8 Best Medical Programs for High School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 23, 2024
- 8 min read
New York City is one of the best places in the country for high school students to explore medicine, with programs attached to some of the world's leading hospitals and research institutions. Getting involved early gives you hands-on exposure to clinical and research settings, helps you decide whether medicine is the right path, and builds the kind of experience that stands out in competitive college applications.
Here are 8 of the best medical programs for high school students in NYC! We've included a wide range, from free stipended research internships to paid pre-college programs and virtual AI and medicine courses.
Quick Look
5 free or stipended programs: MSK HOPP ($1,200 stipend), Rockefeller SSRP (need-based stipend), Columbia BRAINYAC (stipend provided), Mount Sinai Medical Exploration (free, NYC public/charter school students), Lumiere (full financial aid, remote)
3 paid programs: NYU GSTEM ($5,300 tuition, financial aid available), RIT Health Care Careers ($700, deaf/hard-of-hearing students only), Veritas AI + Medicine ($1,790, financial aid available)
2 fully virtual options: Veritas AI + Medicine (open globally), Lumiere (open globally, rolling deadlines)
Most selective: MSK HOPP (3.5 GPA in science required), Rockefeller SSRP (juniors/seniors only, 16+), Columbia BRAINYAC (Upper Manhattan and South Bronx preference)
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Medicine track
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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 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.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — You can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers an 8-week introduction to biomedical and computational cancer research. As a participant, you will be paired with a mentor (postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, or research technicians) who will guide you through an independent research project based on your topic of choice. The program includes journal clubs to foster critical thinking and discussion of current research. You’ll also participate in laboratory tours, luncheons with principal investigators, and team-building and networking sessions. The program culminates with a poster session where you will present your research findings. For a deep dive into this program, click here.
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York.
Cost: Free for all accepted participants; a stipend of $1,200 is provided.
Application deadline: Applications are typically open in the months of December and January.
Program dates: Typically, eight weeks in the summer, June 27 to August 22.
Eligibility: Students must have completed at least the 9th grade by June and must be 14 or older by the date of application. Applicants must have demonstrated a genuine interest in science and laboratory research and have a 3.5 GPA in science-related subjects.
The SSRP is a rigorous, seven-week summer program for high school students interested in biomedical research. The program offers a unique opportunity to work alongside Rockefeller trainees who function as lab leaders, each guiding a group of 8 students. SSRP provides exposure to areas such as genetics, immunology, neuroscience, and stem cell biology. The program starts with an introduction to the team's research area and familiarization with laboratory techniques and equipment. You will select a research question, analyze data, and present your findings at the end-of-program symposium through a poster presentation.
Location: Rockefeller University, New York
Cost: Free for all accepted participants; need-based stipends are provided.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Program dates: Seven weeks in the summer, June 24 to August 8.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at the time of application.
4. GSTEM at NYU
The GSTEM program at NYU is a six-week experience for high school students interested in STEM. 40 students will participate in research projects under the guidance of STEM professionals. As a participant, you’ll select a research topic and work alongside a professor or researcher to gain laboratory experience in subjects including mathematics, engineering, biology, and computer science. The program offers workshops focused on honing scientific writing, programming abilities, laboratory techniques, and other soft skills. The program culminates in a symposium where you will present your research findings to the community. For more information on GSTEM, click here.
Location: New York University, New York.
Cost: $5300 tuition fee; $3,702 fee for meals and housing if needed; need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Six weeks in the summer, July 1 to August 9.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March or April.
Eligibility: Open to high school students enrolled in the 11th grade at the time of application with a strong academic record and demonstrated interest and ability in STEM. Students belonging to communities historically underrepresented in STEM are given preference.
This week-long summer program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 10 to 12 interested in exploring healthcare careers. It offers an introduction to the various fields in healthcare. 24 participants engage in interactive sessions, including medical demonstrations and activities in disciplines like biology, exercise science, medical laboratory science, microbiology, nursing, and nutrition. The program aims to help you understand the technical, professional, and academic skills required for success in healthcare careers.
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Cost: $700 program fee; covering meals, accommodation, and all activities.
Program dates: July 20 – 25.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in November and close in May.
Eligibility: Deaf or hard-of-hearing students who are entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall and are in excellent academic standing.
The Veritas AI Deep Dive is a ten-week intensive program designed for motivated students seeking to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine. This program offers a comprehensive exploration of AI applications within the healthcare landscape. In this program, students get the chance to participate in real-world, impactful group projects in the field of AI and medicine.
This program immerses you through interactive lectures, discussions, and workshops with leading AI researchers in the field. Students gain practical skills by working on a project that utilizes AI and machine learning models for tasks relevant to healthcare, such as genomics, hospital admissions, drug discovery, neuroscience, and more.
A few topics explored in this program are -
Image Segmentation Techniques for Medical Applications
Regularization and Transfer Learning Methods in AI
Foundations of Clinical Evaluation for Machine Learning Models
While this program is open to students across the globe, it does require applicants to have sufficient background in coding. Alternatively, interested students may complete the AI Scholars program by Veritas to be eligible for the Deep Dive AI program.
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $1790. Need-based financial aid is available.
Program dates: Vary according to cohort.
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort. Apply here.
Eligibility: Students studying in grades 8-12 from across the globe are eligible.
BRAINYAC offers a unique opportunity for high school students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or neuroscience. This program provides research experience in a Columbia University laboratory. As a participant, you’ll be paired with experienced Columbia neuroscientists who will guide you through a personalized research project. The program also offers training sessions focused on essential laboratory techniques and research methodologies. BRAINYAC alumni are eligible to apply for a Merit Fellowship program for continued research in their mentor's lab. Additionally, previous interns may be considered for paid internship positions in future BRAINYAC cohorts.
Location: Columbia University Labs, New York
Cost: Free for all accepted participants; a stipend is provided.
Program dates: Eight weeks in the summer; July 1 - August 16.
Application deadline: Applications open in October.
Eligibility: Sophomores or juniors in high school | Applicants must reside in New York City, but preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.
As a high school student considering a pre-med track in college, this program should be on your radar. It introduces you to diverse healthcare careers and strengthens your foundation in cellular and molecular biology. You will participate in weekly virtual rotations, exploring various laboratories and clinical departments within the Mount Sinai Health System. Each department will showcase how scientific concepts translate to practical applications in healthcare through virtual lab tours, case studies, and interactive discussions. You will also gain access to the vast resources available through the Levy Library network.
Location: Virtual, with 3 mandatory in-person events (Orientation, ODI Fun Day, and Closing Ceremony).
Cost: Free for all accepted participants.
Program dates: July 1- August 9.
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in an NYC public school or charter school with a demonstrated interest in biomedical sciences who belong to an underrepresented minority group and/or are economically disadvantaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there free medical programs for high school students in NYC? Yes, 4 programs on this list are free or stipended. MSK HOPP provides a $1,200 stipend, Rockefeller SSRP provides need-based stipends, Columbia BRAINYAC provides a stipend, and Mount Sinai Medical Exploration is free for eligible NYC public and charter school students. NYU GSTEM is paid but offers need-based financial aid. Lumiere offers full financial aid for qualifying students and is fully remote.
Which NYC medical programs are open to freshmen or sophomores? MSK HOPP accepts students who have completed at least 9th grade and are 14 or older, making it accessible to rising sophomores. Columbia BRAINYAC accepts current sophomores and juniors. Veritas AI Deep Dive accepts students in grades 8-12. Lumiere accepts all high school students regardless of grade with rolling deadlines throughout the year. Rockefeller SSRP and NYU GSTEM are restricted to juniors and seniors.
Are there NYC medical programs open to students outside New York City? Most programs on this list are restricted to NYC residents or students at specific schools. The 2 fully remote options with no location requirement are Veritas AI Deep Dive (open to students globally, grades 8-12, coding background required) and Lumiere Research Scholar Program (open to students worldwide, all high school grades, full financial aid available, rolling deadlines year-round).
Next Steps
Students looking for a free or stipended NYC medical program should prioritise MSK HOPP, Rockefeller SSRP, or Columbia BRAINYAC, but note that BRAINYAC gives strong preference to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx, and Mount Sinai is restricted to underrepresented minority students in NYC public schools, so check eligibility carefully before applying.
If you want hands-on lab research, MSK HOPP, Rockefeller SSRP, and BRAINYAC are the strongest options; if you prefer clinical or career exploration, RIT Health Care Careers and the Mount Sinai program are better fits. Sophomores have the most options at MSK HOPP, BRAINYAC, Veritas AI, and Lumiere, while NYU GSTEM and Rockefeller SSRP are restricted to juniors and seniors.
The most competitive deadlines fall in October (BRAINYAC) and December to January (MSK HOPP, Rockefeller SSRP), so students should begin preparing applications in the fall. As a next step, shortlist 2-3 programs that match your grade, background, and interests, and confirm current eligibility on each program's website.
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.