Spring high school programs offer valuable opportunities for students to delve deeply into specific fields of interest, fostering advanced skill development and hands-on experience.
How are spring programs different from winter or summer programs for high school students?
Unlike winter or summer programs, these structured and intensive learning opportunities during a typically overlooked academic season allow students to focus deeply on their chosen field, enhancing both academic knowledge and practical skills.
By applying to a spring program, you can engage in rigorous coursework, collaborate with experts, and undertake advanced projects, all before summer! An additional benefit to applying for spring programs, particularly if you’re a high school senior, is that you will gain advanced research skills that can be mentioned in your college application, or your resume while applying for summer internships in a field.
If you’re looking for a solid set of programs that you can apply to, here are 12 great spring programs for high school students.
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
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 on college applications. Apply here!
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.
At Dartmouth, an Ivy League institution, participating in this free program offers you a solid opportunity to enroll in college courses and earn credits alongside undergraduate peers. A wide array of academic fields is available for exploration, including astronomy, chemistry, languages, philosophy, mathematics, and more. For those eager to gain an early understanding of university life across various disciplines, this option is highly recommended. However, due to strict eligibility requirements, including the involvement of a school counselor in the application process, competition for admission to the program is considerable. If you’re applying, you might want to consider having other backup options!
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities and Social Sciences, Arts and Media, Business.
Location: Dartmouth College, NH
Cost: Free (Costs will only be incurred for books and other materials)
Application Deadline: March 10, 2025 (Spring term).
Program Dates: The spring session will begin on March 31, 2025, and will continue till the end of the term.
Eligibility: Juniors (winter and spring terms) and seniors (fall, winter and spring terms). Participating schools need to be within 50 miles of the university and students also need to have exhausted opportunities to take subjects within their high school to take courses at Dartmouth.
Available during both the spring and fall semesters, this UPenn program offers students the opportunity to attend actual college lectures alongside undergraduate peers. Courses span various disciplines including anthropology, economics, mathematics, linguistics, and psychology, with the option to earn academic credit for coursework completed. Classes typically meet 2–5 times weekly, requiring participants to complete assignments and attend examinations akin to standard collegiate expectations. Notably, UPenn’s esteemed reputation and the program’s competitive admissions process enhance its appeal, though the associated costs present a notable consideration.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: $4,222 per course unit. City of Philadelphia public or charter high school students can enroll in one course for free
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 (for Spring 2025).
Program dates: The spring session is from mid-Jan to mid-May.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors who have a record of high academic scores and extracurricular activities can apply!
NYU Precollege presents rising 11th and 12th-grade high school students with an opportunity to earn college credits and interact with NYU faculty and peers. The program offers courses across Art and Media, Humanities and Social Sciences, STEM, and Business. For the spring semester, students can explore courses ranging from ‘Revolutionary Movements of the 20th Century’ to ‘Introduction to Engineering and Design’. Participants enroll alongside NYU undergraduates and a diverse global cohort, contributing to a dynamic educational experience. Whether attending in person or online, students are considered NYU students throughout their course tenure.
Subject Areas: STEM, Arts and Media, Social Sciences and Humanities, Business
Location: In person at New York University, NY, or Virtual
Cost: Students can take courses for anywhere between 0–8 credits for an estimated tuition fee charge of $700 to $14,000.
Application Deadline: January 1, 2024, for the Spring 2024 session. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: January 22 — May 14, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants must be rising 11th or 12th-grade high school students in the summer or current 11th or 12th-grade students in the spring semesters. Students must have strong academic records (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale).
FAST is a program where graduate students from Stanford University mentor high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Andrew P. Hill High School and James Lick High School. Meetings occur on two Saturdays each month, where Stanford PhD students collaborate with students to brainstorm projects and develop experiments or prototypes from September to February.
From late January to March, participants showcase their work at local and state science fairs, as well as at a Symposium hosted at Stanford University. Additionally, FAST provides online workshops aimed at assisting high school students in navigating the college application process.
Subject Areas: STEM
Location: Stanford University, CA
Cost: Information about the cost is not specified.
Application Deadline: Eligible students can reach out to the program coordinators via email regarding any deadlines.
Program Dates: The program runs from September to February, with a one-day poster presentation symposium in March.
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Andrew P. Hill High School and James Lick High School can attend this program!
The NYU Tisch commuter program is a free program focusing on arts education, catering specifically to students interested in dance, music, acting, photography, filmmaking, writing, and game design. These tracks are instructed by NYU faculty members. Workshops are scheduled weekly on Saturdays, emphasizing collaborative and hands-on learning experiences. Applicants should anticipate the possibility of an audition for performance-based workshops, in addition to submitting an application and attending an interview.
Subject Areas: Dance, Writing, Filmmaking, Music, Game Design, Image Making
Location: New York University, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: November 11, 2024 (for Spring 2025)
Program Dates: 14 weeks, February 1 — May 10, 2025
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors can apply.
The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Futures programs offer a structured spring program tailored for 9th to 12th-grade students to explore and pursue their interests. These programs feature advanced coursework led by industry experts in fields highly relevant to today’s professional landscape. Participants can select from a range of self-paced online courses covering Computer Science, Business Management, Design, and Life Sciences.
The curriculum encompasses diverse subjects such as Android Programming, Digital Circuit Design, Front End Development, Machine Learning, iOS Programming, and Robotics with JavaScript. Each course concludes with an Award of Completion from the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, providing practical skills and knowledge that enhance college applications and resumes. This online platform enables students to gain hands-on experience flexibly, accommodating their schedules as they prepare for future endeavors.
Subject Areas: Computer Science, Business Management, Design, Life Sciences
Location: Online
Cost: $350 per course.
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced, typically 3 months for the Spring quarter.
Eligibility: 9–12 grade high school students can apply!
The Columbia College Edge Academic Year program provides high school students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Columbia University’s academic environment during the spring semester from January to May. Students have the chance to earn college credits by enrolling in a diverse selection of courses, including technical subjects such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, Ordinary Differential Equations, General Physics, and courses in statistical reasoning.
Additionally, the program offers language courses in German, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, Finnish, French, Hindi-Urdu, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Tibetan. Columbia’s Student Life team complements the academic experience with specialized workshops focused on college readiness, career preparation, and leadership development - skills which can come in handy while prepping your resume for summer programs!
Subject Areas: Mathematics, Statistics, Languages
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: $2,474 per point. Two courses are roughly 6 points which comes up to $14,844. Students are required to pay a nonrefundable $80 application fee. Learn more about additional fees here.
Application Deadline: December 2, 2024 (for Spring 2025).
Program Dates: Jan 21 — May 26, 2025
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students can apply!
9. Veritas AI — AI Fellowship
Veritas AI specializes in providing a dedicated platform tailored for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. Their programs emphasize collaborative learning, hands-on project development, and personalized 1-on-1 mentorship. Guided by Harvard graduate students and alumni, participants engage in an immersive educational experience known for its intellectual rigor and deep engagement.
Central to Veritas AI’s offerings is the AI Fellowship program, offering students a 12–15-week journey dedicated to independent AI research projects. Proficiency in Python is preferred, with an option to complete the AI scholars program as preparation.
The fellowship encourages interdisciplinary exploration, empowering students to integrate AI with various fields of interest. Historically, students have conducted research in AI applications spanning diverse domains such as medicine, finance, environmental science, and education. Explore previous projects here.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Science
Cost: Need-based financial aid is available. You can apply here.
Application Deadline: Typically in February for the Spring cohort.
Program Dates: The program runs for 12–15 weeks in the Spring.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit prior experience with AI concepts or Python.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation is dedicated to supporting the academic growth of talented, low-income high school students through its expansive 1-on-1 research initiatives. A cornerstone of its offerings is the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program, which features a 12-week spring cohort. In this flagship online program, participants are paired with esteemed Ph.D. mentors to conduct independent research at no cost.
Spanning diverse disciplines such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more, the program caters to students with a passion for exploring niche research topics. It provides an inclusive platform for students to delve deeply into their chosen fields and develop original research papers under the guidance of experienced mentors. Learn more about the Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program and the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences
Cost: Fully-funded
Application Deadline: There are 4 annual cohorts — summer, spring, winter, and fall (You can apply here!)
Program Dates: 12 weeks starting from when you and your mentor start the project
Eligibility:
- Must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall of 2024.
- Students must have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.
- Past scholars have typically come from households earning less than $50,000 annually (for a typical household of 4) with minimum assets.
Conducted by the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at the university, this pre-college program offers both spring and summer studios aimed at refining creative skills and developing a portfolio. A standout feature of the program is the provision of individual studios for participants. Course offerings include watercolor painting, drawing fundamentals, 3D exploration, relief printmaking, and other topics, all with personalized instruction from Stamps faculty. While supplemental lectures and demonstrations augment learning, the primary focus is on studio practice, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts practically.
Subject Areas: Art and Design
Location: Virtual and in-person (at the University of Michigan, MI) options are available.
Cost: Ranges from $245 to $295, depending on the studio. Limited full and partial awards are available, based on merit and need.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Program Dates: Most spring studios run from early May to early June, with one or two sessions per week
Eligibility: All high school students
For those seeking an enriching healthcare experience over spring break, the Medical Immersion & Surgical Academy (MISA) offers a notable opportunity. As a program affiliated with a healthcare institution, MISA provides 5-day hands-on clinical training encompassing workshops on suturing, EKG, patient vitals, phlebotomy, and related skills. Participants also engage in networking with diverse health professionals and have the chance to earn nationally recognized certifications such as CPR and First Aid. Due to its selective nature, MISA receives numerous applications for a limited number of spots, reflecting its competitive admission process.
Subject Areas: Medicine
Location: MISA Office, Oakland, California
Cost: $1,450
Application Deadline: Applications open on November 6, 2023 for the 2024 spring cohort
Program Dates: Cohort A from March 25, 2024 — March 29, 2024, Cohort B from April 1, 2024 — April 5, 2024, Cohort C from April 8, 2024 — April 12, 2024. Students must attend every day from 9 am to 3.30 pm
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old can apply.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.