Pre-Med Summer Internships for High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide
For academically successful high school students, the path to becoming a physician is often a top aspiration. However, medicine offers a vast range of career possibilities in caretaking, policy, and management. High school is the perfect time to explore those options through shadowing or interning in hospital and care administration settings. These experiences not only enhance college applications but, more importantly, help students determine if a career in medicine is the right fit and, if so, how they would like to be involved in the healthcare system. Participating in a medical internship is an excellent way to develop informed opinions on this range of occupational prospects.
Benefits of Pre-Med Internships
Pre-med summer internships offer high school students a unique opportunity to:
- Explore different career paths within medicine, including clinical work, drug discovery and development, and hospital administration.
- Gain firsthand experience in a medical environment, helping them decide if a career in medicine is right for them.
- Boost their extracurricular profile on college applications.
- Develop valuable skills and knowledge in the biological sciences and healthcare.
- Network with healthcare professionals and other students pursuing careers in medicine.
Central Louisiana AHEC offers health career enticement programs designed to recruit students into medical careers early in their educational experience. These programs provide the necessary knowledge and tools to accomplish their goals. Career enticement programs help students plan for their futures and make informed decisions based on exploration of healthcare fields, contact with practicing healthcare professionals, interaction with other students pursuing a career in healthcare, hands-on activities and experiences and more.
Featured Pre-Med Summer Internship Programs
Here is a curated list of medical internships for high school students, offering diverse experiences and opportunities:
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR): This eight-week program invites students from diverse backgrounds to perform basic research with Stanford faculty and fellows on a medically oriented project.
Read also: California Pre-Med College Guide
Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP): SHIP is an eight-week paid internship for high school students that includes one week of hands-on training in lab techniques and seven weeks of supervised work in a Fred Hutch faculty member’s research lab. Participating high school students also attend weekly workshops and seminars and make a final presentation.
Harvard Medical School Project Success: "Project Success: Opening the Door to Biomedical Careers" is a program for Boston and Cambridge high school students, particularly underrepresented students, to participate in paid, mentored, four-week summer research internships at Harvard Medical School. The program is augmented by seminars, workshops, site visits, and career counseling.
Red Cross Bay Area Leadership Development Center (LDC): LDC is a four-day conference at Loma Mar’s Redwood Glen Camp & Conference Center that provides opportunities for youth ages 13-18 to develop and cultivate core leadership skills and to participate in workshops on topics such as disaster preparedness, international services, and more.
National Human Genome Research Institute Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research: This program immerses students in an environment devoted to better understanding the underlying causes of human genetic disease. High school students in the program attend the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Seminar Series, intended to increase the breadth of a student’s experience. At the end of the summer, students present at the annual NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day.
University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS): The university’s four-week intensive training program is designed to expose students to a broad range of molecular, microbiological, and cell biological techniques currently used in research labs. Lectures are also presented to students to provide background and introduce new concepts.
Read also: Path to Medical School
The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research: Wistar’s High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research offers high school students the hands-on opportunity to take part in experimental research projects in areas such as cancer biology, genetics, vaccine development, bioinformatics, and infectious diseases. Students will be introduced to valuable research skills including searching and reading scientific literature and effective scientific communication.
Medical College of Wisconsin Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM): AIM provides carefully selected high school students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to stimulate their interest in careers in medicine, biomedical research, and allied health. AIM emphasizes academic preparation, achievement, and career awareness.
J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Internship Program: The JCVI Summer Internship Program is a highly sought-after opportunity designed to mentor and inspire the next generation of scientists. The in-depth, structured research experience includes a dedicated mentor, collaboration and networking with world-class scientists, hands-on participation in research projects, access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and a judged poster presentation.
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Summer Volunteer Program: As an outreach initiative with the objective of training the next generation of cancer researchers, the summer research volunteer program at Georgetown Lombardi puts students in touch with experts devoted to preventing, treating, and curing cancer. Participating high school students gain access to research scientists who work in a range of fields across Georgetown University Medical Center. The high school program runs for 8 weeks, during which students work full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of a research scientist.
Scripps Research High School Student Summer Internship Program: At the Scripps Florida campus in Jupiter, Florida, high schoolers engage in a nine-week hands-on research experience for rising juniors and seniors in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Read also: Comprehensive UCLA Pre-Med Advice
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center High School Summer Program: The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences introduces interested and qualified Texas rising seniors to a research environment and provides firsthand experience in the varied career opportunities available at the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment center. The laboratory experience is supplemented by seminars and activities such as abstract, poster, and elevator speech competitions.
Washington University School of Medicine Young Scientist Program (YSP): YSP aims to attract historically excluded groups in science to scientific careers by bringing resources and scientists directly to teachers and students in the St. Louis area. To achieve this mission, the program features paid summer research internships, hands-on scientific demonstrations, field trips to Washington University campuses, and individual and personalized mentoring.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Summer Internship in Biomedical Research: The NHLBI is another division of the NIH that holds a summer internship for high school students in biomedical research. The program invites top high school students 17 years or older to conduct research under award-winning scientists and principal investigators.
Salk Institute Heithoff-Brody High School Scholars Program: In partnership with the Biocom Institute Life Science Young Leaders High School Internship program, the Heithoff-Brody Summer Scholars program is an eight-week paid internship for San Diego County residents. Besides conducting research under a mentor in a Salk lab, students will participate virtually in seminars, workshops, data analysis projects, and other enrichment activities, before presenting their research projects at the end of the internship.
Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE): Massachusetts high school students are introduced to the world of cancer research through placement in real research settings at local cancer research institutions with the goal of encouraging pursuit of future careers in the biosciences.
Forsyth Institute Student Scholars Summer Internship Program: An eight-week internship for Massachusetts high schoolers, the student scholars program pairs students with Forsyth faculty researchers as mentors. Interns learn basic laboratory techniques by participating in their mentors’ research projects and present their findings at the end of the program.
Magee-Women’s Research Institute (MWRI) High School Summer Internship Program: MWRI is an independent research institute and one of the largest institutes in the nation focusing on reproductive biology, women’s health, and infant health. The high school summer internship program allows students to participate in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research for four weeks under the guidance of an investigator at MWRI or Magee-Women’s Hospital.
Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship: This summer internship is an intensive course for high school students considering careers in science and medicine designed to provide knowledge of cardiothoracic surgical anatomy and physiology as well as surgical techniques that will be utilized in pre-medical and medical training. Interns will achieve the goals of understanding principles of cardiac and thoracic diseases and surgery, demonstrating fundamental surgical skills, and practicing cardiothoracic surgical procedures.
TGen Helios Scholars: Helios Scholars at TGen is a paid, eight-week summer internship program open to graduating seniors in Arizona. Interns work full-time on a research project under the mentorship of a TGen scientist to unravel the genetic components of diabetes, neurological disease, and cancer. Internships are available in all areas of translational bioscience: laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration.
Medicine High School Specials (Projects Abroad): These programs mainly focus on clinical experience, with opportunities to work in various departments depending on the destination. In some locations, students may work with an ambulance unit or focus on preventative care through outreach and education. These programs are ideal for young people interested in becoming doctors and nurses. Projects Abroad also offers medical projects for high school students in Argentina with a focus on Spanish immersion.
Additional Internship and Program Options
Here are some additional pre-med summer programs for high school students to consider:
KP Launch Internship Program (Kaiser Permanente): This seven-week program takes place at medical offices throughout Northern California and offers opportunities in departments including nursing, internal medicine, administration, and patient care services. Priority is given to high school seniors and juniors.
Summer Medical Academy (Rady Children's Hospital San Diego): This program gives high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers the opportunity to explore medical training and practice. Prospective participants are admitted based on their interest in a health career, participation in extracurricular activities, and scholastic achievement.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Founded by Harvard & Oxford researchers, this is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program pairs high-school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have written an independent research paper.
Cleveland Clinic Internships: The Cleveland Clinic hosts three unique, paid internships for high schoolers covering clinical, non-clinical, and advanced technology fields.
AIM-High (Nova Southeastern University): Through AIM-High, students will gain hands-on medical experiences, such as using technology in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, alongside NSU medical students and staff.
Ladder Internships: In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. This highly flexible program is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students.
Tips for Finding and Applying to Pre-Med Internships
- Start early: Begin your search for internships well in advance of the summer. Many programs have application deadlines in the winter or early spring.
- Network: Talk to your school counselor, science teachers, and family friends who work in the medical field to learn about potential opportunities.
- Tailor your application: Carefully review the requirements for each internship and tailor your application to highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
- Highlight your interests: Be sure to express your passion for medicine and your specific interests within the field.
- Proofread: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread it for any errors in grammar or spelling.
The Value of Extracurriculars
These types of extracurricular activities are divided into four tiers, with tier 1 representing the most exceptional and rare extracurriculars and tier 4 representing the most common activities admissions committees see. If you’re applying to highly selective schools, it is recommended to have at least a few tier 1 and 2 activities to set yourself apart from other applicants. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator can let you know how your internship impacts your chances! This tool uses factors like grades and test scores-along with other variables, like internships-to calculate your odds at hundreds of colleges.
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