Are you a high school student in Arizona looking to make the most of your summer break? Then this blog is for you—Arizona offers a wide range of summer programs that you can use to build advanced skills in a subject of your choice.
Universities and advanced research programs are constantly on the lookout for students who possess advanced skills in a field and are familiar with a subject outside of the classroom. Summer programs can help you fulfill this criterion!
Whether you’re interested in STEM, the arts, or leadership development, Arizona has a solid set of opportunities for you. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
In this article, we’ll highlight 12 summer programs in Arizona that cater to various interests and fields.
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in fields like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. It stands out as one of the few research programs that allows you to choose between quantitative and qualitative research.
Once you select your research track, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university who will mentor you throughout your journey. The goal is to produce a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can submit to prestigious journals as a high school student.
This program is a great opportunity to dive deep into a specialized field, guided by a leading expert. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation and project feedback, which can enhance your future work and college applications. Apply now to take advantage of this unique experience!
Subject Areas: STEM, Humanities, Data Science
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
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.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
2. Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions (CPCHP)’s Future Health Leaders
The Colorado Plateau Center for Health Professions (CPCHP), in collaboration with Arizona AHECs, offers the Future Health Leaders Camp, a free week-long virtual summer camp for Arizona high schoolers. The camp provides exposure to various health careers through activities like First Aid and CPR training, TGen tours, nurse simulations, and college prep.
You will also engage with healthcare professionals and participate in recreational activities like rock climbing and baseball games. This program is ideal for those interested in medicine, offering early career insights and hands-on training to aid in career decisions and college preparation.
Subject Areas: Medicine
Location: Online
Program Dates: 1 week in June
Cost: Free to attend virtual camp
Eligibility: Open to Arizona high school students
Application Deadline: TBD. Get more information here.
3. Young Founders Lab
The Young Founders Lab, created by Harvard entrepreneurs, is a boot camp where you’ll work solo or in teams to build a revenue-generating start-up. You’ll collaborate with real founders from companies like Fintech Launch and Fair Opportunity Project.
The program covers business basics, ideation, market research, prototyping, growth strategies, marketing, and launching. It wraps up with a Demo Day to showcase your start-up.
Subject Areas: Business and entrepreneurship
Location: Remote
Program Dates: Vary based on cohort
Cost: $2,900 (4 weeks) | $3,500 (12 weeks). Financial aid is available.
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on cohort. Summer deadlines are usually in May/June.
4. Summer Scrubs at College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona
For students exploring healthcare and medicine, this program is essential. It offers a blend of interactive workshops, medical simulations, and clinical rotations, providing unique insights into the field. You’ll gain hands-on experience with suturing, CPR, anatomy labs, and patient simulations, developing practical skills.
The program also features guest lectures from healthcare professionals, college readiness workshops, and guidance on the medical school application process, helping you prepare for a future in medicine.
Subject Areas: Biology, medicine
Location: College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
Program Dates: June 1 to June 7
Cost: $500, which includes meals, as well as room and board.
Eligibility: Different camps are available for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Application Deadline: March
5. KEYS Research Internship at the University of Arizona
The KEYS offers Arizona high school students a seven-week summer internship to develop skills in bioscience, biostatistics, biomedical science, biomedical engineering, data science, and environmental health.
Accepted students, with a 13% acceptance rate, start with a week of training in bioscience and data science techniques. They then work with a University of Arizona researcher on an innovative project, receiving mentorship from faculty and lab staff. The program concludes with a research showcase where interns present their findings to the academic community and their families.
Subject Areas: Biology, Data Science
Location: BIO5 Institute, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Program Dates:June 2 to July 18
Cost: No cost; financial assistance available for costs like meals and transportation
Eligibility:Students must be at least 16 years old by June 2 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a minimum of one-year Arizona residency
Application Deadline: January 10; applications will open in Fall
6. The University of Arizona’s Med-Start Summer Program
This six-week academic enrichment program is designed to enhance both your understanding of and access to healthcare careers. Along with tours of healthcare facilities and labs, you’ll attend lectures on various health-related professions. Additionally, you’ll take introductory college courses in English, Math, and Chemistry, which yield transferable credits.
You will stay in Arizona University’s Residential Hall for the duration of the program, providing an immersive experience that combines academic learning with exposure to real-world healthcare environments.
Subject Areas: Biology
Program Dates: 6 weeks, mid-June to July
Cost: $6000, financial scholarships and tuition waivers are available.
Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizens and one-year Arizona residents who have completed junior year in high school, have a strong interest in healthcare, and have a GPA higher than 3.0. The program encourages students from underrepresented and ethnic minority backgrounds to apply!
Application Deadline: February 1
7. Midwestern University’s Health Careers Institute for High School Students
Midwestern University’s Glendale campus will host a free 8-day Health Careers Institute. Arizona high school students will explore healthcare fields like Osteopathic Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, and more. Participants will engage with faculty and students, gaining practical experience and insights into various healthcare careers.
Subject Areas: Medicine
Program Dates: 8 days, typically at the end of June as per the previous year’s schedule.
Cost: Free. Students must arrange transport to and from the event location at Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus in Arizona.
Eligibility: Open to all Arizona high school students.
Application Deadline: TBD. Typically around the beginning of April. More information here.
8. Mayo Clinic CARES (Career Advancement, Research, and Education Summer) Program
The Mayo Clinic CARES Program aims to expose students to a wide range of healthcare careers and provide long-term mentorship. Over the summer, you’ll gain hands-on hospital experience, explore various healthcare roles, and connect with professionals. The program focuses on helping you discover your strengths, promoting wellness, and inspiring future healthcare leaders. Selected mentors will offer continued guidance beyond the program.
Subject Areas: Medicine
Program Dates:
- In-Person Program, typically four weeks in June
- Virtual Program, typically one week from July 8–12
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Eligibility: Arizona high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply!
Application Deadline: TBD, with the tentative deadline likely in February.
9. Cybersecurity Internship at Arizona State University
In this research internship, you’ll be paired with a PhD student mentor who shares your research interests. Together, you’ll explore various project options, from ongoing research to new ideas, or design and execute your own project.
Past projects include comparing linting tools and ChatGPT for code reviews, creating a finance bot simulation to find vulnerabilities, and analyzing social media ad scams by demographics.
Over the eight weeks, you’ll present your progress at weekly lab meetings, receive feedback, and conclude with a presentation of your findings, providing a chance to discuss your work and explore future research opportunities.
Subject Areas: Computer Science, Cybersecurity
Location: Arizona State University campus
Program Dates: May 27 to July 30
Cost: No cost; $1,800 stipend provided upon successful completion of the internship; interns are responsible for transportation costs
Eligibility:Applicants must be enrolled in a high school in the Phoenix metro area.
Application Deadline: February 26
10. Helios Scholars at TGen
This prestigious research internship, hosted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation, offers hands-on experience in biomedical research. Based in Arizona, TGen provides mentorship from leading scientists as you work on projects in genomics, cancer biology, neurogenomics, and infectious diseases.
Through this immersive program, you’ll develop skills in inquiry, data analysis, and lab techniques, gaining valuable experience in cutting-edge biomedical research.
Subject Areas: Biomedical Research
Location: Most scholars will work in TGen headquarters in Phoenix; some will intern at Translational Drug Development (TD2) on the Mayo Clinic campus in Scottsdale or in the Pathogen Genomics Division in Flagstaff.
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Stipend: High school students will be paid $13.85 per hour.
Eligibility: To apply, students must be at least 16 years of age by June 9; be eligible to work in the United States; be a graduate of an Arizona high school by June 9
Application Deadline: February
11. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) offers internships in Summers allowing students to gain experience in foreign relations and think tank operations. Interns are mentored by FPRI scholars and can attend weekly seminars on foreign policy and career development. They also have the option to work on a research paper for potential publication in FPRI’s Intern Corner.
Internships include roles in research, event planning, communications, and operations. Research interns focus on specific regions like the Middle East or Asia, while event interns assist with planning, communications interns create content for social media, and operations interns support management with various tasks. FPRI often maintains connections with interns beyond their internship.
Subject Areas: Foreign Policy, International Relations, Politics
Location: Virtual or in-person in Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: Summer: June – August
Cost: No cost; a limited number of need-based stipends are offered
Eligibility: Students authorized to work in the U.S., including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students
Application Deadline: November 1 for the upcoming spring cohort; TBA for Summer and Fall
12. National Institute of Health High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
The High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP) at NIH offers students a chance to work on cutting-edge biomedical research under the mentorship of leading scientists. With a 7% acceptance rate, this 8-week program starts with an orientation to prepare you for a research environment.
Interns gain access to state-of-the-art facilities and contribute to projects in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences. The program also includes professional development, educational advising, and well-being support to enhance your overall experience
Subject Areas: Biology and social sciences
Location: NIH campus, as well as labs in Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; and Phoenix, AZ.
Program Dates: 8 weeks between May to September (preferably June and July)
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided.
Eligibility:
- You must be a high school junior or senior and:
- At least 17 years old by June 15
- U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Attend high school in the U.S.
- Live within 40 miles of the NIH campus to which you apply
Application Deadline: February 16
Image Source – KEYS Research Internship at the University of Arizona Logo
