Summer Springboard offers immersive pre-college programs that give high school and middle school students the opportunity to explore academic interests, discover potential career paths, and experience life on the campuses of top universities in the US and UK. Through hands-on courses taught by accomplished professionals and subject-matter experts, students engage in real-world projects, career-focused excursions, and college readiness workshops that build both practical skills and personal confidence. With supportive mentors and options available for both commuter and residential students over the summer, Summer Springboard provides a transformative learning experience that helps students gain clarity about their future and prepare for success in college and beyond.
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Summer Springboard courses are led by highly qualified and enthusiastic instructors drawn from a range of top-tier universities and professional communities. Each instructor is chosen for their deep expertise in their field and their demonstrated ability to both engage and intellectually challenge students.
Each Academic Track offers multiple course options across Summer Springboard campuses, giving students the flexibility to explore what truly interests them. With six distinct tracks designed around a wide range of academic and career paths, students can build skills and gain insight while discovering what fits them best.
Outstanding instructors bring deep industry experience to every course. Students learn about a college major and career path of interest through hands-on group projects, with added insight from guest speakers and academic excursions.
Students take part in structured reflections to explore which college majors and career paths they are drawn to, and which ones they are not. This is supported by college readiness workshops and guided mentor group discussions that help them clarify and refine their future choices.
Students experience daily life on a college campus during their short-term summer stay, getting a real sense of independence and routine. Evenings for residential students feature a wide range of activities, along with fun local excursions that bring the surrounding area to life.
Summer Springboard staff, from instructors to Program Directors and Mentors, provide guidance to college-bound teens as they gain professional insight, self-awareness, and the confidence needed for success in college and beyond.
Past instructors of note include industry leaders, from a Harvard-educated doctor with Doctors Without Borders to a Silicon Valley founder and business educator, offering firsthand insight from the field. Courses are taught by accomplished, passionate faculty drawn from top colleges, universities, and professional networks, selected for both deep expertise and the ability to challenge and engage students.
Each campus is led by a Campus Director, an experienced adult professional who works closely with teens and holds a B.A. or M.A. degree. Carefully selected for their expertise in youth development, they complete thorough background checks and rigorous training before the summer. The Campus Director oversees Resident Advisors and helps deliver the Springboard Leadership Personal Framework.
Mentors are the heart of the program, bringing energy and inspiration to every student experience. Selected for their experience working with youth, leadership knowledge, and dynamic personalities, they undergo background checks and specialized training focused on teen development. Mentors live in single rooms on the same floor as students, providing consistent support and guidance throughout the program.
Our headquarters team supports both our on-campus staff members and family members who may call in with questions before, during and after the program. Summer Springboard HQ operates a 24/7 hotline during program operations in case the need arises, and helps to provide resources to families from the start of the application process until after the program wraps.
Check out this short video on the Summer Springboard experience to explore what a pre-college program on your favorite university campus can do for you. You’ll hear from SSB students who experienced it all before and get a quick glimpse into what you can expect when you arrive.
