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Free Online Summer School Options for Teens and College Students

Free Online Summer School Options to Keep Your Mind Sharp

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Updated June 3 2020, 11:19 a.m. ET

Source: iStock

This school year has been a weird one that isn't like anything we've experienced before. Due to the worldwide pandemic, so many kids and college students have been out of regular classrooms for over three months. 

Many aren't going back until at least September, but there are several free online summer school options available. Not only will kids and teens be able to keep their momentum up, but there are also opportunities to increase knowledge too. 

University of California

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When I left Berkeley in March, I fully anticipated returning after Spring break. I had no idea how the future months were to unfold. There was so much excitement heading towards the end of the year-from the continuous flow of Strada dates to Cal Day. Although this semester was cut short, I am so grateful for the weeks I was able to spend in my home away from home. I’m hopeful for what is to come within the final year of my undergraduate career & as always, Go BEARS;-) @ucberkeleyofficial | Photo credit and caption: @kappturing⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #uofcalifornia #uc #ucberkeley #berkeley #berkeleyca #norcal #northerncalifornia #cali #california #regram #berkeleypov #bay #bayarea #sunset #sunsets #sunsetgram #sunsetviews #view #views #nature #naturewalk #naturegram #dusk #shadow #shadows #skyline #colorful #colors #belltower #sanfrancisco

A post shared by University of California (@uofcalifornia) on May 31, 2020 at 8:30am PDT

The UC Scout program is now offering 65 different online classes for high school students across the country. The school received a $4 million grant for this program that helps students fulfill the credits needed to get admission to California State University and the University of California, including 26 Advanced Placement classes. 

Learn more about what they're offering here.  

Coursera High School Courses

Coursera is offering free classes that may not be what we typically see in high school, but there are a lot of different opportunities to pique interest. From calculus to fashion design to guitar lessons and understanding architecture, each course is free and fully online. 

Learn more about what they're offering here

Harvard Law

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Spring, interrupted. Winter made a brief reappearance over the weekend. (Thankfully, it was short and sweet) 📷: @marthapixphotos #HarvardLaw #hls #SpringSnow

A post shared by Harvard Law School (@harvardlaw) on Apr 20, 2020 at 1:55pm PDT

Harvard Law, which is one of the most prestigious schools, is offering its pre-term Zero-L course for free for all law schools this summer in the United States. "This year, the course will also cover material typically included in law school orientation, providing supplemental materials for schools that are currently making the shift to virtual orientations due to the pandemic."

Learn more about what they're offering here

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Courses

If you're looking for courses with more advanced thinking needed, MIT has you covered. They're offering an advanced course on banking and money. Its described as learning "how banks can use capital as a tool to promote social and environmental wellbeing."

Learn more about what they're offering here

Duke University

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Enough with the rain already ☔ . . #PictureDuke #DukeSpring #DukeUniversity #Rain #Storm

A post shared by Duke University (@dukeuniversity) on May 29, 2020 at 11:55am PDT

Duke University is offering several university-based courses and they're varied from statistics to programming, to behavioral finance, and learning about dog emotion and cognition. 

Learn more about what they're offering here

University of Chicago

One of the world's biggest academic and research institutions, Chicago University, is offering several courses for people looking to increase their education during the summer. They're offering courses on global warming, critical issues in urban education, and learning about law and economics of media platforms, among others. 

Learn more about what they're offering here.  

Northwestern University

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“I see myself as a catalyst working to build the conditions — the waves — for change.” To help foster community in a time of #socialdistancing, @bienenschoolnu alum and @sittercity founder Genevieve Thiers performs opera and musical theater favorites from her balcony in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Her voice booms out the doors and spills onto the street for everyone to hear. For more than 40 minutes and through 10 songs, including classics like “Climb Every Mountain,” Thiers performs a one-woman concert, which she also livestreams on Facebook. 🎶 Thiers has always been laser-focused on uplifting and advocating for others. When she’s not performing, Thiers works tirelessly as an advocate for women, #entreprenership and political action. 💪 Check out our Instagram story for more details. 👀 #NUCatalyst #WomxnatNU #NUArtsAtHome

A post shared by Northwestern University (@northwesternu) on May 8, 2020 at 6:45pm PDT

If you're looking to learn more job skills, Northwestern University is offering free online summer school courses in several topics including Social Media Marketing Specialization, learning about future in a job in medicine and healthcare, and a whole lot more. 

Learn more about what they're offering here

K-12 free summer course

If you're on the hunt for some free courses for younger kids who are still in grade school or high school there are several available as well. According to K12.com, programs are available to learn coding, and high-demand career fields to help kids and teens learn during the break. 

If you're also looking for summer camp options for your children to attend virtually, there are a lot of programs available to sign up for, though many are not free. 

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Jenniffer Sheldon

Update: 2024-07-24