10 Medical Programs for Middle School Students
If you're a middle school student curious about medicine or other health-related careers, consider joining a medical program! These programs are a great way to dive into the medical field early on, giving you a taste of what a future in healthcare might look like.
Medical programs for middle schoolers offer numerous benefits — they allow you to mingle with like-minded peers, and meet experts in your field of interest.
In this blog, we have outlined 10 of the best medical programs for middle school students.
1. National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Middle School Medicine and Healthcare Summer Program
Location: American University campus (Washington, DC) and UC Berkeley (Berkeley, California).
Cost: $2,795 for those opting for residential housing. $2,395 for those who will commute to campus. Financial aid is available.
Program Dates: Usually happens over a week in the summer, typically in June or July. There are 2 sessions in the summer.
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Accepting applications until seats are full.
Eligibility: Children in grades 6-8.
The NSLC HealthCare Summer Program provides a practical introduction to the world of medicine. The 6-day camp includes various activities and workshops that will help you prepare for high school academics. Activities include suturing, dissections, checking for vital signs as well as bedside manners and etiquette. The program also includes taking trips to several locations in the host city.
This summer camp will help you connect with like-minded peers while exposing you to the daily tasks of medicinal practitioners. It will also help you decide whether you would like to work in a medicinal field or not.
Location: Multiple college campuses throughout the U.S., and also offered online.
Cost:
1,148 (1 week) or $2,296 (2 weeks) for commuter students.
$1,620 (1 week) to $3,510 (2 weeks) for residential students.
$450 (1 week) to $900 for online students (2 weeks).
Scholarships are available.
Program Dates: Students can choose between the 1-week or 2-week camp. Dates are variable based on the location selected but are expected to be between June and August.
Application Deadline: Admissions happen on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Students entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the upcoming Fall semester and current 5th-grade students transitioning to middle school are eligible to apply. Students with a GPA of 3.0 and above are eligible.
The MPP Summer Intensive offers middle schoolers the chance to engage with medicine academically. Over 1 or 2 weeks, you will know what life is like for pre-med students and you will have the chance to explore college-level courses in medicine. The program also provides college and career-readiness classes and workshops for students.
This camp enables students to understand the rigor that a medical student must undertake during college. It will also prepare you for college if you choose to live on campus. The experience will also provide you with a network of people with similar interests seniors and professionals who are already working in the field.
Location: University of Berkeley, CA or Georgetown University, WA
Cost: $2,898 for residential students, $1,498 for commuters with an additional $250 Medicine course supplement for either program.
Program Dates:
Session 1: Jul 7 — Jul 12, 2024
Session 2: Jul 14 — Jul 19, 2024
Session 3: Jul 21 — Jul 26, 2024
Session 4: Jul 28 — Aug 2, 2024
Application Deadline: Until the program seats are full.
Eligibility: Students with a 3.0 GPA who have completed 6th grade of middle school by the program start date.
The Middle School Medicine camp is a week-long camp where students interested in medicine can gain hands-on experience in medical skills. You will have a chance to set a splint, stop a bleed, and perform CPR. Age-appropriate simulations will be used to help you gain skills.
This program also shows students what goes on in the emergency room and how medical professionals operate in such an environment. You will gain several technical skills and learn from practitioners in the field.
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin campus
Cost: Not mentioned
Program Dates: Academic Year Program (November-April)
Application Deadline: August 1 - September 30, 2024.
Eligibility: Enrolled in 6th-8th grade in MPS, or charter/private school in Milwaukee or surrounding areas.
StEP-UP aims to provide exposure to a variety of health science careers to local middle school students who are members of historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in the health science professions. Over a total of six Saturdays during the academic year, students participate in age-appropriate interactive sessions led by college pre-med students, MCW students, practicing physicians, and other health professionals.
You will have the chance to gain new skills and learn from those who are already studying and working in the field of medicine. Additionally, you will not be limited to the traditional path of medical careers but also explore other professions in the health space and diversify your view of the field.
Location: MIT Campus, MA
Cost: Free of cost. Does not cover transportation to and from campus, meals, or stay.
Application Deadline: Usually in the
Program Dates:
August 14 — August 18, 2024 (rising 6th/7th graders)
August 21 — August 25, 2024 (rising 8th/9th graders)
Eligibility: Rising 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th grade students.
For middle school students passionate about pursuing STEM fields like medicine, DynaMIT offers an exceptional summer opportunity. This free five-day program is tailored to ignite curiosity and cultivate problem-solving skills through immersive hands-on activities and educational challenges.
Participants engage in real-world applications of STEM principles, including exploratory trips to cutting-edge labs on the MIT campus. With the chance to experience life at one of the world’s leading technical institutes, DynaMIT promises a glimpse into the unique culture that fuels innovation and discovery at MIT, making it an invaluable opportunity for those interested in pursuing medicine.
Location: Columbia University campus, New York
Cost: Free
Program Dates:
Summer Session: Classes are held Monday through Friday (10 am - 2 pm) in July
Academic Year: Classes are held on Saturdays (9 am - 3 pm) from October to May
Application Deadline: Typically due in mid-May.
Eligibility:
Students enrolled in Grades 7 to 12.
A New York State Resident or a Permanent Resident residing in the state.
Economically disadvantaged*, or Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Alaskan Native or American Indian; and will benefit from academic enrichment.
The S-PREP program at Columbia University is a camp that offers enrichment courses in a variety of disciplines including medicine. The program, however, is not limited to just medicine but includes other health science disciplines. The BRAINYAC program is specifically designed for those interested in biomedical and neuroscience research. Students learn basic neuroscience concepts and laboratory skills (in the spring) that will prepare them for their mentored research experience in a CUIMC neuroscience lab during the summer.
This program provides a rigorous academic experience in the health sciences. You will also get a stipend as a part of this program. The chance to meet like-minded peers and health professionals is also an integral aspect of S-PREP.
Location: Varies every year. This year it will be held at Edward Hospital Education Center, Naperville, IL.
Cost: $250/student.
Program Dates: July 14, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications open in March. Admissions are open until the slots are filled.
Eligibility: As of June, your student should be in 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.
Dr. Rubin provides a one-day experience to middle schoolers in a hospital. Students will have 12 ‘experiences’ across 12 workstations. These include vital signs, ear exams, eye exams, lung and heart exams, abdomen, and nerve exams, injections, IV lines, intubation, tie surgical knots, suturing, laparoscopic training, and radiology cases.
This program is a good option for those who are newly interested in the field and want a short but intensive experience in medical practice. The chance to learn under Dr. Rubin and in a hospital will also be an interesting experience.
Location: UC San Diego, CA
Cost: $275 not including transport to and from campus.
Program Dates: The program occurs twice in late July.
Application Deadline: Typically due at the end of May.
Eligibility: Middle school students between 5th to 8th grade are eligible to apply.
The Sally Ride Science Academy Workshop is for those who are interested in pharmacy. Activities are designed with scenarios aimed at improving patient health outcomes in daily life. Students will navigate through the problems that pharmacists face every day and be equipped with the skills to solve such concerns.
Students will also be equipped with STEAM skills like critical thinking and decision-making. You will also meet guest experts and pharmaceutical scientists. This program offers a good opportunity to those who wish to know more about this field.
Location: Morehouse University campus, Atlanta
Cost: $800/student
Program Dates: Usually happens over 4 weeks in the summer, typically in June.
Application Deadline: Admissions happen on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: Rising 5–8th graders
The Steam Academy offers middle school students an enriching learning experience, featuring pre-exposure to grade-level content aligned with Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE). The program covers a range of STEM topics from engineering and technology to medicine. Apart from routine dissections and GSE standards, the new curriculum additions include weekly TED Talks with healthcare professionals and developing health science or medical mobile apps.
MSM provides an intensive medical experience to those who are committed to this field. You will gain new technical skills and knowledge about the discipline.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: N/A
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: All middle schoolers.
UT Austin’s Dell Medical School offers a virtual, self-paced curriculum specially curated for middle school students. The program is specifically focused on cancer and empowers students to make an impact through engagement and cancer-related careers. The course is age-appropriate and covers all aspects of cancer, from the disease itself to how community organizations and clinicians are addressing the problems related to the disease.
This program is best suited for those who would like to specifically study cancer and improve their knowledge as well as gain skills in the field itself.
One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re looking for another way to enhance your college applications, you could also 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 4000 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!
Tamanna Parikh is an alum of Ashoka University. She studied Psychology and English at Ashoka and will be joining the University of Pennsylvania as a graduate student. She plans on studying behavioral science and specializing in decision theory at Penn.
Image Source: NSLC logo