<p>Hahaha, are you sure you aren’t describing my life? Seriously, I applied to the same first two programs (NJ Scholars and NJ Gov School E & T) and didn’t get in also. Now I’m scrambling for inexpensive, research-based programs, too. </p>
<p>Suggestions:
-I just applied to the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab Internship and it sounds excellent. The deadline is this Friday so you’d need to do things quickly. However, I heard that this program is also highly competitive but it is worth a shot (and an easy application). It’s a commuter program so you would need to live in central Jersey or be willing to take a bunch a trains/public transportation. (I’m assuming you live in NJ, haha) You also get paid 
[Princeton</a> Plasma Physics Laboratory](<a href=“Science Education at PPPL”>Science Education at PPPL)</p>
<p>-Alfred Summer Camps. I did the Astronomy Camp two years ago and it was amazing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. You learn a ton, you meet a lot of cool people and you use really cool equipment. It is also under $1000 and is residential. However, it is only a week long and it doesn’t look amazing on applications. But it is tons of fun. They also have a bunch of other programs you may be interested in.
[Alfred</a> University : Summer Programs : High School Programs](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/summer/hs.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/summer/hs.cfm)</p>
<p>-Rutgers Astrophysics Institute. Again, this is another commuter program. Nevertheless, it is an amazing experience. The program consists of a four week summer research portion and then a yearlong follow up independent research (which I really need to work on… xD). It’s real research in astrophysics using the archives of real NASA data from satellite telescopes. Perfect if you want to do research. However, I needed to go through my school to do it. Ask your physics teacher (you need to have completed physics to do it) and maybe he/she will be interested in e-mailing the people to let you go. Also, when the website describes all this stuff the teachers must do, they really don’t have to do it. My teacher didn’t do any of the extra work.
[asi_general[/url</a>]</p>
<p>-My school’s science department also organized a list of possible summer programs that sound interesting. I haven’t looked at the list deeply, but there are some interesting programs there. Also, coincidental, it includes all the programs I’ve mentioned here. ^^
[url=<a href=“http://www2.hvrsd.org/academics/science/Pages/SummerPgms.aspx]Summer”>http://www2.hvrsd.org/academics/science/Pages/SummerPgms.aspx]Summer</a> Programs](<a href=“http://xray.rutgers.edu/asi/asi_general.html]asi_general[/url”>http://xray.rutgers.edu/asi/asi_general.html)</p>
<p>-As the above posts say, you can always get a job, volunteer or ask around for internships. I know how you feel, though. I, at least, don’t really want to spend my summer scooping ice cream when I have/had the opportunity to research real science. But they can always serve as a last resort for both of us 
</p>
<p>Wow, this is a long post. Most of it has to do with the programs I’ve done, but I really hope it was helpful! Maybe you have similar interests. And remember, I know exactly what you are going through. Also, f you find any programs that are what we are looking for, please post them!</p>