If you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine after high school and college, pre-med camps let you explore the healthcare world early on. These programs give you hands-on exposure to labs, clinics, or simulated medical environments while introducing you to key topics like anatomy, emergency medicine, diagnostics, and biomedical research. You’ll also get the chance to learn directly from doctors, researchers, and current medical students.
Why should I do a pre-med camp as a high schooler?
Unlike long-term programs, camps are usually shorter, more focused, and designed to give you a snapshot of what a future in medicine could look like. They’re perfect if you want a structured but engaging deep dive without committing to an entire semester or summer. Many camps also include interactive workshops, mentorship opportunities, and simulations that mirror real medical school or clinical scenarios.
P.S. – When we say pre-med, in this context we mean programs in medicine and healthcare that allow high school students to participate.
If you are interested in a longer program, you can check out our blog on medical programs for high school students.
11 Pre Med Camps for High School Students
1. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free (tuition fully covered)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 24 students selected annually
Program Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: Opens mid-December
Eligibility: Current high school juniors from low-income, first-generation backgrounds residing in Northern California
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week, tuition-free summer experience that immerses you in science, medicine, and health equity. Designed for first-generation, low-income high school juniors, this program blends classroom instruction, mentorship, and hands-on learning on Stanford’s campus. You’ll work alongside medical students, faculty, and healthcare professionals who guide you through topics such as anatomy, epidemiology, and public health while helping you prepare for college and beyond. Beyond academics, SMYSP fosters a close-knit community of peers who share your drive to pursue careers in medicine and serve underrepresented communities in healthcare.
2. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~7%; 27 participants per session
Program Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 16+
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to track down the source of an outbreak, the CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp gives you a real-world glimpse into epidemiology and public health. Over an intensive week at CDC headquarters, you’ll take on simulated investigations, analyze real data, and solve health mysteries like an actual “disease detective.” This collaborative, hands-on program combines science, medicine, and critical thinking within a public health framework. It offers an introduction to key topics like chronic disease prevention, environmental health, and emergency response.
3. Harvard Medical School’s MEDscienceClinical
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 (5-day program) | $2,250 (4-day holiday week)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: Multiple sessions from June – August
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: High school students
The Harvard MEDscience Clinical Program places you in the heart of emergency medicine through immersive, hands-on simulations. Over the course of the week, you’ll work in a professional medical simulation lab responding to life-like patient scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins. Under the direction of medical professionals, you will practice and master vital clinical skills such as suturing, IV insertion, airway management, and laparoscopic techniques. Some sessions also provide certifications in CPR/AED and trauma care, giving you a solid foundation in real-world medical response.
4. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University or Virtual
Cost: $6,380 (on campus) | $4,380 (virtual)
Acceptance Rate: 10 – 15%
Program Dates: Session 1 (On campus): July 14 – 25 | Session 2 (Virtual): July 28 – August 8 | Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 11 – November 13
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (must be at least 16 by program start)
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship gives you a realistic preview of life in medicine through immersive, instructor-led experiences. Stanford physicians, medical students, and residents teach this program, which focuses on essential clinical practices. Topics covered include taking vitals, injection techniques, suturing, and trauma simulations. You’ll also dissect real human organs and take part in collaborative patient case studies and mock clinical interviews. The virtual format mirrors the in-person sessions, offering live guidance and mailed kits for interactive, hands-on learning from home.
5. Rady Children’s Hospital Summer Medical Academy
Location: Rady Children’s Hospital main campus
Cost: $3,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; around 50 students per session
Program Dates: June 16 – 27 | July 7–18
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students between 15 – 19 years old
Held at one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, the Rady Children’s Hospital Summer Medical Academy offers a broad introduction to healthcare and medical careers. Across two weeks, you will engage in a variety of activities, including lectures, hands-on workshops, and realistic clinical simulations. The curriculum spans diverse medical specialties, such as emergency medicine and pediatrics. The program also emphasizes teamwork and patient-centered care, giving you the chance to engage with medical professionals, practice basic clinical techniques, and complete group projects focused on real-world healthcare challenges.
6. Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research Camp
Location: UC Berkeley | UC San Diego | Columbia University | Imperial College London | Virtual options available
Cost: $510 – $1,070 (varies by course)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective (small lab-based cohorts)
Program Dates: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Medicine: June 9 – 20 | Medicinal Chemistry: July 7 – 18 | Medical Bioinformatics: June 2 – 13
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 interested in biomedical science
These short, intensive workshops offer an in-depth look at the science behind modern medicine. Depending on your track, you’ll explore topics like molecular biology, computational genomics, or drug design through guided experiments and data-driven projects. You’ll practice interpreting biological datasets, designing experiments, and modeling how drugs interact at the molecular level — all while developing the analytical and research skills used in academic labs. Each session concludes with an independent project that connects your learning to real-world medical applications.
7. Girls Summer Research Camp – Headwaters
Location: Webber Lake, Truckee, CA
Cost: $600; financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited cohort
Program Dates: July 6 – 9 (in-person) | July 16 – 17 (online follow-up meetings)
Application Deadline: Varies; apply early
Eligibility: Girls entering grades 7–12
This program invites girls passionate about science to step into the role of a researcher. Across several days of immersive fieldwork, you’ll design and carry out experiments, collect environmental data, and analyze your findings with guidance from women scientists and mentors. You will focus on collaborative skills, using statistical analysis, and effectively communicating scientific concepts, all leading up to the final research presentations. After the in-person portion, online follow-up sessions help you refine your analysis and prepare your work for potential publication.
8. Georgetown University Summer Medical Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $3,549 (includes tuition, housing, and meals)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 9 – 15 | June 23 – 29 | July 7 – 13
Application Deadline: Early Bird: January 31 (application fee waived) | Final: May 15
Eligibility: Current or rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors
This week-long medical academy offers a comprehensive look at medicine through the lens of Georgetown University’s renowned medical community. You’ll explore the campus’s School of Medicine, School of Nursing & Health Studies, and Lombardi Cancer Center while engaging in lectures, case studies, and interactive labs. Throughout the week, you’ll connect with medical students, faculty, and physicians from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to learn about different specialties and the realities of medical school. Daily sessions combine academic learning with hands-on practice, helping you build an early foundation in clinical reasoning and patient care.
9. Rochester Institute of Technology’s Health Care Careers Exploration Program
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: $850 (limited scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; 24 students per summer
Program Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Deaf or hard-of-hearing students entering grades 10–12 with strong academic records
This one-week residential program introduces deaf and hard-of-hearing students to diverse healthcare professions through interactive learning and practical workshops. You’ll rotate through sessions in biology, nursing, nutrition, medical lab science, exercise science, and microbiology, gaining exposure to both clinical and research careers. Small group activities, lab demonstrations, and field visits to local healthcare centers give you a realistic sense of working in health-related fields. The experience also includes CPR and First Aid certification, along with mentorship from counselors who guide you through daily projects and collaborative challenges.
10. Tufts University School of Medicine’s Mini Med School
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Cost/Stipend: Session 1: $3,525 (commuter) | Session 2: $6,750 (residential), $5,225 (commuter) | Session 3: $4,550 (residential), $3,525 (commuter)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23 – 27 | Session 2: July 6 – 18 | Session 3: July 20 – 27
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th graders who have completed one year of biology and are at least 16 years old by the program start date
Tufts University’s Mini Med School gives you a deep dive into modern medicine through lectures, labs, and clinical simulations. Across multiple sessions, you’ll examine complex topics like antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease diagnostics while learning hands-on techniques such as suturing and taking vital signs. You will also gain access to Tufts’ advanced anatomy labs and Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, where you’ll explore human organ systems in detail. Each student works closely with Tufts medical students on case studies and wraps up the program with a Capstone Project presentation at the closing gala, showcasing both their learning and clinical insight.
11. Penn Medicine Summer Program
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $10,875
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10 – 20%
Program Dates: June 29 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (ages 15–18) who have completed a high school-level biology course
Hosted by the Perelman School of Medicine, the Penn Medicine Summer Program immerses you in a rigorous four-week simulation of medical school training. You’ll explore core clinical skills such as CPR, suturing, venipuncture, and surgical knot-tying while engaging in intensive labs in anatomy, pathology, and microbiology. The program mirrors the academic pace of med school, blending lectures, clinical workshops, and hands-on simulations. A highlight for many students is the chance to witness a live or simulated surgery and interact directly with physicians, researchers, and medical students from one of the country’s top medical schools.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – University of Pennsylvania