15 Summer Pre-College Medical Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 7 hours ago
- 11 min read
Pre-college programs are a strong option for high school students looking to experience campus life while exploring advanced academic subjects in a structured, supportive environment. These programs give you a taste of real college coursework, access to faculty, and the chance to live and learn alongside like-minded peers, making higher education feel more accessible and less intimidating. If you are interested in medicine, pre-college programs can be especially valuable, offering early exposure to fields like biology, public health, and clinical research.
Why should I participate in a summer medical pre-college program?
Participating in a summer medical pre-college program can help you dive deeper into healthcare topics, build foundational knowledge, and confirm your interest in a medical career path. Many of these programs also provide mentorship from professionals and opportunities to collaborate with peers who share similar goals. Beyond academics, they help you develop critical thinking, time management, and communication skills, all of which are essential for medical careers.
To help you with your search, we have narrowed down a list of 15 summer pre-college medical programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for free virtual research opportunities, check out our blog here.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee (waivers available) + limited number of need-based stipends
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents; preference given to Bay Area students
SIMR is an eight-week program that engages students in guided biomedical research. During the program, you will join a biomedical lab to learn how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and document and interpret findings. You will work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, gaining insights into how research teams operate in an academic environment. Your research experience depends on the lab you join. Possible areas of focus include stem cell research, cancer biology, immunology, neuroscience, and bioengineering. In addition, you will attend weekly lectures and discussions that introduce different career paths in medicine and research, including both clinical practice and academic work.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, and HMS-affiliated science laboratories in MA
Stipend: Provided
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application deadline: February 4
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, living in Boston or Cambridge who have completed algebra, biology, and chemistry, and hold a GPA of 2.7 or higher
Project Success is a summer internship that places high school students in labs affiliated with Harvard Medical School. You will be matched with a science mentor and contribute to laboratory research while attending structured seminars led by researchers and physicians. The program combines hands-on lab work with instruction focused on scientific writing and public speaking, helping you translate research experiences into formal communication. Throughout the program, you will have access to the guidance of research mentors and program staff, along with opportunities to connect with peers. Visits to hospitals and biotech organizations are also part of the internship experience.
Location: Multiple universities in the Chicago and the Urbana-Champaign area (University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Rush University)
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $3,000 stipend
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline:
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years of age at the start of the program and are residents of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana
ResearchStart places you in a laboratory at a participating university, where you will take part in supervised cancer research. You will assist with ongoing research projects in areas such as cancer immunology, bioengineering, or therapeutics by following established protocols and completing assigned tasks. Alongside your lab work, you will attend workshops and lectures that introduce relevant skills and concepts. You also receive guidance from faculty and peer mentors throughout the program. Additional sessions focus on professional development and provide an overview of different career paths in biomedical science. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a symposium for other participants and mentors.
Location: Carbone Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Stipend: $18/hour
Dates: June 15 – August 7 (check details here)
Application deadline: February 6 (application window opens December 1)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 16 and up
In this eight-week program, you will engage in cancer research within a mentor’s lab at the UW Carbone Cancer Center. You will undergo lab skills training, work one-on-one with a Principal Investigator, and develop your own biomedical research project. In addition to lab work, you will engage in discussions on medical ethics, career exploration sessions with the School of Nursing and the School of Pharmacy, pathology-focused learning experiences, career panels, and a science presentation workshop. At the end of eight weeks, you will deliver a presentation on your research.
Location: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Stipend: $17/hour
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application deadline: April 17
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and currently enrolled in (or recent graduates of) vocational technical high schools, public high schools in Massachusetts Gateway City, or public high schools where at least 25% of students are classified as low income, or those who are students enrolled in the METCO Program; recent graduates within the last two years who are not yet in college can also apply.
TUBERS is a six-week program where you will work in a Biomedical Engineering lab at Tufts University, spending about 35 hours per week on hands-on research. You will work with a lab supervisor to learn how to follow lab protocols and test hypotheses in an area of biomedical science, such as tissues, cells, or organs. Mentorship from undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professional researchers, will offer you exposure to real scientific research. At the end of the program, you will present your findings to other participants, parents, and teachers. You will also be encouraged to submit your project to local and national science competitions, such as the Intel Science Talent Search and the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair.
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: None; transportation support may be available
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: Currently closed
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older by June and live in the U.S. or its associated territories
This Stanford program is a seven-week summer internship for high school students interested in medicine, biotechnology, and surgical research. You will work alongside Stanford surgeons and researchers on projects focused on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical device development. In the lab, you will gain practical experience with techniques such as tissue culture, 3D printing for medical purposes, and prototype development. The program also includes seminars and group projects that explore how engineering approaches can be applied to clinical care. At the end of STaRS, you will present your work to peers and faculty.
Location: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21 – 25
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Minnesota, with a minimum GPA of 2.5
This week-long residential program offers you an in-depth look at a variety of healthcare careers. You will explore around 50 roles, including doctors, nurses, and specialized positions such as radiographers and respiratory therapists. You will also participate in learning activities in college classrooms and labs. The program includes hands-on activities and opportunities to interact with peers, professionals, and students and staff from the Mayo Clinic’s School of Health Sciences . Sessions on professional skills and educational pathways for different careers are also part of the experience.
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $8,264 (residential fee) | $5,874 (commuter fee) + $70 application fee; need-based financial assistance is available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Dates: June 28 – July 18
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have taken or are enrolled in biology and chemistry
This three-week summer program is designed to help you prepare for med school by building a foundation in sciences like biology, chemistry, and anatomy through college-level coursework led by Emory School of Medicine physicians. You will get hands-on exposure through visits to medical simulation labs, Emory clinics, Grady Hospital, and imaging centers. The program covers a range of health career paths beyond clinical medicine, including research, allied health, and industry roles through classes and workshops. You will also connect with doctors, residents, and fellows during the program. Upon completing the program, you will attend a White Coat Ceremony and receive a certificate of completion. You will live on campus throughout the program and experience residential college life firsthand.
Location: Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – July 31 (high school students) | June 8 – July 31 (undergraduate students)
Application deadline: January 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and undergraduate students, ages 16 and up
This is a six- to eight-week paid research experience at Northwestern University. You will work closely with a Northwestern faculty mentor on a basic or clinical research project related to lung disease. You will receive research training and professional development opportunities to pursue a career in science or medicine. Alongside lab work, you will attend workshops on college and graduate school application preparation, learn about paths in science and medicine, and access opportunities to shadow a clinician. The program ends with a poster presentation at the annual Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Symposium.
Location: Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Dates: Mid-June – mid-August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older
Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Summer Research Volunteer Program is an eight-week opportunity for students interested in cancer research. You will work in a laboratory under the guidance of research scientists, collaborating with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. You will explore topics such as cell signaling, tumor immunology, human cancer genetics, and drug development. Through hands-on research, you will gain practical experience in experimental methods and data analysis. The program is designed to provide insights into cancer research and support students considering careers in the biological sciences.
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,350; need-based scholarships available
Dates: July 5 – 11 | July 12 – 18
Application deadline: Priority: March 16 | Final: June 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school
This one-week program at Stevens Institute of Technology focuses on CRISPR/Cas9, a gene-editing technology that scientists use to study and treat inherited diseases such as hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell disease. During the program, you will learn how CRISPR works and gain hands-on experience while using it to edit a gene in E. coli bacteria. You will also engage in discussions about the applications of CRISPR and the ethical questions that come with using this technology. The program may cover topics like bioinformatics for designing target sequences, virtual reality for gene editing, and computer modeling of the CRISPR system. You will live on campus for the whole week, exploring Stevens' resources and facilities.
Location: Virtual or Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Summer (on campus): $95 application fee + $6,580 Summer (online): $95 application fee + $4,580 program fee | Fall (online): $75 application fee + $2,480 program fee
Dates: Summer (in person): July 13 – 24 | Summer (online): July 27 – August 7 | Fall (online): 10 weeks (dates TBA)
Application deadline: Summer: February 9 | Fall: June 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors and undergraduate pre-med students, ages 16 and up
This Stanford program offers virtual clinical learning experiences to high school and undergraduate pre-med students. During the program, you will learn about medical areas through lectures, simulations, and expert-led activity-based sessions. You will practice suturing, administering injections, and performing physical exams. You will work on real clinical cases, learning to diagnose conditions and develop treatment plans. You will work on medical challenges within a small group of peers. The curriculum is designed to help you learn about various medical specialties and build the skills required to pursue a career in medicine.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595; scholarships available
Dates: Multiple one-, two-, and four-week sessions scheduled throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session; typically, one week before the session start date
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 or up
This virtual Wake Forest University program offers a glimpse into a doctor's routine in caring for a patient, from emergency care to follow-up. Through simulations, assignments, and video lectures, you will learn how a hospital operates from the perspectives of nurses, surgeons, and paramedics. You will also explore topics like the anatomy of the heart and the social factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. The program offers guidance from a mentor, who will answer your questions and help you complete relevant assignments and a capstone project. For the project, you can choose a topic in medicine/healthcare and develop a presentation that reflects your understanding of the theme in a format of your choice.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895; need-based scholarships are available.
Dates: Multiple sessions available; one- to four-week options throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session; applications typically close a week before each session starts
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
This virtual course offered by Georgetown University is designed to introduce you to medical research, from formulating a research question to evaluating evidence from clinical trials. You will learn about evidence-based medicine, how researchers design studies, and the ethical questions that arise in medical research. You will learn video lectures that you can watch at your own pace. To finish the course, you will complete a capstone project in which you deliver a video presentation applying the scientific method to a topic in cancer research, using a couple of real research papers of your choice. Throughout the course, you will get feedback and guidance from a mentor who will be a Georgetown student or graduate.
Location: South Dakota State University (SDSU), Brookings, SD
Cost: $100
Dates: July 14 – 17
Application deadline: April 30 or until full
Eligibility: Students entering their junior and senior year of high school
This SDSU summer camp offers high schoolers hands-on exposure to multiple health professions. Over the course of four days, you will attend demonstrations offered at the SDSU campus to gain insight into microbiology, pharmacy, exercise science, medical laboratory science, pre-professional programs, human nutrition, nursing, biology, and healthcare systems engineering. You will visit local healthcare facilities and specialty clinics to learn about their daily operations. Additionally, you will have access to question-and-answer panel sessions where you will interact with healthcare professionals from various fields.
Bonus - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school who 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 across a wide range of subject areas for high schoolers to explore. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end, you will leave with a completed independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as medicine, psychology, physics, chemistry, economics, data science, international relations, computer science, engineering, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
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.