Gifted Atlanta

American colleges and universities offer hundreds of summer programs for middle- and high-school students. And with many academic summer programs offering online options for 2021, kids have a wealth of options for summer enrichment courses regardless of their geographic location.

Summer Study in the USA is a non-profit, non-commercial site that pulls information from more than 100 universities. Their search tool can help you identify programs — online or residential — suited to your child’s grade level and area of interest.

In addition to its searchable database, Summer Study in the USA is hosting several live, virtual fairs where you can visit the “booths” of programs that interest you and chat with their representatives. The next two fairs are February 3 and 20. Advance registration for the fairs is required.

As previously reported in this space, Duke TIP has been discontinued. In its place is Duke University Pre-College, which is now accepting applications for summer 2021 programs, to be offered online only.

The courses are open to students who are currently in high school. Class topics include criminal law, econometrics, Mars, politics and photojournalism. Courses run for two or three weeks, depending on the topic.

Unlike the Duke TIP summer programs of the past, the Pre-College summer programs aren’t restricted to students who have participated in a Duke TIP Talent Search, in which 7th-grade students take the SAT or ACT. Instead, applicants will be asked to provide a transcript, resume and essay.