8 STEM Summer Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
Are you a high school student in Massachusetts interested in science, technology, engineering, or math? If so, you're in luck! Massachusetts is home to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world and offers a variety of STEM summer programs designed to challenge students like you. Whether you're interested in research, exploring engineering concepts, or diving into advanced mathematics, there's a program tailored to your interests.
In addition to helping you build new skills, summer internships, research opportunities, and immersions can be an asset when applying to college. Participating in a rigorous summer program can show college admissions officers that you have a genuine interest in academic subjects outside the classroom. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
In this blog, we'll explore 8 STEM summer programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA
Cost: $4,745 per session (2 weeks); $8,082 for both sessions (4 weeks). Financial aid available
Application Deadline: May 15
Program Dates:
Summer Science & Engineering Program: July 6 – 19 and July 21 – August 3
Sustainable Futures Program: July 21 – August 3
Eligibility: Open to high school students who identify as female or gender-nonconforming
Smith Pre-College offers a variety of 1- to 4-week summer courses on their campus. Students interested in STEM should consider the Summer Science & Engineering Program or the Sustainable Futures Program. In the Summer Science & Engineering Program, you will conduct research alongside Smith faculty in fields like life and physical sciences. Course options include topics such as the chemistry of herbal medicine, designing intelligent robots, global young women’s health, and novel bacteriophage discovery. The Sustainable Futures Program combines STEM with public policy, enabling you to tackle current environmental challenges through fieldwork and develop ideas for a sustainable future that can be implemented in your community.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program | $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase | $6,900 for both. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: Late June to Early August
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
MITES Summer is a prestigious program that involves taking five challenging courses in subjects like math, science, and the humanities. The program also offers lab tours, social activities, and guidance on the college admissions process. The program covers all expenses except for travel to and from MIT. You'll engage in daily classes, recitations, workshops, and tours, with evenings and weekends dedicated to exploring the Greater Boston area. Elective options have previously included topics such as architecture, engineering design, and machine learning. By the conclusion of the program, you will have have gained valuable insights into STEM careers, developed academic and personal skills, and received a written evaluation from your instructor. Find more information on this program here.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December 13
Program Dates: June 23 – August 3
Eligibility: High school juniors
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is a prestigious summer program that brings together 100 high school students from around the world. RSI is a free program that integrates rigorous coursework and research experiences in various STEM fields. You’ll have access to MIT’s resources, including computing tools and databases, and benefit from interactions with industry leaders and Nobel laureates through an ongoing lecture series. You can see a list of past RSI speakers here. The program begins with a week of seminars led by professors. You will then complete a five-week research internship, working on individual research projects under the mentorship of scientists and researchers. RSI is extremely competitive, with a 3% acceptance rate.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA or virtual
Cost: $75 application fee + $5,550 (pre-college program), $3,600–$13,750 (secondary school program, depending on the number of courses selected). Financial aid available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents
Application Deadline: February 12
Program Dates: There are multiple sessions from June to August
Eligibility: Applicants must be expected to graduate from high school and enter college this or next year, be at least 16 years old by June 21, and not turn 19 years old before July 31
Harvard University’s Pre-College Program is a 2-week summer experience where students engage in college-level coursework and experience university life. The program offers a wide range of courses, including options in STEM fields such as “Molecular Oncology: Unraveling Molecular Biology Techniques” and “Introduction to Quantum Mechanics: From Schrödinger's Equation to Quantum Computers.” Note that this 2-week program does not offer college credit. For students interested in earning credits over the summer, Harvard’s Secondary School Program might be a better fit, offering 4- to 7-week courses.
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston/Cambridge/Somerville, MA
Cost: No cost, stipend provided
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: July 1 – August 9
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent graduates who live or study in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts General Hospital’s Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is an educational and research opportunity for high school students underrepresented in neurology. This program gives you the chance to meet neurologists and neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds and learn about their career paths. Before the program begins, you will complete a ‘boot camp’ that will train you in the essential skills you need to work in a research lab. Each student will be matched with an MGH Neurology faculty member with whom you will work on an ongoing research project. The program culminates in a research presentation, and you will receive support to publish your work and submit it for awards.
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Cost: $2,650. Scholarships available for Greater Boston Area residents
Application Deadline: March 25
Program Dates: You can choose from nine sessions between mid-June and mid-August
Eligibility: High school students
HMS MEDscience offers a biology course that blends learning with real-world medical experiences. At the core of the experience is the MEDscience ‘Emergency Room’ at Harvard Medical School, where you will engage in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating life-like patients in simulation labs. You will also practice important clinical skills, such as suturing, intubation, and IV insertion, while exploring healthcare careers through MEDchats with Harvard-affiliated professionals. Harvard Medical School offers three other science programs for high school students—MEDscienceLAB for lab and research experiences, the Moonshot Program for developing AI surgical robots, and MEDscienceLAB Forensics for studying crime scene investigation.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.