Pre-college chemistry programs are designed for high school students interested in exploring the field of chemistry beyond what is taught in the classroom. Hosted by universities, these programs offer you the chance to experience college-level coursework and develop advanced skills in chemistry. You’ll engage in hands-on experiments, problem-solving activities, and research projects that deepen your understanding of chemical principles.
Participating in these programs also gives you a glimpse into campus life, allowing you to navigate a college environment and work alongside professors and peers with similar interests. By taking part, you’ll not only strengthen your academic foundation in chemistry but also gain experience that could inform your future studies and career choices in the sciences.
Here are 10 pre-college programs in chemistry for high school students:
1. Stanford Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: June 16 — 27
Eligibility: Students must be 16 or older by the start of the program and must reside in and around Stanford
The Inspiring Future Scientists Through Shadowing (IFSS) program, held each summer, is designed for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in chemistry. Over two weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to shadow graduate students in the chemistry department, allowing you to observe various research techniques and learn about current scientific advancements in the field.
Rather than focusing on individual research projects, IFSS gives you broad exposure to different areas of chemistry by observing multiple researchers. This offers a chance to gain insight into the work of professionals and explore various scientific approaches. While the program doesn’t involve conducting your own research project, it provides an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the field and can be useful for high school students interested in learning more about research environments in chemistry
2. Harvard University’s Pre-College Summer School Program for High School Students
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee
Application Deadlines: April 9
Program Dates: Session 1: June 22–July 3 | Session 2: July 6–18 | Session 3: July 20–August 1
Eligibility: This program is open to rising juniors and seniors
Harvard’s Pre-College Summer School Program offers you the chance to live on campus for two weeks while attending college-level courses, without the pressure of traditional grading. The program is designed for high school students who want to expand their knowledge in a college setting. They offer a wide variety of course options and you can select a chemistry course that aligns with your interests and goals.
Outside of class, you’ll have access to numerous co-curricular activities throughout the week, allowing you to experience campus life beyond academics. Classes are typically small, with an average of 15 students, allowing you to engage directly with Ivy League faculty. The program is offered in three separate sessions during the summer, providing flexibility in scheduling.
3. Cornell University’s Pre-college Studies
Location: Hybrid — Cornell University, Ithaca, NY and virtual
Cost: $1,840 per credit. Residential or commuter charges are added to this. See more here
Application Deadlines: May 5 (for the commuter and online programs) | May 1 (for the residential program)
Program Dates: There are four sessions ranging from 3–6 weeks starting in June until August. See here
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have taken at least one chemistry course
Cornell University’s Chem 2070: General Chemistry offers a distinctive learning format for those who want both an online and on-campus experience. This course blends online instruction with an in-person component, allowing you to balance remote learning with time on campus.
It covers fundamental chemical principles, focusing on key quantitative topics such as chemical reactions and equations, periodic trends, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and the behaviour of molecules. This combination of online and in-person learning provides flexibility while offering a comprehensive introduction to general chemistry.
4. Yale University’s Summer Session
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Tuition varies depending on which course you choose, see more here
Application Deadlines: For visiting students, there are varying deadlines based on which session was selected, and whether the course will be online or in-person. See more here
Program Dates: Session A: May 26 — June 27 | Session B: June 30 — August 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old are eligible
Yale University’s pre-college program offers a variety of chemistry courses to suit different interests. If you’re looking to build a strong foundation, you can take General Chemistry I and II, with the option to include laboratory work for hands-on experience.
If you’re interested in the intersection of chemistry and global issues, the “Chemistry in Context” course addresses topics such as climate change, environmental degradation, renewable energy, and pharmaceutical development. With a minimum age requirement of 16, this program allows you to engage in college-level chemistry on Yale’s campus, starting as early as their sopshomore year.
5. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided, $40 application fee with a need-based refund
Application deadline: Closed for 2025
Program dates: 6 weeks from June to August
Eligibility: High School Juniors only (U.S. and International)
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a selective summer program focused on providing high school students with hands-on research experience in various STEM fields, including chemistry. With a highly competitive admissions process, RSI allows you to engage in independent research while taking college-level courses.
As a participant, you will be expected to stay up-to-date with the current scientific literature, design a research plan, and present your findings both orally and in writing. For example, past projects have included detailed research like “The Monoreduction of Diketones and its Application towards the Total Synthesis of Kalmanol” by Kenneth I. Brewer. The program offers access to experienced mentors and experts in your field, helping you build a strong foundation in research while refining your academic skills.
6. University of California Los Angeles’ Summer Session
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Fees differ, but UCLA has a Fee Calculator to determine your specific cost! See here
Application Deadlines: Rolling deadlines based on the session. See here
Program Dates: See the 2024 Session Schedule here. TBD for the current year
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible
UCLA’s Summer Session provides high school students the chance to take college-level courses and earn college credit. This program offers a way to study chemistry at UCLA’s southern California campus, helping you meet future academic requirements.
Starting as early as sophomore year, you can select from courses like CHEM 14A: General Chemistry for Life Scientists or CHEM 20A: Chemical Structure, based on your current knowledge of the subject. The program offers flexibility, with eight different sessions running from July to September, each lasting between 3 and 10 weeks.
7. Columbia University’s Pre-College Program
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $12,750 for the 3-week summer residential program.
Application Deadlines: March 2
Program Dates: Session A: June 30–July 18 | Session B: July 22–August 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 are eligible
Columbia University hosts both in-person and virtual summer courses for high school students. With two sessions (Summer A & Summer B), you can choose when and where you wish to take your course. Two options you can consider are “Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry”, a class offered in-person during Summer A, and “Introduction to the Physical Sciences” an online course offered during Summer B.
Both of these courses cover different levels of chemistry and provide the opportunity for you to learn either online or in person. As a student in Columbia’s pre-college program, you will work alongside high-achieving peers and learn from leaders in the chemistry field while also gaining college credit.
8. Stanford University’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,080
Application Deadlines: March 20
Program Dates: Session 1: June 16 — 27 | Session 2: July 7 — July 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 are eligible
Stanford University’s summer program offers a course in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, focusing on the principles of chemical engineering rather than basic chemistry. This course is suited for students interested in both chemistry and engineering and want to deepen their understanding of how chemical processes are applied in real-world settings. The curriculum covers engineering concepts related to natural and human-designed chemical processes.
You will learn how to diagram engineering processes, analyze and convert process variables, and perform material and energy balance calculations to solve steady-state problems. These skills are applied through in-class assignments and a student-led group project, allowing you to work on practical challenges in chemical engineering.
9. University of California Berkley’s Extension Program
Location: Online
Cost: $1,300
Application Deadline: Continuous enrollment
Program Dates: Continuous enrollment
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
UC Berkeley’s Introduction to Chemistry offers a flexible online course that allows you to complete the material within 180 days, giving you the freedom to enrol at any time and from any location. The course covers foundational chemistry topics, including the interactions between atoms, molecules, and elements, as well as chemical bonding and reactions at the atomic level.
One aspect that sets this course apart is its lack of required lab exercises, which makes it a more manageable option if you’re looking to focus solely on the theoretical aspects of chemistry. As part of the Berkeley Extension program, this course is open to the general public, allowing you to start your chemistry studies at any point during your high school years.
10. Tufts University’s Pre-College Program
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,485 per course
Application Deadlines: March 21 (spring) | May 1 (summer)
Program Dates: General Chemistry I: May 21 — Jun 26 | General Chemistry II: Jul 1 — Aug 7
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
Tufts University offers General Chemistry I & II courses, both lecture-based and with a required laboratory component. General Chemistry I covers essential topics such as atomic and molecular structure, chemical nomenclature, intermolecular forces, states of matter, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, and properties of solutions.
General Chemistry II builds on this foundation, focusing on chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and chemical equilibria, including acid-base reactions, precipitation, and complex formation. It also introduces basic organic chemistry concepts, such as families of organic compounds, stereochemistry, and nomenclature. Both are in-person courses at Tufts University’s Massachusetts campus and can be useful for you if you’re seeking to expand their chemistry knowledge.
Bonus options —
1. Horizon Academic Research Program — Chemistry track
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Feb 16 (spring cohort)
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in summer, spring, fall and winter!
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in data science, machine learning, biology, chemistry, psychology, and more. With both quantitative and qualitative research options, you can explore diverse topics. The formulation chemistry course dives into the science behind everyday products like shampoo, snacks, and drugs.
You will learn about emulsion preparation, stability, and encapsulation, with applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Guided by experts from Cambridge and pharma companies like Sanofi, you will conduct research projects on Formulation Chemistry and Material Science. The program includes a letter of recommendation and project feedback for future college applications.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program — Chemistry Track
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Applications open throughout the year for the four cohorts — they are due in February, May, September, and December, you can apply here
Program Dates: 4 cohorts run throughout the year, namely the spring, summer, winter, and fall cohorts
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
Lumiere, founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs for high school students interested in chemistry. In this program, you’ll be paired with a PhD mentor and work closely together to produce a university-level research paper. The program is conducted entirely online, and its duration can vary depending on your specific research goals and the depth of the project.
Research opportunities are available in areas such as organic and inorganic chemistry, as well as chemical kinetics and dynamics, providing a chance to explore these topics in greater detail with expert guidance. Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Image source: Stanford University
