As a high school student interested in education, you could consider summer programs to gain exposure in the field and develop your skills. Such programs provide hands-on knowledge and enhance your learning beyond the classroom.
Summer programs for high school students are typically designed to provide access to resources and a network of experienced professionals. You may be expected to apply your theoretical learnings, conduct research, or even teach students.
Here are 10 summer programs for high school students interested in education:
1. Harvard Secondary School Program’s Neuroscience of Learning: An Introduction to Mind, Brain, Health, and Education
Location: Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,050 (commuting) + $75 application fee
Deadline: April 9
Program Dates: June 23rd – August 8th
Eligibility: High school students who will graduate from high school and enter college in 2025, 2026, or 2027.
Harvard’s 7-week Secondary School Program offers courses in various subjects, including education. The Neuroscience of Learning: An Introduction to Mind, Brain, Health, and Education considers the intersection of psychology, cognitive neuroscience, health, and education. In this course, you will learn about the factors facilitating or inhibiting learning in different contexts. Discussing cognitive constructs and comparative cultural influences on neurocognitive processes are emphasized.
In addition to the course, you can attend social and college readiness events. Because this is an in-person course, you will have access to campus buildings. You will earn college credit by the end of the program.
2. Brown Pre-College Program’s Child Development in Societal and Cultural Contexts
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: $4,286 (commuter) or $5,534 (residential)
Deadline: May 9 (application fee increases to $100 on April 6)
Program Dates: July 14 – July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 – 12 and aged 14 – 18
Brown University’s pre-college program in Child Development in Societal and Cultural Context looks at the societal influences on child development by studying various types of educational settings, young children’s special needs, and the unique challenges young children from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds face. You will get the opportunity to develop ideas on how the best educators can be developed and the leadership skills needed for an inclusive and global society.
In addition to course programming, you will attend educational, recreational and social activities. You will also receive a Digital Certificate of Completion and a Course Performance Report by the end of the course.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote – you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school. Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4). No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research program for high school students that offers research opportunities across various subject areas. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project.
At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper. You can customize your research topic to include subjects and areas that you’re interested in. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Horizon Academic Research Program
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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 across subject areas such as cognitive psychology, machine learning, political theory, and more. Horizon also offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, you will be paired with a professor/PhD scholar who mentors you throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
5. US Department of Education Internship Program
Location: Washington D.C.
Cost: Free of cost
Deadline: March 31 (volunteer) or February 20 (pathways internship)
Program Dates: May/June – July/August
Eligibility: Students attending an accredited educational institution at least half-time, who are at least 16 years old and have permission from their academic institution to participate in the program.
The Department of Education provides an 8 – 10-week volunteering opportunity in the fall, winter/spring, or summer for students attending accredited institutions. You can expect to dedicate 20 – 40 hours per week.
Depending on your interests, you can volunteer with various departments, such as Human Resources Management, Education Policies, Data Analytics, Project Management, Training and Development, Grants Management, Communications, Information Technology, and more. In this program, you will contribute to the Department’s mission to promote student achievement and global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
6. Columbia University’s Teachers College: Future Leaders in Sustainability
Location: New York, NY
Cost: $4,000
Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: July 7 – 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16 – 18 interested in global affairs, environmental science, education, business, social science, or social entrepreneurship
Columbia University’s Teachers College approaches sustainability from the perspective of leadership and education policies. In the course, you will understand the global architecture of sustainability (international organizations and groups), analyze relevant education policies and practices, and envision new sustainable ways of living.
Blending real-time discussions, hands-on activities, and project-based learning, you will learn about real-world research, ideas, and solutions that inform Climate Change Education.
7. Cornell School of Continuing Education’s Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Location: Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,840 per credit. Financial aid is available.
Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16 – 19
In the Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood course offered by Cornell, you will study the theoretical perspectives, research findings, research methods, applications, and controversies in the study of human development during adolescence and the transition to emerging adulthood.
Although the focus is on psychology, the course will draw from sociology, anthropology, biology, neuroscience, and education. By the end of the program, you will earn academic credit.
8. New-York Historical Society Student Historian Internship Program
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free of cost, stipend will be provided
Deadline: March 30
Program Dates: July 8 – August 14
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 and who live in and attend school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey)
At the New York Historical, you will conduct research and complete creative digital projects. These projects will serve as educational resources. Working alongside other students and professionals, you will learn about the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields.
This program aims to help you develop historical thinking, communication, and digital media skills. You will receive a stipend of $700 upon successful completion of the internship.
9. The Met High School Internship Program
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free of cost, stipend will be provided
Deadline: March 7
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 or obtaining their High School Equivalency degree and who either reside in or attend a high school or home school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
The Met offers paid internships for students to gain practical experience and network. In small cohorts, you will learn from professionals in various fields, including editorial, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, conservation, and more, as you pursue your interests.
During the placement, you will observe, assist and be mentored by a staff member in one of the Museum’s departments. The Career Labs sessions will provide you with insights into a career in the field of your choice, and you will participate in hands-on workshops. You will receive a stipend according to New York State minimum wage law.
10. Library of Congress High School Summer Internship
Location: Hybrid in Washington D.C.
Cost: Free of cost
Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 23 – July 17
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16 or older at the time of the internship
The Library of Congress’s 4-week internship allows you to represent a teen voice in the ongoing projects at the Library of Congress. As an intern, you will learn about the library and with the Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement to develop content to support family and youth engagement in a new exhibition space.
You will brainstorm on a new experiential learning space, serve as an advisory member on materials and programs hosted by the Library of Congress, and research Library collection materials and items on display in the experiential learning space. You will also research and recommend Library collection items for use with children and families and advise on program models for teens at the Library in the new space.
Image Source: Library of Congress
