<p>I'm looking into a couple of summer programs for next year (when I'll be a rising junior) and I was wondering if there are more summer programs like J-Camp where all the costs are covered. My family would probably be able to contribute some money, but definitely not much. $1000 would probably be the limit.</p>
<p>What kind of camps are you thinking about?</p>
<p>TASP is completely free, very prestigious, and very hard to get into. It’s great for people interested in Humanities. </p>
<p>RSI, MITES are free science camps that are very very hard to get into as well.</p>
<p>I don’t really know of any “average” camps that are free; because free usually equates to prestigious/hard to get in. If I think of one, I’ll let you know. </p>
<p>Could you apply for financial aid?</p>
<p>You said you would be a rising junior next year. RSI, MITES, TASP and most other free/great aid/prestigious camps are for rising seniors (at least the ones I have heard of). There are a few opportunities for rising juniors though, TASS is run by the same people who run TASP and that program is also free. It focuses mostly on the humanities as well but with a more specific focus on African American and/or minority studies. However, it is not a program specifically for minorities. Also check to see if any of your state’s governor’s schools are open to rising juniors. Those are typically free or very affordable.</p>
<p>When you’re a rising senior, also try Carnegie Mellon’s Programs for Diversity. Minority-focused but not minority-exclusive.</p>
<p>Also search the CC archives. There’s a partial list of short, cheap (but thoroughly unprestigious) programs that I contributed to, floating out somewhere.</p>
<p>I can probably apply to financial aid, but my parents aren’t sure how much the programs would offer seeing as we’re not absolutely destitute, just not rich enough to afford a pricey summer program.</p>