As an ambitious high schooler with a serious interest in a career in physics, it is important to carefully consider the myriad options available to help build your foundational STEM knowledge. At one end of the spectrum are research internships and apprenticeships, where you get to work directly alongside faculty or government scientists on original investigations and produce work that may be published or presented publicly. At the other end are academic enrichment camps and competitions, where you build conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills in a structured educational setting. Between these are fellowships, scholarships, and mentored projects that reward original independent work with financial recognition and professional standing.
Why should you choose a program in South Carolina?
South Carolina offers more physics programs than one would imagine for a state of its size. The Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics operates two fully funded summer research programs that place students in university laboratories across the state, and Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, and Furman University all host programs on their campuses. For students who want to stay close to home while gaining real scientific experience, these SC-based programs eliminate travel costs and logistical hassles entirely. Programs hosted in South Carolina also tend to build regional professional networks that can benefit you throughout your undergraduate years: mentors at Clemson, USC, or GSSM are accessible for follow-up conversations, reference letters, and future research placements in ways that more distant programs cannot match.
In this blog, we’ve compiled 15 physics programs for high school students in South Carolina. You can also check out this list of free virtual physics courses to help you prepare, or these university-led physics programs if you’re already an advanced student.
1. GSSM Summer Program for Research Interns (SPRI)
Location: Multiple partners across South Carolina as well as internationally, including Clemson University, University of South Carolina, Furman University, College of Charleston, Winthrop University, Wofford College, MUSC, and international sites in Germany
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the program website for details
Eligibility: Rising seniors enrolled at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) only
The GSSM Summer Program for Research Interns places rising seniors from the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics into authentic laboratory research settings across South Carolina and, in select years, at partner institutions in Germany. You will work directly alongside faculty mentors on ongoing research projects in fields that include physics, materials science, astrophysics, computational science, and engineering. The program runs for six weeks, during which you will keep a research journal, participate in weekly cohort meetings, and produce a formal written report and public presentation of your findings. Because SPRI is embedded within your GSSM academic program, there is no external application; placement is arranged by GSSM staff in coordination with host institutions.
2. GSSM Residential Externship and Science Program (RESP)
Location: South Carolina and international partner sites
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Keep an eye on the program website for details
Eligibility: Rising seniors enrolled at the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) only
The GSSM Residential Externship and Science Program is the second flagship summer research pathway for GSSM rising seniors, structured for students whose project interests extend beyond the host-institution partnerships available through SPRI. You will develop an independent research proposal in collaboration with a faculty or industry mentor, then spend approximately six weeks executing that project in a professional research environment. Topics pursued by past RESP participants span physics, astronomy, environmental science, biomedical engineering, and data-driven disciplines. The program is fully funded, covering all costs associated with the research placement. Like SPRI, RESP is administered entirely within GSSM and does not accept outside applications, making enrollment at GSSM a prerequisite for participation.
3. Clemson University Summer Scholars
Location: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Cost: $1,400
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Open enrollment, but small cohort
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions starting January 12
Eligibility: Rising 7th through 12th graders up to age 17
Clemson University Summer Scholars is a residential pre-college enrichment program that offers intensive one-week courses across a wide range of STEM disciplines, including several related to physics, engineering, and computational science. You will live on Clemson’s campus and take focused coursework taught by Clemson faculty and advanced graduate students, giving you early exposure to university-level academic life. Physics-adjacent offerings include courses in audio engineering, construction science, general engineering, and mechanical engineering, with specific course availability varying by year.
4. GSSM GoSciTech Residential Science Camp
Location: Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics campus, Hartsville, South Carolina. There is also a virtual version of the program available
Cost: $860 – $1,360, depending on course and schedule
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Limited cohort size
Dates: June 14 – 19 | June 21 – 26 | July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions starting March 2
Eligibility: Rising 8th, 9th, or 10th graders from South Carolina who have demonstrated scholarship in science and math
GSSM GoSciTech Residential Science Camp is a six-day immersive STEM experience held on the campus of the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville. You will live and learn alongside peers in a university-style setting, participating in hands-on laboratory modules designed by GSSM faculty in areas that include physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. GoSciTech is designed to give younger students a first experience of academic boarding life and to help them evaluate whether the full-time GSSM program is a goal worth pursuing. Instruction is fast-paced and inquiry-driven, with an emphasis on experimental design and collaborative problem-solving. GoSciTech is a good fit for motivated 8th through 10th graders who want rigorous science engagement beyond what their current school can provide.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, Charleston, SC
Cost: No cost; new participants earn a $4,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Varies by placement
Dates: 8 weeks during summer, exact dates varying by role and location
Application Deadline: November 1 of the preceding year
Eligibility: Rising sophomores or higher, currently enrolled in high school and aged 16+ by the start of the internship. Must be U.S. citizens.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program, administered through the American Society for Engineering Education on behalf of the Department of the Navy, places high school students in paid research roles at Navy and Marine Corps science and engineering laboratories. You will spend eight weeks working alongside federal scientists and engineers on projects in areas that include physics, engineering, materials science, and computer engineering, depending on the Navy’s requirements and currently active research projects. It is both highly prestigious and operationally intense, and provides true insight into working with a government research facility.
6. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University
Location: Varies by mentor; many are open to remote internships
Cost: $1,299
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older. International students can apply
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is an eight-week research internship in which you work one-on-one with a university faculty mentor on an active scientific investigation. Remote placements in physics-based and physics-adjacent areas like spectroscopy, planetary science, and exoplanet astronomy are available to students who cannot attend in person, making ASSIP fully accessible from South Carolina. You will dedicate approximately 20 hours per week to your research project, progressing from a literature review through data collection and analysis to a final poster presentation at the ASSIP Symposium. Successful participants earn three transferable college credits from George Mason University, and strong contributors have even co-authored published research papers with their mentors.
7. GMU Young Scholars NASA Data Science Program
Location: Primarily virtual
Cost: Free; awards of up to $2,000 may be earned
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Extremely selective; only 50 students accepted
Dates: June 13 – August 29
Application Deadline: Enrollment is first-come, first-served
Eligibility: High school students
The GMU Young Scholars NASA Data Science Program is a primarily virtual summer experience in which high school students work with George Mason University physics faculty to analyze real NASA datasets in areas such as planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics. You will participate in synchronous Saturday sessions on Zoom throughout the summer, receiving direct instruction in Python-based data analysis alongside a small cohort of up to 50 peers. The program culminates in a research paper posted on George Mason University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy web page, providing you with a citable, publicly accessible research output. Outstanding participants can receive awards of up to $2,000.
8. MIT PRIMES-USA
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; fewer than 50 students selected per batch
Dates: January 1 – December 31
Application Deadline: Early December of the previous year
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in the United States. While not required, it’s preferred that you also be either a USAMO or USAJMO qualifier, have received a grade A for a college-level proof-based math course, participated in a summer math program, or have a letter of recommendation from a college professor of mathematics.
MIT PRIMES-USA is the national track of the MIT PRIMES program (Program for Research in Mathematics, Engineering, and Science), a highly selective and rigorous pre-college research opportunity. Although PRIMES-USA focuses on mathematics rather than experimental physics, the work you do on unsolved research problems in mathematics explores concepts that underpin physics, all while benefiting from the mentorship of an MIT graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, or faculty member. The program involves exploring advanced scientific literature, a research phase requiring at least ten hours per week of active problem work, an independent study period, and the report-writing phase to finish the formal research paper and present it at the annual PRIMES conference in October. The mentorship, independent research responsibilities, and national prestige make this a highly consequential pre-college research experience.
9. MIT MITES Semester
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – December
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents
MIT MITES Semester is a free six-month online program run by MIT for rising high school juniors from underrepresented backgrounds. It provides rigorous online college-level courses in physics, calculus, and other STEM subjects taught by MIT-affiliated instructors, as well as offering weekly live webinars, social events, and professional development workshops. You learn foundational concepts normally not covered in AP Physics, directly from MIT faculty and students, alongside a community of equally bright peers. Participation also makes you a stronger candidate for other competitive programs and can add a strong layer to your resume.
10. NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) High School Internship
Location: Remote (with potential travel to Texas)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Virtual internships vary by project, though they are generally between June and July 21
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are US citizens aged 16+
SEES is a NASA-funded internship program focused on analyzing and visualizing data from active NASA Earth observation missions at Austin’s Center for Space Research. You get the rare opportunity to work alongside NASA and university subject-matter experts, learning several advanced physics concepts, including electromagnetic radiation, spectral analysis, satellite orbit mechanics, remote sensing physics, atmospheric radiative transfer, and geophysical data modeling. Every participant completes an online distance-learning module delivered by NASA experts, after which they are assigned project-specific work with their research mentor. High-performing interns are selected for a two-week residential experience in Austin with full housing and meals provided.
11. Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP)
Location: Fully virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
The Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics (SPINWIP) is a fully-funded virtual academic enrichment program co-hosted by the Stanford University Physics Department and the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC). Run primarily by Stanford undergraduates, with lectures and sessions delivered by Stanford faculty and researchers, it introduces students to research in quantum physics, quantum computing, astrophysics, and cosmology. The program also features a strong coding and computational element, ensuring exposure to modern physics computations and data visualization. If you want a solid introduction to the many aspects of conceptual physics, this is a strong program to consider.
12. NYAS Junior Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Semesters run Fall and Spring
Application Deadline: Spring cohort applications closed January 6
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 from anywhere in the world
The Junior Academy, run by the New York Academy of Sciences, is a fully virtual program in which high school students form international teams and work with STEM mentors to design solutions to real-world scientific and engineering challenges. It provides access to STEM professionals serving as mentors, and progress through structured challenge phases covering research, design, experimentation, and presentation. Challenges are sponsored by industry-leading organizations and span topics including physics, materials science, environmental science, and engineering. Each academic year contains two challenge periods, one in the fall and one in the spring, and students who complete all milestones on time receive a certificate of completion and a Young Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences.
13. International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Open to all
Dates: Monthly campaigns held year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling, you just need to register 1 month before the campaign
Eligibility: High school students
The International Astronomical Search Collaboration is a NASA citizen science program that distributes real-time-lapse telescope images to participants and invites them to search for moving objects, which may be main-belt asteroids, near-Earth objects, or trans-Neptunian objects. You will register for a month-long campaign, download the free Astrometrica image analysis software, and work through a data packet of four images by flipping between them to identify objects moving against the background of stars. The program requires no prior knowledge, as the tutorial offers all necessary instructions. You only need to dedicate analysis time during your campaign month. It’s a great way to learn about the physics of near-Earth objects and celestial mechanics while helping to expand NASA’s asteroid detection database. Participants who submit detections receive a certificate acknowledging their contribution.
14. USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) / US Physics Team
Location: Exam phase: at registered schools nationwide; Training camp: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 400 students invited to USAPhO from roughly 6,000 F=ma exam takers, 20 invited to training camp, and only 5 selected for the International Physics Olympiad team
Dates: F=ma exam: January (at registered schools); USAPhO exam: spring; Training camp: approximately 10 days in May
Application Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, or green card holders who have attended school in the U.S. for at least three years, and are currently enrolled in high school
The USA Physics Olympiad program, organized annually by the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Institute of Physics, is the most selective and prestigious physics competition available to American high school students. You begin by taking the F=ma qualifying exam, a 25-question multiple-choice test covering classical mechanics, which is offered each February at schools across the country. Top scorers advance to the invitation-only USAPhO exam, a rigorous three-hour free-response test that covers the full breadth of undergraduate-level physics. The top 20 students nationally are invited to a ten-day residential training camp at the University of Maryland, and the five highest performers there represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Even qualifying for the USAPhO is a significant achievement recognized by top universities; placing in the top 20 or earning a team selection is among the most competitive distinctions available to a high school physicist worldwide.
15. Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
Location: Applications submitted remotely. Top 40 finalists travel to Washington, DC for Regeneron STS Finals Week.
Cost: Free to enter | The top 300 scholars each receive a $2,000 award; the top 40 finalists each receive at least $25,000, with the first-place winner receiving $250,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, only 300 scholars nationally recognized, of which 40 finalists are selected.
Dates: March 5 – 11 for Finals Week
Application Deadline: Opens June 1 and closes in November, keep an eye on the website for details
Eligibility: US citizens and permanent residents currently in 12th grade, or 12th graders who are U.S. citizens residing internationally. Must be the primary researcher on an original independent research project.
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, administered by Society for Science, is the nation’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. You can carry out your research at any laboratory, university, or field site. Your project can focus on any scientific discipline such as physics, astrophysics, materials science, or computational science. All 300 named Scholars receive a $2,000 award; the 40 Finalists travel to Washington, DC, in late winter for in-person judging, with top prizes reaching $250,000. Former participants have gone on to become Nobel laureates, Fields Medal recipients, and leaders in industry and academia, and a STS Scholar or Finalist designation carries exceptional weight in selective college admissions.
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: Clemson University