Not sure what career to pursue? Figuring out your interests is an important step in high school, and immersive summer programs are a great way to explore the possibilities. Here are ten career-exploration summer programs for high school students. Details and availability change year to year, so confirm the current information with each program.
1. NASA High School Aerospace Scholars
Description: High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) is an authentic STEM experience for Texas high school juniors to engage with NASA’s missions. It’s a year-long commitment starting in the fall with a four-month online course on space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics. Top students earn an invitation to a five-day gamified virtual summer experience (Moonshot), mentored by NASA scientists and engineers.
Dates: year-long (starts in August). Location: Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, plus an online experience. Eligibility: U.S. citizens, Texas residents, high school juniors.
2. Telluride Association Summer Programs (TASP)
Description: The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) is a free, six-week educational experience for high school sophomores and juniors, rooted in critical thinking and democratic community. Telluride covers all costs, including tuition, books, room and board, field trips, and fees.
Eligibility: high school sophomores and juniors, ages 15-18, U.S. and international students. They look for students who are curious, community-minded, and self-motivated.
3. Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
Description: CSSI was an intensive, hands-on introduction to computer science for high schoolers with a passion for technology and minimal coding background, designed to inspire the next generation of tech leaders. Note: Google has discontinued CSSI; the link points to its open-sourced curriculum, so check Google’s current student programs for active opportunities.
4. STEM Pathway Programs, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Description: a set of summer programs and internships that spark and build interest in medicine. They include:
- Health Professions Recruitment & Exposure Program (HPREP): a six-week program giving Chicago-area high schoolers from diverse backgrounds firsthand exposure to medical school curriculum, healthcare careers, and academic-success tools. Apply to HPREP
- Kimberly Querrey Summer Research Program: a six-week paid internship for students planning degrees in biological science, combining research training with academic and professional development. Visit the internship website
5. National Geographic Student Expeditions
Description: National Geographic Student Expeditions offered hands-on travel programs in exploration, conservation, and cultural immersion, from tracking wildlife to photography. Note: the student expeditions program has been discontinued, so check National Geographic’s education resources for current youth opportunities.
6. Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge (formerly Broadcom MASTERS)
Description: the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, formerly Broadcom MASTERS, is a competition for middle school scientists and engineers. It’s a platform to present projects, engage with professionals, and tackle team-based STEM challenges. (Listed here for younger students planning ahead, as it’s a middle school program.)
How to get started: students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade complete a science fair project and compete in a Society-affiliated fair (most run January through April). Use Find a Society Affiliated Fair to find one near you. (See our guide for more, noting the competition has since been renamed.)
7. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Description: as a Student Leader, you do an eight-week paid internship at a local nonprofit, learning about your community’s needs and the role nonprofits play, while building civic and leadership skills. You also attend the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., to see how government, business, and nonprofits work together.
Eligibility:
- Currently a junior or senior in high school.
- Legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
- Able to do an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit at 35 hours a week.
- Able to attend the week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. (all expenses paid, counted within the 8 weeks).
- A student in good standing, permanently residing in an eligible market.
- Not previously selected (you may reapply if you applied before and weren’t selected).
- Bank of America employees and their immediate family are not eligible.
Want to secure a spot in the Bank of America Student Leaders Program?
Read this guide for a better understanding of the program and how to maximize your chances.
8. Harvard Summer College Programs for High School Students
Description: Harvard’s summer programs for high schoolers are intensive courses that give a glimpse of college and a chance to challenge yourself academically. You’ll meet students from around the world, build life skills, and strengthen your college application.
Benefits: challenge yourself academically, build life skills, meet new friends worldwide, strengthen your college application, and choose from rigorous college-credit courses. The application is competitive, so show your passion for learning.
Wondering how to get into competitive summer programs?
9. Cornell University Pre-College Online Courses
Description: take regular Cornell courses online, study with university faculty, and earn credit and a Cornell transcript. Over the summer, choose from more than 100 undergraduate courses across architecture and the arts, business and hotel management, health and humanities, international relations, science and technology, social change, veterinary medicine, and more.
Eligibility: rising juniors and seniors, age 15+. Cost: recently around $1,750 per credit (confirm the current rate).
Benefits: immerse yourself in Cornell courses, work with leading faculty, earn 3 to 12 credits and a Cornell transcript, build college study skills, get one-on-one admissions counseling, and connect with motivated students worldwide.
10. embARC Summer Design Academy, UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
Description: spend your summer immersed in architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning on the UC Berkeley campus. embARC is a college-level course at a top-ranked public university for the built environment, with design assignments, one-on-one reviews, Bay Area field trips, and a design/build project for a community nonprofit. You’ll leave with a strong portfolio and credit on an official UC Berkeley transcript.
Benefits: explore architecture, urban design, and city planning as majors and careers; develop technical and time-management skills; work with like-minded students; build a design portfolio; engage with public policy; and earn a certificate and UC Berkeley credit.
Eligibility: rising juniors and seniors with a 3.0+ GPA. No prior design experience required.
To apply: complete the embARC online application with an essay, pay the $75 application fee, and submit high school transcripts (9th grade through the fall before you apply) and a letter of recommendation from a counselor, teacher, principal, or community leader. International students should check the program page for additional requirements.
Good luck on your journey, and I hope you find your dream career!
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