About

The Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) at Santa Clara University is a fully funded, five-day residential summer experience for high school sophomores and juniors who want to explore engineering fundamentals and college academic life. As the last free residential pre-college engineering program in the nation, SES introduces participants to multiple engineering disciplines—including bioengineering, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering—through introductory workshops, interactive projects, and presentations led by faculty and undergraduate mentors. The program blends academic exposure with hands-on activities, allowing students to live in campus residence halls and eat in dining facilities to experience university life as a "Bronco engineer."

For 2026, SES offers three distinct sessions: two "Introduction Program" sessions for new participants (with priority for sophomores) and a third "Year-Two Program" session exclusively for returning 2025 participants. To be considered, applicants must submit an online application by March 31, 2026, which includes a 500-word essay addressing their curiosity for engineering and intended societal impact. SES prioritizes diversity and inclusion, actively recruiting first-generation college students, women, and those from underrepresented or low-income backgrounds. Thanks to sponsors like Verizon and Inspector Planet, accepted participants incur no costs for tuition, housing, or meals.

Instruction is organized around daily sessions that combine lectures, team design challenges, and project work across various fields. Evenings include recreational activities to help students build community and navigate the transition to collegiate STEM environments. Grounded in Santa Clara’s Jesuit philosophy of "engineering for the common good," the program emphasizes ethical problem-solving and motivates students toward the scientific workforce. Participants finish with improved confidence in their engineering mindsets and a clearer understanding of potential academic pathways.