Summer Springboard
ON THE CAMPUS OF
UC San Diego
Middle School
PICK A 1-WEEK MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSE OF YOUR CHOICE; OR PICK MORE COURSES FOR A LONGER SUMMER EXPERIENCE.
Program Highlights
- Live on UC San Diego’s campus and experience true college-style dorm life.
- Participate in engaging, hands-on activities that foster creativity and collaboration.
- Enjoy supervised free time, games, and evening social events with peers.
- Explore San Diego through educational excursions and local cultural experiences.
- Build independence, confidence, and teamwork in a structured summer environment.
- Make lasting friendships with students from across the country and around the world.
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Campus Overview
Dubbed “America’s Finest City”, and for good reason, San Diego offers it all – amazing Southern California beaches, natural beauty, a variety of parks and attractions, and near-perfect climate year-round. Just a few reasons that make hosting our Summer Springboard program on the campus of UC San Diego that much better!
Home to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD is one of the premier leaders in earth science research and education, and ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report.
Home to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD is one of the premier leaders in earth science research and education, and ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report.
RESOURCES
Apply Now
Click here to begin your application for this campus-based program.
Download Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this campus.
Request a Call
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our campuses and courses.
Schedule a Call
Click here to schedule a call with our Admissions Team during a day and time that is most convenient for you.
Watch Campus Video
Click here to navigate to YouTube and watch our short video detailing our summer program on this campus for teens.
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 28 – July 3, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 5 – July 10, 2026 |
| Session 3: July 12 – July 17, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this program using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $2,998 |
| Commuter Tuition: $1,498 |
| Application Fee: $99+ |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Diego |
| State: California |
| Campus: UC San Diego |
*Learn more about our campus partners and their relationship to our programs.
One-Week Summer Program
Residential Students
- Includes: all meals, lodging, excursions, academic course, weekend excursions
- Excludes: optional airport pickup and drop-off service (available for an additional fee)
Commuter Students
- Includes: lunch, academic course, excursions, programming from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday
- Excludes: lodging, breakfast, dinner, weekend excursions (can be added on for $125 per day)
Supplements
- $250 tuition extra (mandatory) for the Medicine course
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Academic Courses
Middle School Business & Entrepreneurship
Students in this program will become part of a new company they devise and will work in teams on various aspects of the new business. They will dive into the world of business and learn how companies work.
Students will explore the secrets of making things, telling people about them, and selling them. They will get a chance to hear stories from entrepreneurs who have started small and made it big. The program culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch presentation.
Middle School Marine Biology
Roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by our oceans, of which more than 80% remains unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored. There is a vast and diverse amount of marine life and ecosystems found in our oceans – those both discovered and researched and those still wading in the depths. Summer Springboard’s course in Marine Biology will offer students the opportunity to explore these various marine life and ecosystems, and
more, through quality instruction and hands-on activities.
Students will explore the anatomy of select marine life, learn about the different habitats they live in and the ways their ecosystems interact, study various threats facing our oceans and marine life today, and hear from leading experts in the field.
Middle School Medicine
This program provides middle school students interested in pursuing medicine with real hands-on experience where they can build a set of medical skills at an early age.
Imagine being able to set a splint, stop a bleed, and perform CPR as a middle school student! Students will learn medical techniques through age-appropriate simulations and guided lessons. In addition, they’ll work with small groups to research a patient’s history and symptoms, create a diagnosis based on findings, and develop a treatment plan.
Middle School Trial Law
This program introduces students to vital techniques that are used by trial lawyers throughout the United States.
Real world experts will share their knowledge about Trial Law and students will hear the inside scoop on law school and the admissions process.
Middle School Psychology & Neuroscience
This program is a jam-packed week for middle school students interested in being introduced to the field of psychology.
This program offers students who are interested in pursuing a career in psychology and neuroscience an exploration of how psychologists study and understand how people work.
Students will explore social dynamics, emotions, personality, the nature of beliefs and the relationship between the mind, brain and body.
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Activities & Trips
Soak up the sunshine of Southern California with numerous outdoor activities. We’ll step off-campus to explore a variety of what “America’s Finest City” has to offer!
Birch Aquarium
Students in our Marine Biology course will get to dive deep into marine life through the Birch Aquarium, part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Law School Visit & Court Visits
Students in our Trial Law course will get to visit a law school in San Diego to learn more about what it means to be a law student, and they will also get to visit the San Diego Superior Court to see where real trials take place.
San Diego Bay Tour
All residential & commuter students will join us on a bay tour of San Diego, where we will pass by Seaport Village, Shelter Island, Coronado Island, Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, and much more!
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Student Life
Get ahead of college living by experiencing the variety of amenities that UCSD has to offer during your Summer Springboard program, from the dining hall, to your university dormitory, its beautiful campus, and more!
TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE
8:00am Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast with your fellow students as you get ready to start your day on-program. Most meals will be in the on-campus dining hall.
9:00am Academic Course
Take part in your selected academic course. This college-style learning experience is designed to give high school students hands-on exposure to a specific field of study.
12:00pm Lunch
Enjoy lunch in the campus dining hall, which offers a wide variety of fresh and flavorful options. The menu is designed to accommodate all kinds of dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and common food allergies—ensuring every student can find something satisfying and safe to eat while connecting with friends over a great meal.
1:30pm Recreational Activity or Academic Excursion
At Summer Springboard at UC San Diego, academic excursions are off-campus field trips that connect directly to each course, giving students real-world insight into their chosen field. Recreational activities offer fun and social ways to unwind, explore the area, and build friendships through beach outings, campus games, local attractions, and more. Together, these experiences enrich both learning and student life in a vibrant, hands-on way.
3:30pm Academic Skills Lab
Students will participate in academic skill labs, where they’ll have extra time to develop their final projects. Whether preparing for a mock trial or refining their business pitches, this dedicated time allows them to collaborate and bring their ideas to life.
5:00pm Free Time
Students enjoy structured free time between Academic Skills Lab and dinner, with opportunities to relax, play games, or socialize with friends.
6:00pm Commuter Students Depart
For those students that have selected the commuter option, they will depart campus for the day while residential students prepare for dinner and evening activities.
6:00pm Dinner
It’s been a long, eventful day! It’s time to head to the dining hall or other dining location and eat well to restore your energy reserves before taking part in clubs or other nighttime activities.
7:00pm Evening Actvities for Residential Students
In the evenings, residential students participate in fun, supervised activities such as talent shows, trivia nights, and karaoke. These activities build community, encourage teamwork, and give students a chance to relax after a full day.
8:30pm Back in the Dorm
All students return to the dorms by 8:30pm to wind down and prepare for the next day.
9:30pm Mentor Check-In for Residential Students
Residential students will turn in for the night to rest in their dorm rooms and get ready for the big day ahead tomorrow.
Housing
At UCSD, Summer Springboard students are housed in suites. They’ll share a room with another person, in a suite that contains 2-3 other rooms. Each suite has 1-2 bathrooms, depending on the number of rooms in the suite, as well as a common living room area. Suites are separated by gender. On each floor, there is a full kitchen, with a stovetop, oven, microwave, fridge, etc. Basic linens are provided in the form of a flat sheet, blanket, pillow, pillowcase, and towel.
Summer Springboard staff live on each floor to create a community, provide support, plan activities, and help students get the most out of their program. Other members of the Summer Springboard staff, including the Campus Director, Assistant Campus Director, and other staff also reside within the dorms during the course of the program and are available to support students and address emergencies, 24 hours a day.
Summer Springboard staff live on each floor to create a community, provide support, plan activities, and help students get the most out of their program. Other members of the Summer Springboard staff, including the Campus Director, Assistant Campus Director, and other staff also reside within the dorms during the course of the program and are available to support students and address emergencies, 24 hours a day.
Security
The dorms are access-controlled, and students need their individual access-cards to get into the residence hall and their suite. Hard-keys are issued to the students as well, and are used to access their specific room within their suite. UCSD Police operates 24/7 and makes regular patrols of the campus and residence halls. Students are also required to be in their rooms past 9:30pm for safety and accountability purposes.
Facilities
Each dormitory has laundry facilities, lounges, and WiFi throughout. There is also a water filtration station, and students are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and hydrate regularly!
Dining
Most meals will be in the on-campus dining hall. The dining hall offers a wide selection of food, accommodating a variety of diets – including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and specific food allergies.
Summer Springboard on the campus of
UC San Diego - Middle School
Testimonials
Please note that activities, courses and other items on the itinerary for this program are subject to change. This video may reflect an older version of this program. Please refer to the program infosheet and this website page for the most up-to-date information on this campus-based program.
“So fun and I loved this experience, definitely will remember this for a long time! I enjoyed the class, made new friends, and loved the weekend excursions. Super amazing experience and a great use of summer time!”
– Julia S. | Alumni Student
“Summer Springboard was such a great opportunity to not only learn more about the topic of my interest, but also connected with many others who are interested in the same.”
– Alina K. | Alumni Student
“Great class experience which involved hands on and engaging work while having the opportunity to build deep relationships with other students and make an overall very enjoyable experience”
– Tejbir D. | Alumni Student
*Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.