UC San Diego
Summer Springboard program for middle school students to be held at UC San Diego
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.
Residential Tuition:
$2,898
Commuter Tuition:
$1,498
**Tuition will increase on December 1st, 2024**
Session 1:
July 6, 2025
July 11, 2025
Session 2:
July 13, 2025
July 18, 2025
UC San Diego
UC San Diego
Testimonials
Academic Courses
At Summer Springboard, we believe learning should be inspiring and interactive. Our carefully curated courses blend career exploration, hands-on learning, and exposure to industry-leading businesses and professionals that reflect the resources of the San Diego area. Whenever possible, classes are held outdoors, on-site, or in a lab-type setting to allow students as many hands-on opportunities as possible. Activities such as field trips, guest speakers, and practical scenarios take the learning experience beyond the classroom and leverage all that San Diego has to offer.
In addition to the morning academic course, the afternoons involve different activities (depending on the day), which include staff-led activities, an external campus tour, True You, or their course-specific field trip/activity.
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 with industry veterans as their potential mock investors.
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 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.
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! Below are just some examples of what our students will get to see and explore
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!
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!
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!
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.
Breakfast
Academic Course
Lunch
Academic Skills Lab, True You or Academic Excursion
Afternoon Activities
Commuter Students Depart
Dinner
Evening Activities
Free Time
Dorm Checks
Summer Springboard's program takes place in San Diego on the University of California San Diego (UCSD) campus. It is not run by UCSD and they are not responsible for the Summer Springboard program in any way.