10 Great Pre-Med Programs for High School Students
A pre-med program for high school students offers an early introduction to medicine and health sciences, helping you explore your interest before entering college. These programs typically combine coursework, hands-on experiences, and mentorship opportunities to provide a well-rounded foundation. Each program is unique, but you may find yourself shadowing healthcare professionals, engaging in laboratory work, attending medical lectures, and learning about the college application process for medical schools.
Pre-med programs allow you to confirm your interest in a healthcare career while strengthening your college application. Participation demonstrates initiative, commitment, and relevant experience, making you a stronger candidate for pre-med or related undergraduate programs. Additionally, the connections and recommendations you gain can be invaluable during the college admissions process. Here is a list of 10 great pre-med programs!
1. Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA)
The Medical Immersion Summer Academy (MISA) is a five-day program offered during the spring and summer, with the same curriculum for each cohort, allowing you to choose the dates that suit you best. This program provides hands-on clinical experience in various medical settings and focuses on three key areas: clinical training, networking, and certifications.
Clinical training includes workshops on suturing, EKG, splinting, patient vitals, patient simulation, phlebotomy, and bedside manner. Certifications include CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. You’ll also participate in professional development workshops covering college applications, interview skills, and resume writing. Additionally, you'll have opportunities to connect with health professionals and learn about their careers.
Cost: $1400 + $50 application fee.
Location: Oakland, CA.
Application Deadline:
Applications for the spring cohort typically close in January.
Applications for the summer cohort typically close in March.
Program Dates: Cohorts are available from March to July.
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older can apply.
2. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Hosted by the Stanford School of Medicine, the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is tailored for low-income, first-generation students aspiring to careers in health. With a small cohort of just 25 students, SMYSP emphasizes personalized mentorship, providing significant 1:1 support.
Participants attend medical and health lectures, engage in internship placements, complete a public health research project, and participate in tours and demonstrations led by healthcare experts. A key advantage of this program is the ongoing mentorship it offers after completion, assisting with volunteer opportunities, college applications, and formal internships.
Cost: Free!
Location: Stanford, CA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: The program runs for 5 weeks, between June and July.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors residing in Northern California and who come from low-income, first-generation backgrounds can apply.
3. Rady Children’s Medical Academy
The Medical Academy at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego is designed for high school students with a strong interest in healthcare careers. The program includes lectures, skills clinics, a group research project, and panel discussions. The diverse hands-on experiences aim to prepare you for a compassionate and insightful professional career while also enhancing your college applications by demonstrating your commitment to the field.
They offer two sessions of their signature two-week Summer Medical Academy (SMA), along with three three-day Weekend Medical Academy programs. Additionally, there is a three-day Advanced Medical Academy program exclusively for Medical Academy (MA) alumni. Learn more about the program here.
Cost: $2,900.
Location: San Diego, CA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: The program runs for two weeks during summer.
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 15 or older, with a demonstrated interest in healthcare and a strong academic record can apply.
The Summer Academies at the University of Pennsylvania offer a biomedical research academy for high-achieving students interested in a medical career. The program includes lectures by scientists, faculty, and clinicians, and small group work with faculty mentors to develop skills in reading, analyzing, and evaluating primary sources and scholarly research. These skills can set you apart on college applications.
Additionally, you’ll conduct experiments in state-of-the-art laboratories, with past projects focusing on topics like blood type determination, gene expression investigation, and tracking mock disease outbreaks.
Cost: $9,499. Some financial aid is available for Philadelphia residents.
Location: Philadelphia, PA.
Application Deadline: applications open in late fall.
Program Dates: The program runs for three weeks in July.
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders who have completed one year of high school biology, with one year of chemistry, can apply.
5. William and Mary Pre-College Online Programs
The University of William and Mary offers online programs designed to help high school students prepare for college and future careers, including a course on medicine, disease, diagnostics, and intervention. This course covers the common causes of disease, such as viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens, with topics including influenza, staph infections, and malaria, along with how doctors address antibiotic resistance.
Students are assigned a mentor for support, though all lectures are asynchronous. The program culminates in a final project where students create a patient case file focused on one of the diseases studied, which they present via video. Participants receive a certificate of completion from William and Mary.
Cost: $1,495.
Location: Virtual.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can access the application form here!
Program Dates: There are multiple program dates available throughout the year.
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older can apply.
6. Georgetown University Pre-Med Program
Georgetown University offers a pre-college program called Medical Research, which provides an overview of the medical field and foundational skills for future studies and internships. Students are assigned a mentor to assist with assignments and questions. In addition to studying evidence-based medicine, the program includes coursework on medical ethics. The curriculum emphasizes the process and methodology behind medical research, culminating in a capstone project that demonstrates the student's skills and knowledge.
Cost: $1,795.
Location: Virtual.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can access the application form here!
Program Dates: Students can choose from one-week intensives, two-week sessions, and four-week sessions throughout the year.
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older can apply.
7. University of Washington UDOC
The UDOC high school summer program, hosted by the University of Washington, is a free, six-week program that allows students to explore a variety of healthcare careers, including dentistry, internal medicine, nursing, and physical therapy. Participants work with a mentor, engage in assignments, and discuss career options. The program also includes demonstrations, workshops, and clinical experiences.
Cost: Free!
Location: Three weeks virtual and three weeks in-person in Seattle, WA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Program dates: The program typically runs from July to August.
Eligibility: Current high school students in Washington state, completing their junior year by July 1, 2024, with an interest in health sciences, coming from an underrepresented background in health professions, and holding US citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA status can apply.
8. NSLC High School Summer Pre-Med Programs
The NSLC hosts Medical and Healthcare programs at various locations across the U.S. each summer. These nine-day programs include both a medical curriculum and a leadership component. Students live on campus at their chosen university, attend lectures, go on field trips, meet with doctors and scientists, and participate in hands-on workshops in areas like emergency medicine and surgery. NSLC's national recognition helps students stand out in college admissions, and the program offers a taste of college life.
Cost: The cost ranges from $3,895 to $3,995, depending on the location. Some scholarships and payment plans are available.
Location: Varies depending on the university.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: The program runs typically from June to August.
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors between 14-18 years old, demonstrating academic excellence and leadership skills, can apply. Students must be invited by nomination from a teacher or counselor.
9. Rice University Pre-College Program
Rice University offers an online, asynchronous pre-med program that runs year-round. The curriculum covers diagnostics, treatment, and patient care, with video lectures on the roles of different medical professionals, physical exam techniques, and the body's systems, including the endocrine and neurological systems. The program concludes with a significant capstone project where students analyze a patient case study, supported by a mentor and medical simulations. This rigorous program provides a strong foundation in pre-med concepts, making it an impressive addition to college applications.
Cost: $1,495.
Location: Virtual.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: Multi-length courses are available throughout the year.
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older can apply.
10. Virginia Tech Jump Start Program
Virginia Tech's Jump Start program accepts only 40 high-potential students each year. The program includes two Saturday sessions focused on medical careers, hands-on problem-based learning, and conflict resolution training. Participants also have the option to attend a four-day residential experience at the Blacksburg campus as a capstone, which is provided at no cost.
Cost: Free!
Location:
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA.
SOVAH Health, Danville, VA.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in September.
Program Dates: The program consists of two Saturday sessions during the school year and four days during the summer.
Eligibility: High school students in 11th or 12th grades can apply.
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