How competitive are these programs, and what are the typical acceptance rates?

Many top summer programs for high school students are very competitive, with acceptance rates often below 10%. The RSI and SUMaC are some of the most selective, admitting only a small percentage of applicants, who are often high-achieving students. Other programs, such as the Clark Scholars Program and Yale Young Global Scholars, are gated by their very rigorous selection processes. Acceptance into these amazing summer programs depends on a lot of factors, from academic performance and extracurricular involvement, to essays and recommendations. On the flipside, some programs are far more accepting, such as the pre-college courses at Harvard and Georgetown, which have higher acceptance rates and offer valuable learning experiences for a broader range of students.