If you are a high school student interested in research, consider signing up for a summer program. Many universities, institutes, and organizations have comprehensive summer programs that allow you to work directly with professional faculty, staff, and researchers, all while developing a project or presentation of your own.
Summer programs can give you access to cutting-edge technologies, resources, and networks, allowing you to build skills outside of the classroom, apply your learnings, and build solid networks in the industry.
High school summer programs are also a great way to build and establish your skill set in a subject!
What are some types of summer programs for high school students that I can consider?
There are 3 different types of programs you can apply to:
- Some summer programs focus only on learning, while some have a research or work-learn component to them.
- Immersion or pre-college porograms offered by universities can give you an early look at college level academics, extracurricular activities, and allow you to learn more about a subject of your choice.
- Other programs give you the chance to work on hands-on projects or get an idea of how to undertake the research process in your subject area, be it in the laboratory or on the field.
If you’re interesting in developing an advanced skillset in a field of your choice, check out our list of the 12 best summer programs for high school students.
1. Horizon’s Research Program
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024
- Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
- 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 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 data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
Subject Areas: STEM, humanities, and social sciences
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Cost: $2,800 (12 weeks) | $5,400 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. Selected students will undergo immersive sessions with their mentors, who will help them produce a college-level research paper based on their projects. Support from writing coaches will also be provided.
You can work in subject areas like mathematics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, engineering, and more. The program will end with a symposium and give students a potential chance at publication.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in February.
Dates: June-August (6 weeks)
Cost: Free. Housing and meals are provided.
MITES Summer is an intensive program with an estimated acceptance rate of 3-10%. If selected, you will take one life sciences course, one physics course, a humanities course, and one project-based elective course. Electives tend to vary each year, but some past options include architecture, genomics, electronics, engineering design, and computer science. Students will attend classes, workshops, recitations, tours, college admissions sessions, trips, and social events as part of this program.
You will receive access to MIT’s state-of-the-art labs and gain insight into knowledge that high school classes don’t cover. You will also receive a written evaluation at the end of the program.
Subject Areas: Business, art, economics, creative writing, history, core skills, engineering, humanities, law, journalism, marketing, mathematics, engineering, physical sciences, neuroscience, politics, technology, and more
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY / Virtual
Eligibility: Domestic and international students enrolled in grades 9-12
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 24, 2024 - July 12, 2024 (session 1) | July 16, 2024 - August 2, 2024 (session 2)
Cost: Varies according to housing and units. Financial aid is not available.
Columbia University’s Pre-College Program offers online and on-campus courses taught by expert faculty and instructors. Students will spend around four hours daily in classes, seminars, workshops, tours, presentations, and other co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. You can choose from nearly 70 course options from numerous subject areas, including art and architecture, business and entrepreneurship, creative writing in various genres, literature, communication and leadership, engineering, philosophy, journalism, law and conflict resolution, and more.
Upon completing the program, you will receive a Certificate of Participation and a written evaluation from your instructor.
Subject Areas: STEM, arts, race, gender, psychology, medicine, law, politics, history, business, literature, and more
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16-19 years old
Application Deadline: Applications close in January-February.
Dates: June 23, 2024 - July 5, 2024 (session 1) | July 7, 2024 - July 19, 2024 (session 2) | July 21, 2024 - August 2, 2024 (session 3)
Cost: $5,550 + $75 application fee. Housing is included. Limited need-based aid is available.
Harvard University’s Pre-College Program is a rigorous on-campus summer program spanning two weeks and giving high school students a chance to take college-level courses and learn from Ivy League academics and scholars. The average class size is 15 students.
You can choose from nearly 30 intensive courses in areas like creative writing, English, journalism, biology, psychology, anthropology, public health, history, legal studies, economics, politics, digital media, management, sociology, gender and sexuality, and STEM. Successful course completion will provide you with a Harvard transcript and a written evaluation from your instructor.
Subject Areas: Design and art
Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th or 11th grades and are 16-18 years old
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 29, 2024 - August 3, 2024
Cost: Residential program: $11,350 | Commuter program: $8,715. Scholarships are available.
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) offers a pre-college program for students to attend day-long studio classes, projects, and critiques. You will receive access to renowned artists, instructors, resources, and facilities, giving you a chance to build and strengthen your portfolio using the medium and format of your choice.
Each student will take foundation courses in drawing, design, and critical studies while majoring in courses like animation, art and activism, jewelry, painting, ceramics, textile design, printmaking, sculpture, photography, interior design, graphic design, film/video, architecture, and others. You will produce a project and display it at the program’s final exhibition.
Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, communications, film and TV, economics, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, research, and more
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: High school students aged at least 15
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in June.
Dates: June 24, 2024 - July 12, 2024 | July 15, 2024 - August 2, 2024 | August 5, 2024 - August 23, 2024
Cost: Fees vary based on credits and per-unit rates. Other fees may also apply.
UCLA’s Summer Intensives are highly immersive and challenging, with students expected to complete 10-week courses in 3 weeks or three-quarter-long series in 9 weeks. This is a chance to experience accelerated learning and focus on mastering a course in a short period. For instance, you can learn large portions of languages like Arabic, Korean, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese or understand key elements of research, mass communication, entertainment industries, production, and more in mere weeks.
You will attend lectures, seminars, workshops, trips, tours, co-curricular, project hours, and other activities. You can anticipate instruction from accomplished UCLA professors.
Subject Areas: Medicine
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in February.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - August 1, 2024 (8 weeks)
Cost: Free. All students receive a minimum stipend of $500; students from underrepresented groups will receive at least $1,500.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an opportunity for high school students to conduct biomedical research under the mentorship of Stanford faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and researchers. You will receive direct access to a well-equipped and advanced laboratory where you will spend most of your time.
You can choose from research areas like stem cell and regenerative medicine, neurobiology, immunology, bioinformatics, cardiovascular biology, bioengineering, cancer biology, and genetics. The program will feature safety training, lectures, lab work, and a final poster session for project presentations.
Around 50 students participate in this program each year.
Subject: Engineering, biology, computer science, history, nutrition, and chemistry
Location: TexasTech University campus, Lubbock, TX
Eligibility: Students who are at least 17 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Application Deadline: Applications close in February.
Dates: June 16, 2024 - August 1, 2024 (7 weeks)
Cost: Free. Students are paid a stipend of $750 and are given free housing and meals.
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program selects 12 highly qualified high school students and provides them with hands-on research experience under experienced faculty. The program features seminars, social activities, field visits, tours, workshops, discussions, and research work. Research areas typically change every year, with 2024’s offerings including nutritional sciences, computer science, biology and microbiology, neurobiology, history, mechanical engineering, chemistry, and electrical and computer engineering.
You can take a look at the work of previous scholars here.
Subject areas: Journalism, politics, current affairs
Location: Virtual + Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors from a low-income background with a 3.5/4.0 GPA
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in February.
Dates: July - August (around 5 weeks)
Cost: Free. All housing, food, transportation, and equipment costs will be covered for the on-site portion of the program.
Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is an intensive program offering 40 high school students the chance to explore journalism courses in areas like current events, world affairs, and social and political events. Students will attend lectures, workshops, and activities led by Princeton professors, alumni, and professional journalists. These are held both online and on-campus, culminating in a 10-day residential experience in which students will contribute to the publication of the annual Princeton Summer Journal.
Students are also matched with a personal college advisor who will support them in their college applications throughout the year.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: NYU, New York, NY + Online
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade by the program start date
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (10 weeks)
Cost: Free, with a minimum $750 stipend
NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) is a summer program featuring 4-week remote after-school workshops followed by a 6-week in-person experience. The program covers topics and fields like robotics, chemical engineering, computer science, bio- and molecular engineering, civil and urban engineering, artificial intelligence, and machine learning through hands-on project work in research laboratories. You will be matched with a mentor and lab based on your research interests and skills.
Additional activities include college advising sessions and exposure to scientific ethics, research practices, lab safety, data collection and analysis, and presentation and public speaking skills. A colloquium with presentations from each student will conclude the program.
Subject Areas: Business and entrepreneurship
Location: Online
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on cohort. Summer deadlines are usually in May/June.
Dates: Vary based on cohort
Cost: $2,900 (4 weeks) | $3,500 (12 weeks). Financial aid is available.
The Young Founders Lab, founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, is a start-up boot camp in which students work individually or in groups to create a revenue-generating start-up. You will get a chance to work with founders of real start-ups like Fintech Launch, Billion Dollar Startup Ideas, and Fair Opportunity Project.
The program will take you through multiple steps of the process, including business fundamentals and ideation, market and user research, building a prototype, growth strategies and marketing, launching the start-up, and demonstrating your idea on Demo Day.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.