15 University Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 5
- 10 min read
Updated: May 7
If you're in high school and thinking about a college career in medicine, university medical summer programs are a great way to get started. These programs, hosted by some of the best universities in the country, let you explore medicine hands-on, in a focused way, without needing to commit to an expensive camp or internship that spans a few months.
You’ll gain a better understanding of health sciences in an advanced academic setting, plus pick up useful skills like writing lab reports, reading complex research, and presenting your findings, skills that will help when you’re applying to college. And, having a university medical summer program on your resume shows that you’re serious about pursuing medicine and helps admissions officers see your demonstrated interest.
In this blog, we’ve put together a list of 15 top university medical summer programs for high school students!
15 University Medical Summer Programs for High School Students
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9 – July 31
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee; $500–$1,500+ stipend for underrepresented students
Acceptance Rate: 3%, around 50 students selected every year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week program where you work full-time on research in a lab at Stanford. You choose one of eight areas: Immunology, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular Biology, Bioinformatics, or Genetics and Genomics.
You get guidance from researchers, attend workshops on science writing, and take part in college prep sessions. You spend about 40 hours each week in the lab. At the end, you present your project at a research event. The program is very selective, with an acceptance rate under 3 percent.
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Application Deadline: January 27
Program Dates: June 2 – July 25
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate: 3%, 15–20 students selected
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and rising seniors from the Greater St. Louis area; preference for students from under-resourced schools or underrepresented groups in STEM
Summer Focus is an eight-week program where you work full-time on biomedical research at a university lab. You are matched with a mentor and work on projects in areas like microbiology, cancer biology, or biomedical engineering. You learn how to use lab equipment, record and analyze data, and read scientific papers. You also attend lectures on medical research and practice writing and presenting scientific work. At the end, you create a research poster and present your findings.
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Application Deadline: January 1 – January 26
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1 (8 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: Participation is free; a competitive stipend is provided. Interns must arrange their housing and transportation.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+)
If you’re interested in medical research, the Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program gives you the chance to study lung disease at a top medical school. This full-time summer program is for rising high school seniors and takes place at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
You work with a faculty mentor on research projects in basic or clinical science. You learn how to review medical literature, collect patient data, use lab tools, and understand how diseases affect the body. You also attend workshops on college planning and professional skills. At the end, you present your research at a symposium.
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (in-person) + Virtual option
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Program Dates: In-person: June – August (8 weeks) and Virtual: July – August (5 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: In-person interns receive hourly wages + transportation support; virtual interns receive a $500 stipend
Cohort Size: 5–6 students
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; in-person applicants must live in Baltimore City or attend a local high school.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science (JHIBS) is a selective research program for high school students interested in neuroscience and medical research. You work on research projects focused on brain science, such as neurodegenerative diseases, neural imaging, or brain development.
You learn how to read and analyze neuroscience research papers, collect and interpret neurological data, and use lab techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, and microscopy. You also gain experience with data entry, statistical software, and understanding the clinical aspects of brain disorders. The program ends with a research symposium where you present your findings to faculty, peers, and other participants.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Application Deadline: February 7
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Cost/Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+); U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program is a six-week STEM research experience for high school juniors. You are matched with a faculty mentor at Stony Brook University and work on a real research project in fields such as biochemistry, neurobiology, geosciences, or computer science. In the lab, you learn how to design experiments, use scientific instruments, record and analyze data, and follow research protocols.
You also gain experience writing research abstracts, reading peer-reviewed papers, and discussing results with your mentor. Outside the lab, you attend lectures by university faculty, join skill-building workshops, and take campus tours to learn more about academic life. At the end of the program, you present your research findings at a symposium.
Location: Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Application Deadlines: Program I: March 31 and Program II: January 26
Program Dates: Program I: June 2 – August 8 or June 16 – August 22 (10 weeks) and Program II: May 19 – July 28 (8 weeks)
Cost/Stipend: Program I: Details TBD, and Program II: $4,000–$8,000
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive, only 40 students accepted across all education levels
Eligibility: High school students (16+); strong interest in biomedical or translational research
The Scripps Research Translational Institute offers two internship programs focused on medical research, clinical genomics, and digital health. Both programs give you hands-on experience in precision medicine and the full research process. Program I focuses on translational science and is open to high school and college students. Program II centers on precision medicine and is designed for students with more advanced research experience.
You are paired with a mentor and trained in genetic association studies, data analysis, and clinical research methods. You learn how to collect and organize patient data, interpret genetic results, and work with research tools used in digital health and genomics. You also complete an independent project and present your findings to faculty and fellow students at the end of the program.
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: Typically in November
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; transportation support may be available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective, approximately 20 students admitted
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older by June
The Stanford Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Internship Program offers a seven-week summer experience for high school students interested in medicine, biotechnology, and surgical innovation. You’ll work with Stanford’s leading surgeons and researchers on projects in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and medical device development.
You gain hands-on experience in the lab, learning techniques like tissue culture, 3D printing for medical applications, and device prototyping. You also participate in interactive seminars and collaborative projects that connect engineering solutions with clinical care.
Location: Virtual and In-person at Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Program Dates: CNV-X (Virtual): June 16 – June 27; CNI-X Session 1 (In-person): July 7 – July 18; CNI-X Session 2 (In-person): July 21 – August 1
Cost/Stipend: CNV-X (Virtual): $1,595 and CNI-X (In-person): $2,895 per session
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
The Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is a 10-day program hosted by Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. This program introduces high school students to neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry.
You’ll participate in faculty-led lectures and seminars, learning about brain imaging techniques, neuropsychiatric disorders, and current research in mental health. You will also work in small teams to create a capstone project that tackles real-world issues in neuroscience. At the end, you’ll present your project to peers and mentors.
Location: Stanford University, CA
Application Deadline: Typically in early spring
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; $3,000 stipend available for students demonstrating financial need
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from all backgrounds, especially those with limited prior research experience
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a 6-week summer research opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors. The program connects you with Stanford faculty, researchers, and medical professionals to complete mentored research in pediatrics and biomedical science.
You’ll spend 30 hours per week working in the lab, gaining hands-on research experience, attending scientific talks, and exploring medical careers. You will also develop skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and critical thinking.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Early February (applications typically open in late September)
Program Dates: 2 weeks in June
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend not specified
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship at UT Southwestern is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in exploring careers in mental health. You’ll take part in interactive sessions with professionals such as psychiatrists, social workers, neuropsychologists, and physician assistants.
The program provides an introduction to fields like psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry, neuropsychological testing, and community psychiatry. You’ll also engage in career-focused discussions, hear from industry leaders, and have the chance to build connections.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Application Deadline: March 17
Program Dates: June 23 to July 25
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; $1,250 stipend provided
Acceptance Rate: 24 students selected per year
Eligibility: Current high school juniors from Northern California who are low-income and first-generation college-bound students
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is a five-week residential program for high-achieving, first-generation, low-income high school juniors from Northern California. Hosted at Stanford University, the program introduces you to careers in medicine and public health through clinical shadowing, public health research, and seminars led by Stanford faculty.
You’ll explore topics like human anatomy and epidemiology by working on a group project focused on a public health issue. You’ll also get practical guidance on how to navigate the college admissions process and explore different career paths in health and medicine.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: December 9 – February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee
Acceptance Rate: ~20 interns per session
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students aged 14+ who are California residents; undergraduate students with computer science experience may apply as student leads
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in AI, computer science, and healthcare. You’ll participate in coding workshops, lectures, and research projects with Stanford researchers from the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI). The program also includes “Career Lunch & Learns” with speakers from academia, healthcare, and tech. At the end, you’ll present your research findings to peers and mentors.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: June 29 – August 8
Cost/Stipend: Approximately $6,000 stipend; need-based financial aid available (fully funded through external support)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Eligibility: Open to 10th and 11th grade students nominated by a partner organization (e.g., S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, BioBus)
BRAINYAC is a six-week neuroscience research program for high school sophomores and juniors from New York City, hosted by Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute. You’ll work directly with a lab mentor on neuroscience research, gaining hands-on experience with techniques like brain imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral studies.
The program focuses on helping you understand how to ask scientific questions, design experiments, and analyze data related to brain function. You’ll also interact with scientists at the forefront of neuroscience research, giving you a deeper look into the field.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Application Deadline: Applications open in June
Program Dates: June 20 – August 5
Cost/Stipend: Free; $2,000 scholarship provided
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0+ and a Math/Science GPA of 3.0+ (on a 4.0 scale)
The University of Houston High School Summer Research Internship in Infectious Diseases is a six-week program for students interested in biomedical science and public health. You’ll work with faculty mentors on research in infectious diseases, gaining hands-on experience with lab techniques like bacterial plating, PCR, literature reviews, and microbiological methods. The program prepares you for future studies in pharmacotherapy, healthcare, or biomedical research. You’ll also receive a $2,000 scholarship to support your work.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Boston or Cambridge who are at least 16 years old and have a minimum GPA of 2.7. Priority is given to students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Application Deadline: February 3
Program Dates: June 30 – August 15
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
The Project Success program at Harvard Medical School is a six-week, paid summer internship for high school students in Boston and Cambridge, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine. As a participant, you’ll be placed in a research lab affiliated with Harvard Medical School, where you’ll work closely with a mentor on biomedical research projects.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with lab techniques and learn how to analyze data and communicate your findings effectively. The program includes seminars and workshops to help you improve your scientific writing, presentation, and computer skills. You’ll also have the chance to visit hospitals and biotech companies, gaining insight into different aspects of the biomedical field.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in medicine, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also, check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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.
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