Pre-college programs are your chance to get a real taste of college life while exploring your interests in a deeper, more hands-on way. Instead of just reading about a subject, you’ll dive into challenging coursework, engaging projects, or even research that lets you see your passions in action. You’ll meet like-minded students, collaborate on meaningful projects, and get guidance from mentors who can help shape your academic journey.
These programs aren’t just about padding your resume; they’re about helping you grow, experiment, and discover your passions. You’ll get in-depth exposure to potential majors or career paths while experiencing a glimpse of what college life is really like.
In this blog, we’ve put together 13 top pre-college programs.
13 Best Pre-College Research Programs for High School Students
1. Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: TBD for 2026
Application Deadline: Typically December
Eligibility: High school juniors with strong academic records and competitive test scores
RSI is a six-week research program where you’ll carry out original STEM investigations alongside mentors from MIT, Harvard, or nearby Boston research institutes. The program begins with a week of intensive lectures and seminars covering advanced concepts in science and engineering. You’ll then spend four weeks immersed in laboratory research, where you design experiments, interpret data, and prepare a scholarly research paper. To conclude, you present your findings in both oral and written formats at the RSI Symposium.
2. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend between $500–$1,500 based on financial need
Dates: June 8 – July 30 (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors, age 16+
SIMR provides an eight-week immersion into biomedical research at Stanford, where you’ll join a faculty lab in a field such as cancer biology, immunology, or neurobiology. Under the guidance of professors and graduate students, you’ll design and carry out an independent project while also participating in departmental seminars and training workshops. Weekly networking opportunities and lab tours add exposure to medical research careers. The program concludes with a poster session and oral presentation, where you showcase your research to peers and faculty.
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, Baltimore, MD (in-person) or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; $15/hour for in-person interns, $500 stipend for virtual participants
Dates: 8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors from Baltimore City (in-person) or across the U.S. (virtual)
JHIBS combines neuroscience research with clinical observation, offering you hands-on lab training and guided mentorship. Interns explore topics like neurodevelopment, neuroimaging, and neurological disorders while developing foundational research skills. Weekly seminars and mentorship sessions complement lab and project work, giving a broader perspective on neuroscience careers. If you join the in-person program, you can participate in hospital rotations, where you will observe patient care and clinical procedures.
4. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $4,500 provided
Dates: 10 weeks in early June to mid-August
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school or undergraduate students, age 16+, with prior coursework in biology and chemistry
The Roberts Academy is a ten-week program that places students in biomedical labs to develop independent research projects under the supervision of physicians and scientists. Interns participate in weekly seminars, ethics workshops, poster-making sessions, and collaborative lab meetings with staff. You’ll gain practical experience in experimental design and presentation skills while preparing a research paper to present at the program’s conclusion. Some past participants have co-authored published papers or developed patented technologies during their time in the program.
5. The Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, and Farmington, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free; $7,000 stipend provided
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Seniors who have completed grade 12 and are at least 18 years old
This program brings together around 40 high school and undergraduate students to conduct independent research in genetics and genomics. You’ll work with mentors to design and carry out experiments, apply bioinformatics tools, and analyze results across topics such as cancer biology, immunology, and metabolic disease. Along with technical training, you will draft a research paper and present your findings at the program’s conclusion.
6. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program (Texas Tech University)
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend upon completion of a successful research project report
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors, minimum age 17
Texas Tech University’s Clark Scholars Program is an intensive seven-week research opportunity that admits just 12 students each year, making it one of the most selective high school programs in the nation. You’ll work one-on-one with faculty mentors to conduct research across a range of disciplines, from computer science and engineering to history and the humanities. In addition to your research project, you’ll join seminars and activities focused on academic ethics, research methods, and communication.
7. NYU Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; $1000 stipend upon successful completion
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: Currently closed
Eligibility: New York City residents completing grade 10 or 11 in June
ARISE is a ten-week, tuition-free program for New York City high school students interested in applied STEM fields. The program begins with a four-week series of virtual workshops in coding, research methods, and data analysis, followed by six weeks of mentored lab work on NYU’s campus. You’ll work on projects in areas like robotics, machine learning, or computational biology, while also attending weekly seminars and lab meetings. Throughout the program, you’ll gain hands-on experience in professional labs and finish by presenting your work at a student research symposium.
8. Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA, or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; stipend supported by the City of Cambridge
Dates: September – May
Application Deadline: Expected to open in May
Eligibility: Students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
SRMP is a year-long astrophysics research program that pairs 10–16 high school students with scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. You’ll work on projects involving topics like exoplanets, stellar evolution, or cosmology while learning technical skills in data analysis and coding. Monthly workshops and lectures provide additional context on astronomy research and science careers. Over the course of the year, you’ll produce a written report and deliver a presentation at a symposium, gaining experience in both research and communication.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY; commuter and residential formats available
Cost: Free; students have to cover transportation and housing costs. A stipend award is provided at the final symposium
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (11th grade), U.S. citizens or permanent residents, at least 16 years old by program start
The Simons Summer Research Program is a selective opportunity for high school students to participate in research across science, mathematics, and engineering disciplines. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and integrated into a research team working on a focused project. Possible research areas span biochemistry, pharmacology, astronomy, geoscience, computer science, and other disciplines. The program emphasizes lab methods, experimental design, and data analysis.
10. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (commuter program for New Jersey residents)
Cost: Free
Dates: 5–6 weeks during the summer, depending on project placement
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students aged 16+ by June 15, enrolled in high school (or graduates under 18), open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students at U.S. schools; some projects may have extra requirements
The Laboratory Learning Program gives New Jersey high school students the chance to contribute to faculty-led projects in science and engineering. Working under the guidance of Princeton researchers, you’ll take part in active investigations in both natural sciences and engineering. Past projects have included computational models for environmental sustainability and a fossil size database studying the climate’s impact on animal body size.
11. Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA (residential) or virtual
Cost: $3,580 (online) or $8,575 (residential); financial aid available for all students
Dates: Residential: June 22 – July 18 | Online 1: June 16 – July 4 | Online 2: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders at the time of application
SUMaC is designed for high school students who want to explore advanced mathematics in depth. Each summer, students from over 50 countries participate in lectures, collaborative problem-solving, and mentored research projects. Open to rising juniors and seniors, the program builds both theoretical understanding and research skills in mathematics. Beyond academics, SUMaC connects you with peers equally interested in exploring advanced topics. The program is selective and provides both in-person and online learning options.
12. The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory, Rockefeller University, NY
Cost: Fully funded
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors with a minimum age of 16; must attend the full program
The SSRP at Rockefeller University brings high school students into collaborative science research teams. Each group of about eight participants is led by an advanced trainee and guided by faculty mentors. You’ll take on projects that combine your interests with the team’s focus, working in the RockEDU outreach lab. The program also includes elective classes, invited lectures, and structured social activities to broaden your experience.
13. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free, fully funded
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Open to female and gender minority students in grades 9–11 worldwide, with preference for rising seniors, first-generation students, and applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in physics
SPINWIP is a three-week virtual program designed for high school students who want to explore physics in greater depth. You’ll study topics such as astrophysics and quantum physics while also gaining experience in Python programming. The program features a mix of online lectures, collaborative projects, and workshops on academic pathways and careers in STEM fields. Along the way, you’ll work with Stanford faculty and students who serve as mentors.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – Stanford University