If you’re a high school student in Massachusetts looking to develop advanced skills and gain real-world experience in a specific field, summer programs offer a perfect opportunity for you to do so! From hands-on research in STEM to immersive pre-college courses in humanities and business, these programs provide a focused environment to dive deep into academic subjects.
Whether you’re aiming to explore potential college majors or enhance technical expertise, here are 13 top programs in Massachusetts that can help you build a solid skillset in a subject of your choice, and develop a great resume!
1. Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Subject Areas: Data science, biology, chemistry, political theory, psychology
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. 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. Boston College Experience Honors Program
Subject Areas: Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM
Location: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling (early applications encouraged)
Program Dates: June 23 – July 5 | July 7 – July 19 | July 21 – August 2
Cost: $6,150
The Boston College Experience Honors Program is a six-week immersive program that allows motivated high school students to experience college life while earning academic credit. Participants take courses taught by Boston College faculty in subjects like philosophy, economics, and biology, while engaging in cultural and social activities around Boston. The program also offers workshops on college admissions, resume writing, and networking, providing students with practical tools for their academic and career future.
3. Veritas AI
Subject Areas: AI, Coding, Computer Science
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students passionate about AI; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required for the AI Fellowship program
Application Deadline: Upcoming winter cohort deadlines – Oct 20. You can apply here!
Program Dates: Multiple start dates are available throughout the year.
Cost: AI Scholars – $1790 (financial aid is available); AI Fellowship – $4900; Combination (AI Scholars + AI Fellowship) – $5900
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs geared toward high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science. In the program, students learn various concepts in data science and artificial intelligence like neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, coding using Python, and more.
Veritas AI offers up to 100% financial aid for the 10-week AI Scholars program. Through the program, students build real-world projects in groups of 3-5 students to showcase their interests and skills. You can also apply for the AI Fellowship where you work 1-1 with mentors from top universities to build unique machine learning projects over 12-15 weeks. These programs are a great option for you if you like engaging in hands-on learning and are a beginner!
4. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Subject Areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Research
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising seniors
Application Deadline: December 11
Program Dates: June 22 to August 2
Cost: Free
The RSI is a highly selective summer program that allows students to engage in original scientific research alongside MIT researchers. During the program, participants spend the first week in intensive theoretical coursework followed by hands-on research in labs. They work on cutting-edge projects in fields like physics, engineering, and computational biology. RSI students often gain experience using tools such as Python, MATLAB, and advanced lab equipment, making it a rigorous introduction to real-world research.
5. Boston University Summer Challenge
Subject Areas: Humanities, STEM, Arts
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open December 15
Program Dates: June 15 – June 27 | July 6 – July 18 | July 20 – August 1
Cost: $4,150
The Boston University Summer Challenge offers high school students the chance to explore two subject areas of their choice from over 20 different options. Seminars such as Abnormal Psychology, Business, Computer Science, and Chemistry of Medicine allow students to engage with academic material through lectures, group work, and projects without the pressure of grades. It’s an excellent way to gain hands-on experience and learn new tools, like Java for coding or laboratory techniques for medicinal chemistry. The program also includes social activities and field trips, making it a well-rounded introduction to college life.
6. Babson College Summer Study for High School Students
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation, Business
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: March 15
Program Dates: July 8–29
Cost: $6,295
Babson College’s Summer Study is a 3-week intensive program designed to develop an entrepreneurial mindset by focusing on real-world problem-solving. The program introduces students to entrepreneurial leadership through hands-on projects addressing global challenges framed by the United Nations Global Goals. Participants gain skills in leadership, business communication, marketing, and finance, while also developing venture ideas with a social impact focus. Students earn 4 college credits and interact with entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the globe.
7. Harvard Pre-College Program
Subject Areas: Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling; opens December 2
Program Dates: June 22–July 3 | July 6–18 | July 20–August 1
Cost: $5,550 (includes tuition, room, meals, and activities)
The Harvard Pre-College Program offers an intensive two-week, non-credit experience where students explore a single academic subject in-depth. With class sizes between 12-18 students, participants engage in lively discussions, problem-solving sessions, and research projects led by Harvard instructors. Topics range from philosophy and biology to computer science and creative writing. The program also includes co-curricular activities, providing students a glimpse into Harvard’s campus life while building key academic and social skills essential for college.
8. Boston University RISE
Subject Areas: Astronomy, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Physics, Public Health
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: June 29 – August 8
Cost: $5,600 (residential) | $3,750 (commuter)
The Boston University RISE program offers high school students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on research within a university laboratory. The program is divided into two tracks: Internship and Practicum. The Internship track allows students to work closely with BU faculty, postdocs, and graduate students on a variety of scientific projects, including areas like neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and computer science. The Practicum track focuses on computational neurobiology, combining lectures and group research to help students develop research skills in a more structured environment. Both tracks culminate in a poster symposium where students present their findings.
9. Tufts Summer Research Experience
Subject Areas: Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition, Child Development, Veterinary Medicine
Location: Tufts University, Greater Boston Area, MA
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (ages 16+)
Application Deadline:
- Priority Deadline: February 15
- Final Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: TBA
Cost: $11,250 (residential) | $8,000 (commuter) | $7,500 (virtual)
The Tufts Summer Research Experience offers highly motivated high school students the chance to conduct cutting-edge research alongside distinguished Tufts faculty. Participants choose from various research labs, such as the Food is Medicine Institute (focusing on nutritional interventions in healthcare) or the C3 Lab (exploring the impact of community and housing on child development). Students gain hands-on experience with lab software like STATA and participate in activities like data analysis, literature reviews, and policy research. Whether virtual, residential, or commuter, the program immerses students in real-world research, fostering advanced academic and technical skills.
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Frontiers Program
Subject Areas: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Humanities, Business
Location: WPI, Worcester, MA
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders
Application Deadline: April 30
Program Dates: July 6 – 18 | July 20 – August 1
Cost: TBD
The WPI Frontiers Program offers high school students an immersive two-week residential experience that blends STEM majors with humanities, arts, or business minors. Participants work closely with WPI faculty in lab-based environments, tackling advanced topics like robotics, data science, and biomedical engineering. The program also integrates college prep workshops and engaging social activities to give students a glimpse into college life. Students will enhance their technical skills through hands-on projects using software like Tableau, VEX, and Python, depending on their major.
11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Women’s Technology Program
Subject Areas: Mechanical Engineering
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Rising female seniors (11th grade students) with strong math and science backgrounds
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: June 29 – July 26
Cost: Free for students with family income under $120,000; sliding scale fees for others, up to $6,000
The MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP) in Mechanical Engineering is a four-week summer program designed to introduce high school women to the principles of engineering through hands-on classes, labs, and collaborative projects. Students explore topics like fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and engineering design. The program aims to empower young women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, and does not require previous experience in engineering. It offers a rigorous academic environment, but focuses on ungraded learning to encourage exploration and curiosity without the pressure of grades.
12. Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program
Subject Areas: Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Environmental Science
Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade female students
Application Deadline: February 4
Program Dates: July 7–19 | July 21–August 3
Cost: $4,630 per session (2 weeks), $7,885 for both sessions (4 weeks)
Smith’s Summer Science and Engineering Program is designed for young women with strong interests in STEM. Participants engage in hands-on research with Smith faculty in fields such as robotics, molecular biology, and environmental science. The program emphasizes teamwork and inquiry-based learning, where students work in small groups on real-world scientific problems. Courses like “Designing Intelligent Robots” and “Novel Bacteriophage Discovery” give students experience in programming, lab techniques, and critical thinking, while fostering a supportive learning environment.
13. Bentley University Wall Street 101
Subject Areas: Finance, Stock Markets, Economics, Financial Technology
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: Rolling, with priority given to early applications
Program Dates: June – July (multiple week-long sessions)
Cost: $1,490 per session (residential and commuter options available)
Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 program offers high school students a week-long immersive experience in finance, held in Bentley’s state-of-the-art Trading Room. Participants learn about the global financial markets, including stocks, bonds, currencies, and cryptocurrencies. The program covers essential topics such as trading strategies, portfolio management, and macroeconomic analysis. Students gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools like Bloomberg and FactSet, participate in real-time trading simulations, and work in teams to create and present stock pitches.
Image Source – Horizon Logo
