Resources › For Students and Parents Great Summer Political Science Programs for High School Students Share Flipboard Email Print Turn Yourself Into a Strong College Applicant Introduction A Solid Academic Record What's a Good Academic Record? High Grades vs. Challenging Classes Understanding Weighted GPAs Required Courses High School Course Requirements Foreign Language Requirements High School Science Requirements High School Math Requirements Standardized Test Scores What Colleges Consider Good SAT Scores What Colleges Consider Good ACT Scores How to Get Into a Good College With Low SAT Scores How to Get Into a Good College With Low ACT Scores Advanced Placement vs. International Baccalaureate A Comparison of IB and AP What Is an IB School? 6 Reasons to Take AP Classes What's a Good Advanced Placement Test Score? Extracurricular Activities What Counts as an Extracurricular Activity? The Best Extracurricular Activities Unusual Extracurricular Activities Work Experience and College Applications Summer Plans The Best Summer Plans for High School Students Summer Creative Writing Programs for High School Students Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students Summer Music Programs for High School Students Summer Science Programs for High School Students Summer Dance Programs for High School Students Summer Political Science Programs for High School Students Summer Leadership Programs for High School Students Geri Lavrov / Getty Images By Eileen Cody is an experienced education program coordinator. Previously, she was an admissions counselor at Alfred University. our editorial process Eileen Cody Updated June 17, 2019 If you have an interest in politics and leadership, a summer program could be a great way to expand your knowledge, meet like-minded people, interact with important political figures, learn about college, and, in some cases, earn college credit. Below are some popular summer political science programs for high school students. National Student Leadership Conference on Political Action & Public Policy Herrperry123 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 The National Student Leadership Conference offers this summer session on U.S. politics for high school students to explore the inner workings of the U.S. Congress and American politics. The program is hosted at American University in Washington, D.C. Participants have the opportunity to experience interactive simulations of a U.S. Senator's job, meet important political figures, attend leadership workshops and college-level lectures on various aspects of the American political system, and tour political sites around the city including Capitol Hill, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Smithsonian Institution. The program is residential and runs for six days. Women & Politics Institute Summer Session for High School Students This non-residential summer session for high school students offered by the Women & Politics Institute at American University is centered around the role of women in politics and their representation in American government. The ten-day course combines traditional classroom lectures on women and politics, public policy, campaigning and elections, and political leadership with field trips around the city of Washington, D.C. The course also has several guest speakers. This program carries three college credits upon completion. Junior Statesmen of America Institutes Barry Winiker / Getty Images These political institute programs sponsored by the Junior Statesmen of America allow politically aware high school students the opportunity to explore today’s governmental challenges and significant political issues. There are several institutes offered at the University of California Los Angeles, Princeton University, and other universities around the country, all of which focus on a specific aspect of modern politics and leadership. Institute attendees learn about the inner workings of government, participate in interactive activities and debates on current issues, and meet with government officials and other significant political figures. The Institutes are residential programs, and each runs for three to four days.