--- title: "CS Summer Programs for High School Students: 2027 Guide" description: "Computer science summer programs for high school students, read from their own 2027 pages: who qualifies, deadlines, workload, cost rules and a 12-month plan." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/computer-science-summer-programs-for-high-school-students source: src/pages/computer-science-summer-programs-for-high-school-students.html --- > Computer science summer programs for high school students, read from their own 2027 pages: who qualifies, deadlines, workload, cost rules and a 12-month plan. In short For summer 2027, Carnegie Mellon’s CS Scholars (fully funded, four weeks, for rising juniors) closes on February 1, 2027; COSMOS (California students only) closes on February 5, 2027; MIT Beaver Works requires a free online prerequisite course that opens on February 1. Modern Age Coders is not one of these programs: we teach the Python and problem solving they assume, over live video, as a group class or privately. Get ready with a teacher ## The courses that build what these programs expect Python first, then problem solving, then a portfolio piece. Each course is live, with the student’s own code reviewed. [![Python for Teens course thumbnail](/images/python-teens.webp) CSSP / 01 Python for teens For 13 to 18 year olds, in the language CS Scholars uses. Open the syllabus →](/courses/python-complete-masterclass-teens)[![Problem Solving for Teens course thumbnail](/images/problem-solving-teens.webp) CSSP / 02 Problem solving and algorithms For 13 to 18 year olds: lists, dictionaries, stepwise thinking. Open the syllabus →](/courses/problem-solving-dsa-masterclass-teens)[![AP Computer Science Principles course thumbnail](/images/ap-computer-science-principles.webp) CSSP / 03 AP Computer Science Principles High school. The Create task plus the exam. Open the syllabus →](/courses/ap-computer-science-principles-exam-prep-course) Four programs ## Four computer science summer programs, from their own 2027 pages This is not a ranking. Each row holds only what that program publishes about itself for the 2027 cycle, read on 17 October 2026. Programs change their rules every year, so check the live page before applying. | Program | Who it is for | When and where | Deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | CMU CS Scholars | 16 by June 26, 2027; in 10th grade when applying; US citizen or permanent resident | June 26 to July 24, 2027, residential in Pittsburgh | February 1, 2027 (decisions April 1, 2027) | | CMU Pre-College Summer Session | 16 by the start date; a current sophomore or junior | June 26 to August 7, 2027, resident or commuter; in person only | Scholarship round February 1, 2027; basic round March 1, 2027 | | MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute | Grades 10 to 11 at application, generally finishing junior year; living in the US | July 5 to August 1, 2027, Monday to Friday; some courses virtual, some at MIT | A free online prerequisite course first; it opens February 1 | | COSMOS | California high school students completing grades 8 to 12 | Four weeks, residential, at one of six University of California campuses | Opens January 6, 2027; closes February 5, 2027, 11:59 PM | ### What CS Scholars actually teaches Carnegie Mellon describes CS Scholars as a "four-week deep dive into computer science" and a "fully funded, merit-based program": tuition, housing, meal plans and some field trips are covered. Because it is fully funded, documentation of financial need is part of every application. The programming course is in Python and covers variables, functions, conditionals, loops, lists and dictionaries, testing and debugging. The page says plainly that "no coding experience is necessary", and that students who complete it may be invited back to the AI Scholars program the following summer. ### What COSMOS publishes about selection COSMOS is a four-week residential program run across six University of California campuses: Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego and Santa Cruz. Students apply to one campus. Its home page is unusually direct: each campus can take "about 150-250 participants", "The selection is competitive." and "A typical COSMOS student has a GPA of 3.5 or above." It is open only to California high school students. Sources: [CMU CS Scholars](https://www.cmu.edu/pre-college/academic-programs/computer-science-scholars.html), [CMU Pre-College Summer Session](https://www.cmu.edu/pre-college/academic-programs/summer-session.html), [MIT BWSI FAQ](https://bwsi.mit.edu/faq/) and [application page](https://bwsi.mit.edu/apply/), [COSMOS](https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/), all read 17 October 2026. We are not connected with Carnegie Mellon University, MIT or the University of California, and we make no prediction about any admission decision. The workload ## What a week of summer computer science really costs in hours College-credit summer courses move at twice the normal pace. Carnegie Mellon is one of the few programs that publishes the hours, and the numbers are worth reading before a student commits. | Course load | Published hours per week | Our total for six weeks | | --- | --- | --- | | One 9-unit course | 21 | 126 | | One 12-unit course | 28 | 168 | | A 9-unit and a 12-unit course (our sum) | 49 | 294 | | Two 12-unit courses (our sum) | 56 | 336 | ### Reading the table The FAQ says a student in a 9-unit course "should expect to spend 21 hours on average on that class per week", and 28 hours for a 12-unit course, both including class meetings. Residential students must take two courses for all six weeks. Our arithmetic: two 12-unit courses come to 56 hours a week, more than a full-time job. That is why the program warns against summer jobs or test prep alongside it. ### What the grades mean Summer Session courses are the same undergraduate courses CMU students take, graded A, B, C, D or R. For Pre-College students in good standing, only A and B grades stay on the permanent Carnegie Mellon transcript. The page is also clear that admission to Summer Session "does not guarantee admittance to Carnegie Mellon University" as an undergraduate, and that "We do not offer any courses online." For CS Scholars, the published day runs Monday to Friday from morning into the early evening, with homework and office hours after. The page also rules out any concurrent summer program, virtual or in person, so students choose one summer commitment. The online route ## MIT Beaver Works: a summer program you qualify for by studying online first Beaver Works Summer Institute works differently from the others. Admission depends heavily on a free online course taken in the spring, so a student’s preparation is visible to the selectors. 1. **Register for the online prerequisite course.** Students can self-register; a teacher nomination is not required for the online course. 2. **Study from 1 February.** The apply page says "The online course will open for study on 1 February". The FAQ says the online prerequisite courses are free. 3. **Work through the course properly.** The FAQ says grades in the online course are an important part of enrollment decisions, and grades are evaluated on a curve within each course. 4. **Complete the summer application sent in March.** It has "three short essays (500 words or less for each essay)", a teacher or mentor recommendation and parent details. 5. **Plan the summer.** For 2027, classes run Monday to Friday, July 5 to August 1. Virtual classes run 10am to 6pm Eastern; in-person classes are on the MIT campus. ### Rules families miss The FAQ is blunt that "Our courses reset each year." A student who finished an online course last year must take it again to apply for this summer. There is no residence hall. The FAQ says "We will not offer a residential program", and under MIT rules for minors an adult must stay with an in-person student for the month. ### Who can apply, and the cost rule Applicants must be in a grade no higher than 11th and not below 10th, and "Students must be living in the United States to be accepted into the summer program." Anyone may take the online courses. BWSI says the summer program is free for qualifying families and charges a fee to families above an income-and-assets threshold it states on its apply page and FAQ. Housing is never included. Read the current wording there. Beaver Works lists 14 summer courses, among them CogWorks, Cyber Operations, Medlytics and Quantum Software. Many require the Python Core course alongside the course a student wants, which is why Python comes first in our plan below. A practice program ## Count down the 2027 deadlines in ten lines of Python A small program that uses exactly the ideas the CS Scholars syllabus lists: variables, a dictionary, a function and a loop. It is ours, and it runs in any Python 3 install. ***Program · a deadline counter**python* ``` from datetime import date # 2027-cycle deadlines exactly as each program publishes them deadlines = { "CMU CS Scholars": date(2027, 2, 1), "CMU Summer Session, scholarship round": date(2027, 2, 1), "COSMOS (California students only)": date(2027, 2, 5), "CMU Summer Session, basic round": date(2027, 3, 1), } def days_left(deadline, today): return (deadline - today).days today = date(2026, 10, 17) for name, when in sorted(deadlines.items(), key=lambda pair: pair[1]): print(f"{days_left(when, today):4d} days {name} ({when.isoformat()})") ``` The four dates are the 2027 deadlines the programs publish. Change today to the real date and the program recounts. ***Output, run on 17 October 2026**text* ``` 107 days CMU CS Scholars (2027-02-01) 107 days CMU Summer Session, scholarship round (2027-02-01) 111 days COSMOS (California students only) (2027-02-05) 135 days CMU Summer Session, basic round (2027-03-01) ``` Our run. Python sorts by the date in each pair; the two February 1 entries keep the order they were written in, because Python’s sort is stable. ### Extend it as practice Add the BWSI online course start as a second kind of date, a start rather than a deadline, and print the two kinds differently. Then make the program warn when any deadline is under 30 days away. Our arithmetic says COSMOS is open for exactly 30 days, January 6 to February 5, so the warning would fire for the whole window. ### Why a planning script is a good first project It solves a real problem the student has right now, so they care whether it is correct. Every bug shows up as a wrong number of days. Written up honestly, a tool like this is also something to describe in an application essay about why the student enjoys programming. By grade ## Which program fits which grade in summer 2027 Our reading of the published rules, set out by the grade a student is in during the 2026 to 2027 school year. Every line still depends on the program’s own final decision. | Grade in 2026 to 2027 | Programs whose published rules fit | Our suggestion | | --- | --- | --- | | 8th grade, in California | COSMOS (completing grades 8 to 12) | Apply if the student already codes; otherwise build Python this year | | 9th grade | COSMOS if in California; BWSI online courses are open to anyone | Take the BWSI online course as practice, even before eligibility | | 10th grade | CMU CS Scholars; CMU Summer Session if 16 by June 26; BWSI; COSMOS in California | The widest choice of any year; decide by December | | 11th grade | CMU Summer Session; BWSI; COSMOS in California | BWSI fits the rising-senior summer it describes | | 12th grade | Only COSMOS, whose page lists students completing grades 8 to 12; confirm with COSMOS for a graduating senior | Look at college courses and the research programs as well | Research-style programs such as RSI, SSP and MIT PRIMES work very differently and are covered on our [summer research programs page](/summer-research-programs-coding). For activities that run all year, see [computer science extracurriculars](/computer-science-extracurriculars). Twelve months ## Our twelve-month plan toward a 2027 summer program This is our plan for a 10th grader starting in October 2026 with little or no code. It assumes about four hours a week: two live lessons plus practice. | Month | What the student does | Done when | | --- | --- | --- | | October 2026 | Start Python: variables, loops, functions | Writes the deadline counter above unaided | | November 2026 | Lists, dictionaries, debugging | Fixes three of their own bugs and explains each | | December 2026 | Choose programs; ask two teachers for recommendations | A shortlist and two yes answers | | January 2027 | Essays drafted; **COSMOS opens January 6** | Drafts read by a teacher | | February 2027 | **CS Scholars closes February 1**; **BWSI online course opens February 1**; **COSMOS closes February 5** | Applications in, BWSI course started | | March 2027 | **CMU Summer Session basic round closes March 1**; BWSI summer application | Every application submitted | | April to June 2027 | Keep building one real project | A finished project on a public page | | July to September 2027 | The program, or our live summer classes | One project written up for next year | Our arithmetic: four hours a week from mid-October to February 1 is about 15 weeks, roughly 60 hours of Python before the first deadline. That is enough to write and explain small programs like the one above, which is what a "no coding experience is necessary" program still rewards in an essay. Where your student is now ## Four stages on the way to a strong summer application The places students usually start from when they first look at these programs. | Stage | What it looks like | | --- | --- | | 1. Interested | Likes computers, has not written a program | | 2. Beginner | Writes short Python programs with help | | 3. Independent | Plans, writes and debugs a small program alone | | 4. Applicant | Has one finished project and can explain every line | ### For parents A 10th grader at stage 1 in October can reach stage 3 by February with steady weekly work. Recommendation letters come from teachers who have seen effort. Ask early in the fall. ### For students Pick programs by the rules first, then by interest. A program you are not eligible for is not a choice. Keep notes on what you built and what broke. Essays are easier when the stories are written down. The catalogue ## Nine courses for high school students heading for summer CS All are live online with one regular teacher who reads the student’s code, in a batch or one to one. I ### Foundations Grades 9 and 10 CSSP / BASE / 01 #### Python for teens The first language, properly. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-complete-masterclass-teens) CSSP / BASE / 02 #### JavaScript for teens Code that runs in the browser. [Open the syllabus](/courses/javascript-course-for-teens-beginners-interactive-web) CSSP / BASE / 03 #### Git and GitHub Show the work, version by version. [Open the syllabus](/courses/git-github-version-control-course-for-teens)II ### Depth Grades 10 and 11 CSSP / DEEP / 01 #### Algorithms for teens Data structures and reasoning. [Open the syllabus](/courses/problem-solving-dsa-masterclass-teens) CSSP / DEEP / 02 #### AP Computer Science A Java and the exam. [Open the syllabus](/courses/ap-computer-science-a-java-exam-prep-course) CSSP / DEEP / 03 #### AP CS Principles Broad CS and the Create task. [Open the syllabus](/courses/ap-computer-science-principles-exam-prep-course)III ### Projects Grades 11 and 12 CSSP / BUILD / 01 #### Full stack web A web app with a database. [Open the syllabus](/courses/full-stack-web-development-teens-masterclass) CSSP / BUILD / 02 #### React for teens Interfaces people can use. [Open the syllabus](/courses/react-for-teens-complete-masterclass) CSSP / BUILD / 03 #### Hackathon prep Build fast, then present. [Open the syllabus](/courses/hackathon-prep-for-teens-coding-ai-build-innovate-win-course) How lessons run ## Live lessons through the application year Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Weekdays After school, in Eastern, Central, Mountain or Pacific time. Weekends Useful in the weeks before a February deadline. 1-on-1 Fitted around one student’s programs and dates. ### Python first The language most of these programs start from. ### Real projects Code a student can describe in an essay. ### Deadline map The twelve months above, adjusted to the student. ### Essay feedback On the technical story, not ghost-writing. ### Every state Online, so location never limits the choice. ### Batch or private Fifteen to twenty learners, or one to one. Student work ## Projects our high school students have built Work by our learners, from first Python tools to full web apps. The [student labs](/student-labs) page shows more. ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Applying to a summer program costs what each program sets; our fee is only for teaching. Classes are paid monthly in US dollars, so a family can cover the months before the deadlines and stop whenever they choose. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A free first lesson - Bring your program shortlist - No card details Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Fifteen to twenty learners - One regular teacher - Choose your batch - Monthly Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A mentor to yourself - Your programs, your dates - Your own project Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews Google reviews from parents, quoted as they wrote them. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Questions from families ## Computer science summer programs for high schoolers: common questions ### When do computer science summer programs for high school students close for 2027? Earlier than most families expect. CMU CS Scholars closes February 1, 2027, COSMOS closes February 5, 2027, and the CMU Summer Session basic round closes March 1, 2027. ### Is CMU CS Scholars free? Carnegie Mellon describes it as fully funded: tuition, housing, meal plans and some field trips are covered. The page says documentation of financial need is required with the application. ### Do you need coding experience for CS Scholars? No. The 2027 page says no coding experience is necessary. Applicants must be 16 by June 26, 2027, in 10th grade when applying, and a US citizen or permanent resident. ### How does MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute admission work? Students register for a free online prerequisite course that opens on February 1, then complete a summer application in March. The FAQ says online course grades are an important part of the decision. ### Can a senior apply to these programs? Mostly not, as published for 2027. BWSI takes students no higher than 11th grade, CS Scholars wants 10th graders, and CMU Summer Session wants sophomores or juniors. COSMOS lists students completing grades 8 to 12, so a California senior should ask COSMOS directly. ### Who can apply to COSMOS? Only California high school students. The home page lists applications opening January 6, 2027 and closing February 5, 2027, and says a typical student has a GPA of 3.5 or above. ### How many hours a week is CMU Summer Session? The FAQ gives about 21 hours a week for a 9-unit course and 28 for a 12-unit course, including class. Residential students take two courses, so 49 to 56 hours by our count. ### Are any of these programs online? BWSI runs some courses virtually over Zoom. CMU Summer Session says it offers no courses online, and CS Scholars and COSMOS are residential. ### When are your classes? Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. ### How can Modern Age Coders help? We teach the Python and problem solving these programs assume, help a student finish one real project, and keep the twelve-month plan on track. We are not connected with any of these programs. Elsewhere on this site ## Related pages More for US high school students who want to go further in computer science. ### [Summer research programs](/summer-research-programs-coding) RSI, SSP, PRIMES and how to get ready. ### [CS extracurriculars](/computer-science-extracurriculars) What counts across the whole year. ### [USACO coaching](/usaco-preparation-online-coaching) Contest programming, bronze upward. ### [AP Computer Science A](/ap-computer-science-a-online-classes) Java and the AP exam. ### [Congressional App Challenge](/congressional-app-challenge-guide) A fall deadline for an app. ### [Coding classes in the USA](/coding-classes-in-united-states) Every page for US families. ### [Coding summer camp for middle schoolers](/coding-summer-camp-for-middle-schoolers) Coding summer camp for grades 6 to 8: blocks to Python in four weeks. ### [Game design summer camp for teens](/game-design-summer-camp-for-teens) Game design summer camp for teens: engines, a real script, a six-week plan. ### [Free coding programs for high school students](/free-coding-programs-for-high-school-students) Free coding programs for high schoolers, checked at the source, with a 16-week plan. Start here ## Book a free first lesson Bring your shortlist and your student’s grade. In the first lesson the teacher checks which 2027 rules they meet and starts the Python that the programs build on. To see a class before booking, the [how we teach](/how-we-teach) page describes one in order, and the [courses page](/courses) lists every syllabus. [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20my%20high%20schooler%20in%20the%20US%20is%20looking%20at%20computer%20science%20summer%20programs%20for%202027.%20Could%20we%20book%20a%20free%20first%20lesson%3F) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [connect@modernagecoders.com](mailto:connect@modernagecoders.com) Our teachers are in India and teach over video, so there is no US campus to visit. US families usually reach us fastest on WhatsApp. ### Want a class sooner? Book a priority demo A priority demo is a full class of about 45 to 60 minutes. After the class the mentor sends a written skill report and a personal learning roadmap on WhatsApp. If you enrol, the demo fee is adjusted against your first month's fee. Share your demo Order ID with us on WhatsApp and we take it off. 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