15 Mentorship Programs for Middle School Students
Middle school throws a lot at you all at once: new pressures, new social dynamics, and decisions that suddenly feel bigger than they used to. Having someone experienced to actually talk to about it makes a real difference, which is exactly what a mentorship program offers.
A mentorship program connects you with someone who can guide you through school, help you figure out what you're actually interested in, and talk through problems you're not sure how to solve on your own. They can help you tackle a research question, improve a project, recommend books and resources, or introduce ideas that don't usually appear in middle school classrooms.
Why should a middle schooler join a mentorship program?
A classroom teacher has many to manage, while a mentor has just you, which means they actually notice the small stuff and have the time to help you work through it. That kind of individual attention is rare at this age, and it matters more than people give it credit for.
It also prepares you well for high school. You build real confidence, get comfortable asking for help, and start picking up habits like setting goals that stick with you a lot longer than anything from a regular class.
To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 15 mentorship programs for middle school students!
15 Mentorship Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year; you can apply using this application link
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is built around one-on-one mentorship, giving you the chance to work closely with a PhD-level mentor as you explore a topic that genuinely interests you. You begin by choosing a subject area, such as computer science, psychology, engineering, economics, mathematics, or the humanities, before narrowing your focus into a research question. Your mentor helps you understand the basics of academic research, identify useful sources, and turn your early ideas into a structured project. As this mentorship program for middle school students progresses, you learn how to think more critically, organize evidence, and communicate your findings clearly. By the end, you will complete an independent project or paper.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence through a mix of live instruction, small-group mentoring, and project-based learning. You start with beginner-friendly foundations in Python, data analysis, machine learning, and core AI concepts before moving into more applied topics like regression, classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The mentorship structure helps make technical ideas more approachable, since you can ask questions, troubleshoot your work, and receive guidance as you build confidence. You get to apply concepts through coding exercises and collaborative challenges. The capstone project gives you a chance to work with peers on a real-world problem and present your results.
Location: Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens, New York City, NY
Cost: None
Dates: Two-year program
Application Deadline: Late January (Round 1)
Eligibility: Current 6th graders residing in NYC; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; 90% or above in core academic classes
This mentorship program for middle school students supports academically motivated youth through long-term mentorship, academic enrichment, and high school preparation. As a Fellow, you build skills in writing, research, math, science, history, and other core subjects while learning how to navigate selective academic environments. A major part of the experience is the mentor relationship, where you are paired with an adult professional who can offer guidance, encouragement, and exposure to different educational and career pathways. These mentors serve as additional advocates in your support system, helping you think more broadly about high school, college, and future goals. The program also includes projects, field trips, guest lectures, and cultural activities that expand learning beyond the classroom.
4. MIT DynaMIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Dates: August 17–21 (rising 6th–7th graders); August 24–28 (rising 8th–9th graders)
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Eligibility: Rising 6th–9th grade students residing in Massachusetts; priority given to low-income and economically disadvantaged students
MIT DynaMIT gives middle school students hands-on exposure to science and engineering through guided experiments, design challenges, and mentorship from MIT students. Each day combines short lessons with interactive activities, allowing you to explore topics such as electricity, materials science, forensics, polymers, or introductory programming. The mentorship element is central, since undergraduate and graduate mentors help explain concepts, guide group work, and support you as you test ideas. You work with peers on projects that require observation, problem-solving, and iteration, which helps you understand how engineers and scientists approach challenges.
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University Vester Field Station, Bonita Springs, Florida
Cost: None
Dates: July 6–10 and July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students
The FGCU Summer Research Opportunity introduces middle school students to the full research process through hands-on fieldwork, lab activities, and faculty-guided investigation. You work in small groups to explore a real scientific question, beginning with hypothesis development and moving through experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Faculty mentors and student assistants help you understand how researchers make decisions, adjust methods, and interpret results. As you gather observations and discuss findings with peers, you strengthen your ability to think critically and communicate evidence. The program concludes with a presentation where you explain your project and share what your research revealed.
Location: Schools or other sites in Seattle, WA
Cost: None
Dates: Monthly sessions from November to April
Application Deadline: October 22
Eligibility: 7th and 8th-grade students who identify as girls and attend a Seattle public school
GEMS gives middle school students a supportive environment to explore STEM through hands-on activities, mentoring, and exposure to real STEM workplaces. You participate in guided sessions that may include experiments, engineering challenges, coding activities, demonstrations, and scientific problem-solving. Volunteer mentors play an important role by helping you work through challenges, answer questions, and understand how STEM skills are used in different careers. Optional field trips can give you a closer look at labs, offices, and professional STEM settings. Through consistent mentoring and practical activities, GEMS helps make STEM feel more accessible and connected to real opportunities.
Location: Boston University campus, Boston, MA
Cost: Overnight: $2,974 | Day: $1,624 (discounts available)
Dates: Overnight: August 2–8 | Day: August 3–7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 11–13
The Model United Nations Institute helps middle school students build public speaking, debate, diplomacy, and leadership skills through mentor-led simulations. You take on the role of a country delegate and learn how to represent a position, negotiate with peers, and work toward solutions on global issues. Expert MUN mentors guide you through speech structure, resolution writing, alliance-building, and diplomatic communication. Interactive activities, policy challenges, and simulations give you repeated opportunities to practice your skills in a structured setting. By the final simulation, you apply what you have learned by debating, collaborating, and presenting ideas in a formal MUN format.
Location: Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: None
Dates: Multiple sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Middle school students from targeted groups, including first-generation, underrepresented, rural, Native American, Latinx, and underserved students, plus allies
Creighton University’s short-term mentorship program for middle school students introduces you to healthcare careers through hands-on activities, medical education exposure, and direct mentorship from health sciences students. You explore topics such as anatomy, vital signs, basic medical skills, and the path toward healthcare professions in an age-appropriate way. Current Creighton students act as mentors, helping you understand what medical training involves and what different healthcare pathways can look like. The program also includes faculty-supported sessions that connect scientific concepts to patient care and community health. Families are included through parallel programming on education pathways, admissions, and long-term planning, making the experience useful beyond the student sessions alone.
Location: Multiple locations across Oregon (Corvallis, Grants Pass, Independence, St. Helens, Woodburn, Klamath Falls, Lebanon)
Cost: None
Dates: July/August; varies by camp location
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders
Oregon State University’s iINVENT Summer Camp centers on invention-based learning, with college student mentors guiding you from an initial idea to a working prototype. You begin by identifying a real-world problem and thinking carefully about the person or community your invention is meant to help. With mentor support, you brainstorm possible solutions, test designs, and revise your project based on what works and what does not. The program also introduces the invention and patent process, helping you see how creative ideas can be developed more formally. Working alongside mentors and peers gives you practice in engineering design, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. By the end, you present your invention and explain how your design responds to a specific need.
10. On Track OHSU!
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR (with partner middle schools across Oregon)
Cost: None
Dates: Ongoing during the school year, with activities, mentoring, and events scheduled across fall–spring (timeline varies by school site)
Application Deadline: Varies by partner school; typically aligned with school enrollment and program outreach cycles
Eligibility: Middle school students at Harriet Tubman, Ockley Green, Faubion K-8, Vernon K-8, Parkrose, French Prairie, Valor, Warm Springs K-8, Brixner Jr. High, Chiloquin Jr. High, and Chiloquin Elementary
On Track OHSU! supports middle school students through long-term mentoring, science and healthcare exposure, and community-based academic guidance. This free mentorship program for middle school students introduces you to topics in biology, health, medicine, and biomedical research through workshops, events, and school-based programming. A key strength is its sustained support model, with staff members and mentors working closely with students and families over time. The program helps you build confidence and belonging in science and healthcare spaces gradually. You may engage with hands-on activities, career exploration, academic planning, and conversations about future education pathways.
Location: Various program centers in Washington, including Seattle
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round program
Application Deadline: Varies by district/MESA center
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12 enrolled in Washington State partner schools
Washington MESA College Prep Program combines STEM enrichment, academic support, mentoring, and college-readiness guidance for students who want stronger preparation in math, science, and technical fields. Through MESA advisors and mentors, you receive help with academic planning, study skills, and long-term goal setting. The program also connects students to competitions, guest speakers, field trips, and hands-on STEM activities that show how classroom learning applies to real careers. In some schools, dedicated MESA periods give you time to work on projects, build skills, and receive guidance from trained educators. MESA Day challenges allow students to apply engineering, math, and science concepts in competitive team settings.
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $65 (lunch included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8–10
Application Deadline: Direct registration required
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 - 8
Anatomy Academy Summer Camp introduces middle school students to the human body through hands-on anatomy, physiology, and introductory clinical activities. You explore body systems using tools such as digital anatomy platforms, dissections, microscopy, and guided experiments. Undergraduate pre-med mentors help lead small-group activities, making complex topics easier to understand and giving you a closer look at possible pathways in medicine, research, and allied health. The camp also introduces beginner clinical skills, allowing you to see how scientific knowledge connects to healthcare practice. Faculty involvement helps place each activity within a broader biomedical context, so the experience feels structured rather than just activity-based.
13. 4-H Programs
Location: Various locations nationwide
Cost: Typically low or no cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; club sizes vary by county
Dates: Available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling (sign up at your local 4-H office)
Eligibility: Students ages 8–18
This mentorship program for middle school students gives you the chance to explore STEM, agriculture, leadership, and community-based projects with support from adult mentors and local volunteers. You choose project areas based on your interests, which may include robotics, environmental science, engineering, animal science, public speaking, or design. Mentors help you plan, build, test, and improve your work over time, making the experience fairly sustained. The program emphasizes learning by doing, so you develop practical skills through experiments, demonstrations, service projects, and presentations. Many students also gain communication and leadership experience by sharing their work at fairs, community events, or local showcases.
Location: University of Alabama, Huntsville
Cost: Varies by camp; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple programs throughout June and July
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: Students in grades 5 through 10
The Engineering Summer Camps at UAH introduce middle school students to engineering through hands-on projects, classroom learning, lab tours, and mentor-supported design work. You explore how engineers use science, technology, creativity, and problem-solving to build solutions in different fields. UAH faculty, staff, and current engineering students help guide activities, giving you access to mentors who can explain both the technical work and the college pathways behind it. Depending on the camp level, you may work on structural design, electronics, energy systems, or other engineering challenges. The project-based format encourages teamwork, experimentation, and revision as you move from an idea to a completed build.
Location: Remote and in-person options available across the U.S. and internationally
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all; no selection process
Dates: Ongoing during the school year; clubs typically meet 1–2 hours per week after school or on weekends
Application Deadline: Rolling; students join through their local school or community club
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 3–12; no prior coding experience required
Girls Who Code Clubs provide free, mentor-supported spaces where middle school students can explore computer science through coding projects and a supportive community. You can begin with beginner-friendly activities and gradually move into topics such as web development, game design, Python, JavaScript, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence. Club facilitators and mentors help you troubleshoot code, understand new concepts, and stay motivated when projects become challenging. The curriculum is project-based, so you use coding to build something connected to your interests or a real-world problem. Along the way, you strengthen problem-solving, debugging, collaboration, and creative thinking skills.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.