1-week pre-college camps at America’s best universities

A stylized crown above the text "COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY," featuring curved lines and cross symbols, on a plain background, representing the institution’s logo.
A circular emblem featuring a classical structure is followed by text reading: "THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL." The design implies a formal, academic setting.
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The bold, dark blue letters "UCLA" are prominently displayed against a transparent background, representing the University of California, Los Angeles.
Two students in lab coats smiling, sitting at a table, interacting with a tablet in a laboratory or medical setting.
A student interested in medicine with braided hair and glasses types on a laptop, smiling, in a classroom filled with students. A visible nametag reads “Outset” and “Bounce Conference.”
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what is outset

1-week summer programs for teens exploring medicine

Outset offers summer career camps for teens exploring medicine. Our students meaningfully explore a career interest & meet likeminded peers.

Read our mission
Hands-on Skills

Hands-on skills taught by physicians and faculty

Outset hands-on simulation & skills labs are taught by experienced physicians, and medical faculty. Learn from the best in the field.

Not sure which program? Take the quiz!
A future medical student in a lab coat manipulates a medical device attached to a silicone model, watched by a seated woman and two standing individuals, in a brightly lit laboratory.
Hands in a lab coat work with a surgical simulator, using tools to practice suturing. The setting is a classroom or training environment with supplies and equipment scattered on the table.

Careers in Medicine

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Baby sits calmly while a person uses a stethoscope on their chest. Another hand gently holds the baby's arm. They're in a clinical setting, suggesting a medical examination.

Pediatrics

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at most campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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Two students sit and write attentively in a classroom, with desks, notebooks, and a window in the background providing a focused learning environment.

General Medicine

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at most campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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Instructor gestures while presenting to students in a lecture hall. A projection screen displays information, with attentive students seated and taking notes. Classroom setting with natural light streaming in.

Cardiology

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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Ultrasound machine sits beside an examination bed in a well-lit medical room, with shadows cast on the walls, creating a clean and clinical environment.

Emergency Medicine

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
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Careers in Surgery

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A group of people in lab coats participate in a hands-on activity at a table in a classroom. A person in scrubs guides them; a whiteboard shows diagrams behind them.

General Surgery

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at most campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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A student interested in medicine in a lab coat smiles while using a tool to work on a model. They sit at a table in a bright room with ceiling lights.

Anesthesiology

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at most campuses
Tuition: $2,950
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A student attentively listens and takes notes in a classroom. He is wearing a blue shirt and a wristband, sitting at a desk with notebooks. A window is visible in the background.

Orthopedic Surgery

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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A future medical student in a lab coat manipulates a medical device attached to a silicone model, watched by a seated woman and two standing individuals, in a brightly lit laboratory.

Neurosurgery

Ages: 10th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at UNC
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >

Nursing, Dentistry & More

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Participants engage in a tabletop exercise at a conference room, using colorful game boards and charts labeled "Emergency," "Surgery," "Vertical Care," and "Step Down," while taking notes and interacting.

Nursing

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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Students wearing lab coats and hairnets work at a laboratory bench, focusing on experiments with tools. The environment is well-lit and professional, with three individuals engaged in scientific tasks.

Dentistry

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-August 2026
Campuses: available at UNC & UCLA
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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A doctor talks beside a projected presentation slide, detailing medical symptoms and factors, in a classroom with a window. Items on the table include a water bottle and sanitizer. Text on slide:
 

 - "Character
  Describe the nature of the pain or symptom, such as sharp, dull,
  burning, or colicky, to differentiate between possible causes.
 

 - Exacerbating/Relieving Factors
  Explore what worsens or improves symptoms, such as eating, movement, or medications, to refine the diagnosis.
 

 - Outset"

Dermatology

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
Learn more >
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A future medical student engaged in conversation, gesturing with their hands, seated in a wooden auditorium chair, surrounded by other people and more similar chairs in the background.

Psychiatry

Ages: 10th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: options in June-July 2026
Campuses: available at some campuses
Tuition: $2,950
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Special Topics Programs

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Three students sit attentively in a lecture hall, focusing forward. They hold papers, surrounded by rows of brown seats, with a lit ceiling visible above.

AI & Medicine

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: July 5-10, 2026
Locations: San Francisco, CA
Tuition: $2,950
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A student looks through a microscope, surrounded by others using microscopes, in a laboratory setting. Whiteboards and lab coats in the background suggest a scientific or educational environment.

Medical Research

Ages: 9th-12th grades
Length: 1-week (Sun-Fri)
Dates: July 5-10, 2026
Location: Boston, MA
Tuition: $2,950
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Global Programs

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An ornate, red-brick arch stands prominently; people stroll around and gather underneath; palm trees and bright sky create a lively, sunny atmosphere.

Barcelona, Spain

Ages: 16+
Length: 2-weeks
Dates: July 2026
Topics: Global Health & Medicine
Tuition: $4,995
Learn more >
Coming Soon
People walk under a grand, glass-vaulted ceiling in an ornate shopping arcade. The scene is flanked by elegant storefronts, including Prada and Rizzoli, with intricate architectural details.

Milan, Italy

Ages: 12th grade & college (18+)
Length: 3-weeks
Dates: July 2026
Topics: Hospital Shadowing
Tuition: $5,995
Learn more >

Experience Outset

Watch our summer video!
Six people holding beverages stand and smile in a stadium overlooking the baseball field, with empty chairs in front and a building in the background under a clear sky.
A student interested in medicine holds a coffee cup and smiles while talking to another student outdoors, with a brick building and greenery in the background.
Six people holding beverages stand and smile in a stadium overlooking the baseball field, with empty chairs in front and a building in the background under a clear sky.
Future medical students in white coats examine a mock patient under bright surgical lights in a hospital operating room. Medical equipment and supplies are visible in the background.

The trusted leader for teen career exploration.

Outset is trusted by 1,000+ families each summer for high-quality teen summer programs. Read our reviews and see why we're the leading brand for summer education.

Future medical students in white coats examine a mock patient under bright surgical lights in a hospital operating room. Medical equipment and supplies are visible in the background.
A future medical student wearing a backpack and a lanyard with a badge smiles while walking outdoors on a sunny street, surrounded by trees and buildings.
A person in gloves prepares an IV bag with medication in a sterile lab environment. Nearby are a yellow medical waste container and bottles.
Two students in lab coats smiling, sitting at a table, interacting with a tablet in a laboratory or medical setting.
A student interested in medicine with braided hair and glasses types on a laptop, smiling, in a classroom filled with students. A visible nametag reads “Outset” and “Bounce Conference.”
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prepare for pre-med

For teens exploring medical careers

In partnership with pre-med advisors at leading universities, Outset designed a custom curriculum to prepare teens for the pre-med path.

Read our mission
Hands-on Skills

Hands-on skills taught by physicians and faculty

Outset hands-on simulation & skills labs are taught by experienced physicians, and medical faculty. Learn from the best in the field.

Explore Programs
A grand, red-brick building with arched windows and towers stands majestically. People walk in front as the sun sets, creating a warm glow in the surrounding campus environment.
A doctor in a white lab coat points at an ultrasound image on a monitor, situated in a clinical setting with an ultrasound machine prominently in view.
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Outset was an amazing program. There were excellent simulations and speakers that helped us better understand what practicing medicine looks like.

Natalie K.
11th grade, 2024 alum
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This program was absolutely worth the investment, and I’m thrilled that my daughter — now entering her senior year for the 2025–2026 school year — had the chance to attend Outset. It’s given her valuable exposure and a broader perspective on the medical field.

Marilou M
Parent of 2025 alum
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One of the best things I have ever done was go to Outset! The counselors were so motivational and also really helpful. ...I learned so much from them. Also some of the friendships I made there are so strong and I’m so grateful. Outset really helped me understand how to structure my future.

Zaina M
10th grade, 2025 alum
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My daughter attended the Outset program in the Neurosurgery at UNC. It was a fantastic experience, and her eyes were opened to what it takes to be a Neurosurgeon! She loved the lectures, labs and hands-on practice. Thank you to the Outset team - she's very excited to pursue a pre-med track in college.

Katie Decker
Parent of 2025 alum
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Outset was an amazing program. There were excellent simulations and speakers that helped us better understand what practicing medicine looks like.

Natalie Kayser
11th grade, 2024 alum

Frequently Asked Questions

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Will Outset help me get into college?

Outset is an extracurricular academic program. Like many extracurriculars, Outset can be a helpful addition to your resume and college application but will likely not be the deciding factor in your college application. Your grades, references, test scores, and personal statement matter most. Still, Outset can demonstrate to colleges and universities that you have a serious interest in medicine and have taken steps to explore that interest. Some alumni even talk about Outset in their personal statements.

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How competitive is Outset?

Outset is a competitive summer program for 9th-12th grade students interested in medical careers. We receive thousands of applicants each year and accept fewer than 50% of students. We have strict academic standards and require applicants to submit a statement about their interest in medicine. If you pass our initial screening, then you will have a 10-minute video call with our Admissions team. After this call we request a teacher reference for some applicants.

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What is the Admissions process?

We have an easy 3-step Admissions process. First, you apply online. Next if you pass our initial screening you will be invited to a 10-minute video meeting with our Admissions team. We will ask you about your interest in medicine and Outset. Finally, for some applicants we require a teacher reference. Once you have completed all 3 steps, we give you a decision in 3-5 business days.

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Does Outset have a cost? Is there financial aid?

Yes, Outset has a program fee that is $2,950. This fee covers your university housing, meals, academic and faculty costs, as well as the costs of Outset campus staff. For students who cannot afford the full fee, you can request financial aid or scholarships in our online application.

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What is the application deadline?

Outset does not have an application deadline. We have rolling admissions. Our programs and campuses do fill up fast, so we recommend applying as early as you can.

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