15 Summer Programs for High School Sophomores
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 12 min read
Summer after sophomore year is a great time to move beyond the classroom and explore subjects in greater depth. Whether you're interested in research, STEM, medicine, the humanities, social sciences, journalism, or emerging fields like artificial intelligence, summer programs can help you develop new skills, work with mentors, and gain exposure to college-level learning. Many programs also offer opportunities to conduct research, collaborate with peers, and explore potential academic or career paths before making college decisions.
Why should I do a summer program as a high school sophomore?
Sophomore year is often an ideal time to participate in a summer program because you have already built a foundation through your coursework and still have time to explore different interests before applying to colleges. Summer programs can help you deepen your knowledge in a subject, strengthen skills such as research, writing, problem-solving, and communication, and gain experience that may not be available at your school. They can also introduce you to faculty, researchers, and professionals while giving you a better understanding of what studying a field in college might look like.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 15 summer programs for high school sophomores.
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span STEM research (SEAP, Monell Science Apprenticeship, Duke DUNE), AI and technology (Veritas AI, Lumiere Research Scholar Program), humanities and social sciences (Telluride TASS, Penn Social Change and Social Justice Academy), natural sciences (UCSB RMP, UChicago Stones and Bones), and specialized fields such as forensic science, journalism, sports management, and advanced mathematics.
Several programs are free or include stipends, including SEAP ($4,000 stipend), Telluride TASS (free), Duke DUNE (stipend available), Monell Science Apprenticeship (stipend offered), UChicago SHE in Oncology (free with a $500 stipend), and City of Hope STEP (free), making them strong options for students who want rigorous experiences without financial barriers.
Many programs are geographically restricted to local or regional students, including Duke DUNE (Durham, NC public and charter school students), Monell Science Apprenticeship (greater Philadelphia area), City of Hope STEP (students able to commute to Duarte, CA), and UChicago SHE in Oncology (select Illinois and Indiana counties).
Program lengths vary widely, from short one-week intensives (University of Delaware Forensic Science, Camp Cronkite) to multi-week research experiences (SEAP at 8 to 10 weeks, UCSB RMP at six weeks, UChicago Stones and Bones at four weeks), giving sophomores the flexibility to choose based on their availability.
Several programs offer tangible academic outputs, including UCSB RMP (a research paper, a symposium presentation, and eight university credits), Lumiere Research Scholar Program (an independent research paper), University of Delaware Forensic Science (a digital badge and a personalized reference letter), and Veritas AI's Fellowship (potential publication in a high school research journal).
Location: Remote! You can participate in the program from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, spring, fall, and winter. Options range from 12 weeks to a year.
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school who demonstrate strong academic performance
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 will pair you with Ph.D. mentors to work one-on-one on a research project. At the end, you will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose from areas such as ecology, chemistry, engineering, data science, computer science, psychology, physics, international relations, economics, and more. You can learn more about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Various labs in the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants | $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~300 students/year across labs
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; term can be extended to 10 weeks.
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores to seniors who are 16 or older; certain labs may have a few additional requirements.
SEAP is a STEM-based summer program that places high school students in Department of the Navy labs. Over 8 to 10 weeks, you will gain practical exposure to active naval science and engineering research while working with scientists on projects. You will learn about modern STEM tools, advanced naval research tech, and career pathways. The program also offers networking and skill-building opportunities, such as seminars, meetings, and presentations. You will also have the opportunity to shadow researchers and other professionals during the program, exploring what it is like to work in a professional laboratory.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12 – 15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; deadlines vary by cohort: Summer (May), Fall (September), Spring (January), and Winter (November). You can check details and apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholars participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers a range of online programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science, you can choose the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will learn about data science and AI fundamentals and work on real-world projects. Another track for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. During this program, you will get a chance to work 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A key feature of this program is that it offers you access to the in-house publication team to help you get your work published in high school research journals. You can check out examples of a few past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; typically selective
Dates: June 21 – July 25
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
TASS offers sophomores and juniors in high school a free exploratory summer experience focused on the development of leadership and democratic thinking. You will choose between two study areas: TASS-CBS (focusing on cultural contributions from those of African descent) and TASS-AOS (focusing on how power shapes social structures). You will attend seminars on various socially and culturally significant topics in politics, literature, history, art, and society over the summer. You will participate in group work, while also engaging with different forms of media, including reading books and articles, examining films and art, and writing essays. The program includes community-based activities such as managing a program budget, planning and execution of community service projects, and attending guest speaker sessions.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors (grades 10 and 11) who attend a public or charter high school in Durham, NC, are at least 16 years old by June 15, and are U.S. citizens, nationals, permanent residents, or legal residents
DUNE is an eight-week summer program at Duke University, where you will spend your time working on research in a neuroscience laboratory full-time. You will join a lab based on your interests and work on a project under the guidance of scientists. Along with lab work, you will take part in workshops focused on science communication skills and careers in medicine, academia, and industry. You will also get college application guidance during the program. At the end of the summer, you will present your research to the rest of the cohort and faculty and receive a stipend.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 taxable stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 20 students/year
Dates: July 13 – 25 (tentative)
Application deadline: March 2 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students who are residents of Cook, Will, Lake, or DuPage counties in Illinois or Lake County in Indiana
SHE in Oncology is a two-week virtual program for high school students conducted by various medical and educational institutions across the country. The UChicago SHE in Oncology program lets 20 high schoolers participate in hands-on cancer research, panel discussions, and faculty lectures to learn about cancer biology. You will work in collaboration with other trainees on a genetics-based research project, along with a project based on a patient case study. The program offers skill-building workshops and allows you to explore areas in cancer science. Along with gaining academic and research-based knowledge, you will also get to explore career pathways in biomedical science.
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: No fee; stipend offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10% acceptance rate; 18 – 24 students/year
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Philadelphia area; students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program is a paid eight-week summer research opportunity for high school students. You will spend the summer conducting structured research with a Monell scientist and attending lectures on scientific topics. Sessions will also cover ethical principles in animal and human research, as well as written communication and public speaking. You will also have the opportunity to explore different careers in the fields of science and medicine. The program allows you to participate in a public conference to share your research with family, friends, and professional staff.
Location: City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – 30
Application deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 who are able to commute to the City of Hope site in Duarte, CA
The STEP Science & Nutrition Summer Research Program is a four-week program that introduces high schoolers to the role of food and care in health outcomes. You will learn about how the availability of fresh food, genetics, personal behavior, and the environment affect population health through real-world examples, visits to the City of Hope’s community garden, and guided discussions. You will also work in small groups on a final project for which you will read and analyze peer-reviewed scientific literature and refine or develop a scientific question. You will share your research findings at the end. The experience can help you develop skills in problem-solving, scientific literacy, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $6,700 + non-refundable $100 application fee; scholarships available for Philadelphia high schoolers
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 11 – 25
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: 9th to 11th graders with a 3.5 minimum GPA
Penn Arts and Sciences Social Change and Social Justice Academy is a two-week residential program for high school students interested in bringing positive social change. The program will first help you understand the process of social change across different fields. You will learn about the historical aspects of specific issues, including poverty, women's rights, religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination, and climate issues, over the course of two weeks. The program also focuses on the link between these social challenges and the practices to effectively address injustice. You will engage in instructional sessions and reflection-focused activities as well as explore different perspectives on specific issues through interactions with peers and program faculty.
Location: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Cost: $1,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: June 8
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 and up, who have credit for at least one high school-level biology/general science course
This one-week program is designed to teach you real-world forensic science techniques through hands-on lab work and field experiences. You will work in a laboratory at the University of Delaware under the guidance of faculty and forensic experts, gaining practical exposure to crime scene investigation, evidence collection, fingerprinting, forensic toxicology, and DNA analysis. Throughout the week, you will complete projects involving evidence processing and documentation. On the final day, you will present a “court-ready” report to a panel of forensic scientists. The program includes field trips to crime labs. Upon completion, you will receive a digital badge and a personalized program reference letter for your college applications.
Location: Georgetown University campus, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential: $6,465 | Commuter: $5,075 + $50 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 7 – 19
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 8th to 12th-grade students with a minimum 2.0 GPA
Georgetown University’s Sports Industry Management Academy is a two-week on-campus program that allows high schoolers to explore different career paths in sports. You will explore the world of sports through classroom lectures, hands-on activities, and group discussions. The sessions will cover a range of subject areas, including sports and business law, finance and contract negotiations, facility management, team, league, and player promotions, and applied ethics. You will also visit D.C. area sports venues and attend local sporting events to observe the workings of the sports industry up close. Panel discussions and guest lectures are also part of the experience.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL + sites in Chicago and Wyoming
Cost: $15,200; need-based financial aid available
Cohort size: Up to 16 students
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors, ages 15 and up
The UChicago Stones and Bones Program is a hands-on four-week residential program for high school sophomores and juniors interested in paleontology. You will explore topics like fossil collection, analysis, and conservation while visiting museums and participating in paleontological studies. You will be guided by scientists from UChicago and the Field Museum, who will work with you in laboratories and the field. On the field, you will dig for fossils, explore concepts like fossil preparation, illustrations, and description, and build an understanding of earth history, geology, stratigraphy, and paleontological methods. In labs, you will catalog, conserve, and analyze your findings using the same techniques and tools that the museum professionals use.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,675 (commuter) | $13,274 (residential); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th or 11th grade with a minimum 3.80 academic weighted GPA
UCSB’s RMP is a six-week university-level research opportunity that lets you work under the guidance of a student or faculty mentor. You can select from a range of research areas, from economics to marine biology. The program begins with an online orientation, where you will explore available projects and meet your mentor before starting research work on campus. You will spend the majority of your time on research, lab work, and data analysis. You will also write a research paper and present your work at a symposium. RMP additionally lets you earn eight university credits through participation in two research courses.
Location: Remote or Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $8,950 in-person fee | $3,750 online fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40 residential participants/year | 64 online participants/year
Dates: Residential: June 21 – July 17 | Online: June 15 – July 3 or July 6 – 24
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students in grade 10 or 11 who are under 18 years of age
SUMac is a rigorous online and on-campus summer program for high school sophomores and juniors looking for advanced math exploration. During the three- to four-week program, you will learn about topics like abstract algebra and number theory through lectures, group problem-solving sessions, and research. The curriculum covers areas of mathematical inquiry, the development of major theories in the field, and applications of math in scientific fields. You will choose from two courses: one focused on algebra and number theory, and the other on algebraic topology. The workload mirrors college-level expectations.
Location: Arizona State University (ASU) campus, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: $899; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – 12 | Session 2: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in or entering grades 10 – 12, ages 15 to 17Camp
Cronkite is a six-day residential media program at ASU, where you will attend hands-on sessions led by Cronkite faculty and mentored by current students. You will attend sessions focused on visual storytelling, writing, interviewing, and personal branding, and choose elective sessions from options such as producing, weather reporting, videography, podcasting, and social media. You will attend meetings in the morning and build journalistic and media-specific skills through team challenges. This experience can prepare you for journalism/media majors and career paths in the field.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best summer programs for high school sophomores?
Strong options depend on a student's interests. Students drawn to STEM research might consider SEAP or the Lumiere Research Scholar Program; those interested in neuroscience or biomedical science might look at Duke DUNE or UChicago SHE in Oncology; and those exploring humanities and social sciences might consider Telluride TASS or Penn's Social Change and Social Justice Academy.
Are there free summer programs for high school sophomores?
Yes, several programs are free, including SEAP (which also provides a $4,000 stipend), Telluride TASS, Duke DUNE (with stipends available), Monell Science Apprenticeship (with a stipend), UChicago SHE in Oncology (free with a $500 stipend), and City of Hope STEP. Lumiere Research Scholar Program also offers full financial aid.
Which summer programs are specifically open to sophomores, not just juniors and seniors?
Telluride TASS (juniors and sophomores), Duke DUNE (grades 10 and 11), UChicago Stones and Bones (sophomores and juniors), Stanford SUMaC (grades 10 and 11), UCSB RMP (grades 10 and 11), and UChicago SHE in Oncology all explicitly include rising sophomores in their eligibility.
Which programs offer college credit for high school sophomores?
UCSB RMP awards eight university credits through two research courses, and the University of Delaware Forensic Science program provides a digital badge and personalized reference letter. Students should verify credit transferability with their intended institutions.
Which programs are fully virtual and accessible to students anywhere in the world?
Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Veritas AI, and UChicago SHE in Oncology are all virtual, while SEAP and Stanford SUMaC offer online options alongside in-person formats.
When should I apply to summer programs for high school sophomores?
Deadlines are spread across the fall and winter. Early deadlines include SEAP (November 1), Telluride TASS (December 3), and Stanford SUMaC (February 2), while others, such as Penn Social Change and Social Justice Academy (May 1), Georgetown Sports Industry Management Academy (May 15), and University of Delaware Forensic Science (June 8), fall later in the spring.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-on-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.