Shadowing is considered one of the easiest ways to explore a career for high school students. During shadowing, you observe a professional in your dream career, learn about their daily tasks, and gain insight into what you can expect to do in the future. Instead of relying on textbooks, you spend time watching, listening, and asking questions in a real-world workplace. In essence, it is like getting a front-row seat to the career you want to explore.
What differentiates shadowing programs from others, like internships and research programs, is that they are purely observational. You will not be assigned any independent projects or given any paid tasks. It is comparatively low commitment and scheduled anywhere between one day and a few weeks. Therefore, this opportunity is ideal for those who wish to explore a field without a long-term commitment.
Why should you consider shadowing program?
Shadowing opportunities are available across various fields, like healthcare, law, engineering, business, research, public service, and more. This experience gives you room to explore multiple interests without focusing your energy on just one direction. Rather than making your decisions based on job titles and online descriptions, you will know what the career entails by watching it firsthand. It exposes you to both the glamorous and not-so-glamorous aspects of the job, helping you finalize your career choice. Besides, shadowing programs are typically free.
It can also be a huge help to you when you are choosing majors, electives, or even extracurriculars at university. Moreover, with firsthand career exposure, you will have strong talking points for your college applications, proving to the admissions officers that you took the time and effort to learn about a particular subject or discipline. Regardless of your career plans, showing experience can be pivotal in helping you make an informed career decision.
Below, we have listed 15 shadowing programs for high school students.
15 Shadowing Programs for High School Students
1. Hunterdon Health Shadowing Program
Location: Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by the availability of the department
Dates: Spring: March 10 – April 30; Summer: June 10 – August 15; Fall: September 10 – October 31; Winter: December 10 – January 31
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort; Spring: February 28; Summer: May 29; Fall: August 31; Winter: November 29
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older
From its clinical to non-clinical departments, Hunterdon Medical Center allows high school and college students to observe and learn from its staff. If offered the opportunity, you will be placed in one of the following departments: inpatient nursing, medical imaging, home health, inpatient physical therapy, and more. During this period, you will get an inside look at the facility, interact with hospital staff and learn about their daily responsibilities, and explore career opportunities in the medical field. You are allowed to spend eight hours in a particular setting.
2. The Noblesville Police Department Job Shadowing Program
Location: Public Safety Building, Noblesville, IN
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Fall: September – December; Spring: January – March; Summer: May – August
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort; Fall: August 1; Spring: December 1; Summer: April 15
Eligibility: 12th-grade high school students from the Noblesville School district who are chosen by a teacher or staff from their school
In this program, high school students are allowed to shadow the police staff to get an inside view of how criminal justice works. You will become familiar with the duties of a law enforcement officer and how law is enforced in general and in the Noblesville police station in particular. As an applicant, you can specify which particular role you would like to learn about, and the station will determine which team you will shadow. Since they have limited officers available to host students, you need to apply at least 30 days in advance.
3. SIH Job Shadowing
Location: Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) hospitals across Illinois
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Two active windows: Winter: December – January; Summer: May – August
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old; you need to obtain permission from a parent if you are below 18 years of age
SIH provides high school students with shadowing opportunities in its various departments. You can shadow clinical roles in cardiac sonography, emergency medical technician, respiratory therapy, and surgical technology, as well as non-clinical areas such as accounting, business administration, marketing, and information technology. If there is a specific staff member or department you would like to shadow, you can mention that in your application. Shadowing opportunities are typically between one and seven days, and can be longer in some cases. The program allows you to explore different career opportunities and the daily tasks associated with the roles.
4. Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; ~14 students
Dates: June 15–26
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program and reside in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, or San Mateo
The Inspiring Future Scientists through Shadowing (IFSS) program at Stanford gives you a realistic, observational look at what it actually means to be a researcher in chemistry. Over two weeks, you will shadow multiple graduate students across different labs, exposing you to a variety of topics like organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. You will stand right beside scientists as they work, touring advanced facilities like the SLAC National Accelerator and asking questions about their daily challenges. This program is unique because it prioritizes broad exposure and 1:1 mentorship for local students who might not otherwise have access to high-level research.
5. San Antonio Regional Hospital – Clinical Shadowing Program
Location: San Antonio Regional Hospital, Upland, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; ~55 Students
Dates: 4 weeks in the Summer
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school juniors
Designed as part of the hospital’s career exploration initiative, the Clinical Shadowing Program helps you determine which medical field is the right fit for you. As a participant, you will shadow professionals across various departments, including surgery, cardiology, maternity, pharmacy, the medical laboratory, and emergency care. Beyond observation, the program includes professional development seminars on medical ethics, college planning, and networking. While you will have the unique opportunity to witness surgeries and treatments firsthand, please note that this is a strictly observational role; direct patient contact and assistance with procedures are not permitted.
6. Goddard High School Shadow Day Program
Location: Goddard Visitor Center, Greenbelt, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served acceptance; cohort size varies by track
Dates: May 21
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students who are US citizens or permanent residents and attend a school in state of Maryland or the District of Columbia
This one-day program aims to get students interested in a career in STEM. Depending on your interests, you will be paired with an expert who will help you understand their role in the Goddard Space Flight Center. In the process, you will also become more familiar with NASA’s goals. You can choose from a range of career areas, including astrophysics, electrical engineering, heliophysics, planetary science, supercomputing and visualization, and more. Each career area has a separate application form, and you can apply for just one.
7. TYE Summer Shadow Day Program
Location: Various companies
Cost/Stipend: $599 if you apply before November 1 and $799 if you apply after
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served acceptance; 5–10 students
Dates: Single days in June, July, and August
Application Deadline: Lay 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The TYE Summer Shadow Day Program gives you a direct look into the startup world by taking you out of school and into actual company offices for a day. You will explore diverse industries like technology, finance, and real estate to see how different businesses function in real time. During these visits, you will tour facilities, observe daily operations, and engage in candid Q&A sessions with founders and CEOs. This program is unique because of its flexibility; you can sign up for specific days that interest you rather than committing to a full summer schedule.
8. Engineer For A Day
Location: Cleveland, OH
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: First-come, first-served acceptance; 2 students per engineer
Dates: February 25
Application Deadline: No single deadline; generally 3-4 weeks before the program
Eligibility: 10th to 12th grade students
The Engineer For A Day is catered toward high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are considering a career in engineering. When selected for the program, you will typically shadow an engineer from Cleveland or visit a company where you get to shadow multiple engineers. You are allowed to pick which department or engineer you would like to shadow. The program aims to give you an idea of the responsibilities of someone working in a specific engineering discipline. You can also educate yourself about the different engineering fields through this program.
9. WBA Legal Career Shadowing Program
Location: Depends on the staff you will be shadowing
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Flexible; you and the legal staff you are paired with can decide on the dates
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; open throughout the year
Eligibility: Students from Westmoreland County; the applications are open to high school students but they need to be 18+
If you want to become a lawyer and are curious about learning the daily responsibilities of a legal professional, this program allows you to shadow a Westmoreland Bar Association staff member for this purpose. Once you fill in your application, the bar association will pair you with one of its staff. You will shadow the assigned profession for five to eight hours in a law firm, courthouse, or other legal premises. WBA offers its shadowing program across its departments, like civil litigation, criminal law, family law, and more.
10. Ringgold County Hospital Job Shadowing Program
Location: Ringgold County Hospital, Mount Ayr, IA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Flexible; year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: 11th and 12th grade students who are at least 16 years old; students below 18 years of age need to get a consent form signed from their parent or guardian
The Ringgold County Hospital Job Shadowing Program gives you a realistic look at daily life inside a rural healthcare facility. You will follow professionals across various departments to see exactly how nurses, technicians, and providers care for patients in a close-knit community setting. During your time there, you will observe clinical procedures, listen to provider-patient interactions, and see how medical teams coordinate treatments. The program’s unique value lies in its Critical Access Hospital designation, offering you a perspective on rural medicine that you won’t get in a large city center.
11. High School Shadowing Program Corrections Division
Location: Charles County Detention Center, La Plata, MD
Cost/Stipend:
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are residents of Charles County, MD
The High School Shadowing program is designed for high school seniors who want to observe and learn about the activities of a correction officer and the role that law enforcement plays in the Charles County Detention Center. If selected, you will be paired with a commander at the Corrections Division, whom you will shadow for six hours. You may also have some indirect communication with the inmates. You need to pass a criminal history database check to be considered for the program.
12. High School Broadway Shadowing Program
Location: The Broadway League, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; ~18–25 Students
Dates: Broadway Career Exploration Day: December; High School Broadway Shadowing: 2 weeks in March
Application Deadline: No public application link; students are invited/nominated to apply for the full March shadowing from the initial pool of the Broadway Career Exploration Day
Eligibility: High school students who are enrolled in a public school in New York City who are nominated by their teachers
The Broadway League’s High School Broadway Shadowing Program is a prestigious initiative designed to introduce students to the business side of theater (Management, Marketing, Press), rather than performance (Acting/Singing). This is a two-part program that begins with the Broadway Career Exploration Day, where you learn about the various non-performance roles within Broadway. For this purpose, you will meet general managers, stage managers, press agents, marketing staff, and more. You will later participate in the High School Broadway Shadowing session when you get to observe the Broadway staff and their daily tasks up close.
13. High School Veterinary Shadowing Program
Location: Ashworth Road Animal Hospital, West Des Moines, IA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Flexible; year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: All high school students
The Ashworth Road Animal Hospital (ARAH) High School Veterinary Shadowing Program is a local initiative run by a single private clinic in West Des Moines, Iowa. It allows you to observe veterinary doctors and learn more about the profession. You will observe how the team draws blood, runs fecal tests, and analyzes samples under the microscope to diagnose parasites or infections. You may also get to see them take and read digital X-rays. You will shadow the vet during routine wellness checks and sick visits.
14. Shadowing at MEDIQ Physical Therapy
Location: MEDIQ Physical Therapy, Holly Springs, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Multiple cohorts available in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort; Spring: November 1; Summer: March 1; Fall: July 1; Winter: September 1
Eligibility: All high school students
The MEDIQ Physical Therapy shadowing program offers you a seasonal opportunity to see if a career in rehabilitation is truly right for you. You will commit to a specific quarterly rotation where you are paired 1-on-1 with a licensed Physical Therapist for consistent mentorship. During your shifts, you will observe critical daily tasks like initial patient evaluations, manual therapy techniques, and the design of therapeutic exercise plans. Uniquely, the program integrates daily learning moments directly into your schedule, ensuring you understand the actual clinical reasoning behind the treatments you watch.
15. SGMC Health Student Shadowing Program
Location: SGMC Health, Valdosta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; individual focus rather a group program
Dates: Flexible; year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The SGMC Health Student Shadowing Program allows you to step directly into a busy hospital environment to determine if a medical career is truly the right path for you. You will be paired one-on-one with professionals in departments like nursing, radiology, or pharmacy, where you will observe daily clinical routines firsthand. During your shifts, you will watch medical procedures, tour specialized facility units, and witness how care teams coordinate patient treatment in real time. Through this experience, you will learn professional workplace etiquette and gain a clear, practical understanding of hospital operations.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re interested in exploring different topics through a research program instead, 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 – NASA