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Extracurriculars for a Career in Machine Learning

Machine learning engineers build systems that learn from data, like recommendation engines and AI models. Coding camps, math competitions, and AI research programs are strong starts.

43
programs
12
online or hybrid
10
open enrollment, no application
8
states with in-person programs

Find programs that fit you

Format
Admission
Focus
Showing 43 of 43 programs

Programs for a Career in Machine Learning

Beaver Works Summer Institute
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Artificial intelligence is a key program component with hands-on lab work and real-world applications.

Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 10th - 11th

Why it fits: Introduces computing applications and advanced technical concepts relevant to ML work.

Stanford AI4ALL
Stanford University · Stanford, CA · Hybrid
HybridHighly SelectiveGrades 9th

Why it fits: Students directly study AI and machine learning through hands-on research projects in computer vision, NLP, and robotics.

Cornell Tech Summer Innovation Intensives
Cornell University · Ithaca, NY · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Core focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning technical tracks directly prepares students for this role.

Major League Hacking (MLH) Hackathon Series
Major League Hacking (MLH) · Multiple · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Students build functional applications and attend technical workshops refining advanced engineering skills.

International Quant Championship (IQC)
WorldQuant BRAIN · Multiple
Highly Selective

Why it fits: Creates algorithmic models to identify patterns and signals in large historical market datasets.

DSI Summer Lab
Data Science Institute (DSI) at the University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th (Chicago-area high school students eligible)

Why it fits: Students work on applied data science research pairing computational methods with domain expertise.

Technovation
Technovation · Multiple

Why it fits: Program emphasizes cutting-edge AI and technology education to build innovative solutions.

Technovation Girls
Technovation · Multiple · Hybrid
HybridOpen Enrollment

Why it fits: Program explicitly mentions using AI and tech to create solutions, directly aligned with ML work.

USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
USA Computing Olympiad · Virtual · Virtual
VirtualHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Advanced algorithmic problem-solving in USACO builds foundations for ML engineering work.

Imagine Cup
Microsoft · Multiple · Hybrid
HybridHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th and college/university, 18+

Why it fits: Finalists develop AI applications leveraging Azure AI, Machine Learning, and OpenAI services.

Canadian Computing Competition
Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing, University of Waterloo · Ontario, Canada · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 9th - 12th
Apply by February 11, 2027

Why it fits: Competition problems develop algorithmic thinking and advanced problem-solving skills foundational to ML work.

BetterMind Labs SPARK HACK
BetterMind Labs

Why it fits: SPARK HACK likely involves building intelligent systems and experimenting with ML algorithms in a competitive setting.

Day of AI Festival
Day of AI USA · Cambridge, MA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 3rd - 12th

Why it fits: Festival focuses on AI applications, directly engaging students with machine learning concepts and implementation.

Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Rice University · Houston, TX · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Deep learning course teaches AI deployment for smart city applications and real-world problem solving.

Research Program for HS Students – Summer 2026
University of Texas at Dallas, Computer Science K-12 Outreach · Dallas, TX · Hybrid
HybridHighly SelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: The 8-week deep-dive AI workshop teaches advanced coding and data analysis skills applied to real-life AI projects.

Academy for All
University of Texas at Austin Department of Computer Science · Austin, TX · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 11th - 12th

Why it fits: Machine Learning Edition teaches students to train and implement machine learning models using Python.

All Star Code Summer Intensive
All Star Code · Multiple · Hybrid
HybridOpen EnrollmentGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program develops foundational AI literacy including responsible use, bias evaluation, and critical systems thinking.

UC San Diego FUTURES Programs
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies · San Diego, CA
Open EnrollmentGrades High school

Why it fits: Machine Learning program combines Python, applied mathematics, and hands-on algorithm implementation projects.

Data Science Academy
Wharton Global Youth Program · Philadelphia, PA · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program explicitly teaches state-of-the-art machine learning tools and empirical thinking skills.

Voice of Calling
Voice of Calling · Bend, OR · Hybrid
HybridOpen Enrollment

Why it fits: AI projects for youth, including AI campaigns and coding initiatives, introduce machine learning concepts.

Engineering Summer Academy Program (ESAP)
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science · Philadelphia, PA · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Dedicated AI course develops machine learning algorithms and applications central to the role.

Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program
Olive Children Foundation · Fremont, CA · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Program focuses on machine learning platforms for drug discovery and data science applications in research.

Barrett Summer Scholars
Arizona State University Educational Outreach and Student Services · Tempe, AZ · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: AI-focused courses explore how computers think and make decisions using algorithms.

HackMIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Students can apply ML techniques to solve real-world problems during the competition.

Blueprint (HackMIT)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Cambridge, MA

Why it fits: Hackathon projects often involve AI/ML applications, providing hands-on experience in this specialized engineering field.

North American Computational Linguistics Open Competition
NACLO · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students solve cutting-edge natural-language processing problems using logic and linguistic analysis.

Presidential AI Challenge
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education · Multiple
Open Enrollment

Why it fits: Students create AI-based solutions directly aligned with ML engineering work and responsible AI implementation.

Kaggle Data Science Competitions
Kaggle · Virtual · Virtual
VirtualOpen Enrollment

Why it fits: Students build and train machine learning models to compete on Kaggle's real-world datasets and benchmarks.

iD Tech: Virtual Tech Camps
iD Tech · Virtual · Virtual
VirtualGrades 2nd - 12th

Why it fits: Python Coding & AI Agents course introduces students to AI and machine learning concepts.

Camp Integem: AI Robot, Holographic AR Coding, Game Design
Integem · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 6th - 12th

Why it fits: Students work with NVIDIA AI, study AI algorithms, and earn NVIDIA AI certificates through hands-on projects.

InspiritAI AI Scholars Program
InspiritAI · Virtual · Virtual
VirtualGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students build and test AI models across diverse domains like deepfake detection and wildfire prediction.

US TechGirls Summer Exchange Program
U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs · Multiple · In-Person
In-PersonHighly SelectiveGrades 10th - 11th

Why it fits: Testimonials mention learning Python and advanced software tools relevant to machine learning applications.

RoboCup
RoboCup Federation · Multiple · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Students implement AI and machine learning techniques to enable robots to perceive and act intelligently.

Digital Scholars Program
Discovery Partners Institute · Chicago, IL · In-Person
In-PersonGrades 11th - 12th and first-year college

Why it fits: Weekly workshops cover artificial intelligence and machine learning as key technical topics.

Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (BAIR) High School Summer Program
Lawrence Hall of Science · Berkeley, CA · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Students explore cutting-edge AI technologies and research directly aligned with machine learning development.

AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp
Stanford University · Stanford, CA · Virtual
VirtualSelective

Why it fits: Students directly learn machine learning applications in healthcare through guided case studies and expert instruction.

GENIUS Olympiad
Terra Science and Education · Rochester, NY · In-Person
In-PersonSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: New GENIUS AI category teaches machine learning and data analysis for environmental problem-solving.

Singularity: AI Essay Contest
Veritas AI · Virtual · Virtual
VirtualSelectiveGrades 9th - 12th

Why it fits: Students analyze and argue about AI systems' capabilities and limitations, core to ML engineering work.

Academy for Machine Learning
University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX · In-Person
In-PersonOpen EnrollmentGrades 10th - 12th

Why it fits: Students train their own ML models and explore core AI concepts directly relevant to the role.

Meta Summer Academy
Meta
Selective

Why it fits: The academy covers computer science fundamentals essential to machine learning engineering at a leading tech company.

Frontier AI Security Residency
ERA · Cambridge, UK · In-Person
In-Person

Why it fits: Works on securing and verifying frontier AI systems and compute infrastructure.

Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon Inspires
Highly Selective

Why it fits: Students work directly on machine learning projects like diabetes detection models and algorithm development.

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