5 Seattle Summer Programs for High School Students
Seattle offers many opportunities for high school students looking to make the most of their summer. If you’re a high school student interested in doing a summer internship in Seattle, take a look at this list of 8 summer programs, intensives, and pre-college programs. From hands-on internships to creative arts intensives, these summer programs provide a great experience that goes beyond the classroom, helping you build valuable skills, gain real-world experience, and connect with like-minded peers.
Here’s a list of 5 summer programs in Seattle that can help you build a solid profile while still in high school.
Note: The following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Cost: Individual Research Program ($2,990), Premium Research & Publication Program ($5,900), the Research Fellowship ($8,900), Professor Premium Publication Program ($8,900). Financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varies according to the cohort. November 24 for the upcoming Winter Cohort
Program Dates: Individual Research (12 weeks) | Premium Research (16-20 weeks) | Research Fellowship (6-12 months) | Professor Premium (16-20 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to students anywhere in the world
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: Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Cost: Stipend provided
Application deadline: March 10
Program dates: July 8 – August 2
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who have not yet applied to college and live or have housing within a commuting distance of downtown Seattle. Preference will be given to students with no previous research experience
The Research Training Program is a specialized initiative led by PhD-level scientists, designed for high school students eager to deepen their understanding of biomedical research. This program offers an immersive experience in a research laboratory setting, where students can explore a wide range of topics, including biochemistry, immunotherapy, gene editing, and infectious diseases.
You will have the chance to attend lectures and engage in hands-on laboratory activities, gaining practical experience in areas such as immunoassays and microscopy. The program also includes workshops focused on college readiness and career development, providing a well-rounded introduction to the field of biomedical sciences.
Importantly, the Research Training Program is geared towards students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the biomedical and health sciences, offering them a unique opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills in this field.
Cost: AI Scholars - $2,290 (financial aid is available); AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase - $5,400; Combination (AI Scholars + AI Fellowship) - $6,900
Application Deadline: Varies according to the cohort. October 20 for the upcoming Winter cohort. You can apply here!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The Winter cohort starts in December
Eligibility: High school students passionate about AI; Basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars is required for the AI Fellowship program
Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students and our programs are geared towards high school students who want to build their foundations in computer science. In the program, students learn various concepts in data science and artificial intelligence like neural networks, image classification, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, coding using Python, and more.
Veritas AI offers up to 100% financial aid for the 10-week AI Scholars program. Through the program students build real-world, hands-on projects in groups of 3-5 students to showcase their interests and skills. You can also apply for the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase Program where you work 1-1 with mentors from top universities to build unique machine learning projects over a period of 12-15 weeks. These programs are a great option for you if you like engaging in hands-on learning and are a beginner!
Location: Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
Cost: Range from $730–$3,160 based on course selection. See details here. Financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Applications will open on October 15. It's recommended to apply early as spots may fill up quickly.
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students
Summer@Cornish is a four-week summer program designed to give high school students a mini-college experience in the arts. Held on the campus of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, this program offers students the opportunity to develop their skills and explore their passions in disciplines such as Music, Film, Theater, Art & Design, and Dance. You can view the entire course catalog here.
You will engage in intensive morning courses focused on skill development and college preparation, followed by afternoon electives for further creative exploration. You can also opt for a residential experience at Cornish Commons, adding an additional layer of community and campus life immersion.
Location: ISB labs, Seattle, WA
Cost/stipend: Interns receive a stipend of $5,000
Application deadline: March 15
Program dates: July 1 – August 23
Eligibility: Current 11th grade students
The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) offers an 8-week (~300 hours) paid summer internship for high school students interested in gaining hands-on experience in research labs such as the Baliga Lab or other ISB facilities. During this internship, you’ll engage in projects tied to ongoing ISB initiatives under the guidance of a mentor. The program provides education in systems biology, which you will apply to a specific research project. Additionally, you may develop a range of skills, including scientific, engineering, mathematical, coding, and other professional competencies.
Interns have the chance to interview ISB professionals, gaining insights into various career paths. You'll also create a website to document your internship journey and, where applicable, contribute to the development of educational curricula. Past projects span diverse topics such as computational biology, microbial interactions, system resilience, microbiome studies, microbial evolution, cancer research, systems medicine, and bioengineering using algae.
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.