10 Free Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Dec 9, 2023
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 3
A pre-college or summer medical program can help you, as a high school student, navigate your path toward a career in the medical profession. It can give you a head start on your college journey by offering experience and early exposure to your field of interest. It can also enhance your portfolio and college application! Admissions officers value students who put in extra effort to build their knowledge and skills alongside the school curriculum.
With such programs, you will have the opportunity to learn in a variety of spaces, including universities, hospitals and clinics, and research centers, as well as meet with industry professionals. Often, these programs come with a cost. In this article, we’ve listed 10 free summer programs to get high schoolers started in the field of medicine. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Application deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Current juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years of age are eligible.
Program dates: June 10 - August 1
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Stipend: Students earn a stipend of $500 - $2,500. Housing and transportation are not provided. There is a $40 application fee, which can be waived. Stipends of $2500 and above are given on a needs-based system from special grants.
SIMR is an 8-week internship program where you will collaborate one-on-one with a mentor, a Stanford graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow, on research. You will select one of eight study fields: Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics and Genetics, and Genomics. Based on your choice, you will be allocated to the lab. This is a fairly competitive program with a cohort size of about 50 students at an acceptance rate of less than 3% (approximately). During the first couple weeks, you will attend lectures in the morning and spend the rest of the day working in your lab. During the last 2 weeks, you will work on the research poster of your project. Tip: We’ve covered this program in depth here!
Stanford University offers a number of other programs in the fields of medicine and biology for high school students that are worth considering:
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) - A free, 5-week-long, full-time summer program for current juniors from low-income and/or underrepresented backgrounds currently living in Northern California. We have covered this program in detail here.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Eligibility: Those applying must have completed at least 9th grade by June, have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects, be eligible to work in the United States, and be at least 14 years old by June
Program dates: June-end to August-end (tentatively, based on previous years).
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, NY.
Stipend: $1,200
MSKCC is one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment centers. Its Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) Summer Student Program is designed to help students understand laboratory work and what careers in translational cancer research entail. During this 8-week program, you’ll conduct independent research and attend training sessions and tours. This summer program is fairly prestigious, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%. You will be assigned to a biomedical or computational lab at MSKCC. You will also be paired with a HOPP principal investigator (PI), who will match you with a mentor. HOPP’s research spans multiple cancer types, and its scientists employ innovative technologies. Tip: We’ve covered this opportunity in depth here!
Application deadline: March
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors who were born between July 29, 2005, and July 2, 2008. Students from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Program dates: July
Location: Johns Hopkins University, MD
Stipend: $2,400
If you’re keen on a project-based experience and improving your practical skills, Johns Hopkins’ ISPEED program is a great choice. This four-week residential program run by JHU’s School of Medicine is a chance to learn about biology, life sciences, healthcare design, computer programming, and more. You will connect these fields to foundational skills in biomedical engineering. The curriculum includes classes, project-based learning, research talks by students and faculty, field trips, and a final showcase where you will present your project. During the program, you will work at the university’s BME Design Studio and the Cell & Tissue Engineering Lab. As an added benefit, you will gain an introduction to computer programming, machine learning, and scientific computing.
Application deadline: February 1, every year.
Eligibility: Students who are high school juniors or seniors at the time of application (or have recently graduated) and are 17 years or older on June 15 may apply. Do look through all the eligibility requirements before applying. There are some additional requirements for HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
Program dates: Minimum 8 weeks in summer; information on exact dates is not available.
Location: Students can choose from NIH campuses across the country. The NIH main campus is in Bethesda, MD.
Stipend: $2,300-2,530 (for students currently in high school) | $2,570-2,840 (for students who have graduated high school)
NIH offers a suite of summer internship programs for high school students. HS-SIP is a unique opportunity for students to engage in biomedical research alongside scientists and mentors. You will work on ongoing research projects, analyze data, and acquire essential laboratory skills. The program combines an introduction to scientific, professional, and personal skills with leadership training, wellness programming, and an exploration of STEM-M (science, technology, engineering, math, and medically-related) careers. In addition, it will help prepare you for future scholarships and internships. For students who have completed HiSTEP or similar research experiences, HiSTEP 2.0 allows you to design and conduct independent research projects under the guidance of mentor scientists in biomedicine.
Note: Part of the HS-SIP are two programs, High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HiSTEP) and HiSTEP 2.0. We have covered these programs in detail here.
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Currently completing your junior or senior year, at least 16 years of age by the start of the program, have a record of high academic achievement and proven interest in medical research. Foreign nationals can apply if they already hold a legal visa status.
Program dates: May 28 - August 2
Location: Students can choose their research location – local colleges, hospitals, schools, or private research labs. Students work with their coordinating center to identify and secure a research institution and research mentor.
Stipend: $2,500 - $6,000. Housing is not provided, but the center will suggest some options for you to find a place to stay.
The Houston Methodist’s Summer High School Research Internship allows high school students to engage with medical research and healthcare. You will work alongside undergraduate students and learn about translational research as they work on an independent project. Through lab experience and guided mentorship, you will develop your own project within a specific area of research. You will present your findings at a symposium to Houston Methodist's scientists, students, and staff. The program includes a strong career and professional development curriculum, where you’ll learn the skill of scientific writing. Tip: We’ve covered this program in detail here.
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible.
Program dates: The start dates are determined by the student’s coordinating center and research mentor; however, high school students must begin the program no later than the first week of June. All students are expected to have a minimum of eight weeks of research experience and can have a maximum of 10 weeks.
Location: Students can choose their research location – local colleges, hospitals, schools, or private research labs. Students work with their coordinating center to identify and secure a research institution and research mentor.
Stipend: $2,500
If you’re interested in conducting research in biomedicine and related subjects, this program is for you. This federally funded program allows students from diverse backgrounds to engage in research. You will be paired with an experienced mentor and work on a research project at an institution of your choice. You will build laboratory skills and learn about research techniques in fields such as biology, genetics, neuroscience, and more. In addition to research experience, you will receive mentorship, which you can access for up to 9 months after you have completed your research.
Application deadline: February 29
Eligibility: Highly motivated students in high school who will be at least 16 years old before the internship begins can apply.
Program dates: May 20 - July 29. If these dates do not work for you, the institute recommends you note your available dates in your application (You are required to give 8 weeks, with 40 hours per week).
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA. The institute provides a few resources to help students find housing.
Stipend: A stipend will be provided, but there is no information on the exact amount. Travel and housing expenses will be covered.
The competitive 10-week internship brings together 40 talented students (high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional) from across the country for a college-level research experience. You will learn about current topics in translational science and precision medicine, focusing on digital health, clinical genomics, and community engagement. You will also study design and analysis procedures relevant to translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies. You will observe the steps of proposing, designing, undertaking, and analyzing clinical trials. At the end of the program, you will present a scientific concept to your peers and mentors.
Application deadline: Applications typically close at the end of December (tentative, based on previous years).
Eligibility: Students aged 16-19 by June 1 can apply.
Program dates: June 17 - August 2
Location: The internship is conducted at most KP locations across the country. Find the one closest to you.
Stipend: $15.50 - $18 per hour.
For those interested in the healthcare industry, this seven-week paid internship opportunity offers practical insight. Through this program, you will work alongside healthcare professionals and learn about various medical disciplines, such as nursing, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, and more. You will engage in hands-on activities, shadowing experiences, and educational workshops. The program also includes weekly workshops designed to give you valuable personal and professional skills development. You will have the chance to connect with your supervisors and mentors and network with peers and leaders in the field.
Application deadline: Applications typically close by January-end.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the start of the program are eligible.
Program dates: Typically, mid-June to the first week of August.
Location: This is a multi-institutional program and will take place in a number of locations around the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign area.
Stipend: $3,000
ResearcHStart is a multi-institutional program conducted by the University of Chicago in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, and Rush University. You will work in the laboratories of cancer researchers, gaining experience in cancer immunology, bioengineering, experimental cancer therapeutics, cancer disparities, and more. You will receive rigorous training and attend career development and skill-building workshops and a lecture series. The program is a chance to network with faculty and peer mentors. At the end of the program, you will participate in a research symposium. Note that this program is highly competitive, with only 30 students being accepted annually.
Application deadline: Applications are typically due mid-February.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who have at least one completed year in math and biology, will be 16 or older by June 1, and are from backgrounds considered under-represented in the sciences.
Program dates: Typically 9 weeks, from early June to early August.
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Stipend: Summer stipends range from $3000–$4300, varying by student status and granting agency.
Integrated with the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, this summer program offers one-on-one mentorship from health care providers and researchers. You will have access to workshops, seminars, training, simulations, and networking opportunities. The goal of the program is to stimulate an interest in health sciences while helping you build your professional skills for a STEM career. During the program, you will conduct clinical or basic science research under your mentor’s guidance. At the end of the program, you will present your independent research findings to the scientific community.
Here’s a few bonus programs that are free, held in the summer, and are conducted in fields of medicine:
One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are passionate about research in medicine, you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online program for students I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: SIMR logo
