The field of artificial intelligence is booming and quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing areas globally. Many students find the subject intriguing, but starting can be tricky. We get it. In this post, we share some AI summer programs for high school students where you can dive into the fundamentals of AI and machine learning. We’ll tell you about each camp, let you know which students they’re best for, and help you decide which one might be right for you.
How to choose the right AI summer programs?
There aren’t a ton of AI summer programs out there, but there are some choices. So, how do you pick? The first thing to do is figure out if you want a beginner’s camp to learn the basics of AI or if you’re after something more advanced where you can do your own projects and use what you’ve learned.
Top AI programs for high school students
We made a list of the best AI camps for high school students and sorted them by what they teach, how they guide you, the hands-on experience you get, and how technically challenging they are.
Stanford AI4ALL
Stanford’s three-week online AI summer camp, in collaboration with AI4ALL, is a well-respected opportunity for participants to delve into the realm of AI. The program combines lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities, allowing students to interact with AI experts. The focus is on exploring AI applications in fields like medicine, disaster response, and poverty alleviation. Engaging in small-group research projects led by graduate students and postdocs in computer science and AI, students tackle real-world societal issues. This program is particularly suitable for high school students seeking hands-on, application-based learning in AI and a chance to address genuine problems.
Pre-College AI Scholars at Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon’s AI Scholars program, part of the CS Pathways initiative, spans four weeks and offers a residential experience. Participants engage in lectures and project-based learning, exploring ongoing research projects led by CMU faculty and connecting with industry leaders for insights into AI opportunities. Through a group project, students showcase their acquired skills to the cohort and instructors at the program’s end.
This course, exclusively focused on AI, provides an in-depth exploration of the field and its real-world applications. It’s a great choice for those seeking a blend of classroom learning and hands-on projects guided by experienced faculty. Adding research and practical applications to your AI education can enhance your college resume. The residential aspect further enriches the overall experience for aspiring AI enthusiasts.
Beaver Works Summer Institute, MIT
The Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) at MIT is a challenging four-week STEM program focused on teaching students STEM skills through hands-on, project-based workshops. The courses, such as “Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix,” “Autonomous Cognitive Assistance,” and “Serious Game Development with AI,” are exciting and cover diverse topics. The latter course specifically delves into applying machine learning and game-like modeling to analyze socially relevant policy questions.
BWSI has received positive reviews from alumni, highlighting its diverse cohorts, networking opportunities, and unique courses. It’s worth considering these aspects before applying. The program is entirely free, making it accessible to students worldwide. Taking advantage of the alumni network can be beneficial for career guidance, college applications, research funding, and collaborative projects.
RAISE at MIT
MIT’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) provides valuable tutorials for students starting their AI journey. One exciting offering is the Doodlebot, an AI platform using robots to teach high school students generative AI through robot-assisted drawing. Another interesting tutorial is the Personal Image Classifier (PICaboo), which allows students to create their own image classification model and explore AI and ML applications in image classification.
RAISE differs from other programs mentioned as it offers a curriculum, so you may need to consult your teacher for more information. Some RAISE offerings are self-paced, making it a good option for those wanting to pursue AI learning during the school year instead of the summer.
Artificial Intelligence by Oxford University
Oxford University’s 2-week artificial intelligence course aims to help students tap into digital age advancements by introducing key AI techniques and software development. In small groups of 8 students, participants engage in interactive seminars, interact with experts, and undertake independent projects.
The program encourages critical thinking through essays and problem sheets, mimicking a university course. It provides an excellent opportunity for an AI introduction, pushing students to work on meaningful projects. The certificate and recommendation letter received afterward can enhance college applications. It’s essential to note that the program emphasizes self-learning, with a significant portion of the work done outside the classroom.
NYU’s Summer Program for Machine Learning
NYU’s 2-week summer program provides an introduction to the basics of computer science, data analysis, mathematical techniques, and logic crucial for AI and ML. The focus is on captivating topics like video and image recognition, interactive voice control, autonomous vehicles, real-time monitoring and traffic control, and advanced diagnostic medical technologies. The program involves two weeks of learning core ML principles, including model development through cross-validation, linear regressions, and neural networks.
With a strong emphasis on applying these skills to address social issues, the program encourages participants to consider the real-world applications of what they learn. If you’re interested in a career related to social service or non-profit management, gaining ML knowledge can provide a broader perspective on tackling social problems. Utilizing your learnings to work on a social issue project can significantly enhance your applicant profile, as admissions officers appreciate students who apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems.
Brown Pre-College Program – Introduction to ML & AI with Python
Brown University’s introductory course on machine learning and artificial intelligence is tailored to help students grasp big data analytics and AI approaches, delving into computing big data technologies and ML techniques with a focus on industry applications. By the course’s conclusion, students will have a foundational understanding of AI, familiarity with big data science applications across disciplines, proficiency in ML techniques, and the ability to deploy algorithms for specific research problems.
This course is suitable for beginners seeking a technical introduction to AI without extensive math complexity. While the classes are interactive, students should dedicate additional time outside the class for assignments. It’s important to note that the course is not very hands-on, providing an introduction to programming and algorithm design but lacking a real-world project component to apply learned concepts.
Find the best AI programs designed for high school students
Embark on an exciting AI journey with these top-notch summer programs, tailored for high school students! Whether you’re a beginner or looking to dive deeper into AI and machine learning, these programs offer hands-on experiences, real-world projects, and guidance from experts. Boost your skills, explore diverse applications, and gain insights into cutting-edge technologies. Make the most of your summer by applying to these programs and setting yourself on a path to becoming a future leader in the booming field of artificial intelligence. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to shape your AI knowledge and make a meaningful impact!