<p>Firstly, I want to say that I live in South Carolina. The lack of programs for high school students is astounding. I can google search such and practically nothing pops up. There really isn't much offered here except meager volunteering, school clubs, and sports. This has led me to look out of state for programs. I am interested especially in the NIH summer internship, but it in Bethesda, Maryland and does not provide housing. Other programs cost money (which I don't have), or I feel I have no chance of getting into because there are no big opportunities in my area to give me an edge in applications. I am looking for suggestions from you CC. </p>
<p>Rose-Hulman’s Operation Catapult isn’t free, but it is less expensive than a lot of programs. The NIH internships do pay a stipend if you are lucky enough to snag an internship there, and that could cover housing. But they are hard to get. Is there a college in your immediate area where you could volunteer to help a professor with summer research? Or undertake your own research with an eye toward some kind of competition.</p>
<p>You do not need to go to a summer program to do something worthwhile with your summer. I suggest you read the book “How to be a High School Superstar: A Revolutionary Plan to Get Into College While Standing Out (Without Burning Out)”. It might spur some thinking on your part on how to do something interesting without going to a formal program that someone else organized.</p>