If you’re a high school student curious about psychology, a summer internship can give you a closer look at what the field is really about. Instead of just reading about theories in class, you get the chance to see how psychology connects to areas like health, education, or social behavior. Some programs focus on research and data analysis, while others let you shadow professionals or learn about clinical practice.
Along the way, you’ll build skills that are useful no matter what path you take—like critical thinking, communication, and writing. These experiences also give you a taste of what college-level work in psychology might feel like, helping you decide whether it’s the right field for you.
To help you explore your options, we’ve put together a list of 15 psychology internships for high school students.
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines; the upcoming deadline for the winter cohort is November 16
Eligibility: High school students who can work 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks; also open to undergraduates and gap year students
Ladder Internships connects you with startups and nonprofits worldwide through a virtual internship program. If you are interested in psychology, you can apply for the Mental Health track, with host organizations ranging from mental health services to corporate training and research on emotional disorders. You will work on a project tailored to your host organization and present your work at the end of the program. Alongside your internship supervisor, you will be paired with a Ladder Coach who provides extra support. The program also includes one-on-one skills training and group sessions with fellow interns, giving you both professional experience and mentorship.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by cohort
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students from anywhere in the world
Veritas AI offers you the opportunity to explore artificial intelligence, data science, and machine learning through structured academic programs. If you are interested in psychology, you can choose the AI Fellowship track, which allows you to work on an interdisciplinary project, or the Deep Dive: AI + Medicine, which examines how AI is used in healthcare. While not run directly by a university, the program pairs you with mentors from top universities who will guide you through project development, coding in Python, and the application of AI tools to real-world problems.
3. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (in-person; virtual option available)
Cost/Stipend: Free | $15/hour stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~8 students accepted in-person
Dates: 8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with strong academic records; must reside in Baltimore City; students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply
JHIBS gives you a structured entry point into neuroscience and psychology research. You will contribute to hypothesis-driven projects in laboratory or clinical settings and receive one-on-one mentorship from Johns Hopkins faculty. In the in-person format, you will also participate in clinical rotations with neurologists, giving you rare exposure to patient care alongside scientific training. The program concludes with an oral or poster presentation, helping you strengthen your academic communication skills and prepare for future research environments.
4. Child Mind Institute – Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA)
Location: Child Mind Institute, San Mateo, CA, and Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend up to $2,000 in the first summer; additional stipend in the second summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer Academy: June 23 – July 24; Monthly workshops & mentor support: August – May; Internship in mental health field: July – August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from structurally marginalized communities, enrolled in California schools, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month program designed to expand your access to mental health education and career pathways. You will begin with a five-week summer academy focused on mental health conditions, disparities in care, and professional roles in psychology. During the school year, you will work with a mentor in a health-related field while attending monthly workshops to strengthen your skills. In the second summer, you will complete a paid internship of about 100 hours with a community organization or research team and present a capstone project that includes a written paper, creative component, and public presentation of your work.
5. BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Early June to late August; approximately 16 hours per week, three to four half-days per week
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors, especially those interested in mentoring the following year or extending the internship
The BrainSPORT Summer High School Research Internship at UCLA gives you the chance to explore psychology and neuroscience research focused on sports-related brain injuries. You will review existing literature, assist with data collection, and analyze findings using tools such as neuroimaging software and cognitive testing. Through these activities, you will deepen your understanding of the psychological and neurological impacts of concussions, how injuries are assessed and treated, and the current directions of traumatic brain injury research.
6. American Psychological Association (APA) Virtual Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Mix of paid and unpaid opportunities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; varies by department
Dates: September – December
Application Deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students; if you are under 18, you may need a D.C. work permit
The APA offers you the chance to take part in remote internships across research, communications, and mental health policy. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to psychology-focused writing projects, assist with digital content creation, or support policy-related initiatives. While these internships are not clinical, they give you valuable experience in scientific communication, behavioral science, and public health. Opportunities vary by department and season, but some positions are open to high school students under 18 with the required D.C. work permit.
7. UT Southwestern – Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week sessions, typically scheduled in June
Application Deadline: Early February
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
UT Southwestern’s two-week virtual internship introduces you to a range of careers in mental health. The program is led by clinician-scientists, including social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and psychiatrists. You will prepare assigned readings and then participate in interactive sessions where professionals discuss their roles and career paths. Along the way, you will explore psychotherapy, neuroscience, and community psychiatry while gaining practical insights into how mental health care is practiced and studied.
8. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) Internship
Location: Oakland, CA
Cost: $1,800 + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 5-day sessions between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are 15 years or older
The Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) Internship is designed to give you direct exposure to healthcare careers, including psychology-related fields. Through partnerships with Alameda Health Systems and Samuel Merritt University, you will gain hands-on experience in clinical settings and observe different healthcare professionals at work. The program also equips you with certifications such as CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. By the end of the internship, you will have a clearer understanding of the responsibilities of medical and mental health professionals while exploring potential career paths.
9. Houston Methodist’s Summer Internship Program
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: December 2 – January 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program
Houston Methodist’s Summer Internship Program trains you in core clinical research skills, such as study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and laboratory techniques. You will also gain experience in scientific writing and research ethics while working on real projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Throughout the program, you will attend seminars, collaborate with research teams, and present your findings at a final symposium. The hands-on training you receive in a hospital research setting will prepare you for future study in psychology, neuroscience, or other health-related fields.
10. Summer Teen Internship Program at DOROT
Location: Manhattan, New York City, NY
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session I: June 23 – July 16; Session II: July 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: June
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Summer Teen Internship Program at DOROT gives you the opportunity to support older adults through meaningful social engagement. In this hybrid format, you will spend part of your week virtually and the rest in person, leading activities such as art sessions, tech lessons, and group games. As you interact with older adults, you will strengthen your empathy, communication, and leadership skills while gaining insight into how aging affects emotional and psychological well-being.
11. Barrow Neurological Institute Summer Internship
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: May 30 – July 3
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years of age and enrolled full-time
The Barrow Neurological Institute’s Summer High School Internship Program places you in neuroscience research labs where you will work directly with a Barrow researcher. You will assist with ongoing projects and gain hands-on experience with advanced lab techniques. Additionally, you will learn how to read and evaluate scientific papers and practice communication skills by discussing research findings. The program takes place entirely in a professional laboratory setting, giving you early exposure to the realities of neuroscience and psychology research.
12. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital High School Research Immersion Program
Location: Memphis, TN
Cost/Stipend: None | $4,800
Dates: June 2 – July 25 (community exhibition on July 26)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in eligible counties (Memphis-Shelby and immediate surrounding counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas) | Age 16+ | Minimum 3.0 GPA
The High School Research Immersion Program at St. Jude gives you the chance to spend eight weeks embedded in cutting-edge biomedical research. You’ll be paired with a mentor in fields like laboratory science, psychology, epidemiology, clinical research, or data science, gaining both technical and analytical skills. Beyond lab work, you’ll collaborate with a science educator to examine the social and ethical dimensions of science, craft a personal statement reflecting on your growth, and prepare a scientific poster for a public community exhibition. With a full-time schedule and a $4,800 stipend, this program equips you with hands-on research experience, professional mentorship, and a broader understanding of how science intersects with equity and society.
13. Helios Scholars at TGen
Location: Most placements are at TGen’s headquarters in downtown Phoenix, AZ; some students may work at the Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff, AZ
Cost/Stipend: Free; high school students are paid $14.70 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Students at least 16 years old, with U.S. work authorization, graduating from an Arizona high school by June 9
Helios Scholars at TGen is an eight-week summer internship that immerses you in biomedical research with a focus on critical public health and medical issues. You will work directly with a TGen scientist on projects involving neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes, or infectious diseases such as Valley Fever. If you are interested in psychology, this program can give you insight into how neurological disorders affect mental health, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes. In addition to lab or computational research, you will participate in professional development seminars, career exploration sessions, and scientific writing workshops. At the end of the program, you will present your findings at a research symposium and create a scientific poster to showcase your work.
14. Jerome Home Student Internship
Location: Jerome Home, New Britain, CT
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3 months
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old and college students
The Jerome Home Student Internship gives you hands-on experience in human services, social work, recreation therapy, and music therapy. You will follow an individualized training plan while working alongside healthcare professionals in different specialties. This internship is designed to help you build practical skills, explore therapeutic approaches, and gain valuable insights into fields that connect directly with psychology and mental health.
15. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) – Stanford University
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, or Virtual
Cost: $1,595 (virtual) | $2,895 (in-person); scholarships and financial assistance available
Program Dates: Virtual: June 16 – June 27 | In-person: July 7 – July 18 or July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X), offered by Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, gives students a two-week intensive course in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience. Through faculty-led seminars, you’ll learn about the biology of the brain and mental health disorders while also exploring careers in clinical neuroscience. A highlight of the program is the capstone project, where small groups investigate a chosen mental or brain health issue and present their findings to peers and faculty. Past student projects have examined topics such as addiction, trauma, eating disorders, autism, and neuroimaging, allowing participants to think critically about real-world challenges in brain and behavioral health.
If you’re looking for more such summer programs for high school students, you can also explore other options on Horizon’s blog page!
Image source – Tgen