10 Prestigious STEM Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 20
- 6 min read
Middle school students aiming to pursue a career in STEM can get an introduction to the fields by participating in STEM programs. They allow you to engage with high school and college-level academics while in middle school to get a head start. Many programs also include practical components for you to gain hands-on skills.
You can benefit from networking activities where you meet faculty, researchers, and professionals from the industry. We have compiled a list of prestigious STEM programs for middle school students. These programs are organized by well-known institutions, are rigorous in nature, and are available free of cost or offer scholarships.
10 Prestigious STEM Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 8 weeks starting June 2 (Summer Cohort I) or July 14 (Summer Cohort II)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program, an intensive program, may suit the requirements of ambitious students. You will complete an independent and original research project and develop practical research skills. Personalized guidance is provided by PhD mentors from top universities like Harvard, Columbia, and MIT. You can carry out the research in a field you are interested in, including STEM subjects. Thus, over 8 weeks, you will gain specialized knowledge and have a completed project to boost your profile.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $100; waivers available for students who are economically eligible
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Held on Saturdays throughout the semester
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 8–12 (7th graders may apply for the Academic Year cycle); residents of New York with at least a B average in Math, Science, and English, and who meet state-determined income criteria
STEP is a selective program where you will develop your knowledge of math and science. In the program, you will be trained in conducting research, preparing for standardized tests, receiving college counseling, and getting started on a career in the field. The taught classes cover topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC. The English seminar is designed to improve your communication skills, which are crucial to any career. Afternoon elective classes are interdisciplinary and involve hands-on techniques to introduce you to careers in STEM subjects.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort, and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Veritas AI offers a rigorous virtual program for students interested in artificial intelligence. In AI Trailblazers, you will develop a knowledge base of artificial intelligence and machine learning, two up-and-coming fields. The course covers diverse topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. To provide hands-on experience, the course requires you to apply your learnings and complete a project. A machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications are some projects students have created before.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: July (summer session) and October – May (academic year session)
Application Deadline: April 15 (summer) and November 1 (academic year)
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12 with an interest in medicine or related STEM fields and a minimum 80% grade average, particularly in math and science
S-PREP is a free preparatory program for middle and high school students considering a career in medicine or related fields. The program guides students through instruction in math and science subjects, including Anatomy, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Brain & Cognitive Science, Ready for PreMed, Physics, Psychology, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus and Statistics. You will also prepare for standardized tests that will help with college admissions. In addition to the academic component, you will attend college preparation and career development workshops, college & academic counseling services, field trips, and college tours. Participating in S-PREP opens up avenues for applying to other prestigious programs like BRAINYAC and YES in THE HEIGHTS.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: 3 weeks in July and fall semester from mid-August – December
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Low-income U.S. students in grades 6 or 7 with a family income of less than $90,000.
SMSSP is an online and fully funded program by Stanford. You can choose from a range of subjects, each having a rigorous curriculum. The topics available are Democracy & Dissent, History through Graphic Novels, and Real-Life Applications to Mathematics. Beginning in the summer, you will learn from Stanford faculty in live classes. The program continues in the fall with weekly meetings. The course also provides support with high school and college counseling, academic writing, and more. You will discover and apply to other selective programs to continue your STEM journey.
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Full scholarship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising 7th–8th grade students who are residents of New York City
NYU offers several free programs for ambitious middle schoolers, one of which is the Science of Smart Cities program. This is a program that enables you to gain an interdisciplinary understanding of engineering and sustainable urban design. You will learn coding and microcontroller programming and explore electronics and circuitry basics. The brief for group projects asks you to solve a real-world challenge and make cities sustainable and safer. If you are considering a career in engineering, computer science, or technology, this could be a solid starting point.
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited spots
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 7 and 8
This physics program is offered by Purdue University at no cost. You will attend lectures covering physics concepts and complete practical activities to explore the practical application of theory. You will discover a range of careers in the field during talks by Purdue faculty and researchers. Tours of campus facilities and labs give you a taste of college life, and learning about contemporary developments in the field teaches you how the study of physics has evolved over the years. You will also complete question surveys and research activities as part of the program.
8. dynaMIT
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 11–15 (for rising 6th–7th graders) and August 18–22 (for rising 8th–9th graders)
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Rising 6th–9th grade students
Designed and taught by MIT students, dynaMIT is a fully funded STEM program. The program aims to foster inclusivity as well as an interest in STEM subjects among middle schoolers. MIT students act as mentors and guide you through hands-on activities and experiments. This is a week-long program where you will gain an introductory understanding of science and engineering concepts. Students from low-income families who might not otherwise have access to STEM education are especially invited to apply to this program.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: $75 (full scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 7–14 students per class
Dates: June 23 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in public or parochial schools in New Haven, CT
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation invites middle schoolers to partake in a 6-week academic program. Blending STEM and humanities subjects, you will be placed in groups according to your grade. The humanities topics covered by the program are art, writing, poetry, and philosophy, whereas the investigative topics are biology, chemistry, finance, and architecture. These classes are held in the morning. In the afternoons, you will choose an elective from How To Write A Pop Song, Letter Series, and Inventing A Language. The program is an opportunity for you to prepare for and succeed at college.
10. Penn GEMS
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $650 (tentative); need-based financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders with at least a B average
Penn GEMS is an experiential camp in engineering, math, and science. Through hands-on projects, you will learn about bioengineering, robotics, AI, materials science, and more. The workshops are led by Penn students, faculty, and staff who act as mentors throughout the program. You will discover how engineers solve real-world problems by completing challenging projects. These activities help you develop collaboration and critical thinking skills. If you want to know whether a career in STEM is the right choice for you, this program can be a solid option.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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