TL;DR
The list below covers 10 Harvard medical summer programs for high school students, with options for hands-on clinical training, biomedical research, pre-med coursework, medical technology, dentistry, and online learning. The programs also differ in format, from short non-residential sessions to longer academic and residential experiences. If you want to explore independent research with a mentor, you can also consider the Horizon Academic Research Program.
If you’re looking to explore medicine at Harvard while you’re still in high school, a summer program can give you a closer look at what the field actually involves. You can explore clinical medicine, biomedical science, medical technology, research, or college-level coursework depending on the program you choose. The experience can also look very different from one program to another. Some are hands-on and in person, while others let you study online or take a more academic approach. If you’re specifically interested in online research, you can also explore online research programs for high school students.
Which Harvard medical program fits what you’re looking for?
| If you want | Consider |
| Online or flexible study | HMS Pre-College HMX, Premedical Sciences and Ethics at Harvard |
| Hands-on clinical experience | MEDscienceClinical, MEDscienceDental, MEDscienceLAB |
| Biomedical research and lab work | MEDscienceLAB, MEDscienceLAB Forensics, Premedical Sciences and Ethics at Harvard |
| AI, robotics, and medical technology | MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Visionaries, MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Foundations |
| A residential Harvard experience | Harvard Pre-College Program |
| A short, lower-cost introduction to medicine | Harvard Pre-Med Academies, MEDscienceClinical, MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Foundations |
What kind of medical experience can you get through these programs?
The programs below are quite different from one another. Some involve simulated patients and clinical procedures. Others focus on coursework, laboratory research, biomedical engineering, or medical science.
That difference matters when you’re choosing a summer program. A student who wants to practice clinical skills will have a very different experience from someone who wants to study biochemistry online or build a surgical robot.
1. MEDscienceClinical – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 for the 5-day program; $2,250 for the 4-day program; limited scholarships available for Boston-area students
Program Dates: June 8–August 14; multiple 4-day and 5-day sessions
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 at the time of application
MEDscienceClinical is a hands-on program built around realistic medical simulations. You’ll work with life-like patient mannequins and practice clinical decision-making, emergency care, suturing, IV insertion, intubation, and other skills. You’ll also learn from physicians, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists, and medical students.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who want to explore clinical medicine through hands-on simulations.
2. MEDscienceLAB Forensics – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Greater Boston-area students
Program Dates: June 22–26 | July 13–17 | July 20–24 | July 27–31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are at least 16 at the start of the program
MEDscienceLAB Forensics combines medicine, laboratory work, and crime scene investigation. You’ll collect and analyze evidence, conduct medical examinations, interview witnesses, and work with a team to solve a simulated case. The program also includes laboratory work and a final presentation of your findings.
Who is it right for? Students ages 16+ who want to combine medicine, forensic science, and laboratory investigation.
3. MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Visionaries – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,800; limited scholarships available for Greater Boston-area students
Program Dates: July 13–24; next cycle’s dates not yet specified
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 with some experience in robotics or coding
Moonshot Visionaries focuses on the intersection of medicine, AI, and engineering. You’ll work with a team to design an AI-powered surgical robot and take on a role related to computer science, engineering, surgery, or business. The program also includes exposure to a surgical robot and a final project presentation.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 10–12 who already have some coding or robotics experience and want to apply it to medicine.
4. Premedical Sciences and Ethics at Harvard
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, or online/commuter depending on the course
Cost: Varies by program format and course load; financial aid available
Program Dates: Seven-week summer term
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who meet the Secondary School Program’s age and eligibility requirements
This seven-week Harvard Summer School option lets you take courses in premedical science, medical ethics, epidemiology, and biology. Available subjects include molecular and cellular biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, biomedical ethics, epidemiology and biostatistics, and stem cell and regenerative biology.
Who is it right for? High school students who want college-level medical and science coursework, with online and commuter options depending on the course.
5. Harvard Pre-College Program
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,250 + $75 application fee; limited need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Two-week sessions during summer
Application Deadline: January 13 for early applications; February 10 for regular applications; March 31 for late applications, or earlier if course waitlists are full
Eligibility: Students graduating high school and entering college in 2028 or 2029, at least 16 by June 13, and not turning 19 before July 31
The Harvard Pre-College Program gives you a two-week residential experience on Harvard’s campus. You’ll take one non-credit, college-level course and spend time in academic and campus activities outside the classroom. Courses cover science, medicine, humanities, law, and other subjects.
Who is it right for? Students entering junior or senior year who want a residential introduction to college-level study and Harvard campus life.
6. MEDscienceDental – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800; limited scholarships available for Greater Boston-area students
Program Dates: August 3–7
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12; previous participants in MEDscienceClinical, MEDscienceLAB, or MEDscienceLAB Forensics are not eligible
MEDscienceDental focuses on dentistry and oral healthcare through hands-on simulations. You’ll work with life-like simulated patients and practice skills such as suturing, tooth carving, taking impressions, digital scanning, and filling cavities. You’ll also learn from dentists, physicians, and dental students.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who are interested in dentistry, oral health, and clinical skills.
7. Harvard Medical School Pre-College HMX Program
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895 for Academic Enrichment courses; $2,195 for Capstone courses; need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Year-round; course length and start dates vary
Application Deadline: Varies by course and session
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+ and students within one year of high school graduation who are on a gap year
HMS Pre-College HMX is a flexible, self-paced online program taught by Harvard Medical School faculty. Courses cover areas such as biochemistry, genetics, immunology, pharmacology, physiology, medical research, surgery, and artificial intelligence. Most courses include videos, simulations, quizzes, assignments, and support from an expert mentor.
Who is it right for? Students ages 13+ who want to study medical science online at their own pace.
8. MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Foundations – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 for the 5-day program; $2,250 for the 4-day program; limited scholarships available for Greater Boston-area students
Program Dates: Multiple sessions during summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Moonshot Foundations introduces students to biomedical engineering, computer science, surgical robotics, and medicine. You’ll work in teams to build AI-enabled surgical robots for simulated patients and develop a final prototype. No prior coding, physics, or robotics experience is required.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who want to explore medical technology without needing prior coding or robotics experience.
9. The Academies by Harvard Student Agencies: On-Campus Summer Pre-Med Academies
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $1,800; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from May through August
Application Deadline: August 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
These one-week Pre-Med Academies offer two tracks: Biology & Chemistry and Human Anatomy & Physiology. You’ll explore topics such as genetics, immunology, CRISPR, organic chemistry, diseases, medical imaging, blood work, and emergency-room case studies.
Who is it right for? Students in grades 9–12 who want a short introduction to medicine and biomedical science.
10. MEDscienceLAB – HMS MEDscience
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800 for the 5-day program; $2,250 for the 4-day program; limited scholarships available for Greater Boston-area students
Program Dates: Multiple sessions during summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and graduating high school seniors who are at least 16 at the start of the program
MEDscienceLAB connects clinical medicine with biomedical laboratory research. You’ll work with STAN, a life-like simulated patient, while performing experiments with real patient samples and analyzing laboratory tests. The program also covers DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and ELISA.
Who is it right for? Students entering grades 10–12 who are 16+ and want to connect clinical medicine with biomedical research.
Which Harvard medical program should you consider based on your interests?
| If you’re interested in… | Consider |
| Hands-on clinical simulation and emergency medicine | MEDscienceClinical, MEDscienceLAB |
| Forensics and criminal investigation | MEDscienceLAB Forensics |
| AI, robotics, and surgical technology | MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Visionaries, MEDscienceTECH Moonshot Foundations |
| Dentistry and oral health | MEDscienceDental |
| College-level coursework and campus life | Harvard Pre-College Program, Premedical Sciences and Ethics |
| Flexible, self-paced online learning | HMS Pre-College HMX |
| A short, affordable introduction to medicine | Harvard Pre-Med Academies |
If your main goal is to develop an independent research project, a different kind of program may make more sense. The Horizon Academic Research Program gives high school students the chance to work on an independent research question with guidance from professors or Ph.D. scholars and develop the work into a university-level research paper.
What students ask before choosing a Harvard medical program
Some programs have specific prerequisites, while others are open to beginners. The robotics tracks are a good example: one requires some coding or robotics experience, while another explicitly says that no prior coding, physics, or robotics experience is required.
The clinical programs on this list primarily use life-like simulated patients and mannequins for training and medical scenarios. Some programs also include laboratory work, such as analyzing samples and practicing biomedical research techniques.
The programs vary widely in price, and several offer need-based financial aid or limited scholarships. Check the individual program page for the most current funding information and eligibility requirements.
Most of these programs follow a structured curriculum, clinical simulation, coursework, or defined project. If you want to develop your own research question with 1:1 mentorship and turn it into a research paper, you can explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.
Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program