Exploring medicine during high school doesn’t have to wait until summer. While most hospital internships and research opportunities are only available in June and July, several programs offer fall cohorts or accept students year-round. These options allow you to delve into healthcare and biomedical research during the academic year, balancing academics with structured learning and mentorship.
Why should you consider a fall medical program in high school?
Fall programs are especially valuable because they let you build long-term skills while staying engaged in science throughout the year. Some focus on one-on-one research with PhD mentors, others provide virtual clinical shadowing, and a few connect you with pipeline opportunities at hospitals and universities that run every semester. Together, they give you flexibility and variety depending on your goals – whether you want to publish a research paper, shadow doctors virtually, or gain hands-on exposure in a medical lab.
In this list, we’ve compiled 9 of the best fall medical programs for high school students. You may also visit Horizon’s blog for more information on fall medical programs for high school students.
9 Fall Medical Programs for High School Students
1. Parkview Health – FutureREADY Internship
Location: Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN; some virtual options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Dates: Year-round (Fall participation available)
Application Deadline: Applications accepted October – March
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Acceptance Rate: Selective, varies by track
The FutureREADY internship at Parkview Health helps high school students explore careers across clinical and non-clinical hospital departments. You may rotate through areas, such as nursing, laboratory sciences, therapy, or administration. The program includes job shadowing, clinical rotations, and journaling or debrief discussions to reflect on your learning. Because the internships run year-round, you can join in the fall as well as the summer. It’s a strong option if you want early exposure to healthcare while developing professional skills.
2. Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) Year-Round Biomedical Research Internship
Location: HMRI, Pasadena, CA (on-site)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Rolling, year-round (Fall participation available)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (age requirements may apply)
Acceptance Rate: Selective, limited spots
HMRI offers a rare year-round biomedical research internship for high school students. Based in Pasadena, it allows you to join labs studying heart disease, brain health, and other medical challenges under the supervision of professional researchers. Interns may commit to long-term projects, making the experience deeper than a typical summer program. Since applications are rolling, you can apply to begin in the fall rather than waiting for summer. This makes it one of the few true lab-based biomedical internships available during the school year.
3. UT Health San Antonio – High School Programs
Location: UT Health, San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Year-round (Fall participation available)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and above
Acceptance Rate: Selective
UT Health San Antonio offers multiple programs for high school students to gain early exposure to the field of medicine and research. These opportunities include lab-based biomedical projects, clinical shadowing, and mentorship from faculty and graduate students. The programs are designed to introduce students to the basics of healthcare careers and scientific inquiry. Because placements are year-round, you can participate in the fall, making this program more flexible than summer-only internships. It’s especially valuable for Texas students considering pre-med or health sciences pathways.
4. Impact Internships – Health Science Immersion Program (HSIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not specified
Dates: October 4 – November 29
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in health sciences
Acceptance Rate: Selective
HSIP is a fall-specific program designed to help high school students explore careers in health sciences. It provides a structured mix of project-based work, exposure to healthcare professionals, and mentorship. You can expect to learn about different career tracks in medicine, public health, and allied health fields. What makes this program unique is that it specifically runs in the fall, giving you a rare chance to explore healthcare careers during the school year. It’s a relatively new program but tailored for motivated students looking to immerse themselves in health science.
5. Pre-Health Shadowing
Location: Remote (online)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Year-round (Fall participation available)
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and pre-med students
Acceptance Rate: Open-access
Pre-Health Shadowing is a free online program that allows students to shadow doctors and healthcare professionals virtually. Each week, professionals from various medical specialties host sessions, share case studies, and answer student questions. This format makes it accessible regardless of your location. Since sessions run year-round, you can join during the fall and continue through the academic year. It’s beneficial if you want consistent exposure to different medical careers without committing to a full internship.
6. Mayo Clinic High School Volunteers Program
Location: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free (volunteer program; no stipend)
Dates: Three sessions annually — February – May for Session 1, June – August for Session 2, September – January for Session 3 (Fall session available)
Application Deadline: November 25 – December 2 for Session 1; April 28 – May 5 for Session 2; July 28 – August 4 for Session 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and above; must commit to at least one session per year
Acceptance Rate: Selective; space is limited and requires orientation and background checks
The Mayo Clinic High School Volunteers Program is a year-round opportunity that introduces students to the healthcare environment through service in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Volunteers commit to regular weekly shifts (minimum two hours) and rotate through patient care and support areas depending on availability. The program requires onboarding steps, including orientation, training, and background checks, to ensure readiness for clinical exposure. With three sessions each year, it offers one of the few structured hospital-based experiences available during the fall.
7. Wake Forest University – Online Medical Immersion Courses
Location: Remote (online)
Cost/Stipend: $1,595 per course; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions offered year-round (including Fall)
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+ (grades 9–12)
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment, selective for scholarships
Wake Forest University offers online medicine courses designed for high school students who want to explore healthcare before college. Current options include topics such as general medicine, sports medicine, women’s medicine, cancer medicine, bioscience, and psychology. Each course includes 20–30 hours of interactive content, simulations, and assignments, culminating in a final capstone project where you present your work. You’ll also learn from Wake Forest medical faculty with the support of program mentors who guide you through projects and discussions. You’ll finish with a Certificate of Completion and a portfolio-ready capstone project—both of which can strengthen your college applications and demonstrate your commitment to medicine.
8. Georgetown University – Online Medical Programs for High School Students
Location: Remote (online)
Cost/Stipend: $1,895 for enrichment courses; $3,995 for college credit courses; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multiple sessions year-round (1-, 2-, or 4-week enrichment courses; multi-length credit courses)
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment; selective for scholarships
Georgetown University offers flexible online courses that allow high school students to explore medicine, nursing, surgery, and medical research before college. You can choose between enrichment courses—shorter, 20–30 hour experiences that introduce you to medical concepts—or college credit courses, which run longer and allow you to earn an official Georgetown transcript. Course options range from clinical trials and patient care to anatomy, nursing, and surgical techniques. Every course ends with a capstone project, where you demonstrate your learning through a presentation or creative medium, supported by mentors. With year-round scheduling and the option to earn college credit, these programs give you both academic exposure and credentials you can use for college admissions.
9. University of Notre Dame – Pre-College Online Program
Location: Remote (online)
Cost/Stipend: $1,795 per course; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions year-round (including Fall)
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications accepted throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students ages 13+
Acceptance Rate: Open enrollment; selective for scholarships
Notre Dame’s Pre-College Online Program lets high school students explore fields like medical research, biology, and psychology under the guidance of university faculty. The courses are delivered fully online, with flexible 2- or 4-week formats available year-round. You’ll complete assignments, simulations, and structured lessons supported by mentors. Each course concludes with a Capstone Project, where you apply your learning in a presentation or creative format. Students earn a Certificate of Completion and a project they can showcase on college applications.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – University of Notre Dame