EYF Explore Your Future

All Youth Programs

Two individuals wearing safety gloves and orange lanyards working at a laboratory table with scientific equipment and plastic bags, while another person is seated in the background.

What:

A five-day summer program introducing students to college life and exploring exciting career paths

Who:

Deaf and hard-of-hearing students entering grades 10,11, and 12 in Fall 2026

When:

July 11-15, 2026 | July 18-22, 2026

Where:

RIT/NTID Campus in Rochester, N.Y.

Cost:

$900 – includes housing, meals, activities, supplies, and more!

Deadline:

Apply by May 30, 2026

At EYF, you won’t just learn about careers – you’ll experience them! Dive into hands-on workshops across a variety of exciting fields where you can explore your passions and try new things.
**Alt text:** A person with shoulder-length hair, partially dyed purple, is seated at a desk intently drawing a detailed flower sketch with a colored pencil. Various colored pencils are scattered on the table, and the background includes art studio equipment and furniture.

Arts

Unleash your creativity through visual design, digital media, and more.

Person sitting at a desk with multiple computer monitors displaying financial charts and graphs, writing on a piece of paper.

Business

Step into the world of marketing, entrepreneurship, and real-life decision-making.

A person is sitting at a wooden desk using a laptop and holding a smartphone. The laptop screen displays a mobile app design interface with various screens laid out, suggesting they are working on app development or testing. A charging cable connects the phone to the laptop.

Computer Science

Code, problem-solve, and build your digital skills.

Person operating a CNC machine, adjusting a workpiece inside the machine with visible metal shavings and coolant hoses.

Engineering

Design, invent, and bring big ideas to life with real tools and tech.

**Alt text:** Three students wearing white lab coats, safety goggles, and blue gloves are working together at a lab bench. They are engaged in a hands-on science experiment, using beakers with colorful liquids and dropper bottles, in a laboratory setting.

Health Sciences

Get a behind-the-scenes look at careers in medicine, therapy, and wellness.

Students sitting at a row of computer desks, focused on their screens. One student in an orange hoodie is prominently visible, with others blurred in the background.

Information Technology

Dive into the world of networking, cybersecurity, and computer systems.

"Person in a laboratory wearing blue gloves and a white lab coat, holding up a small vial with liquid.

Science

Conduct experiments, ask questions, and explore how the world works.

Every workshop is led by RIT/NTID faculty and staff and designed just for deaf and hard-of-hearing students like you. Whether you already have a dream career or are still figuring it out, EYF is the perfect place to explore what’s next.

The Experience

At EYF, every day is packed with hands-on experiences and new discoveries. Our RIT/NTID Youth Programs team has years of experience planning and coordinating summer programs to give you an amazing adventure! 

A group of students celebrating around a small wooden structure with colorful ribbons in a classroom or workshop setting
  • Get hands-on in awesome career workshops in a variety of fields. You’ll learn by doing, not just observing.
  • Work closely in small groups led by career counselors who get to know you and guide you through your week.
  • Explore your strengths through fun career-interest and learning-style assessments that help you understand how you learn and grow.
  • Spend your days learning and building skills, with about 1.5 hours of personal career counseling and 4 hours of exciting, hands-on activities every day.

And when the day’s done?
You're just getting started:

A group of people at a bowling alley, with colorful bowling balls on a return rack in the foreground. Some individuals are chatting or preparing to bowl, while others walk around. The background features bowling lanes, seating, and a 'Pro Shop' sign. Several people wear shirts labeled 'STAFF.'
  •  Evenings are all about socializing and making connections: participate in structured activities designed to encourage teamwork, engagement, and a sense of community.

At the end of the week:

A person in a pink shirt is using sign language to communicate with another person.
  • Reflect on your journey and work with our career counselors to discover what you learned. We’ll review your interests, your talents, and what excites you about the future.
  • Get a personalized report from your career counselor, and your family and VR counselor will get one too, so everyone can help support your next steps.

Plus, you’ll stay right in the RIT dorms, eat in the campus dining halls, and get a real taste of college life. That’s what Explore Your Future is all about – an exciting, engaging, and supportive environment designed especially for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Why Attend EYF?

Real Benefits. Real Impact. Real Future.

EYF isn’t just an exciting summer experience — it’s an investment in your future. From scholarships to expert guidance, here’s what makes Explore Your Future at RIT/NTID truly worth it:

$1,000 RIT/NTID Scholarship

Students who complete EYF and later enroll at RIT/NTID receive a $1,000 scholarship plus a waiver of the RIT application fee. It’s our way of saying welcome, and we believe in your potential! (Note: for U.S. students only and not combinable with other NTID summer program awards.)
Personalized Career Counseling

Get to know your strengths, interests, and learning style through one-on-one guidance with our trained career counselors. You’ll leave with more confidence and a better idea of which path might be right for you.
Parent and Guardian Workshop

On the final day, parents and guardians are invited to attend a complimentary workshop to learn about the college application process, talk with financial aid and vocational rehabilitation services experts, and ask administrators questions that will help support your child's college journey. In addition, EYF counselors will be on hand to go over your child's career assessment, and provide you with a personalized report, a tool for future planning and IEP/transition meetings. Your child will be with the EYF Program during this workshop.
Teacher & Counselor Insights

We welcome input from your high school teachers and counselors too! With your permission, they can contribute insights before the program begins, helping us personalize your experience. We’ll also send them the report afterward to help support your goals.
Life on Campus

Live in the dorms. Eat in the dining halls. Build independence and get a real feel for college life — all while connecting with deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across the country.
Friendships and Connections

You’ll make lifelong connections through exciting social events, team building activities, and off-campus adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Deaf and hard-of-hearing students entering grades 10–12 in the upcoming fall who are in good academic standing. An application, transcript, and an audiogram are required.

You’ll explore careers through hands-on workshops, engaging classes, field trips, and group activities.

The fee is $900, covering housing, meals, and all program activities. Transportation to campus and personal spending money are not included.

We encourage you to work with your state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies on financial assistance for this program. Limited scholarships may be offered based on financial need if VR assistance is unavailable.

Students live in RIT residence halls and eat meals in campus dining facilities.

Clothing, toiletries, bedding, and towels.

Applicants will be notified by email with acceptance details and instructions for submitting forms and payment.

Apply Now!


Apply

to our program on the website.


Submit

your audiogram and transcript.


Deposit

Once you receive the acceptance letter, make a non-refundable $150 deposit to secure your spot.


Complete

all required forms.


Pay

Make the full payment ($750 toward the total program fee of $900).


Congratulations!

You are officially registered!

Before you apply

Please check to see if you meet the eligibility criteria below:

  • You will be a high school sophomore, junior or senior in fall 2026.
  • You are college bound and in good academic standing.
  • You have a hearing loss. 

Application Process

Complete the online application and submit the following items:

  • An official copy of your high school transcript from 9th grade to the present
  • A copy of your unaided audiogram (results without hearing aid or cochlear implant)

After you apply, you need to submit these required items to our team. Acceptance into the program is contingent on you submitting the required information. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2026.

Payment

The program fee for EYF is $900. Once your application is accepted, a non-refundable $150 deposit (applied towards the $900 fee) is required to secure your spot in the program.

Pay Online

Required Forms

Once all documents are received, reviewed, and approved, complete the forms below and submit them to us to complete your registration.

EYFinfo@rit.edu

Rochester Institute of Technology
NTID Explore Your Future Program
52 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, New York 14623-5604

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the Explore Your Future program, contact us!

585-286-4555 (videophone)
585-362-2185 (text/FaceTime)
1-866-644-6843 (toll-free in the U.S. and Canada)

You can contact us by email at EYFinfo@rit.edu.