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iD Tech Camps at Stanford University vs Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

iD Tech Camps at Stanford University (stem) and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) (academic) are different camp types in Stanford, so this comparison is less about which is "better" and more about which fits your child's interest. Pricing is broadly comparable.

↘ the meaningful split

Where they actually differ.

Logistics are the meaningful split. iD Tech Camps at Stanford University includes lunch, Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) doesn't. These details often outweigh program-quality differences for working families — a cheaper-on-paper camp without bus service can become more expensive than a transit-friendly competitor once you factor in your own driving time.

Side-by-side

Attribute iD Tech Camps at Stanford University Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Category STEM Academic
Neighborhood Stanford University Palo Alto
Ages Ages 7–17 Ages 16–17
Price $2,300/week The program is free to attend. Students receive a stipend upon completion.
Rating 4.4 (3339) 4.5 (93)
ACA-accredited — —
Years operating 25 36
Staff ratio (published) Published —
Extended care — —
Transportation — —
Financial aid — —
Lunch provided ✓ —
FSA-eligible — —

iD Tech Camps at Stanford University

A two-week intensive summer program where teens build their own game prototype in Unreal Engine 5. Students will learn the full game development pipeline, from designing a level and painting landscapes to implementing core mechanics with Blueprint Visual Scripting.

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Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)

The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week residential program for low-income, first-generation high school students from Northern California. The program is designed to expose students to the medical field through lectures, labs, and mentorship.

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Common questions about this comparison.

Are iD Tech Camps at Stanford University and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) for the same ages?
iD Tech Camps at Stanford University accepts ages 7–17. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) accepts ages 16–17. If your child sits at the boundary of either range, contact the camp directly — many programs run mixed-age internal grouping that lets them flex on the published cutoffs.
Are iD Tech Camps at Stanford University and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) accredited?
iD Tech Camps at Stanford University is not ACA-accredited (25 years operating). Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is not ACA-accredited (36 years operating). ACA accreditation is voluntary — many excellent camps run without it. Tenure tends to be a stronger signal of operational maturity than accreditation alone, but both together carry real weight.
What logistics differ between iD Tech Camps at Stanford University and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)?
iD Tech Camps at Stanford University publishes: lunch included, no transportation, no posted aid, no extended care. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) publishes: bring lunch, no transportation, no posted aid, no extended care. Logistics often determine which camp actually fits a working family's week — extended care alone can shift a $400 program to a more sustainable option than a cheaper program without it.
How should I pick between iD Tech Camps at Stanford University and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)?
Start by listing the three things that matter most to your family — schedule fit, price ceiling, kid's primary interest, friend group, transportation, or accreditation — and score each camp against your top three. Visit if logistics are close. Most Stanford parents we've spoken with say the deciding factor was either day-length fit or whether their kid already had a friend in one of the programs.

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