If you've been searching for high school research opportunities, you've probably noticed a common problem: many prestigious research programs accept only a handful of students, require prior laboratory experience, or focus on a narrow area of science. The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships offer something different. Through partnerships with Army research laboratories, universities, and research centers across the country, AEOP allows high school

For students interested in scientific research, one of the biggest challenges is finding meaningful opportunities before college. Many research programs are highly selective, limited to a few weeks during the summer, or require students to already have extensive experience. For students living near its location in Fremont, California, the Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) offers a different model—one that allows motivated students to engage in authentic, lon

If you've spent any time researching elite STEM summer programs, you've probably come across the Summer Science Program (SSP). (Yes, its name really is that simple!) Founded in 1959, SSP is one of the oldest and most prestigious science programs for high school students in the world. (That's how they were able to snap up that name.) Alumni include Nobel Prize winners, astronauts, leading researchers, entrepreneurs, and university professors. With its approximately 10% accepta

For high school students interested in medicine, cancer biology, biotechnology, or biomedical research, few summer opportunities carry the prestige of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (MSKCC HOPP) Summer Student Program. HOPP is one of the few truly elite biomedical research programs that places high school students inside a world-class cancer research institution working alongside active researchers. Hosted by one of the worl

Many of the most prestigious high school research competitions require students to spend months—or even years—completing sophisticated research projects before they can apply. MIT THINK turns that model on its head. Instead of asking students to submit a finished project, MIT THINK asks applicants to submit something arguably more difficult: an original idea. Students are selected based on the strength of a proposed STEM project, then receive funding and mentorship from MIT s

Every year, thousands of ambitious high school students search for summer opportunities that can help them explore cutting-edge science, build meaningful research experience, and stand out to top colleges. One program that consistently attracts some of the strongest STEM students in the world is Stanford SHTEM, or the Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program. SHTEM is a highly selective, virtual, 8-week summer program that gives high school student

For high school students residing in Los Angeles County, CA, who are interested in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, or scientific research, UCLA Neurocamp is one of the most exciting opportunities available—and one of the most competitive. Hosted by the UCLA Brain Research Institute (BRI) and accepting a mere 30 students each year, Neurocamp is a free summer program that introduces students to neuroscience through lectures, laboratory activities, and hands-on exposure to r

For students fascinated by the human brain, mental health, psychology, psychiatry, and medicine, Stanford's Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) is one of the most exciting and prestigious summer opportunities available. Hosted by Stanford Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, CNI-X introduces high school students to neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, behavioral science, and cutting-edge brain research through lectures, seminars, and co

It's no secret - artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming fields ranging from medicine and finance to education and climate science. For students interested in exploring this exciting frontier, Stanford AI4ALL is one of the most prestigious introductory AI programs available to high school students. Open to current high school freshmen (9th-grade students) and hosted by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies in partnership with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HA

By Krystle DiCristofalo Widener Library, Harvard University. Photographed by Krystle DiCristofalo. Graduating high school in 2027? It may be summer, the time when school ends and college worries seem far away, but think again: now is the time to apply for fly-in programs, a unique opportunity to explore the campuses of your dreams. Whether you're already busy building your college list or you're just starting to think about your reaches, matches, and safeties, college fly-in