About

The Engineering Summer Program (ESP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a free, three-week residential engineering immersion for rising high school juniors and seniors. During ESP, participants live on campus and take foundational engineering coursework (math, physics, chemistry, engineering design) alongside hands-on workshops, field trips, and mentoring by faculty and industry professionals. ESP is run under UW–Madison’s Precollege / Engineering division.

ESP is described by UW as “highly selective,” though the program does not publish cohort size or acceptance rate. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, current high school sophomores or juniors, with at least a year of algebra and geometry, and a minimum unweighted GPA of ~3.0. Selection is holistic and not based on any single metric.

Over three weeks in summer, ESP students engage in rigorous coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and introductory engineering design. The curriculum includes design projects, group problem solving, faculty-led labs, field trips to industry sites (e.g., GE Healthcare, Rockwell Automation, Alliant Energy) to expose students to real-world engineering applications. Participants also attend seminars and workshops on engineering careers, admissions, and professional development to prepare them for future STEM pathways.

ESP is not a long-term mentorship or research program, but it offers high-caliber exposure to engineering concepts, design skills, and industry context. It also has two significant benefits compared to other programs of its approximate caliber: ESP is free, and operated directly by U Wisconsin Engineering instead of a third-party program. These are real value markers. However, since the program is relatively short and not explicitly research-based, its admissions weight is below that of flagship six-week research internships.

High-value regional STEM program. Among state and Midwest programs, ESP stands out as a rigorous, immersive option that helps to prepare students for undergraduate engineering. Because of its free cost and exposure to a major engineering school, it is highly recommended for students who want a stepping stone into research-intensive summer labs.