Best Medical Programs for High School Students in NYC
Updated: Oct 14
Updated October 2026
TL;DR
New York City has medical and biomedical programs for high school students, including free and paid options. Of the eight programs in this guide, four are free or offer a stipend. BRAINYAC applications are expected to open in October, MSK HOPP opens on December 1, and the Rockefeller SSRP deadline falls in early January. Each program has its own eligibility requirements, deadlines, and costs, so check which options fit your grade and interests. You can also explore our guide to paid medical internships for high school students in NYC. If you want to conduct your own research project remotely, consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program.
If you’re interested in medicine and want to see what studying or working in the field might involve, a high school program can be a good place to start. In New York City, you can explore biomedical research, learn about healthcare careers, and see how fields such as cancer research and medical technology work on the ground. Some programs focus on lab experience, while others introduce you to different healthcare roles or offer online research opportunities. This guide covers eight medical programs in NYC, including their costs, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and the grades they accept. If you want to look beyond medicine, our list of paid internships for high school students in NYC covers other fields.
Which NYC medical program fits what you want?
All eight programs are in New York or can be done from New York, but they work in different ways. Some are free, and others charge tuition. Some put you in a lab for the whole summer, while others are a week of career exploration or a few hours of online sessions.
The table below sorts them by what you're looking for.
If you want... | Programs to look at |
A free or paid program | MSK HOPP Summer Student Program ($1,200 stipend), Rockefeller Summer Science Research Program (free, need-based stipends available), BRAINYAC at Columbia (free, stipend), Mount Sinai Medical and Scientific Exploration Program (free) |
Hands-on lab research | |
An online or hybrid program | Lumiere Research Scholar Program (fully remote), Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine (online), Mount Sinai Medical and Scientific Exploration Program (mostly virtual) |
Career exploration across health fields | |
A program with financial aid | Lumiere Research Scholar Program (full aid available), Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine (up to 100% aid), NYU GSTEM, RIT Health Care Careers Exploration Program (limited scholarships) |
Best Medical Programs for High School Students in NYC
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Vary by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Why it stands out: You can explore a specialized research question with individual mentorship and develop an independent paper, even if you have no previous research experience.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, New York
Cost: No program fee is listed. Participants receive a $1,200 stipend upon completing the program.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 2% acceptance rate; approximately 20 interns per summer
Program Dates: June 29 to August 20, 2027
Application Deadline: February 5, 2027
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut within 25 miles of MSK’s Manhattan campus. Applicants must be at least 16 by June, have a 3.5 GPA in science subjects, be legally authorized to work in the United States, and commit to all eight weeks.
The Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers an 8-week introduction to biomedical and computational cancer research. You’ll work on an independent research project in an MSK research lab, with a mentor such as a postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, or research technician guiding you. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings at a poster session. For a deep dive into this program, click here.
Why it stands out: You can gain hands-on experience in cancer research, work with a research mentor, and present your findings at a scientific poster session.
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York City, New York
Cost: Free. Need-based stipends may be available to students experiencing financial hardship. Students receive a public transit card for travel to and from campus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 32–40 students are accepted each summer
Program Dates: June 21 to August 5, 2027
Application Deadline: January 4, 2027
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years old when the program begins. Students must commit to the full seven-week program.
The Rockefeller University’s Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) is a seven-week summer program for high school students interested in biomedical research. You’ll work in a research team guided by scientists from Rockefeller University and its partner institutions, exploring questions in areas such as genetics, immunology, neuroscience, and stem cell biology. You’ll learn laboratory techniques, investigate a research question, and analyze data with guidance from your mentors. You’ll present your findings at the end-of-program symposium through a poster presentation.
Why it stands out: You get to experience how a research lab works, collaborate with other high school researchers, and present your findings at a university research symposium.
4. GSTEM at NYU
Location: New York University, New York City, New York
Cost: $5,750 for the summer program. On-campus housing with a meal plan costs extra. Financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 40 students are admitted each summer
Program Dates: TBA; the previous session ran from June 29 to August 7
Application Deadline: TBA; the previous application deadline was March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors with strong STEM ability and a research interest. U.S. citizens may apply regardless of where they live. Non-U.S. citizens must already be in the United States on an F-1 student visa. International students living outside the United States are not eligible.
The GSTEM program at NYU is a six-week summer research experience for high school students interested in STEM. You’ll work on a research project with guidance from a professor or researcher and explore topics across science, mathematics, engineering, and computer science. You’ll present your research findings at a symposium at the end of the program. For more information on GSTEM, click here.
Why it stands out: You can work closely with a STEM researcher, develop practical research skills, and present your findings in a university research setting.
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York
Cost: $900, including housing, meals, activities, and supplies. Limited need-based scholarships may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 17–21, 2027
Application Deadline: May 30, 2027
Eligibility: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 in the fall who are in good academic standing
The Health Care Careers Exploration Program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a week-long summer program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students interested in healthcare careers. You’ll explore fields such as nursing, medical imaging, exercise science, medical laboratory science, and biomedical research through hands-on activities and workshops. You’ll stay in campus housing, take part in social activities, and earn CPR and First Aid certification.
Why it stands out: You can explore several healthcare careers through practical activities, meet professionals in the field, and experience college life in an accessible environment.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; group sessions have a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. The overall acceptance rate and cohort size are not specified.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer. Each program runs for 10 sessions over 10 weeks.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who have completed Veritas AI’s AI Scholars program or have prior experience with Python or AI concepts.
Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Medicine is a 10-week online program for students interested in the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. You’ll learn how AI and machine learning models are used to address medical challenges, including disease diagnosis, medical imaging, genomics, and drug discovery. You’ll explore topics such as image segmentation, transfer learning, and clinical evaluation.
Why it stands out: You can apply AI and machine learning to real-world medical problems while developing your coding skills and working on a collaborative project.
Location: Columbia University laboratories, New York City, New York
Cost: Free for accepted participants. Students are paid for completing the summer internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 20 students in the summer cohort
Program Dates: TBA (June 30 to August 14, for the previously published session)
Application Deadline: October 28
Eligibility: Current 10th- and 11th-grade students who live in New York City and are enrolled in one of BRAINYAC’s partner programs: S-PREP, BioBus, Lang Youth Medical Program, Columbia Secondary School, or Double Discovery Center
The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) program offers high school students hands-on experience in neuroscience research. You’ll be matched with a Columbia neuroscientist who will guide you through a research project in a university laboratory. Before the summer internship, you’ll attend training sessions covering neuroscience, laboratory techniques, introductory Python, and how to read scientific papers.
Why it stands out: You gain hands-on neuroscience research experience at Columbia, with preparatory training and guidance from a working scientist.
Location: Hybrid. Most sessions take place virtually, with mandatory in-person events at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City
Cost: Free for accepted participants
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: TBA (previous session ran during the summer, from July 6 to August 14)
Application Deadline: TBA; application details for the upcoming session are expected in December
Eligibility: High school students attending school in New York City
Mount Sinai’s Medical and Scientific Exploration Program (MSEP) introduces high school students to biomedical science and healthcare careers. You’ll explore different laboratories and clinical departments across the Mount Sinai Health System and learn how scientific concepts are applied in healthcare. The program includes virtual lab tours, case studies, and interactive sessions led by professionals from different departments. You’ll also attend required in-person events and gain exposure to the research and educational resources available through Mount Sinai.
Why it stands out: You can explore several areas of medicine and biomedical science through sessions led by professionals working across a major hospital and medical school.
Which of these programs should you apply to first?
The earliest deadlines fall in the fall and winter, so start with these:
October 28: BRAINYAC applications close.
December 1: MSK HOPP opens, and Mount Sinai MSEP shares next summer's details.
Early January: The Rockefeller SSRP deadline is January 4.
February 5: The MSK HOPP deadline.
TBA: NYU GSTEM (most recent cycle: March 2).
May 30: The RIT Health Care Careers Exploration Program deadline.
Rolling: Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Medicine.
Which program fits your grade and situation?
Eligibility is the fastest way to narrow the list. Some programs only take juniors, and a few depend on where you go to school.
If you are | Programs to look at |
A current sophomore | |
A current junior | MSK HOPP Summer Student Program, Rockefeller Summer Science Research Program, NYU GSTEM, plus every program above |
A current senior | |
An NYC student | Mount Sinai Medical and Scientific Exploration Program (open to all NYC high school students), BRAINYAC at Columbia (partner programs), MSK HOPP Summer Student Program (within 25 miles of NYC) |
Deaf or hard of hearing |
More medical and research guides from Lumiere
If you want to keep exploring, these guides cover more programs:
10 free medical summer programs for high school students: no-cost options across the country.
Summer research programs for high school students in New York: research options across the state.
STEM programs for high school students in NYC: programs beyond medicine.
STEM summer programs for high school students in NYC: summer-specific STEM picks.
15 best high school research opportunities in New York: labs and mentorships to compare.
8 STEM programs for high school students in New York: a shorter list of top picks.
Science research opportunities for high school students: national research options.
What NYC students often ask about these medical programs
1. Will I work with patients, or is it mostly lab research?
Mostly lab research and career exploration. The research programs place you with scientists in a lab, and the career-focused ones use workshops, lab tours, and conversations with health professionals.
2. Do I need coding or lab experience to apply?
Only for the AI program, which asks for Python or prior AI experience. The others don't list lab experience as a requirement, and one neuroscience program trains you in lab techniques and introductory Python before the summer.
3. Do these programs end with a presentation?
Most do. The research programs finish with a poster session or symposium, one adds a written research paper, and the research mentorship option ends with an independent paper.
4. Do these programs pay, or do any charge a fee?
Both. Two research programs pay or offer need-based stipends, a few are free, and others charge from $900 to $5,750, with aid available at several. If cost is a concern, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers full financial aid and runs fully remotely.