If you’re a high school sophomore looking for an accessible and enriching summer experience, consider joining a summer program! These programs are a great way to build real-world skills in environmental science, biomedical research, computer science, digital marketing, and more.
Why should I do a summer program as a high school sophomore?
For sophomores, specifically, summer programs are a solid way to refine your interests and portfolio before applying to more advanced courses, programs, and internships in your junior and senior years. Additionally, engaging in a subject/field of your choice early in high school demonstrates your commitment and interest in a field – something that looks great on a college application!
You’ll learn practical skills like data analysis, coding, lab research, scientific writing, and public speaking. Whether you want to work on a climate change project, build mobile apps, or explore biomedical research techniques, the summer programs in the list below give you solid hands-on experience. They can also help you decide if a particular career path is the right fit for you.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer programs for high school sophomores!
15 Summer Programs for High School Sophomores
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: You can find the exact cost by submitting an interest form. Full financial aid is available.
Application Deadlines: Priority: March 23; Regular I: April 20; Regular II: May 18
Program Dates: The cohort starts June 16. Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: $2,800 (Individual Research Program), $4,800 (Premium Research & Publication Program), $8,400 (Research Fellowship).
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Summer Cohort I application deadline is April 13!
Eligibility: Must be a high school student with a 3.3+ GPA; no prior field knowledge required.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs you with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
3. Berkeley Summer Computer Science Academy
Location: University of Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $5,160 + $25 application fee (includes room and board for residential participants)
Application Deadline: March 10
Program Dates: June 23 – July 4
Eligibility: Students aged 16–17 by the start of the program with a 3.0 GPA
Berkeley’s Summer Computer Science Academy is a two-week program where you’ll learn programming using Snap!, a visual language developed at UC Berkeley. You’ll work on algorithm design, recursion, data structures, and abstraction, building a strong foundation in computer science. Through hands-on projects, you’ll develop skills in modular programming, debugging, and computational thinking while tackling problems in fields like cryptography, game development, and data visualization.
4. NYU’s Summer Program in Automation, Robotics, and Coding (SPARC)
Location: NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, NY
Cost: $3,300
Application Deadline: US Residents: May 2; International Applicants: May 15
Program Dates: Multiple 2-week sessions from June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Students who are rising 9-12 graders
SPARC is a two-week, full-day program where you get to work on robotics, mechatronics, and programming. You’ll build interactive robotic devices using microcontrollers, embedded systems, and electrical components, learning how these systems work together.
The curriculum covers circuit design, sensor integration, and actuator control, along with coding fundamentals like loops, conditionals, and data structures. It’s a hands-on way to understand how robots process information and respond to their environment.
5. Brown Pre-College Program – Introduction to ML & AI with Python
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: $6,134 (commuter) | $8,006 (residential)
Application Deadline: January 15 – May 9
Program Dates: June 23 – July 18
Eligibility: rising 10th graders and above. While not a requirement, algebra, and pre-calculus are recommended.
Brown’s Introductory Machine Learning and AI course gives you a hands-on start with big data analytics and AI applications. You’ll explore how machine learning models work, how algorithms are deployed, and how data science is used in fields like healthcare, finance, and tech. The course is designed for beginners, so you won’t need advanced math, but you’ll still get to train models, analyze datasets, and solve real-world problems.
6. Penn Arts and Sciences Social Justice Research Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Tuition for the Summer Academies is $9,949, with a $100 application fee; Public or charter high school students in the School District of Philadelphia may be eligible for a Penn Summer Scholarship to attend for free.
Application Deadline: April 27
Program Dates: July 5 – 26
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade students with a minimum GPA of 3.5
The Social Justice Research Academy takes you deep into sociology, history, and political science, examining issues like inequality, civil rights, and resistance movements. You’ll sharpen your research, analytical, and leadership skills while exploring major historical and modern social justice movements.
Led by Penn faculty and Teaching Fellows, the program includes daily discussions, expert-led lectures, and visits to sites like Penn’s Van Pelt Library, the Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, and the National Constitution Center. You’ll wrap up the program with a capstone project, either an academic paper or a creative presentation, focused on topics like immigration policy, environmental justice, or racial equity.
7. UChicago Medicine’s SHE in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost; $500 taxable stipend
Program Dates: A 2-week, part-time program that typically runs in the second half of July.
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors OR rising college freshmen who can commit to 4 hours per day on weekdays for the 2-week program.
Supported by the American Cancer Society, this program gives young women and students from underrepresented backgrounds the chance to explore cancer biomedicine through hands-on research. Each year, 20 high school students are selected to study cancer at both the molecular and clinical levels.
You’ll get your lab equipment to conduct genetic studies and patient case analyses from home. The program includes sessions with leading cancer researchers, workshops on biomedical techniques, and discussions on oncology advancements.
8. University of Pennsylvania Summer Academy in Applied Sciences Technology (SAAST) – Biotechnology
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000 program fee + $90 application fee
Application Deadline: January 2 – March 1
Program Dates: July 6 – 25
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year’s coursework in Biology and Chemistry
The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) is a three-week program where high school students get hands-on experience with college-level engineering. You’ll work with Penn faculty, use advanced lab technologies, and even earn college credit.
In the biotechnology course, you’ll explore genetic engineering and molecular biology, learn molecular cloning techniques, and tackle real-world biotech challenges. You’ll work on a group research proposal, analyze current issues in biotechnology, and engage in journal club discussions on recent scientific papers.
9. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: None
Application Deadline: October 15 – December 3
Program Dates: June 22 – July 26
Eligibility: Students in their sophomore and junior years of high school across the world are invited to apply; however, TASS does not provide any assistance with visas or international travel
The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a fully funded and highly selective program with a 5% acceptance rate, designed for students like you who are passionate about social justice and critical thinking. You can choose between two tracks: Critical Black Studies, which explores African history, politics, and culture, or Anti-Oppressive Studies, which examines systems of oppression like white supremacy and patriarchy.
You’ll take part in college-level seminars, analyze films, and write essays, engaging in faculty-led discussions that push you to think deeply about complex issues. Beyond academics, you’ll also work on group projects, make decisions collaboratively, and take on leadership and service activities within a close-knit learning community.
10. Georgetown University’s Sports Industry Management Academy
Location: Georgetown University campus, Washington D.C.
Cost: $5,950
Application Deadline: April 15
Dates/Duration: June 8 – 20
Eligibility: Be a rising or current high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. Must have a minimum 2.0 GPA
The Georgetown University Sports Industry Management Academy is a two-week program designed for students interested in careers in sports management, marketing, and media. You’ll explore topics like sports marketing strategies, event planning, athlete representation, sponsorship deals, and the ethical challenges of the industry.
The program blends interactive lectures with real-world case studies, guest speaker sessions, and group projects that mirror industry scenarios. You’ll also visit key sports venues and organizations across Washington, D.C., getting first-hand exposure to the business side of sports. A typical day includes expert-led discussions, site visits, and hands-on project work with peers.
11. UChicago Stones and Bones Program
Location: Chicago and Wyoming
Cost: $14,490
Program dates: June 14 – July 12
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
The Stones & Bones Paleontology Program, hosted by the Field Museum, is a four-week immersive experience that takes students from museum labs in Chicago to fossil excavations in Wyoming. You’ll learn fossil collection, preparation, and analysis while working alongside scientists.
In Chicago, you’ll gain hands-on lab experience, studying geology, stratigraphy, and evolutionary biology while exploring behind the scenes at the Field Museum. In Wyoming, you’ll excavate fossils from the Green River Formation, a 52-million-year-old site, uncovering ancient fish, reptiles, and mammals while camping and collaborating with researchers. Back in Chicago, you’ll catalog and preserve your findings in museum labs, completing the full fossil research process.
12. Forensic Science Pre-College Summer Program at the University of Delaware
Location: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Cost: $1,995 (housing not included)
Application Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: June 23 – 27
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have at least one high school credit for a biology/general science course
The University of Delaware’s Forensic Science Pre-College Summer Program lets you get hands-on with forensic analysis, biomedical sciences, and crime scene investigation. You’ll work with UD forensic experts, run lab tests, visit crime units, and use real forensic techniques like fingerprinting, DNA profiling, and firearms analysis.
You’ll apply these skills to solve a mystery, produce court-ready reports, and explore career paths in biotechnology, criminal justice, and forensic science. The program also includes a personalized college reference letter and 3.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) when you finish.
13. Summer@Cornish
Location: Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
Cost: Ranges from $730–$3,160 based on course selection. Need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in October. It’s recommended to apply early as spots may fill up quickly. The early bird tuition discount deadline is March 1.
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students
Summer@Cornish is a four-week arts program where you get a mini-college experience at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. You’ll focus on Music, Film, Theater, Art & Design, or Dance, with mornings spent on skill-building and college prep, and afternoons exploring electives. If you opt for the residential program at Cornish Commons, you’ll get a deeper campus experience and be part of a creative, artistic community.
14. MEDscience@HMS
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,800. Scholarships available for Greater Boston Area residents
Application Deadline: January 1 – March 25
Program Dates: You can choose from nine available sessions between mid-June and mid-August
Eligibility: High school students
HMS MEDscience is a hands-on biology program where you take on the role of a healthcare professional in Harvard Medical School’s simulation labs. Through life-like medical emergencies, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills while diagnosing and treating patients.
You’ll also practice clinical techniques like suturing, intubation, and IV insertion and explore healthcare careers through MEDchats with Harvard-affiliated professionals. Harvard Medical School also offers MEDscienceLAB for lab research, the Moonshot Program for AI surgical robotics, and MEDscienceLAB Forensics for crime scene investigation.
15. Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (BAIR) High School Summer Program, University of California, Berkeley
Location: UC Berkeley Campus
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates: July 8 – 12
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 to 12
The BAIR High School Summer Program gives you a hands-on introduction to AI and machine learning through lectures, coding projects, and research with BAIR researchers and UC Berkeley graduate students. You’ll apply AI techniques to real-world problems while working with neural networks, data analysis, and model development.
The program also explores the ethical side of AI, tackling issues like algorithmic bias, societal impact, and responsible development. Through coding, research, and discussions, you’ll build a solid foundation in AI and its real-world applications.
Image source: University of California, Berkeley
