If you’re interested in chemistry as a high school student, consider summer programs!
Chemistry summer programs for high school students provide an immersive experience that often goes beyond the standard classroom curriculum, allowing you to explore advanced concepts and techniques in the field. These programs often feature hands-on lab work, lectures from experienced professionals, and collaborative projects that challenge you to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
By working with state-of-the-art equipment and engaging in complex experiments, you can deepen your understanding of chemical principles and develop practical skills that are essential for advanced research projects in college, or internships later in high school! This intensive experience not only broadens their scientific knowledge but also hones their problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, preparing them for future challenges in the field of chemistry.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program — Chemistry track
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!
Curious about the chemistry behind everyday products? Horizon’s formulation chemistry course explores the science that makes your shampoo’s fragrance last, the purpose of ingredients in your favorite snacks, and how therapeutic drugs are released in the body. This program covers essential topics like emulsion preparation, system stability, and encapsulation techniques, with applications in food, cosmetics, paints, and pharmaceuticals.
Students will dive into a research project, conducting an extensive literature review on a scientific challenge at the intersection of Formulation Chemistry and Material Science, guided by experts from the University of Cambridge and leading pharma companies like Sanofi.
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!
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.
The Inspiring Future Scientists Through Shadowing (IFSS) program, held each summer, is designed for rising high school juniors and seniors. The two-week program offers participants the chance to learn about cutting-edge chemical research by shadowing various graduate students in the chemistry department. This approach allows students to gain exposure to a broad range of scientific topics and techniques by observing multiple researchers.
Unlike programs that focus on individual research projects, IFSS provides a diverse experience through shadowing several professionals, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the field. This program is geared towards gaining insight into various research endeavors rather than conducting an independent research project. For those interested in pursuing their research, other summer programs may be more suitable.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: May 1st, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: June 17–28, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students must be 16 or older by the start of the program and must reside in and around Stanford.
For nearly 60 years, NIDA has been a leading center for addiction research and training, particularly in drug abuse studies. As a student interested in chemistry, the Recruitment & Training Program for Under-represented Populations offers a valuable opportunity to explore the scientific fundamentals of drug abuse through a range of disciplines relevant to chemistry, including Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
This program provides hands-on training and insights into how chemistry intersects with various fields such as Cellular Biology, Genetics, and Neuroscience. With limited positions available each summer and a competitive selection process, this program is an excellent chance to deepen your understanding of how chemistry plays a role in addiction research and contribute to cutting-edge studies in the field.
Location: Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus (Baltimore, MD)
Cost/Stipend: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
Program Dates: 8–10 weeks. Typically, in July but may vary depending on the program.
Eligibility:
- At least 17 years old and high school or college students.
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Permanent residents must be enrolled in a school in the U.S. to be eligible.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a highly competitive program with an acceptance rate of less than 5%, offering advanced research opportunities across various STEM fields, including chemistry. This research-based summer program combines independent research in chemistry with college-level coursework.
Participants are expected to stay current with the latest literature, develop a research plan, and work on both oral and written presentations of their findings. An example of a previous project includes “The Monoreduction of Diketones and its Application towards the Total Synthesis of Kalmanol” by Kenneth I. Brewer (2006). View more such projects here. The program guides leading scholars in the field, facilitating a rigorous and comprehensive research experience.
Note: We’ve detailed how you can build a strong application to get into RSI here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided, $40 application fee with a need-based refund.
Application deadline: Closed for 2024. To be announced for 2025.
Program dates: 6 weeks, specific dates to be announced for 2025
Eligibility: High School Juniors only (U.S. and International)
5. Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Chemistry Track
Lumiere, founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs for ambitious high school students interested in chemistry. Participants are paired with a top PhD mentor and work one-on-one to produce a university-level research paper. The programs are conducted entirely online and vary in duration depending on the student’s research goals and depth of exploration.
Research opportunities are available in areas such as Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, as well as Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics. Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Applications open throughout the year for the four cohorts — they are due in February, May, September, and December, you can apply here!
Program Dates: 4 cohorts run throughout the year, namely the spring, summer, winter, and fall cohorts.
Eligibility: High school students
UCLA’s Summer Session offers high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and earn college credit. This allows students to fulfill future chemistry requirements by studying on UCLA’s southern California campus. Starting as early as sophomore year, students can choose from courses like CHEM 14A: General Chemistry for Life Scientists or CHEM 20A: Chemical Structure, depending on their background knowledge. The program is notable for its flexibility, offering eight different sessions from July to September, with durations ranging from 3 to 10 weeks.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Fees differ, but UCLA has a Fee Calculator to determine your specific cost! See here.
Application Deadlines: Registration opens February 15, 2024, with the payment deadline being June 21, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: See the 2024 Session Schedule here. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible.
Columbia University offers both in-person and virtual summer courses for high school students through its pre-college program. With two sessions, Summer A and Summer B, students have the flexibility to choose when and where to take their courses. “Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry,” offered in-person during Summer A, and “Introduction to the Physical Sciences,” available online in Summer B, are two notable options.
These courses cater to different levels of chemistry and allow students to learn in their preferred format. Participants will study alongside motivated peers and learn from experienced professionals in the field, while also earning college credit.
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: $12,449
Application Deadlines: Application deadlines for Summer 2024 vary depending on which session you join, see more here. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Columbia splits its Pre-College Program into Sessions A & B, as well as online & in person, see details here. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 are eligible!
Yale University’s pre-college program offers a range of chemistry courses tailored to different interests. For those looking to cover foundational topics, General Chemistry I and II, along with the option to include laboratory work, are available. For students interested in understanding the role of chemistry in contemporary global issues, “Chemistry in Context” explores topics like climate change, environmental degradation, renewable energy, and pharmaceutical developments. Additionally, an Organic Chemistry course is offered. With a minimum age requirement of 16, this program allows high school students to engage in college-level chemistry studies on Yale’s campus as early as their sophomore year.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Tuition varies depending on which course you choose, see more here.
Application Deadlines: May 10th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Session A: May 27th — June 28th, 2024. Session B: July 1st — August 2nd, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old are eligible.
Stanford University’s summer program offers a course in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, with a strong focus on chemical engineering rather than just basic chemistry. This course is ideal for students interested in both chemistry and engineering who want to challenge themselves. The curriculum covers engineering principles applied to chemical processes, both natural and human-designed.
Students will learn to diagram engineering processes, identify and convert process variables, and set up material and energy balances to achieve steady-state solutions. These skills are then applied to real-world challenges through in-class assignments and a collaborative, student-led group project.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $3,050
Application Deadlines: March 29th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Session One: June 17th — June 28th, 2024. Session Two: July 8th — July 19th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 are eligible.
Brown University’s Pre-College Program offers a course titled “Acid/Base Chemistry: From Food to Everyday Phenomena.” This course provides an overview of acid and base chemistry, covering fundamental concepts such as pH, dissociation constants, and interpretation of related visuals. Students will also gain experience with laboratory equipment, including pH meters, UV-vis spectrophotometers, and volumetric pipets. The course is available in two online sessions during the summer, offering a flexible option for students who prefer not to engage in traditional extracurricular activities associated with in-person summer programs.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $3,094
Application Deadlines: May 10th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: Session I: July 10th — July 21st, 2024. Session II: July 17th — July 28th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible.
Tufts University’s General Chemistry I & II courses are lecture-based and include a required laboratory component. General Chemistry I covers foundational topics such as atomic and molecular structure, chemical nomenclature, intermolecular forces, states of matter, structure and bonding, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and properties of solutions.
General Chemistry II focuses on chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and physical and chemical equilibria, including acid-base reactions, precipitation phenomena, and complex formation. It also introduces organic chemistry, covering families of organic compounds, basic stereochemistry, and nomenclature. Both courses are held in person on Tufts University’s campus in Massachusetts and are suitable for high-achieving students looking to advance their chemistry knowledge.
Location: Tufts University, Boston, MA
Cost: $1,300 per course.
Application Deadlines: Priority Deadline: February 15th, 2024. Final Deadline: May 1st, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: General Chemistry I: May 22nd — June 27th, 2024. General Chemistry II: Jul 2nd, 2024 — August 8th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible.
The Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program offers high school students the chance to live on campus for two weeks while attending college-level courses without the pressure of traditional grades. The program features over 100 course options, including Chemistry, allowing students to build their knowledge in a subject of interest.
Outside of classes, participants can engage in a variety of co-curricular activities, providing a well-rounded experience of college life. With an average class size of 15, students benefit from focused instruction in an academically challenging environment. The program is available in three separate sessions over the summer.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,550 + $75 application fee.
Application Deadlines: The early application and priority financial aid deadline is January 10th, 2024 while the regular application and financial aid deadline is February 14th, 2024.
Program Dates: Session 1: June 23rd — July 5th 2024. Session 2: July 7th — 19th, 2024. Session 3: July 21st — August 2nd, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: This program is open to rising juniors and seniors.
The Summer Scholar Program (SSP) in the Department of Chemistry at Illinois Tech is open to high school students of varying academic strengths who are interested in hands-on chemistry research. The program covers diverse research areas including bioanalytical chemistry, computational chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, and materials chemistry. It has applications in fields such as energy, sustainability, light science, medicinal science, sensor technology, computational science, data science, bioanalysis, and health.
Participants will be paired with a faculty adviser and work in their research lab for four weeks during the summer of 2024. Extensions and early starts may be available depending on student and adviser schedules and project progress. Students who can commute to the Illinois Tech campus are encouraged to apply. Successful completion of the program allows students to earn three college credits (CHEM 450).
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost: Information about this is not available, but can be found out by emailing precollege@iit.edu.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Program Dates: July 8–August 2, 2024
Eligibility: Rising 10th through 12th graders and community college students are between 15–17 years old.
What distinguishes UC Berkeley’s Introduction to Chemistry course is its flexible format. Available for enrollment at any time and accessible from anywhere, the course allows students up to 180 days to complete the material. This online course covers foundational concepts, including interactions between atoms, molecules, and elements, as well as chemical bonding and reactions at the atomic level. Unlike traditional courses, there are no required lab exercises, making it a more straightforward option for students. Offered through Berkeley’s extension school, this course is open to the general public, allowing high school students to start their chemistry education at any stage.
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Program Dates: Continuous enrollment.
Cost: $1,250.
Application Deadline: Continuous enrollment.
Eligibility: Open enrollment.
Cornell University’s Chem 2070: General Chemistry offers a blend of online learning with the opportunity to live on campus, making it a distinct option for students. The course covers fundamental chemical principles with a strong emphasis on the quantitative aspects and techniques essential for advanced study in chemistry. Key topics included chemical transformations and equations, periodic trends of the elements, electronic structure of atoms, chemical bonding, and the collective behavior of molecules.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,750 per credit.
Application Deadlines: May 5th, 2024. TBD for 2025.
Program Dates: There are four session options, see here. TBD for 2025.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have taken at least one chemistry course.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.