Vet summer programs are designed to introduce you to veterinary medicine as a scientific and clinical discipline, not just animal care. Most vet summer programs are hosted by universities, veterinary colleges, zoos, research institutions, or accredited animal health organizations.
You’ll typically encounter structured activities such as anatomy labs, diagnostic demonstrations, pathology reviews, and case-based discussions tied to real animal health scenarios. Many programs also include mentorship from veterinarians, researchers, or advanced veterinary students, giving you insight into how veterinary careers are actually built and what academic preparation looks like.
Why should you choose a vet summer program?
You’re expected to engage with the analytical side of animal health. This often includes observing or simulating clinical exams, reviewing disease case files, collecting and interpreting biological or ecological data, and learning how veterinarians make decisions under real constraints.
Below is a curated list of 15 vet summer programs for high school students, selected for their academic rigor, credibility, and accessibility. If you’re exploring adjacent pathways, you can also check out our guides to biology internships for high school students here and remote biology research opportunities for high school students here.
15 Vet Summer Programs for High School Students
1. University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Summer Experience
Location: Local vet practices + University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 9–July 11
Application deadline: January 30 (materials postmarked by February 6)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors in Tennessee who are at least 16 years old by June 1 and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The Veterinary Summer Experience at the University of Tennessee is designed more like an entry-level professional placement than a traditional summer program. For the first four weeks, you work roughly 40 hours per week shadowing licensed veterinarians in local clinics, where you observe exams, procedures, record-keeping, and client communication in real time. The final week becomes a residential experience on UT’s campus, focused on faculty-led lectures, laboratory sessions, and clinical rotations. Instruction connects what you observed in practice to academic veterinary medicine. With only 12 students admitted each summer, supervision remains close, and expectations are clearly defined.
2. NextVet Internship – Banfield Pet Hospital
Location: Find locations near you using the Banfield.com location finder
Stipend: Minimum $15/hour (exact rate varies by location)
Dates: 6–10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Typically opens in late winter/early spring
Eligibility: Open to students aged 16+
The NextVet Internship places high school students directly inside operating Banfield Pet Hospital locations across the country. As a paid, part-time intern, you shadow veterinarians and veterinary technicians during routine appointments, treatments, and follow-up care. Depending on hospital needs, you may assist with basic tasks such as animal handling, room preparation, documentation, or inventory support under staff supervision. The program also includes structured virtual sessions where doctors and industry professionals discuss veterinary roles, career paths, and workplace expectations. Mentorship is provided by the local hospital team you work with throughout the summer.
3. University of Georgia – Veterinary Career Aptitude and Mentoring Program (VetCAMP)
Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Cost: $1000
Dates: May 31–June 6
Application deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Must be 16 years old | Must be in 10th, 11th or 12th grades
VetCAMP is a one-week intensive program hosted by the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine that blends exposure with self-assessment. You’ll rotate through the veterinary teaching hospital, diagnostic laboratories, and the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, while participating in hands-on activities and guided simulations. Mentoring sessions focus on evaluating your academic readiness and long-term competitiveness for veterinary pathways. The program also includes a veterinary-focused field trip and workshops covering admissions requirements and curriculum structure. Approximately 52 students are selected each year, keeping the cohort relatively small.
4. Eckerd College – Pre-College Animal Studies
Location: Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
Cost: $1,975
Dates: June 14–19
Application deadline: Opens early January
Eligibility: Students entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the Fall
Eckerd College’s Pre-College Animal Studies program examines animals through scientific, social, and ethical lenses rather than clinical practice. During this one-week residential experience, you participate in citizen-science wildlife surveys both on campus and in nearby coastal environments. Faculty-led classes explore topics such as animal behavior, conservation, enrichment, and research design. Site visits to aquaria, zoos, or shelters provide an applied context for animal care and management. Coursework focuses on data interpretation, critical analysis, and the clear communication of findings. The structure mirrors Eckerd’s interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum.
5. University of Missouri – Advanced Veterinary Academy
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: $400
Dates: June 8–12
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16 + years) | Must have spent or be spending time job-shadowing a veterinarian | Minimum GPA of 2.7
The Advanced Veterinary Academy at the University of Missouri condenses a wide range of veterinary topics into an intensive four-day format. You’ll attend lectures alongside first- and second-year veterinary students, gaining exposure to the academic pace of professional training. Laboratory sessions cover anatomy, pathology, radiology, toxicology, and clinical diagnostics. Clinical components include shadowing during rounds and observing surgical procedures in active settings. Additional sessions address public health, food animal medicine, and comparative disease between animals and humans. Admissions preparation and interview training are incorporated into the schedule.
6. University of Florida – Gator Vet Camp
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $1,200 + $25 application fee
Dates: June 8–13 (rising 10th and 11th graders) | June 22–27 (rising 12th graders)
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students residing in Florida
Gator Vet Camp is a one-week residential program hosted by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. You’ll explore veterinary medicine through clinical lab activities, campus tours, and hands-on skill sessions guided by faculty and current veterinary students. The instruction introduces multiple specialties, including wildlife, large-animal, and aquatic medicine. Focused discussions cover academic preparation and course planning for veterinary pathways. The program prioritizes access for students with limited prior experience in veterinary environments.
7. Boston Leadership Institute – Veterinary Medicine
Location: Gann/Bentley, Waltham, MA
Cost: Three-Week Tuition: $2500 | Three-Week Residential Fee: $2097
Dates: July 6–24
Application deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in veterinary science
The Boston Leadership Institute’s Veterinary Medicine program uses simulation-based learning to teach clinical fundamentals over three weeks. Students practice suturing, casting, restraint techniques, and CPR using veterinary training models rather than live animals. Anatomy and disease concepts are taught through dissections, assembled models, and diagnostic case studies. The experience covers immunology, parasitic disease, and zoonotic illness across multiple species, and site visits may include emergency animal hospitals, zoos, or Tufts University’s veterinary facilities.
8. University of Minnesota – VetCamp
Location: University Of Minnesota, College Of Veterinary Medicine, MN
Cost: $15
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year, including summer
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-12
Hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine, VetCamp’s individual modules typically last a few hours or a full day, allowing students to engage with specific veterinary topics in a concentrated format. You’ll get to work with simulated animals to practice clinical reasoning, participate in toxicology scenarios, and complete problem-based exercises modeled after real veterinary cases. A structured careers activity introduces how different veterinary roles, such as clinicians, toxicologists, and public health veterinarians, contribute to patient outcomes. The curriculum is designed to be hands-on and discussion-driven, with a focus on decision-making in veterinary settings.
9. Lees-McRae College Wildlife Science Summer Programs
Location: Lees-McRae College campus, Banner Elk, North Carolina
Cost: One Week = $2,100 | Two Weeks = $3,600
Dates: Session 1: June 15–21 | Session 2: June 22–28
Application deadline: May 10
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders ages 15–17 | Session 2 is open to participants who have completed Session 1, either this year or previous years
The Wildlife Science Summer Programs at Lees-McRae College focus on ecology, conservation, and wildlife rehabilitation. During the first week, you’ll study ecosystems and conservation principles at the Elk Valley Preserve and Field Station. You’ll also gain exposure to wildlife rehabilitation and outdoor patient care at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Students who qualify for the second week take on more advanced responsibilities, including clinical tasks and detailed species studies. Fieldwork involves data collection, habitat analysis, and ecological observation.
10. Internships at the Smithsonian National Zoo
Location: Washington, D.C. | Front Royal, VA | Herndon, VA (in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats)
Stipend: Paid (amount varies)
Dates: Varies based on department and posting
Application deadline: Varies by internship posting
Eligibility: High school students (criteria can vary slightly depending on the position)
High school internships at the Smithsonian National Zoo are offered across multiple departments and change depending on seasonal and institutional needs. Opportunities may focus on animal husbandry, behavioral observation, enrichment design, conservation research, or related support roles. Each internship is tied to a specific animal program or research unit, meaning responsibilities vary significantly by placement. You’ll typically assist with observation, data collection, documentation, and project-based tasks rather than direct animal handling.
11. The Malott Family Lincoln Park Zoo Internship Program
Location: The Malott Family Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 22–August 7
Application deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago and entering grades 10-12, between 16–18 years old
The Malott Family Internship Program is a seven-week paid opportunity for Chicago high school students at Lincoln Park Zoo. Participants split time between observing animal behavior and learning how zoos communicate conservation science to the public. You’ll practice informal education techniques while interacting with visitors in exhibit spaces. A required final project focuses on realistic conservation actions and public engagement strategies. Workshops and meetings with researchers and animal care staff provide insight into zoo operations.
12. Bronx Zoo Project TRUE Internship
Location: New York City
Stipend: $750 stipend or NYC hourly minimum wage
Dates: Late June–August
Application deadline: February 25
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in good standing who are residents of the Bronx
Project TRUE is a paid summer internship that places high school students in active urban ecology research across New York City. You’ll investigate topics such as bird community composition, mammal distribution, the spread of invasive species, and water quality in both natural and built environments. Fieldwork takes place in city parks, wetlands, waterways, and other urban green spaces where data is collected using established research methods. You’ll work in small teams and receive ongoing mentorship from Fordham University students and Wildlife Conservation Society staff. Beyond fieldwork, you’ll analyze data and learn how to communicate scientific findings clearly. Research results are formally presented at professional symposia attended by scientists, educators, and peers.
13. The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) – High School Summer Veterinary Medicine Program
Location: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Cost: $4,295
Dates: June 13–21 | June 25–July 3 | July 7–15
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
In this program, you engage in anatomy workshops, diagnostic labs, and hands-on clinical simulations designed to mirror introductory veterinary coursework. Supervised dissections and pathology sessions introduce you to core concepts in disease identification, prevention, and treatment across animal species. Case-based activities help you understand how veterinarians approach clinical decision-making in real-world settings. Guest speakers from veterinary medicine, animal research, and public health discuss academic pathways and professional roles within the field. Leadership workshops run alongside scientific instruction, offering training in communication, ethics, and problem-solving.
14. Wildlife and Exotic Animal Veterinary Internship Program
Location: New England Wildlife Center, Weymouth, MA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: May 1–September 1
Application deadline: February 20 (rolling)
Eligibility: Students ages 17 and older
This internship places you directly inside a functioning wildlife hospital and exotic animal veterinary practice in Massachusetts. You’ll assist with daily operations such as preparing species-specific diets, cleaning and maintaining enclosures, monitoring patient behavior, and supporting veterinary procedures under supervision. The center treats more than 225 species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and exotic companion animals, offering unusually broad exposure. You’ll also take part in educational outreach programs and public-facing initiatives. Training follows an apprentice-style model, with responsibilities increasing as skills develop.
15. High School Summer Internships at PAWS Chicago
Location: Medical Center and Lincoln Park Adoption Center, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: May–September
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
PAWS Chicago’s high school internship program places students within the daily operations of its adoption and medical centers. You assist with essential shelter responsibilities, including feeding animals, walking dogs, cleaning facilities, and maintaining animal welfare standards. You may also support veterinary staff by helping with preparation tasks, recovery monitoring, paperwork, and basic administrative duties. Schedules and minimum hour requirements are determined after placement and vary by site. Applicants must be enrolled in a school- or community-based career or job-readiness program to be eligible.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like veterinary science, animal biology, or research at the intersection of animals and data, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Smithsonian Logo