Barnard College, Columbia University

Are you considering a career in architecture or design? Are you working on your college application and portfolio? Or are you simply curious about what it is like to be an architect? The Summer Springboard architecture course for high school students introduces architectural ideas, design principles, and methods of exploring problems of the built environment in a collaborative studio setting. While working on a design project you will learn about the academic path to an architectural degree, the day-to-day work of an architect, and the career opportunities.

In their first class, students will break into teams and come up with an original business idea. Over the course of the entire program they develop this idea into a business that they will ultimately pitch to investors. Along the way, teams need to develop a marketing plan and financial projections. By using an experiential learning approach, students will quickly engage in the topic, and the instructor introduces the underlying theory and concepts as students tackle these issues while trying to build their business. On the final day of the course the teams present their products to an expert panel of judges who provide professional and informative feedback to the students.

This course offers an engaging introduction to coding through Python, suitable for beginners and those with some programming background. Students will explore Python fundamentals, covering key topics like variables, data types, control structures, functions, and loops, with a blend of theory and hands-on practice. Students will undertake projects designed to enhance problem-solving skills and coding proficiency. Those with previous experience in programming will find opportunities to challenge themselves further, while newcomers will gain a solid foundation in Python syntax and program design. The course culminates in a final project, enabling students to demonstrate their skills and add a significant piece to their programming portfolio. This course is structured to build confidence and competence in Python, paving the way for future programming endeavors.

Excursions in New York: During last summer’s program, students had the opportunity to explore Microsoft through a behind-the-scenes tour, gaining insights into cutting-edge technology, and engaged in immersive spy simulations at Spyscape. Visits may extend to other top tech companies like Salesforce and Justworks this summer. Furthermore, students will have the chance to learn from industry professionals, including computer programmers, software engineers, and game developers.

Our summer medical program for high school students gives you a 360 degree view of the medical and healthcare field, as well as immersive learning through hands-on projects and simulations. Students will get the unique opportunity to hop on board and learn how things really operate in the back of an ambulance. In addition, they will get behind-the-scenes access to a hospital ward room, emergency or intensive care unit room, operating room or procedural training room.

Uncover your passion for fashion and explore diverse career opportunities in one of the world’s most reknowned fashion cities. Renowned for their rich history of top fashion events, leading designers, and a thriving fashion culture, these cities are legendary and exert tremendous influence in the fashion world. Prepare to use these cities as your living classrooms for an exciting journey of discovery.

Throughout the program, students will immerse themselves in the business aspects of the fashion industry, guided by insights from industry professionals. Drawing inspiration from Steve Madden, they will explore topics such as consumer behavior and fashion forecasting. This journey culminates in the creation and presentation of conceptual designs for the Steve Madden brand. As the course concludes, students will showcase their innovative Steve Madden bag concepts at the Steve Madden headquarters in NYC, with one standout design earning a prize.

In this course, students will gain invaluable insights and build a diverse portfolio of stocks, bonds, and options. Experience the thrill of a dynamic, team-based trading competition with your classmates, where collaboration and real-time decision-making are key to success.

Participants will engage in hands-on activities, with faculty providing guidance and support. As they compete, students will explore essential investment concepts, including the characteristics of different asset classes, the distinctions between public and private equity, the inner workings of the stock market, company financial analysis, valuation techniques, and effective portfolio design.

Excursions in New York – Last summer, our students embarked on an insider tour of Wall Street, where they got a behind-the-scenes look at the nation’s financial heart. They visited an in-house trading room with 15 Bloomberg terminals and heard directly from financial advisors. This course is designed to inspire and give students a taste of a career in finance!

This course aims to provide the knowledge of implementing a computer game using one of the industry-standard game development engines. This course describes the 3D virtual world creation process from a computer graphics perspective, introduces corresponding game components, explains how to use these components effectively in a game development process, and how to successfully deliver a fully working and entertaining game.

During the course, students can improve their Computer Science and Computer Graphics knowledge, both personally and collaboratively. They will explore professional video game design while using popular industry tools. They will begin by learning about how to create 3D objects and then using their new skills to design a fully realized world of their own. Students will get a chance to customize their newly built worlds and leave the course with a comprehensive view of how to professionally design a game and have skills to showcase in their portfolio.

No prior coding knowledge is needed for the course. Fundamentals of C# programming language and the basic requirements for game scripting are taught at the beginning of the course. Whether students are interested in 3D modeling, gameplay programming, or level design, they can expand their project’s portfolio, gain exposure to critical game industry insights, and connect with talented peers and mentors. What more fun way than applying this knowledge towards the process of creating a video game?

Through psychology simulations and hands-on neurology workshops, you will explore the relationships between the brain and human behavior. Whether you are interested in the physical aspect of the brain and central nervous system or more intrigued by human behavior and thought processes, connect with professionals that have a background in both psychology and neuroscience. 

Excursions Examples – Previous students enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, such as a visit to the NYU Psychology lab. Here, they witnessed the operation of an fMRI machine and actively participated in research studies. Last summer, students explored the Alvarado lab, gaining insights into biology and encountering various animals. Our guest speakers have included experts from Harvard, UCLA, and Google.