Best Summer Programs and Research Opportunities for Freshmen

If you’re a high school freshman (or the parent of one), you might think it’s a little too early to start thinking about summer programs or research opportunities. But here’s the good news: it’s never too early to get ahead, explore your interests, and start building a foundation for your future academic path.

There are a surprising number of summer programs designed especially for underclassmen, and while many of the most prestigious research internships are reserved for juniors and seniors, freshmen can still access excellent enrichment programs that introduce them to real-world topics, college life, and hands-on learning.

Best Summer Programs and Research Opportunities for High School Freshmen

Below, I’ve broken down the Best summer programs and opportunities for freshmen by stream, so you can find what fits you best, whether you're into science and medicine or storytelling and social justice. Let’s dive in.

🔬 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)

1. STEM to SHTEM at Stanford

🎯 Target: 9th–11th graders
🧠 What it is: An AI and interdisciplinary research mentorship program hosted by Stanford grad students.
🌐 Highlights: Fully virtual, with guided research mini-projects, readings, and a final paper.
📌 Location: Online
🗓️ Dates: June–August
💡 Why it’s great for freshmen: Low barrier to entry, emphasis on independent thinking and collaboration.

2. NASA STEM Engagement Programs (NASA Internships & Online Challenges)

🎯 Target: Open to all grades; freshmen can apply for virtual experiences.
🌐 Highlights: Virtual STEM challenges, space-related projects, coding, and aerospace research exploration.
📌 Location: Online & various NASA centers
🗓️ Dates: Varies by program
💡 Freshman-friendly: They offer junior challenges perfect for beginners who want NASA-level experience.

3. Engineering Tomorrow Summer Challenges

🎯 Target: 9th–12th graders
🔧 What it is: Free virtual engineering challenges hosted by university professors and engineers.
📌 Location: Online
🧪 Fields covered: Civil, mechanical, biomedical, environmental, and electrical engineering.
💡 Why it’s perfect: You get to “try out” multiple engineering fields in short, guided sessions.

4. iD Tech Camps (Held at MIT, Stanford, Caltech, etc.)

🎯 Target: Ages 13–18
💻 What it is: Summer bootcamps focused on programming, AI, game design, and robotics.
📌 Location: Multiple U.S. campuses
💡 Freshman win: You’ll get hands-on experience with top tech tools (Python, Unity, AI modeling)

5. Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation

🎯 Target: High school students (some tracks open to 9th graders)
🛠️ What it is: Applied engineering program with lab simulations and university-led coursework.
📌 Location: Online & on-campus options
🗓️ Dates: June–August
💡 Why start early: It introduces real college-level engineering early on.

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🩺 Pre-Med & Health Sciences

1. Health Sciences Summer Camp at Tufts University

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🧬 What it is: Hands-on exploration of anatomy, public health, nutrition, and more.
📌 Location: Virtual and in-person options (Boston)
🧑‍⚕️ Cool factor: You’ll interact with real faculty and medical students.
💡 Freshman-friendly: Great for early exposure to medical careers.

2. Mini-Med School at Nova Southeastern University (NSU Florida)

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🧪 What it is: A short-term pre-med experience taught by real med school professors.
📌 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
🗓️ Duration: 1 week
💡 Best part: You get a white coat ceremony, just like real med students!

3. National Student Leadership Conference – Medicine & Health Care Track

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🏥 What it is: Simulation-based leadership programs with emergency response, diagnostics, and hospital visits.
📌 Location: Held at Yale, Harvard, UCSF, and more
🧠 Bonus: Workshops on careers in surgery, nursing, and global health
💡 Freshman win: Encourages leadership and confidence early on.

4. Stanford Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP-Lite)

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🧠 What it is: A sneak peek into anatomy and dissection labs, virtually!
📌 Location: Online
🧑‍🔬 Includes: Dissection videos, live workshops, Q&A with professors.
💡 Freshman perk: No prior coursework needed, just interest!

⚖️ Law, Policy & Legal Studies

1. Georgetown Law Academy – Law, Policy & International Affairs

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
⚖️ What it is: Students explore the foundations of law, ethics, and legal writing while visiting Capitol Hill.
📌 Location: Washington, D.C.
🧠 Includes: Mock trials, Supreme Court briefings, legal debates
💡 Why it’s gold for freshmen: Builds public speaking and critical thinking from year one.

2. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI

🎯 Target: Grades 9–11
🔍 What it is: Immersive experience in criminal justice and forensics
📌 Location: Held in D.C. and other U.S. cities
🧪 Cool twist: Includes crime scene simulations and courtroom roleplay
💡 Freshman fit: Action-packed and role-play heavy; ideal for early engagement.

3. Constitution Academy – Bill of Rights Institute

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
📚 What it is: A deep dive into U.S. history, the Constitution, and the law's modern relevance
📌 Location: Virtual and in-person (Washington, D.C.)
💡 Freshman highlight: Encourages leadership and understanding of civil liberties.

🧠 Social Sciences & Humanities

1. Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)

🎯 Target: Strong 9th–10th grade applicants (highly selective, full scholarship)
📚 What it is: Humanities-based seminar on race, power, and social justice
📌 Location: University of Michigan, Cornell
🧠 Includes: College-level reading, discussion, writing workshops
💡 Freshman edge: It’s prestigious, free, and deeply transformative.

2. Great Books Summer Program

🎯 Target: Grades 8–12
📚 What it is: Students explore classics, philosophy, and literature through Socratic seminars.
📌 Location: Stanford, Amherst, and online
✍️ Highlights: Daily writing, speaker series, and community debates
💡 For literary lovers: Freshmen with a love for words will thrive here.

3. School of the New York Times Summer Academy

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🗞️ What it is: Programs in journalism, politics, media, and creative writing
📌 Location: NYC and Washington, D.C.
🎤 Freshman pick: Courses like “Inside the Newsroom” and “Writing the City”
💡 Awesome experience: Real journalists + fieldwork = inspiration overload.

🌎 Social Impact, Leadership & Global Citizenship

1. Global Citizens Youth Summit

🎯 Target: Ages 15–18 (freshmen welcome with strong applications)
🌍 What it is: Students from around the world tackle global issues and create action projects.
📌 Location: Harvard University (host site)
💬 Includes: Public speaking, innovation labs, mentorship
💡 Why it stands out: Builds activism skills early on.

2. LEADership Institute at Brown University

🎯 Target: Grades 9–12
🧠 What it is: Seminar-style leadership program focused on ethical change-making and public service.
📌 Location: Brown University or online
💡 Freshman takeaway: Empowers younger students to lead meaningful change in their communities.