For high school students, summer is the perfect time to explore new opportunities, dive deeper into existing interests, and expand your horizons. Summer programs can help you build academic and research skills that will be useful for future opportunities and even in college.
With a wide range of academic institutions, Tennessee offers a variety of summer programs across different subjects. The programs below allow you to conduct independent research, learn how to code in Python, launch your own start-up, and intern at law firms.
In this blog, we’ll share 11 Tennessee summer programs for high school students!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology. You can choose either quantitative or qualitative research methods. After selecting your track, you’ll collaborate one-on-one with a professor or PhD scholar from a leading university to develop a 20-page research paper suitable for journal submission. The program provides specialized field knowledge, expert guidance, a recommendation letter, and feedback to improve future projects and college applications. Apply now for this unique opportunity!
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Data Science, and more
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts, including in the summer. Upcoming dates are:
- Winter seminar: December 2, 2024 onwards
- Spring seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a few tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 10, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort, and February 9, 2025 for the spring cohort
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, created by Harvard and Oxford researchers, allows high school students to work one-on-one with PhD mentors on an independent research project. You’ll get guidance to develop a college-level research paper, with additional support from writing coaches.
You can choose subjects like mathematics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program ends with a symposium where you can present your research, with the potential for publication.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Location: Remote
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May
3. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduates, offers two programs for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program focuses on collaborative learning in AI applications, while the AI Fellowship provides personalized mentorship from PhD experts for independent research projects.
In the AI Fellowship, you’ll examine AI’s influence on fields such as finance, medicine, and gaming, with opportunities to publish or present your work. Previous projects have explored AI in medicine, educational tools, and gaming algorithms. The program emphasizes technical skill-building and applying AI concepts to real-world challenges.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Medicine
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost:
- $2,290 for the AI Scholars program (10-week bootcamp)
- $5,400 for the AI Fellowship (12–15 weeks, 1:1 mentorship)
- $6,900 for both AI Scholars + Fellowship
- Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students. Students applying to the AI Fellowship program must complete the AI Scholars program or provide evidence of previous experience in AI and Python
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. December 1, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
The Young Founder's Lab is a start-up boot camp led by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you'll build a revenue-generating start-up that tackles a real-world problem with guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and professionals from companies like Google and Microsoft.
Alongside developing your start-up, you'll engage in interactive classes on business fundamentals, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. This program is a great chance to explore the business world in high school, offering a space to learn both theoretical and practical approaches to creating a successful business. Check out the program’s brochure for more details.
Subject Areas: Business, Entrepreneurship
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The Winter cohort starts in December
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort. You can access the application form here!
Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students to intern with high-growth startups across various industries, including health tech, AI, and marketing. These startups have raised over a million dollars, with some founders being YCombinator alumni or former employees of companies like Microsoft and Google. During the 8-week virtual internship, you'll work closely with managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects, presenting your work to the company. The program also includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, plus group sessions with other interns.
Subject areas: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Medicine, Software Engineering, and more
Location: Remote
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial aid is available
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. Summer cohort: May 12, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Governor’s School for the Sciences & Engineering is a competitive 4-week summer program focused on STEM. It offers intensive coursework and hands-on research in fields like biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. In the Evolution of Vertebrates course, you will study fossils and skeletons to understand how vertebrates have changed over time, especially after events like mass extinctions. You will work with faculty and peers, exploring advanced topics beyond the high school level. The program also includes seminars, field trips, and collaborative projects.
Subject Areas: Biology, Chemistry, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Physics
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Program Dates: June 1 – 28, 2025
Cost: Fully funded
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors who attend high school in Tennessee who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have taken at least one year of high school lab science and algebra. Students must be nominated by their school counselors to apply
Application Deadline: December 6, 2024
The Nashville Bar Association's High School Intern Summer Program offers paid internships at law firms, corporate legal departments, and government offices in Metro Nashville. You’ll get mentorship from legal professionals, attend sessions on law school and career prep, and network with industry contacts. The program begins with an orientation, after which you can expect to work 8 hours a day for seven weeks. You will attend ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions every Friday to learn from legal experts.
Subject Areas: Law
Location: Various locations in Nashville, TN
Program Dates: June 7 – July 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 programs)
Stipend: $10-$15/hour
Eligibility: High school seniors and rising seniors
Application Deadline: March 29, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 programs)
This program lets aspiring scientists engage in hands-on biomedical research alongside Vanderbilt graduate students. You’ll learn basic lab skills that will be useful in future research. You’ll also attend talks by graduate students on topics like the culture of science in academia and making evidence-based decisions. Each student will be paired with a graduate student, who will act as their mentor throughout the program.
Subject Areas: Biomedicine Research
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Program Dates: June 10 – 21, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free, but students are responsible for their own transportation. Stipend of $200 provided
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
This program provides a residential experience for students looking to improve their writing and explore creativity. You’ll choose to focus on either critical or creative writing, learning how to construct college-level arguments or compose poems. In the creative track, you’ll attend workshops, peer discussions, and collaborative activities led by faculty. The creative curriculum covers various genres, helping you refine storytelling, personal voice, and style. Regardless of which track you choose, the program will help you refine your reading and analytical skills. At the end of the program, you’ll have a portfolio of your writing that you can use when applying to future opportunities. Students who complete the program receive 2 college credits.
Subject Areas: Writing
Location: Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Program Dates: TBA for 2025, typically 2 weeks in June
Cost: $2,400, financial aid available
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The Mock Trial Academy is a one-week program for high school students interested in law. You will work with coaches to improve your public speaking and presentation skills. You will also learn how to create a compelling argument and understand constitutional law. Past programs have included a field trip to the National Civil Rights Museum and meetings with federal and state court judges. This program is a good opportunity to learn more about the judicial system.
Subject Areas: Law
Location: Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Program Dates: June 16 – 24, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: $2,000. Some financial assistance may be available
Eligibility: Students in high school
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
This high school program at Tennesse State University aims to increase awareness about transportation careers. Over four weeks, you’ll build STEM skills and learn what choosing a transportation-related major in college entails. This program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The first three weeks are residential, and the last week is held virtually.
Subject Areas: Transportation
Location: Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Program Dates: June 9 – July 5, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders
Application Deadline: April 5, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.