Through content deep dives and continuous workshops, CCL scholars develop skills to thrive in college and post-secondary pathways while gaining experiences directly related to career readiness.
CCL scholars in the Immersive Stage will receive content-specific college-level courses, experiential learning opportunities, and a specialized curriculum for developing leadership, networking, and college and post-secondary preparation skills. Paid internship opportunities are available to rising 12th-grade and post-secondary students.
Students are expected to participate in at least four Practice Lab sessions each year of their enrollment, two in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. They should consider themselves enrolled until they complete the program in the summer after high school graduation. All students will receive a completion certificate and NYU transcript with the non-credit program listed, and will be invited to participate in all future College & Career Lab programming.
Eligibility
Important Dates
Application Opens: February 1, 2026
Application Closes: March 31, 2026 @ 11:59 pm
Students are automatically admitted to the Immersive Stage based on continuous participation from the Exploratory Stage, including Practice Labs. Content area designation is sent in mid-May 2026.
July 1, 2026 @ 7:00 pm
All students will pick up their program materials on July 1, 2025 unless otherwise noted.
Scholars admitted to Wagner or Tandon programs will have two orientation commitments.
Summer 2026 dates: July 13–31, 2026
Dates and times vary for content-specific programs and will run no more than 1 to 3 weeks during July.
Date: July 31, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:45 pm
Location: NYU Washington Square
All stages and content areas will be celebrated on this date. Students and families are encouraged to join!
Application Information
To be considered for admission you must submit:
Students will rank their Immersive Stage course choice in order of preference. Every year you will have the opportunity to attend the CCL Immersive program—we will continue adding courses to our list!
Please note that space is limited in each Immersive course. If you do not get the program of your choice, CCL will prioritize you for your first choice the next summer.
Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2026 @ 11:59 pm.
Your contact and biographical information
You should submit your application using an email address that you can easily access.
We suggest you use an email address that you are currently using for school-related work. However, most school email addresses block NYU communications, so we encourage you to check your spam folder frequently to avoid missing an important email from us.
If you only have a school email account, we suggest you use a parent or guardian’s email address, or create an additional Gmail account for yourself. Email communications you may receive from the College & Career Lab include:
Short-answer question
We want to learn more about your current interests and future aspirations, and about how your experiences have shaped those interests. The required short-answer question listed below is designed to help you communicate these topics.
We highly recommend preparing your response to the short-answer question before opening the application. You can do this by typing it out with word-processing software or in an email, then copying and pasting your typed response into the application page.
If you are having difficulty with the short-answer question, we recommend reaching out to a counselor or teacher at your school. They can help you draft and revise your response before submission.
Choice ranking
Due to limited space in each Immersive course, students will be asked to rank their course preferences. We will try to match students to their top choice.
If students do not get their first choice, they have the opportunity to attend CCL’s Immersive program from now until after high school graduation, and will be able to choose another Immersive experience the following summer.
Citizenship information
Your citizenship status does not affect your admission to the College & Career Lab.
Need help?
If you are having problems filling out the application online, please email us so we can assist you.
Short-answer question (required—100 words minimum)
Please describe your interest in your top choice. Why are you interested in this field of study? What do you hope to learn by spending the summer with your top-choice program?
CALI-specific question (300 words or less)
Why are you interested in participating in NYU CALI? Please share your motivations, experiences, or goals that align with what the program has to offer.
Tandon: CS4CS-specific question (100 words or less)
This program is an introduction to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science for high school students. Tell us about your interest or previous experience in cybersecurity.
Tandon: ieSoSC-specific question (250 words or less)
What’s a big idea you’ve had that you wish you could bring to life? What inspired it, and how would it make a difference?
Internship-specific question (150–200 words)
What do you hope to gain or learn from participating in an internship this summer?
(Must also upload a current resume.)
Admission to the College & Career Lab does not guarantee admission to New York University or any other university. For more information on how to apply to an undergraduate program at NYU, visit Undergraduate Admissions.
Course Content
CCL Content Week: July 13–17, 2026
10th-grade CCL students will engage in researching various post-secondary pathways, such as two and four-year colleges, vocational and trade programs, and career opportunities. Additionally, students will develop presentation skills covering design, accessibility, and public speaking. The week will conclude with students presenting on a post-secondary path that reflects their interests and immersive content area.
11th-grade CCL students will engage in a comprehensive exploration of the employment process. This journey encompasses networking, informational interviews, crafting resumes and cover letters, and honing interview techniques to excel in job interviews. By the end of the week, students will be equipped with polished application materials and refined interviewing skills to enhance their prospects in future applications.
12th-grade CCL students will sharpen their writing skills to craft compelling applications for post-secondary opportunities. By the end of the course, students will showcase their progress through the development of their personal statement and supplementary essays.
CCL Immersive Programs: July 20–31, 2026
In this course, CCL scholars will take a deep dive into Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition and Food Studies, Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, and Art Therapy.
In this program, scholars will gain access to key information and skills needed to start their careers in rehabilitation-related health professions (RHP). Scholars will get an inside view of a wide range of health, rehabilitation & creative arts therapy professions: physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, dietitians, music therapists, art therapists, drama therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists. We will visit private practices and specialized clinics so that scholars will gain hands-on experience with RHP skills and research in different professions. We will also visit state-of-the-art labs and meet researchers and students who will share their current work and stories, giving students networking opportunities. Scholars will then learn about coursework and additional resources that can help support these career choices.
What keeps a population healthy? It is more than just access to a doctor—it is where we live, learn, worship, play, and work. In this immersive course, students will step into the rapidly evolving world of public health, guided directly by faculty from the NYU School of Global Public Health. This course focuses on the Social and Structural Determinants of Health. Students will learn how systemic factors—such as socioeconomic status, housing, racism, and policy—shape health outcomes and drive health inequality. Alongside these critical concepts, the course offers a roadmap to professional life, introducing students to the vast landscape of public health careers. From epidemiology and biostatistics to health policy and community advocacy, discover how to turn a passion for social good into a high-impact profession.
CCL scholars in the Media Studies program will be introduced to the field and guiding concepts in media studies. There will be a focus on the intersection of cultural studies, social justice, and media studies, wherein scholars will learn from current advanced MCC undergraduates about study in media and media industries. Scholars will work in groups on a media-making sound project that engages in topic analysis and research. Students will produce soundscapes, podcasts, or sound experiments that will be made available on a class WordPress blog. Students will create this blog by authoring copy and providing images as well. Sessions will be led by the MCC MediaLab, the digital media incubator and learning space overseen by faculty, staff, and undergraduate students in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at NYU Steinhardt.
The series will include lectures and activities each day from active neuroscientists. CCL scholars will investigate concepts in neuroanatomy, learning, memory, diseases of the brain, the senses, and careers in neuroscience. Activities may include sheep brain dissection, drawing of the brain through an artist’s perspective, and more. This program seeks to engage students in the exciting field of neuroscience and understand how science can unlock the brain’s many mysteries.
What makes our actions right or wrong? How should you choose when helping one person will harm another person? Is making people happy all that matters, or do we need to respect people’s rights too? And what is happiness, and what are rights? And what role should governments play in these decisions? These are questions that are central to all of our lives. Philosophers debate them every day, but high school students don’t always get a chance to discuss them head-on. This class helps students explore ideas that have occupied thinkers for centuries, while simultaneously teaching them to articulate, defend, and develop their ideas in rational and respectful debate.
Building on the week of philosophy, students will explore how some of these ideas play out in a real world context. Students will engage in a simulated public health crisis simulation where they get to experience how some of the normative conflicts and trade-offs discussed in the philosophy component of the immersion manifest in addressing real world situations. The simulation will enable students to experience how policymakers have to act in situations of uncertainty, make decisions with incomplete or conflicting data, and manage conflicting values and goals.
The Immersive Stage is split into two parts: One week of grade-specific CCL content, followed by a one- to two-week Immersive program. Classes will take place Monday through Friday beginning in July at NYU’s Washington Square or Tandon campus, with additional coursework potentially required outside of class.
Typical daily schedule
2026 Additional Offerings
The Equal Educational Experience (E3) agreement allows students to maintain their spot in CCL while participating in an external program, as long as the following requirements are met:
Please be aware that choosing to take advantage of the E3 agreement and failing to commit to the requirements above could jeopardize your spot in the NYU CCL Program.
5-week program (M–F, July 6 – August 7)
This content area is a partnership with the Center for K12 STEM at Tandon School of Engineering; students must attend all program days. The ieSoSC program stands at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship, equipping students with both technical skills and business acumen. Through hands-on projects, participants will construct prototypes while delving into critical aspects of business strategy, including market positioning, customer segmentation, and financial modeling. The program culminates in a “Shark Tank” showcase, where students will articulate their entrepreneurial visions and receive feedback from seasoned professionals, preparing them for future challenges in the innovation landscape.
CCL Students will attend ieSoSC and not CCL content areas. CCL students will be required to participate in designated CCL check-ins with the program.
4-week program (M–F, July 13 – August 7)
This content area is a partnership with the Center for K12 STEM at Tandon School of Engineering. The Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS) program provides an introduction to the fundamentals of cybersecurity and computer science. This program strives to educate and empower a new generation of engineers in an inclusive environment.
CCL Students will attend CS4CS and not CCL content areas. CCL students will be required to participate in designated CCL check-ins with the program.
4-day program (M–Th, July 13–16)
Through a partnership with NYU College Access Leadership Institute (CALI), CCL scholars will navigate the college admissions process. Led by NYU admissions counselors, CALI is a series of intensive workshops and seminars that, in collaboration with NYU campus partners, prepare scholars to apply for and succeed at college.
Scholars will dive into key aspects of the college application and transition process, such as essay writing, building college lists, and applying for financial aid and scholarships. They’ll complete the program empowered with the knowledge and new skills they need to confidently conquer college applications.
Professional Development Week + 2-week Internship (July 7–25)
CCL offers limited internships (with a $600 stipend) to students interested in gaining professional development and educational training skills by interning with CCL or a partner site for two weeks in the summer. Interns are compensated for up to 20 hours per week at the internship sites.
Internship opportunities are available in areas such as Social Media, Entrepreneurship, Multimedia & Photography, and Publishing, with additional fields potentially available based on partner confirmations. These internships provide hands-on industry experience.
Interested students will need to upload a resume to the application site, and (after April 1) complete an informal interview. Internship placements will be sent by May.
Selection and participation as an intern will replace the Immersive experience.
In addition to the Immersive content areas organized and managed by the College & Career Lab, CCL partners with NYU summer programs running concurrently to offer our Immersive students a robust selection of opportunities. Please note that the dates of these programs differ from those offered directly by CCL and are managed by the partner programs.
Meals, transportation (MTA card), and materials will still be provided to students prior to their participation in the programs, but CCL advisors will not be in these sessions with the students.
