program is designed to augment Kettering University's efforts to reach a greater number of multicultural students who have a strong interest in the areas of engineering, math, science and business.

ACE Mentors
Grades: 9-12
Founded in 2006, ACE Atlanta helps high school students explore the many rewarding career options in the architectural, engineering and construction fields. Through the program, mentors from local industry professional firms meet with students once a week for two hours. During these sessions, students plan and design innovative projects mirroring "real-world" conditions while mentors help them develop solutions using basic problem-solving techniques and state-of-the-art design tools. In addition to acquiring new knowledge and skills, students are eligible for ACE scholarships and gain contacts that can help with college admissions, internships and full-time employment.

ACT-SO – National
Grades: 9-12
The NAACP's Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.

Atlanta Metropolitan State College Upward Bound
Grades: 9-12
Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Instruction in math, laboratory science, composition, literature, and foreign language are basic components of all programs. Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree.

Breakthrough Atlanta – National *
Grades: 6-12
We provide a six-year, tuition free, year-round, academically rigorous study skills enrichment program that provides a pathway to college for Atlanta's middle and high school students. In the summer, middle school students attend a six-week academic program taught by high school and college students aspiring to be teachers. During the school year, the program continues two Saturdays a month, with a curriculum concentrating on academic areas that foster a lifelong love of learning. After the middle school component, students continue into the high school College Prep program.

Carleton Liberal Arts Experience – National
Grades: 10
Carleton College is honored to host an inspiring summer program designed for the best and brightest college-bound students representing high schools across the country. The Carleton Liberal Arts Experience (CLAE) will select 50 high school students who have just completed their sophomore year and bring them to Carleton, all expenses paid, for a one-week summer program. The CLAE program introduces the strengths of a liberal arts education through an array of courses in science, art, social sciences, and technology.

CDC Disease Detective Camp (DDC)
Grades: 11-12
CDC Disease Detective Camp (DDC) is an educational program started by the CDC′s David J. Sencer CDC Museum in 2005 as a mechanism for developing a public health camp curriculum for state and county health departments. The camp is open to upcoming high school juniors and seniors and is held at the CDC's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the course of five days, campers will take on the role of disease detectives and learn firsthand how the CDC safeguards the nation′s health. Teams will probe a disease outbreak using epidemiologic and laboratory skills and report their findings to a group of CDC scientists.

Clark Atlanta University TRIO Upward Bound
Grades: 9-12
Clark Atlanta University administers two TRIO programs - Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search. Clark Atlanta University has successfully conducted an Upward Bound program since 1965. The purpose of Upward Bound is to provide its high school students with the skills and motivation to succeed in and graduate from a college or university of their choice. To this end, Upward Bound has both summer and academic year components.

Cool Girls
Grades: 1-12
Cool Girls is dedicated to the self-empowerment of girls. Cool Girls’ community partners, mentors, and volunteer networks support girls in all aspects of their development – breaking the cycles of poverty, low self-esteem, and teen pregnancy. Our life skills programs develop girls into confident women through education and exposure to a broader world of opportunity. All of our programs are direct-service and are provided free-of-charge to participants. Programs include: after-school enrichment, nutrition, mentoring, field trips, leadership and more.

Emory Youth Programs
Grades: 6-12
Emory provides a variety of unique opportunities to young people in the greater Atlanta area through summer camps, music ensembles and programming geared specifically toward families.

Georgia State University Upward Bound
Grades: 9-12
Upward Bound is a federally funded educational program and is one of ten TRIO programs at Georgia State University. The program provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program also provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher educational pursuits. Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta – National
Grades: 6-18
Since its inception in 1976, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta has served approximately 100,000 girls in the metro area. Annually, we serve more than 3,000 girls ages 6 to 18 through various programs; such as after-school and summer camps at our Cobb/Marietta Center and school and community based programming. Girls Inc.’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong (healthy), smart (educated) and bold (independent).

Governor's Honors Program
Grades: 10-11
The Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP) is a summer residential instructional program designed to provide intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year. Activities are designed to provide each participant with opportunities to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to become independent, life-long learners.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) – National
Grades: 9-12
The HSF's mission is to increase the number of Hispanic college graduates by awarding scholarships and assisting students and their families in navigating the barriers to college access and completion.

"I Have A Dream" Foundation – National
Grades: 1-12
The "I Have A Dream" Foundation is working to ensure that all children have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Through a long-term relationship with each Dreamer and a program design focused on consistent and effective mentoring, tutoring, cultural and recreational activities, life skills enrichment and tuition assistance for higher education, our chapter seeks to motivate and empower 60 young people to reach their potential and achieve their specific educational and career goals.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation – National
Grades: 7-12
The Young Scholars Program provides the most personalized, generous scholarship experience in the nation. The Foundation works closely with Scholars and their families to construct a tailored educational program that includes, but is not limited to, support for summer programs, distance learning courses, and music and art instruction. Some Young Scholars attend a private school if none of their public school options adequately serve their academic potential; however, many stay in their public schools.

Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA) – National
Grades: 11-12
LEDA (Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America) is a not-for-profit organization devoted to developing leaders for our nation by helping exceptional public high school students who come from underserved backgrounds gain admission to the country's leading colleges and universities.

Leading Ladies of Legacy
Grades: 6-12
Our mission is to train girls to be effective leaders, caring citizens, and self-aware of themselves and their communities. Programs include middle school and high school mentoring, college prep, and Camp GLOW, a four-week summer camp focusing on STEM enrichment.

Mathematics & Science for Minority Students (MS)2 – Phillips Academy Andover
Grades: 9
The (MS)2 program was founded in 1977 to address the compelling need to cultivate the mathematical and scientific abilities of economically disadvantaged African American, Latino, and Native American high school students from targeted cities and communities across the United States. In a residential setting on the historic Phillips Academy campus, the three-summer program challenges students intellectually and exposes them to peers and educators with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and aspirations.

Mayor's Youth Program
Ages: 14-21
The Youth Program focuses on traditional year-round training activities and summer youth employment opportunities. The program provides services to eligible City of Atlanta youth ages 14 to 21 years. Services provided include job readiness training, academic enrichment, counseling, mentoring, work experience, and GED prep and basic academic skills training.

Minority Introduction to Engineering & Science (MITES) – MIT- National
Grades: 11
Through the MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science) program, The Office of Engineering Outreach Programs offers three rigorous residential and online academic enrichment programs for promising high school juniors who are interested in studying and exploring careers in science and engineering. By submitting a MITES application, students are automatically considered for one of three academic enrichment opportunities: a one-week residential program, a six-week residential program, and a six-month online enrichment program.

National Hispanic Institute – National
Grades: 9-College
We are both a national and international organization that provides Latino young people with the structures and settings to envision themselves as future community leaders, practice their skills in leading and working with others, and engage in critical discussions to define their calling while preparing themselves for the mission of changing lives. Dedication to personal excellence, a strong belief in family and culture, and service to others are the core values and beliefs that drive the work of the Institute and embrace its vision.

National Space Club Scholars – National
Grades: 10
The National Space Club Scholars Project is a summer intern experience for up to 30 high school students to work with space scientists and engineers. The purpose of this project is to provide students with an opportunity to experience how research and development organizations operate on a day-to-day basis in direct support of NASA's mission to inspire the next generation of explorers. Participants are assigned to work with a technical professional in a field related to the student's stated interests and expertise. The available areas of interest include Earth and space systems science, computer science, and engineering.

Odyssey
Grades: 3-12
Odyssey is a comprehensive academic summer program for Atlanta Public School students in grades 3 through 12. Targeting students who fall in the middle of their class, Odyssey provides inspiration in a nurturing and exciting educational environment. For six weeks each summer (five weeks for high school), around 300 Odyssey scholars come to the campus of The Westminster Schools and are taught by inspirational faculty. With a low student-to-teacher ratio and experiential and engaging learning techniques, Odyssey teaches students to love gaining knowledge. Students build their skills in core academics (reading, writing, and math) while branching out into new and exciting fields of study, such as forensics, robotics, and cultural studies.

Passport2College
Grades: 11-12
Passport2College offers college-level courses to rising juniors, rising seniors, and seniors who will graduate who wish to earn college credit at no cost. Georgia students can get a jump-start on their college education while turning their summer vacation into a college experience.

Posse Atlanta – National
Grades: 12
Founded in 1989, Posse identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Posse extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, multicultural teams—Posses—of 10 students. Posse partner colleges and universities award Posse Scholars four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships.

Princeton University Summer Journalism Program – National
Grades: 11
We welcome about 20 high school students from low-income backgrounds every summer to Princeton's campus for an intensive, 10-day seminar on journalism. The program's goal is to diversify college and professional newsrooms by encouraging outstanding students from low-income backgrounds to pursue careers in journalism. All expenses, including students' travel costs to and from Princeton, are paid for by the program.

QuarkNet Summer Research for High School Students
Grades: 9-12
High school students work with Fermilab scientists and engineers who advance our understanding of the nature of matter and energy. QuarkNet offers summer research opportunities in science and technology for students who have demonstrated a strong interest in and aptitude for science and mathematics. Two teams consisting of four students and one teacher work for six weeks with scientists or engineers on projects related to the Fermilab research program.

QuestBridge – National
Grades: 11-12
QuestBridge is a powerful platform bridging the nation's brightest, under-served youth and leading institutions of higher education and further opportunities. We are an aggregator of excellence. QuestBridge provides a single, internet-based meeting point which links exceptional students with colleges, scholarship providers, enrichment programs employers, and organizations seeking students who have excelled despite obstacles. By facilitating these exchanges, QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending the nation's best universities and the ranks of national leadership itself.

Reach for Excellence
Grades: 8-9
The mission of Reach for Excellence is to empower determined learners and expand their possibilities to compete and succeed in better high schools, all with the goal of keeping them on the path to college. Reach for Excellence is a three-year, tuition-free enrichment program that prepares middle school students to compete for college prep programs. Certified teachers equip students with the tools they need to succeed in high school and stay on the path to college.

Research Science Institute – MIT – National
Grades: 9-11
Each summer, 80 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research. RSI scholars first participate in a week of intensive STEM classes with accomplished professors. The heart of RSI is the five week research internship where students conduct individual projects under the tutelage of mentors who are experienced scientists and researchers. During the final week of RSI, students prepare written and oral presentations on their research projects.

Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) – National
Grades: 9-12
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer. The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.

Science, Engineering and Math Link (SEM Link)
Grades: K-12
SEM Link is a nonprofit organization that promotes student achievement and career exploration in math and science for K-12 students. Our programs, Math and Science Career Academy and Experimental Design Program, provide students with an opportunity to develop their math and science skills by enhancing the classroom learning experience and teaching them skills that are transferable to other areas of life. The career academy exposes students to math and science through hands-on activities, real world applications, career exploration, and the celebration of science, engineering, and mathematics themed weeks. The Experimental Design Program teaches students how to design and conduct experiments for math and science fair projects utilizing research, laboratory and scientific literacy skills.

 

The Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) – National
Grades: 11-12
The High School STEP-UP provides hands-on summer research experience for high school students interested in exploring research careers in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences. The program provides exposure to the core NIDDK mission areas of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases and nutrition; and kidney, urologic and hematologic diseases.

Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) – National
Grades: 9-12
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) is a four-week residential program for exceptional young women with strong interests in science, engineering and medicine. Each July, select high school students from across the country and abroad come to Smith College to do hands-on research with Smith faculty in the life and physical sciences and in engineering.

Soccer Streets
Grades: 1-12
We bring young, bright, culturally competent role models to inspire kids to follow the right path and educate the youth to the opportunities that can be available to them. Using soccer as a medium, trained coaches teach skills and life lessons, such as personal responsibility and job readiness. They engage the youth and create a lasting relationship of trust and a channel of communication. Through partnering organizations, such as schools, community centers and parks, multiple sessions are conducted each week to ensure a consistent presence in the community and ongoing positive influence among the youth.

Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) – National
Grades: 11-12
This is an eight-week program in which high school students from diverse backgrounds are invited to perform basic research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students, helping students to understand how scientific research is performed, and increasing diversity of students and researchers in the sciences.

Stanford Medical Youth Science Program – National
Grades: 9-12
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program works to increase knowledge about the sciences and health professions, and offer guidance about the college admissions process to low-income and/or underrepresented minority students. To meet this goal, SMYSP offers a university-based five-week Summer Residential Program and school-based academic year health disparities curriculum.

STEM-Prep Summer Institute
Grades: 9
This program offers research enrichment to students who are an under-represented minority (African ancestry, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander). The program consists of four one-week modules of instruction: physics, biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Experienced educators engage the STEM-Prep Summer Institute participants in hands-on activities relating to the different types of research conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Summer Humanities Institute – Stanford – National
Grades: 11-12
Students will spend three weeks on the beautiful Stanford campus, living in residence. They will spend the first two weeks intensively studying and researching a topic in history or philosophy, attending daily lectures by the faculty members, and participating in group discussions and activities in the afternoon. During their third week, students will work closely with their professors, graduate students, and writing mentors to produce original research projects. These papers present an opportunity for students to use what they have learned at Stanford to develop their own answers to the central questions that are addressed by the humanities.

Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP) – NIH – National
Ages: 16 and over
Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. Internships cover a minimum of eight weeks, with students generally arriving at the NIH in May or June. The NIH Institutes and the Office of Intramural Training & Education sponsor a wide range of summer activities including lectures featuring distinguished NIH investigators, career/professional development workshops, and Summer Poster Day.

Summer Research with the National Institute on Drug Abuse – National
Ages: 15 and over
This program is designed to provide high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups with meaningful research experiences and mentorship in the field of drug abuse and addiction. Each year up to 50 NIDA research investigators offer their labs and their time for eight to ten weeks to mentor up to 60 students interested in drug abuse research.

Telluride Association Sophomore Summer – National
Grades: 10
Telluride works with university faculty to create exciting courses designed to inspire young people to explore the histories, politics and cultural experiences of people of African descent and a variety of other topics.

Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) – National
Grades: 11
A Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP) is a six-week educational experience for high school juniors that offers challenges and rewards rarely encountered in secondary school or even college. Each program is designed to bring together young people from around the world who share a passion for learning. Telluride students, or TASPers, attend a seminar led by college and university scholars and participate in many other educational and social activities outside the classroom.

TGI Tech
Ages: 12-18
This program seeks to increase girls’ interest, confidence and competence in Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) by helping young women (ages 12-18) overcome barriers and stereotypes in these areas. Our program includes weekly afterschool sessions and bi-monthly community service activities. Participant opportunities include job shadowing, self-esteem and awareness activities, tutoring, college tours, Go-Green project initiatives, field experience, summer leadership institute and one-on-one mentoring opportunities. The TGI Tech program is committed to building a network that supports leadership development and transformational opportunities for girls.

Urban League of Atlanta Project Ready – National
Grades: 9-12
Project Ready is a signature program of the National Urban League (NUL) that supports 9th – 12th grade students to complete high school, connect with a high growth career path and prepare to go to college utilizing a curriculum that is comprised of three core components: Academic Development, Leadership and Social Development, Cultural and Global Awareness.

Ventures Scholars – National
Grades: 9-College
The Ventures Scholars Program is a national nonprofit membership program designed to promote access to higher education for young adults interested in pursuing math- and science-based careers.

W.E.B. Dubois Scholars Institute – National
Grades: 10-11
The W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute provides leadership, scholarship, community service, and entrepreneur training along with exposure to science and technology for high-achieving youth attending secondary schools. It was founded with an aim to develop a cadre of brilliant leaders/activist scholars with a commitment to contributing their talents for the betterment of others by solving major problems facing our society.

Women's Technology Program – MIT – National
Grades: 11
The MIT Women's Technology Program (WTP) is a rigorous four-week summer academic and residential experience where female high school students explore engineering through hands-on classes, labs, and team-based projects in the summer after 11th grade.

Youth Leadership Conference on Asian and Pacific Islander Health – Stanford – National
Grades: 9-12
The Youth Leadership Conference on Asian and Pacific Islander Health is a four day conference at Stanford University. High school students from across the country are invited to attend to gain leadership skills for effecting change in local communities. Conference participants will meet other students interested in making a difference in public health. Leading medical experts, professors, and policymakers will speak on issues of Asian and Pacific Islander health. Students will also have a chance to apply the skills they gain in an outreach planning simulation.

Youth Leadership Forsyth (YLF)
Grades: 11
Youth Leadership Forsyth (YLF) is a leadership development and community awareness program for high school juniors seeking to further develop and enhance their individual potential. It is a great opportunity for students from every school across our county to come together, to collaborate and challenge each other to rise above expectations. Established in 2000, this nine-month program engages the students in interactive workshops, meetings with key community leaders and exposure to many aspects of our community.

Youth VIBE
Grades: 9-12
Youth V.I.B.E. is an Atlanta-based academic enrichment and business mentoring program founded in 1996. For nearly a decade, Youth V.IB.E. has provided high school students with free skills training and the life-long tools needed to be successful as business leaders. As an after-school program operating out of selected schools in DeKalb County and Fulton County, Youth V.I.B.E. offers academic enrichment in math, science and reading.