MITx

MITx offers rigorous, self-paced online courses from MIT in areas like computer science, physics, and math, giving advanced teens a taste of true university-level work. Hosted on MIT’s own platform, many courses originated as part of larger online programs or campus classes and include video lectures, auto-graded problem sets, and discussion forums. Motivated learners can audit most offerings for free, with the option to pay for a verified certificate that can sometimes be listed on applications or résumés. Parents of STEM-enthusiast teens appreciate the high quality and depth, especially for students who have outgrown standard high school materials. The challenge is real: these courses assume strong foundations and significant time commitment, and content is not tailored for younger audiences. We recommend starting with an intro-level class, watching pacing carefully, and framing completion as an impressive extra, not a requirement.