Extracurriculars for a Career in Academia
University professors teach college students and do research in their field. Research programs, academic competitions, and tutoring help high schoolers explore academic life.
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Programs for a Career in Academia
Why it fits: Six-week lab experience with faculty mentors prepares students for academic research careers.
Why it fits: Immersion in interdisciplinary academics across science, humanities, and social sciences builds foundation for academic research careers.
Why it fits: Program cultivates advanced mathematical thinking and collaboration skills valued in academic careers.
Why it fits: Intensive engagement with advanced mathematical research and guided study mirrors academic mathematics research.
Why it fits: The residential research immersion on university campuses with mentorship mirrors early academic research preparation.
Why it fits: Students engage in college-level seminars and independent research projects led by Stanford professors, mirroring academic scholarship.
Why it fits: Research paper writing and oral presentations mirror academic dissemination expected in professorial careers.
Why it fits: Mentorship and academic foundation in STEM equip students for research-focused academic careers.
Why it fits: CTY offers college-level coursework across science, math, and humanities, directly preparing students for academic research and teaching.
Why it fits: Students work directly with faculty on research projects, experiencing academic research and university life firsthand.
Why it fits: Finalists present research findings and compete, building skills in scientific communication and academic rigor.
Why it fits: Students experience college-level academics taught by Harvard faculty, directly exposing them to university teaching and research environments.
Why it fits: Mentorship from Stanford researchers and emphasis on science communication prepares students for research careers.
Why it fits: Engagement with Georgia Tech faculty and exposure to higher education supports pursuit of advanced STEM careers and research.
Why it fits: Students take rigorous college-level courses taught by Cornell faculty, experiencing the academic rigor and teaching style of university professors.
Why it fits: Students interact with university faculty and engage in research-level coursework preparing them for advanced study.
Why it fits: Direct mentorship from physicists and researchers develops academic research skills and scholarly thinking.
Why it fits: Conducting original research and presenting at symposiums mirrors the academic research and dissemination expectations.
Why it fits: Quiz bowl players develop deep interdisciplinary knowledge and the ability to articulate answers clearly and confidently on complex topics.
Why it fits: Olympiad participation demonstrates research capability and subject mastery typical of academic chemistry careers.
Why it fits: Students develop advanced academic writing, independent thought, and critical analysis judged by senior university academics.
Why it fits: Contest encourages scholarly literary analysis and written argumentation central to academic humanities research and teaching.
Why it fits: Entry point to literary study and creative writing programs that lead to academic careers.
Why it fits: Competitive exam participation and mastery of Latin texts prepares students for advanced classical studies and academic research careers.
Why it fits: Students analyze language structure and grammar through advanced problem-solving, core to linguistics research and teaching.
Why it fits: Identifies and develops gifted students for future leadership roles in academic life sciences.
Why it fits: Competing at the highest physics level often leads to advanced study and academic research careers.
Why it fits: Deep engagement with college-level material across ten subjects and public speaking builds academic research foundations.
Why it fits: Camp combines lectures from top scientists with collaborative learning, mirroring academic research and teaching.
Why it fits: Program exposes students to higher-level academic coursework and intellectual inquiry across multiple humanities disciplines.
Why it fits: Living and working in a research-intensive university environment exposes students to academic research careers.
Why it fits: Accelerated high school program provides college-level coursework and Ivy League academic experience.
Why it fits: Students conduct year-long research projects with MIT researchers on unsolved mathematical problems.
Why it fits: Advanced single-subject study taught by scholarly experts models rigorous academic inquiry and deep subject mastery.
Why it fits: Two-week seminars with college instructors expose students to higher education teaching and academic exploration.
Why it fits: Students experience college-level academics and independent research in a student-centered learning environment mirroring undergraduate study.
Why it fits: Introduction to classics develops deep textual analysis and scholarly research skills foundational to academic study.
Why it fits: Students learn from Rice researchers and gain exposure to cutting-edge STEM research and mentorship.
Why it fits: Students conduct research under faculty supervision in CS labs, mirroring academic research environments.
Why it fits: Pre-college coursework taught by world-class instructors mirrors the academic rigor and mentorship of higher education.
Why it fits: Access to top-tier research university professors and foundational courses across thirty departments supports academic advancement.
Why it fits: Students experience college-level academics and research skills alongside UCLA educators, preparing them for academic careers.
Why it fits: Working with Argonne scientists on year-long research projects builds foundational academic research and presentation skills.
Why it fits: Rigorous academic curriculum with world-renowned professors fosters deep learning and scholarly engagement.
Why it fits: Experience in active research teams at a research university directly prepares students for academic careers.
Why it fits: Students explore deep mathematical discovery in a focused environment, mirroring academic mathematical research.
Why it fits: Students engage in college-level courses and research projects with professors, directly experiencing academic research and teaching environments.
Why it fits: Students take rigorous college-level courses taught by Notre Dame faculty, experiencing academic research and teaching methods.
Why it fits: Students learn directly from UC Berkeley faculty in college-level courses, experiencing academic research and teaching methods.
Why it fits: Summer institutes like THINK connect advanced students with research-level academics and expert mentorship.
Why it fits: Students engage in academic coursework taught by expert instructors and Barnard faculty across humanities and STEM disciplines.
Why it fits: Research-intensive programs develop the academic rigor and mentorship skills needed for higher education leadership.
Why it fits: Panel with Carnegie Mellon math and computer science professors showcases academic research careers.
Why it fits: High performance in this internationally-recognized exam demonstrates mastery suitable for advanced chemistry study and teaching.
Why it fits: Students complete college-level research papers with faculty oversight, developing skills essential for academic research careers.
Why it fits: Competition participation demonstrates research-level mathematical thinking valued in academia.
Why it fits: Working under faculty mentors and presenting research at a pre-collegiate conference mirrors academic research and teaching pathways.
Why it fits: Students interact with and learn from faculty researchers, developing scientific communication and research skills.
Why it fits: Program is hosted on a university campus and exposes students to college-level academic study and inquiry.
Why it fits: Students learn to read scientific literature and present research findings, foundational skills for academic careers.
Why it fits: Students learn research methods and inquiry processes that form the foundation of academic careers.
Why it fits: Transcribing and analyzing primary historical documents mirrors the research and discovery methods used in academic scholarship.
Why it fits: Solo performance at a national level and professional feedback supports advancement to higher music education roles.
Why it fits: Study of literary history, form, and technique alongside exploration of graduate writing programs and academic paths.
Why it fits: Program exposes students to ongoing research and academic expertise in artificial intelligence at a leading research institution.
Why it fits: Competing in advanced math contests (grades 11/12) and exploring math history prepares students for higher mathematics study.
Why it fits: Award winners often pursue advanced study at prestigious universities like Bennington with strong writing and literature programs.
Why it fits: Academic essay writing and research on humanities and political science align with scholarly work.
Why it fits: Students engage in rigorous research-based argumentation judged by MIT, Yale, and Oxford academics.
Why it fits: Early immersion in academic research environment with direct mentoring from faculty across multiple STEM and humanities disciplines.
Why it fits: Programs teach undergraduate-level subjects with theoretical knowledge and practical application mirroring university study.
Why it fits: Students gain insights into academic research and scientific discovery through direct interaction with UT faculty researchers.
Why it fits: Learning from UT faculty in an academic setting introduces research and higher education career paths.
Why it fits: Program exposes students to cutting-edge research and ground-breaking work presented by UC Santa Barbara researchers.
Why it fits: Students present research findings and engage with JAX faculty and trainees in a collaborative scientific community.
Why it fits: Deep engagement with college-level mathematics prepares students for academic careers in mathematics.
Why it fits: Program emphasizes research production and knowledge advancement, core to academic research careers.
Why it fits: Students work with faculty mentors on original research projects, presenting findings—a direct introduction to academic research careers.
Why it fits: Students gain research skills, present findings orally, and work directly with research faculty in academic setting.
Why it fits: Students work directly with world-class faculty researchers and gain exposure to academic research career paths.
Why it fits: Students engage in scientific research and communication skills essential for academic careers.
Why it fits: Students conduct real anthropological research and scholarship under professional mentorship, mirroring academic research roles.
Why it fits: Participants work alongside scientists and educators conducting long-term ecological studies and communicating findings.
Why it fits: Students study architectural and historical sites under Notre Dame faculty guidance, exploring academic disciplines deeply.
Why it fits: Winners receive scholarships to advanced Young Writers Workshops led by published poets and MFA-educated instructors.
Why it fits: Students develop university-level essay writing, analytical skills, and independent research abilities essential for academic careers.
Why it fits: Cultivates advanced thinking and research expertise needed to teach and conduct psychology at the academic level.
Why it fits: Interns conduct in-depth historical research and develop projects, core activities of academic historians.
Why it fits: One-on-one mentorship with PhD scholars and seminar professors models academic research careers.
Why it fits: Students conduct rigorous university-level research under Oxford-affiliated academics, mirroring doctoral research and academic publication.