Online medical pre-college programs are a great way to get started early if you’re interested in making a career in medicine. These programs offer you the opportunity to build college-level skills, gain exposure to real-world healthcare activities, and explore different medical careers—all from the comfort of your home.
Most online medical pre-college programs for high school students are free or offer full financial aid. Many are hosted by or in cooperation with top universities and medical centers. They include mentoring, virtual internships, or research opportunities that can prepare you for college and a future in healthcare. You’ll gain exposure to fields like neuroscience, public health, pharmacology, anatomy, genetics, immunology, pediatrics, mental health, and more—while also developing key skills like critical thinking, scientific writing, medical communication, and data analysis.
You will also be part of virtual patient simulations, practice diagnostic skills, interpret symptoms, and propose treatment plans. You will also mirror tasks undertaken by healthcare professionals such as preparing reports, analyzing case studies, and developing research papers.
Whether you want to become a doctor, nurse, or researcher, or are just exploring your interests, here are 15 online medical pre-college programs for high school students to help you get started.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Online
Cost: $5,950 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: High school students
HARP offers you a trimester-long opportunity to participate in academic research across disciplines like neurodegenerative diseases, environmental health and engineering, psychology and emotional regulation, medical sociology, bio-industry, gene editing, and more. You’ll pick your research topic, choose between qualitative or quantitative methods, and work 1-on-1 with a PhD researcher or professor from institutions like Harvard, MIT, or Yale. Over 10–16 weeks, you’ll draft a 20-page research paper while honing skills like academic writing, critical thinking, and data interpretation. If you apply for the Horizon Labs program, you will also have sessions with a publication specialist and a writing coach. Apply here!
2. Ladder Internships – Mental Health, Healthcare and Medicine Tracks
Location: Online
Cost: Starting from $2,490 (Full financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships offer a selective, virtual internship program that connects high school students with high-growth startups (companies on average raising over a million dollars) across industries, including mental health, medicine, and healthcare. Over eight weeks, you will work closely with your manager and Ladder coach on projects that add meaningful value to your company and present your work at the end of the program. This program focuses on real-world work where you will be expected to think critically and collaborate effectively, and it offers a flexible way to gain valuable work experience. Click here to apply!
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: TBD. 5 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors interested in future research and clinical careers in behavioral sciences or brain health-related sciences such as neurology, neurosurgery or neuroscience | Should be a resident of North America
JHIBS is a five-week virtual internship where you will explore different facets of neuroscience through expert-led seminars, professional development training, real-world case studies, and mentorship sessions. You will deep dive into topics like mental illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases, and brain development while learning about basic laboratory techniques and experiments. The program also includes mentorship training, scientific research, professional development workshops, collaborative activities, etc. You will develop skills such as critical thinking and scientific communication and gain insights into different areas of neuroscience research. All virtual interns will receive a certificate of completion after successfully completing the program.
4. Student Research Institute (SRI) by the Harvard Undergraduate OpenBio Laboratory
Location: Online
Cost: Free, but includes a $20 application fee (can request a fee waiver if necessary)
Program Dates: Weekly sessions throughout summer.
Application Deadline: April 1 – April 30
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 | International students can apply
SRI offers a rigorous, virtual summer program for high school students interested in life science research. You will be matched with a PhD mentor and work on a focused research project or literature review in areas like molecular biology, biochemistry, or computational biology. You will have to commit 3-5 hours per week for scheduled activities and 5-6 hours for independent research work. With the help of weekly mentorship meetings and programming sessions, you will write a 5–6 page research paper and develop core research skills—including scientific writing, data interpretation, and literary analysis. Outstanding papers might be selected for publication in an undergraduate research journal.
5. Zon Lab – Camp Zon
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: April 27 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: High school students residing in Massachusetts | At least 16 years of age
Camp Zon is a two-week paid virtual program that introduces you to cutting-edge research in cancer biology, hematopoiesis, and stem cell development using the zebrafish model system. You will collaborate with the Zon Lab research team to design experiments focused on anemia, which will later be performed live in the lab. You will also learn to analyze lab results, critically read scientific literature, develop scientific communication skills, and even code your own graphs to visualize data. The program also includes lectures from leading scientists on topics like basic biology and clinical translation of research. Moreover, you will also be part of a mentoring and career advice session from Dr. Len Zon and other scientists in the lab.
6. Mayo Clinic CARES
Location: Online | In-person
Cost: Free
Program Dates: First session on September 27, will continue throughout the academic year
Application Deadline: April 15 – May 31
Eligibility: Arizona high school students between grades 9-12
The Mayo Clinic CARES (Career Advancement, Research, and Educational Summer) program is a free initiative designed for high school students, particularly those from underrepresented groups in Arizona, to explore diverse healthcare careers. It covers various medical specialties such as surgical technician, clinical research coordinator, nurse anesthetist, sterile processing, medical assistant, respiratory therapist, CT technologist, etc. You will engage in hands-on activities, virtual simulations, and interactive sessions led by approximately 100 Mayo Clinic professionals. The program also offers an academic year-long mentorship where it matches you with a Mayo Clinic physician or an allied health professional. Apart from medicine, the program also teaches personal wellness, presentation skills, interviewing skills, resume writing, humanities, college preparation, and strength assessments.
7. Northwestern Pre-College Online Medicine Programs
Location: Online | In-person
Cost: $1,795 (Need-based scholarships available)
Program Dates: Multiple annual one, two, and four week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students between ages 13 and 19
Northwestern University’s pre-college online medicine programs offer an accessible and flexible way to explore various facets of medicine such as emergency department procedures, critical evaluation of medical research, and human physiology via specialized courses such as ‘Medicine: The Journey to Saving Lives,’ ‘Medical Research: Evaluating Claims and Facts,’ ‘Physiology: Understanding the Body’s Systems,’ and ‘Psychology: Inside Diagnosis and Treatment.’ You will engage in video lessons, complete interactive assignments, and undertake a Final Capstone Project where you will demonstrate your learning via a presentation. You will get mentored by experienced professionals and university faculty, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and gain a deeper understanding of medical concepts.
8. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Online
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee (full financial aid available for both application and program fees)
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Eligibility: High school student | Above 14 years old | Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or provide documentation of valid visa status
This two-week virtual program blends lectures, workshops, mentorship, and hands-on group research to explore the technical and clinical implications of artificial intelligence in medicine. You’ll be mentored by Stanford researchers and learn to interpret real-world medical data. The internship is fast-paced, collaborative, and project-driven—you will be working as a team to advance AI research in improving patient care and building better healthcare systems. You’ll also attend virtual career talks with industry professionals and explore topics such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and healthcare equity. If qualified, you can continue to research innovative AI solutions for improved healthcare through AIMI’s extended independent research opportunity.
9. Summer 2025 Health Science Immersion Program (HSIP)
Location: Online
Cost: Section One: Free | Section Two: Reduced fee of $895, derived after applying financial aid
Program Dates: Nine Saturday afternoon sessions from June 7 – August 2
Application Deadline: Section One – not specified, but closed | Section Two: May 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (Grades 9–12)
HSIP is a holistic health science immersion program that combines scientific lectures and group research projects with professional development workshops and college preparation. Throughout the program, you will gain exposure to college-level coursework through group research projects and presentations focused on neuroscience, human anatomy, cancer biology, and other health science areas. You will attend weekly lectures by academic scholars, physicians, pharmacists, and therapists on the latest discoveries in clinical care and medical research and also discover how they each contribute to healthcare outcomes in different ways. You will enhance your communication skills, refine your college applications, and explore diverse health science career pathways.
10. The New York Academy of Sciences – The Junior Academy
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Fall Semester: September – November | Spring Semester: February – April
Application Deadline: Fall Semester: March 27 – July 1 | Spring Semester: November – January
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17 with advanced-level English proficiency
This virtual program, sponsored by industry-leading companies, connects ambitious global high school students and STEM mentors to design innovative solutions to real-world research problems in public health and biomedical science. You will form teams, access the resource library, analyze real-world data, design experiments, and build solutions. You’ll learn to manage deadlines, build scientific arguments, and present solutions via multimedia presentations, while also learning to collaborate with peers from across cultures and time zones. Previous challenges revolved around combating public health misinformation and the relationship between air quality and health. After completing the program, you’ll receive a certificate and become a ‘Young Member’ of the New York Academy of Sciences upon completion.
11. UT Southwestern Medical Center Internship for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Two weeks starting typically in June
Application Deadline: September – February (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising grade 10, 11, 12, and college first-year students
This two-week summer internship, offered by the Department of Psychiatry, introduces high school students to diverse mental health careers. In this program, you will attend interactive sessions led by psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers that shed light on their professional journeys, day-to-day responsibilities, and real-world challenges. You’ll also explore fields like psychotherapy, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and neuropsychological testing. Before each session, you’ll be expected to review topical reading materials from curated packages featuring mainstream and scientific sources. This will help you build foundational skills in scientific literacy and critical thinking.
12. Parkview Health High School Student Internships (Virtual)
Location: Online | In-person | Hybrid
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Year-round, with the internship lasting one semester
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students
Parkview Health’s high school virtual internship program allows you to explore both clinical and non-clinical healthcare career options. Over a semester, you’ll be placed in a department or a particular role that aligns with your interests and be mentored by healthcare professionals. You will observe daily operations in diverse departments, be part of simulated scenarios, and contribute to specific projects. You’ll gain hands-on experience in your chosen field and develop workplace-ready skills like patient communication, medical documentation, or healthcare data entry, along with teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. You can also opt for in-person or hybrid internship opportunities. This internship is unpaid.
13. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) – Virtual Academy for Middle and High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 14–18 from the US and across the globe
In this one-week summer program, you’ll explore the science of regenerative medicine through live Zoom sessions, demos, and presentations from WFIRM researchers and industry professionals. You’ll learn about the core concepts of regenerative medicine and gain exposure to the latest research and technological advancements in tissue engineering and cell therapies. You will network with like-minded peers and WFIRM faculty, students, and staff. You will also deep dive into career and educational pathways and take guidance from renowned faculty researchers, industry professionals, and mentors. Virtual academy participants can also choose to attend an optional on-site workshop and tour on July 19.
14. CDC Museum Public Health Academy Online Summer Course
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: March 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: Currently be a high school sophomore or junior
This program gives you an insight into the science of public health and epidemiology studies. Over one intensive week, you’ll explore chronic and infectious diseases, disease surveillance, public health law, global health, and public health communication. You will engage in research, data collection, analysis, and health education. You will be part of daily synchronous and asynchronous lessons, discussions, and self-paced assignments and develop skills in scientific reasoning and collaborative problem-solving. You will also have the opportunity to interact with CDC experts, work with peers from across the globe, and examine how public health data shapes real-world policy.
15. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Online | In-person
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Program 1: July 7 – 17 | Program 2: July 21 – 31
Application Deadline: December/early January – February 14 (tentative)
Eligibility: Grade 11-12 students from Los Angeles and adjacent counties | Born on or before July 1, 2009
The Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program is a medical mentor program that offers high school students the opportunity to learn first-hand what it is like to work in the medical field. It includes daily virtual sessions led by general pediatricians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, radiologists, infectious disease experts, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and therapists. As part of the program, you will gain insight into the daily responsibilities of healthcare professionals, build professional mentorship networks, and explore possible career paths in pediatrics and beyond. You will also receive a certificate of completion and a chance at a $500 scholarship at the end.
Image source – Los Angeles Pediatric Society