10 College Prep Programs for Middle School Students
Attending a college prep program as a middle school student can provide you with early exposure to advanced coursework, essential study skills, and an understanding of college expectations. These programs help build a strong academic foundation, boost confidence, and teach effective time management, all of which are crucial for succeeding in high school and beyond.
In this blog, we cover 10 college prep programs that help you develop a solid understanding and prepare for university application!
NYU offers a variety of middle school programs, including a college and career paths exploration program for rising 8th and 9th graders. These six-year programs with multi-week summer sessions and labs primarily target underrepresented students.
You’ll attend intensive lectures taught by NYU faculty, participate in seminar discussions, and be assigned mentors and advisors to guide you through analyzing your experience in the program. You’ll also get to talk to lawyers, doctors, academics, and other professionals about their careers.
By the end of this program, you’ll have a clear idea of your academic opportunities and how to access them. You’ll also have many experiences and projects to include on your college applications, as well as mentors who can provide references.
Cost: Free
Location: Primarily on the NYU campus in New York City
Application Dates: Applications are due March 31, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Program Dates: This is a 6-year program with summer sessions in the month of July and labs during the academic year.
Eligibility:
Must be in Grades 7 and 8 at the time of applying.
Must attend a New York City public school.
2. University of Washington Summer Challenge
Hosted by the University of Washington, the Summer Challenge program is designed for students who have completed 5th or 6th grade. This academically rigorous program provides motivated students with an intensive, hands-on, fun, and educational experience in areas outside of the traditional school curriculum.
The program lasts for three weeks, and students attend five days a week from 9 am to 2:20 pm. During this time, you’ll attend small classes taught by experts in their field. The goal of the program is to provide a low-stress and fun, deep dive into a subject area of your interest. You’ll also go on field trips and even explore the UW campus!
Cost: $1,300 with a tuition waiver for recipients of the federal free lunch program.
Location: University of Washington Seattle campus.
Application Dates: Rolling admissions.
Program Dates: three weeks in July.
Eligibility:
Rising 6th and 7th graders.
Must demonstrate academic excellence through school records.
Do note that only Washington state residents qualify for a tuition waiver
3. Heights Middle School Programs in Philadelphia
Heights Philadelphia is an educational nonprofit that provides programs for middle and high school students. The middle school program has three major components: advising, high school selection, and summer programs.
For the advising component, you will work with an advisor to learn the steps you can take to set yourself up for a college-ready future. You’ll also gain intensive support when selecting and applying to a criteria-based high school.
During summer programs, you’ll take classes from partner universities, with topics ranging from writing to environmental science and new subjects available each year. An added bonus is that each summer camp has a social-emotional learning component!
Cost: Not specified.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Application Dates: Rolling Admissions.
Program Dates: Summer Programs are full-time, while courses during the academic year are on Saturdays. Various programs have differing dates.
Eligibility:
Must be a Philadelphia middle school student.
Additional programs are available for high school and college students.
Must be either a Black, brown, or first-generation student.
The College Success Foundation helps high-need students prepare for college starting in middle school. CSF programs are available throughout Washington state and in Washington DC.
During the middle school program, you’ll participate in structured college and career readiness lessons. The lessons focus on three major components: the benefits of college, how to get into college, and how to pay for college. You can expect to learn about leadership, develop academic skills, and participate in engaging activities and field trips throughout the school year and summer.
You’ll be connected with mentors and advisors and have small group discussions with like-minded peers. You’ll have support and guidance as you approach high school and will have access to opportunities you can include on your college applications. An added bonus is that CSF also provides a wide variety of scholarship opportunities to help pay for college!
Cost: No Cost
Location: Various locations available across Washington state and in Washington, DC.
Application Dates: Rolling admissions.
Program Dates: Programs are available throughout the school year.
Eligibility:
Must be an underrepresented student from grades 4 and above.
5. Breakthrough Greater Boston
Breakthrough Greater Boston is a nonprofit organization helping low-income and underserved students get to college. They offer programs and activities to highly motivated middle and high school students.
The summer middle school program offers a teaching ratio 3:1 and introduces students to exciting ideas in literature, mathematics, and the sciences. You’ll also participate in field trips around historic Boston and even complete a capstone project!
Cost: No Cost
Location: Boston, Somerville, and Cambridge, MA
Application Dates: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Dates are not specified, but expect them to be during the summer months. They have school-year programs available as well!
Eligibility:
Must attend public school in Cambridge, Somerville, or a partner school in Boston.
Must be in the sixth grade or above.
6. UCLA EOAP
The University of California, LA, offers middle school students an Early Academic Outreach Program. The program lasts the entire time you’re in middle school. It’s designed to give a competitive edge to highly motivated students interested in college.
You’ll participate in engaging and enriching academic activities in a college-bound culture. You’ll go on field trips, get a taste of college life through in-campus activities and tours, work with an advisor, and study leadership and communication. You’ll also participate in workshops about applying for college, preparing for college, and paying for college!
Cost: No Cost
Location: activities take place at partner schools and various locations around LA
Application Dates: Rolling Admissions.
Program Dates: Not specified, but the program runs through middle school.
Eligibility:
Must be in the 7th or 8th grade student, and enrolled at a partner school
You must also meet two of the following:
Low family income
First-generation status (meaning first in their family to complete a four-year college degree)
English-learner status
Historically underrepresented in higher education
Enrollment at a high-needs K–12 school (as defined by high percentages of students at the school being low-income, English learners, or foster youth)
8th graders must have a GPA of 2.5+.
7th graders must have a GPA of 2.3.
MESA is a college and STEM prep program available at UC Santa Barbara. It’s designed for first-generation middle and high school students.
You’ll complete hands-on, problem-solving challenges and projects led by UC educators. You’ll also participate in STEM competitions. You’ll also learn study skills you can use in any class, go on field trips, and participate in campus tours.
An added advantage of MESA is that it also registers you for the SAT/ACT and provides preparation!
For details about your school specifically, get in touch with your MESA advisor. Or you can email the program coordinators:
Brianna Baeza MESA Program Coordinator
bbaeza@ucsb.eduMayra Villanueva MESA Program Coordinator
mayra.villanueva@ucsb.edu
Cost: No Cost
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Application Dates: Rolling Basis.
Program Dates: Contact the MESA advisor assigned to your school for specific program dates.
Eligibility:
First-generation or low-income students in Santa Barbara are eligible to apply.
Must be a middle or high school student.
8. Arizona State University Prep Digital
Arizona State University has 2 prep story academies for students in K-12. Prep-Digital (the online school) is an accelerated public school where middle school students can take high school classes for credit.
In these classes, you can attend live webinars, work at your own pace, meet 1:1 with teachers, and follow an individualized learning plan. Courses are created by university faculty, and you’ll be provided with a coach to help you prepare for college applications, standardized tests, and paying for tuition.
Do note that both the in-person academy and the virtual academy are completely free for Arizona residents.
Cost: No Cost
Location: Virtual
Application Dates: Rolling Admissions
Program Dates: Open enrollment
Eligibility:
Must be an Arizona resident.
Open to all middle school students.
9. Georgia Tech Middle School Sessions
Georgia Tech in Atlanta hosts Middle School Sessions as part of their CEISMIC program designed to provide STEAM enrichment to middle and high school students.
In this 1-to 2-week program, you will participate in activities at Georgia Tech from 9 AM to 3 PM daily. All activities in the session are experiential, and you’ll be given a chance to apply your theoretical concepts to real-world situations and problems!
Cost: $400-$650
Location: Georgia Tech Campus
Application Dates: Not specified
Program Dates: Programs are available throughout June and July
Eligibility:
Open to rising 6th-8th graders
10. Ulysses S. Grant Program at Yale
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation is a 6-week academic summer program for highly motivated middle school students who are enrolled in public and parochial schools in New Haven, CT.
Classes are taught by Yale undergraduate teachers five days a week from 9 AM to 3 PM. The program core focuses on the humanities, and students also get to choose elective classes. One of the major goals of the program is to give students the skills they need to excel at their current school and also prepare them for college!
Cost: $75
Location: Yale Campus, New Haven, CT
Application Dates: They were not posted; you can check the link during the fall.
Program Dates: The program starts in June and runs through the first week of August
Eligibility:
Middle school students enrolled in a New Haven public or parochial school.
Must be able to commit to the entire program.
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