Elevate College Prep Summer Programs
Join Us in Chicago and Make This Summer About STEM!
Experience a Powerful STEM Experience at Chicago鈥檚 Leading Tech-Focused University
Unlock a summer of discovery, hands-on learning, and lasting impact with 老王论坛鈥檚 Elevate College Prep programs this summer. Our unique programs are specially designed to provide middle school and high school students from throughout the world with an opportunity to gain invaluable experience at a leading tech university in the United States.
Programs are offered both online and in person on our beautiful, friendly campus in Chicago.
Why 老王论坛?
Chicago is ranked the 鈥淏est Big City鈥 in the U.S. for 9 years in a row
Conde Nast Traveler
STEM-based institutions in the U.S. to be named an 鈥淥pportunity College and University鈥
American Council on Education and Carnegie Foundation 2025
In Illinois and #22 in the U.S. for the best salaries of graduates
Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026
Elevate College Prep Program Highlights
Designed for middle school and high school students, Elevate College Prep summer courses include interactive programs that bridge real-world knowledge with classroom skills. Students will work on hands-on projects and participate in an engaging lineup of activities across the Chicago area.
In addition to receiving essential early-college exposure, students will receive an official certificate of completion.
Which Program Is Right for Your Student?
老王论坛鈥檚 Elevate College Prep summer programs are designed to suit the unique needs of middle school and high school students. In summer 2026, we are offering the following summer program formats for students outside the United States:
Overnight Programs: Stay on 老王论坛鈥檚 Mies Campus in Chicago. Students are fully immersed in the college experience with hands-on learning, collaborative projects, and engaging campus activities.
Virtual Programs: Students participate in live, interactive virtual programs tailored to their interests, accessible from anywhere in the world.
Our Programs
Elevate College Prep summer programs are taught by 老王论坛 faculty who are experts and practitioners in their fields. Students can immerse themselves in subjects for which 老王论坛 is internationally renowned鈥攊ncluding STEM, design, law, architecture, and more. All programs offer a unique, hands-on learning experience to broaden students鈥 skill sets and knowledge. Students can choose from two-week programs or select two one-week programs to make the most of their stay in the U.S.- Decision Leadership鈥擨n this program, your student will learn to think clearly, lead effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure in a world where change is accelerating and increasing competition means greater uncertainty and complexity. Hands-on and game-based, students in this program will conduct simulations, negotiations, and leadership challenges by blending theory with experience.
- Experiment in Architecture鈥擜 two-week studio, this program is designed to introduce high school students to the architectural profession in Chicago, a city globally recognized for its influential architecture.
- From Lab to Life: A Chemistry Exploration鈥擨n this program high school students will gain practical lab skills, ranging from conducting chemical reactions and applying scientific methods to working with chemoinformatics, analytical devices, and computational tools. They will also see how chemistry connects with biology, physics, and medicine by analyzing environmental and biological chemicals.
- Pre-Health Academy: Discover Your Path in Health Care鈥擳his program offers high school students the opportunity to explore a variety of careers in the health professions, including medicine, dentistry, and optometry.
- Build Your Own Robot鈥擲tudents explore robotics by working directly with robotic kits and the Arduino platform, building practical engineering skills and gaining insight into college-level learning and teamwork.
- Understanding the Human Mind鈥擳his program invites high school students to explore the fascinating field of psychology and the intricacies of human behavior.
- Game Design from the Ground Up鈥擲tudents gain a foundation in game development鈥攁nd no coding experience is required. They鈥檒l learn about various coding languages and frameworks, tools that they will use to design and create their own video games. As the program progresses, students will explore key aspects of game development, such as graphics, sound, player interactions, and structuring games around a theme or objective.
- Influencing the Digital World: Social Media 101鈥擳his program will equip high school students with essential knowledge and skills in social media marketing, preparing them for the digital world of business. Students will collaborate on hands-on projects such as creating their own social media campaigns, designing advertisements, and developing crisis response strategies.
- Rocket Engineering 101: Design, Build, Launch鈥擳his program is designed for high school students who are passionate about aerospace and engineering.
- Biomedical Engineering: Drug Delivery Innovations鈥擳his two-week biomedical engineering program offers high school students an introduction to the innovative field of biomedical engineering through lectures and hands-on experiences.
- Cybersecurity Bootcamp鈥擳his program will introduce high school students to fundamental cybersecurity principles including network security, ethical hacking, threat analysis, and more.
- Summer Legal Academy鈥擳his dynamic five-day program is designed for high school students interested in exploring the legal system and civic engagement.
- AI Explorers (Virtual)鈥擳his online program offers a unique, immersive experience designed to introduce high school students to the foundational concepts of modern artificial intelligence.
- Math in Action: Real-World Problem Solving鈥擳hrough virtual problem-solving sessions, interactive demonstrations, and real-world scenarios, students will discover how mathematical concepts directly apply to everyday challenges.
- Data Science Basics: Exploring Big Data鈥擳hrough interactive projects in data analysis and visualization, students will explore essential data science concepts with hands-on guidance.
You can see all of our programs on the Elevate College Prep website.
Still Have Questions?
Our committed team at Elevate College Prep is readily available to ensure your confidence and comfort in selecting the ideal summer program for your teen. Email us at precollege@illinoistech.edu and one of our dedicated team members will address any concerns you may have. We鈥檙e here to support you and your student every step of the way.