If you’re a high school student, participating in a summer program can be a fun and rewarding way to spend your break. Whether you're looking to gain hands-on experience, explore future career paths, or simply expand your knowledge, the opportunities in New Jersey offer something for everyone. Not only do the programs listed below enrich you academically, but they also provide valuable networking opportunities and a chance to explore your interests in a structured, supportive environment.
In this blog, we've compiled 13 great summer programs and internships available to high school students across the Garden State. These programs span a range of interests, from STEM and the arts to leadership and community service. Whether you’re aiming to boost your college applications or simply want to spend your summer exploring a new field, this list has something for you.
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 PhD 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, Economics, International Relations, Philosophy, Political Theory, History
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: November 10, 2024 for the winter cohort, and February 9, 2025 for the spring 2025 cohort
Program Dates:
- The winter seminar starts on December 2, 2024, while the spring seminar starts on March 3, 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) are eligible. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI, founded by Harvard alumni, offers high school students two programs focused on artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars program fosters collaborative learning, concentrating on various AI applications, while the AI Fellowship offers one-on-one mentorship from PhD-level experts, guiding you through individual research projects.
In the AI Fellowship, you will delve into AI’s influence across fields such as finance, healthcare, and gaming, with chances to publish or present your findings. Previous projects have explored areas like medical applications of AI, educational tools, and gaming algorithms. The program emphasizes building technical skills and applying AI concepts to tackle real-world challenges.
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Finance, Medicine
Location: Virtual
Cost: Need-based financial aid is available
- $2,290 for the AI Scholars program (10-week bootcamp)
- $5,400 for the AI Fellowship (12–15 weeks research program)
- $6,900 for both the AI Scholars and Fellowship program
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort. The Winter cohort application deadline is October 20, 2024. Apply here!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. Students applying to the AI Fellowship program must complete the AI Scholars program or provide evidence of previous experience in AI and Python
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, designed by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers high school students the chance to work individually with PhD mentors on independent research projects. You receive guidance in crafting a college-level research paper, along with support from writing coaches.
You can select from a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, biology, data science, economics, psychology, business, gender studies, linguistics, environmental studies, philosophy, astrophysics, and more. The program concludes with a symposium, providing an opportunity to present your research findings, and there is also potential for publication.
Subject Areas: STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities
Location: Virtual
Cost: Need-based financial aid is available
- Individual Research Program: $2,990 (12 weeks)
- Premium Research & Publication Program: $5,900 (16-20 weeks)
Application Deadline: Application deadline varies depending on the cohort. The Winter cohort application deadline is November 24, 2024. Apply here!
Program Dates: The summer cohort typically runs from June to August. Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA are eligible to apply
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Subject areas: Technology, Business, Finance, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Medicine, Software Engineering, and more
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. You will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Subject Areas: Business, Entrepreneurship, Technology
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Multiple, year-round cohorts. December 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025 for the upcoming Winter cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24, 2024 for the Winter cohort. You can access the application link here!
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program allows high school students to conduct research alongside Princeton's faculty and graduate students. The program offers multiple research opportunities within the natural sciences and engineering. Last year’s engineering projects included developing a bio-inspired soft robot, studying lung development in birds and lizards, and creating a hurricane risk forecasting system. The natural sciences research projects used computational mass spectrometry to map metabolism, analyzed animal size responses to climate variability, and studied sustainable catalysis.
Cost: No fees!
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Program Dates: Varies (usually at least 5 weeks during the summer)
Application Deadline: March 14, 2025
Subject Areas: Natural Sciences, Engineering
Eligibility: Students must be:
- Enrolled in a New Jersey high school
- At least 16 years old by June 15, 2025
- New Jersey or Pennsylvania residents living within 50 miles of Princeton University
The WISE program at Rutgers offers high school students an opportunity to conduct original research in molecular biology and bioinformatics. Over the course of four weeks, you will work alongside Rutgers faculty to analyze the DNA sequence of the duckweed Landoltia punctata. You will purify the DNA fragments to compare with those of other species using industry standard bioinformatics tools. You will also have the chance to submit your analysis for publication to GenBank, a global repository of DNA sequences.
Cost: $2,000
Location: Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
- June 20 – July 3, 2024
- July 29 – August 9, 2024
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Subject Areas: Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one high school-level biology course
If you're a high school student with a passion for math, the Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics is a great option to deepen your understanding and challenge your skills. This program aims to encourage high school students to pursue careers in mathematical sciences. Sample topics covered include combinatorics, probability, graphs, number theory, cryptography, and game theory. To apply, you have to submit the solution to a math problem provided by the program.
Cost: $4,500. Scholrships available
Program Dates: July 8 – August 2, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Subject Areas: Discrete Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences
Eligibility: High school students
The New Jersey Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers is a competitive summer program designed for the state's top high school students passionate about engineering and technology. For four weeks, you will explore advanced topics like robotics, programming, and sustainable design while working on research projects alongside Rutgers faculty and industry experts. You’ll present your research findings at a symposium at the end of the program. By visiting local companies, you’ll have the opportunity to explore potential career paths. To apply, you must be nominated by your high school.
Cost: Free!
Location: Rutgers University School of Engineering, Piscataway, NJ
Program Dates: July 1 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: January 12, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Subject Areas: Engineering, Technology, Robotics, Physics, Game Design
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who are New Jersey residents
The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine's MINDS program is designed to empower the next generation of diverse medical professionals. Focused on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, this program provides high school students from underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to explore the medical field through simulations and field trips to hospitals. Over six weeks, you’ll learn about the various career paths within medicine and how social factors affect health. You’ll also have the chance to work on a research project about health disparities in New Jersey. The program also offers CPR certification and SAT preparation.
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ
Program Dates: TBA for 2025, typically 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Subject Areas: Medicine, Healthcare
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are underrepresented or financially disadvantaged and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
The Stevens Institute of Technology Pre-College Summer Program gives high school students the chance to explore fields like engineering, computer science, business, and more, all while getting a taste of college life. The program offers several one and two-week classes. In the engineering bootcamp, you’ll work on a research project within an engineering specialty such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and more. The electronic music production class will teach you how to use a Digital Audio Workstation to practice MIDI sequencing, synthesis and sound design, and sampling.
Cost: $2,950 or $4,500, depending on one week or two weeks. Need-based scholarships availableLocation: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Program Dates: Several 1 and 2 week programs offered in June and July
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Subject Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Medicine, Genetics, Business, Civil Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Policy, Neuroscience, Music, Computer Science, Game Design, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Mercer County Internship Program offers high school students an opportunity to gain real-world experience in government, public service, and community engagement. Over the course of this summer internship, you will work directly with county departments and agencies. Whether you're interested in transportation and infrastructure, economic development, human resources, or administration, this program provides a look at the inner workings of local government. You’ll participate in activities organized by the Office of Personnel and learn about different career paths in the public sector.
Cost: No cost, high school students are paid $15.14/hour
Program Dates: June through Labor Day
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
Subject Areas: Government, Public Service, Administration, Human Resources, Transportation, Library Services
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old and are residents of Mercer County or attend school in Mercer County
The Game Design program at Rider University is an opportunity for high school students passionate about gaming and creativity. You'll learn the fundamentals of digital design and game logic programming. Over the course of the program, you’ll work to create playable games and build skills in system design, interaction design, and digital art. You’ll learn how to use graphic design tools. The academy also aims to introduce you to college life, especially the Game and Interactive Media Design program at Rider.
Cost: $1,400
Location: Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Program Dates: TBA for 2025. Two sessions were offered in 2024:
- July 7 – 12, 2024
- July 21 – 26, 2024
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Subject Areas: Game Design, Programming, Digital Art, System Design
Eligibility: High school students
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.