Psychology amplifies students' cognitive development and if you are interested in the brain and how it works, imagine a future career in psychology. The highschool stage is the perfect time to research, get practical knowledge, and study the connections between behavior, neuroscience, and human society.
The programs are designed in a way that students have the opportunity to work with real researchers, carry out experiments, and through experiential learning deep dive into the knowledge of human behavior. Whatever level of knowledge and skills you have, aspiring to know more about psychology, these programs will help you in your exploration towards understanding the branch of psychology you are most interested in.
1. Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X)
Focus: Psychology research, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience
Location: California's Stanford University (both in-person and online)
Eligibility: Students in high school, usually rising juniors and seniors
Deadline: Usually, applications open in the spring; visit the website for precise dates.
Stanford Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) summer program offers high school students a glimpse of groundbreaking work in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology. This program takes place at Stanford University and has virtual and in-person options. Students are provided with hands-on opportunities to participate in research activities, attend lectures, and conduct clinical case studies under the guidance of Stanford faculty through this program. CNI-X fosters scientific inquiry and critical reasoning while providing a distinct window into careers pertaining to the mind and mental health sciences, making the experience ideal for juniors and seniors.
2. UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Psychology Track
Focus: Developmental, cognitive, and social psychology
Location: UC Berkeley, California (residential, commuter, and virtual options)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th or 11th grade; minimum 3.0 GPA
Deadline: Applications typically open in late fall; check the site for exact dates
The UC Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Psychology Track provides a detailed overview of developmental, cognitive, and social psychology for high school students. From UC Berkeley, the program is offered as residential, commuter, or virtual, and it entails college-level coursework and full experiential learning. The vibrancy of the people's culture provides an atmosphere when the students learn the theories of psychology, participate in discussions, and earn credits, that is, at a prestigious university. Applications are open for students who have completed onc or eleventh grade with a 3.0 GPA.
3. RISE Global:
Location: Online
Program Dates: Flexible, year-round enrollment with customized timelines based on student needs.
Cost: $2,000 (publication included)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students (grades 8–12) from any country.
Deadline: Rolling admissions
Scholarships: Merit-based
RISE Global provides high school students exclusive one-on-one mentoring, helping them to create research projects that lead to esteemed publications. RISE helps students succeed academically and stand out on college applications by matching them with mentors from prestigious international universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge. RISE alumni have gained unique talents by pursuing a variety of fields, including psychology, economics, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.
4. Harvard Secondary School Program – Psychology & Neuroscience
Focus: Psychology and neuroscience coursework
Location: Harvard University, Massachusetts (online)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older
Deadline: Applications typically open in winter; check the site for exact dates
Students 16 years and over can register for online college courses through Harvard University’s Secondary School Program in Psychology & Neuroscience. Participants study the various branches of psychology and neuroscience along with fascinating academic discussions with towering scholars. Through this program, students from all corners of the world can experience the unmatched Harvard educational system while Harvard helps them through earning academic credits, learning to think critically, and understanding human behaviors.
5. USC Psychological Science & Society Summer Program
Focus: Psychological theories, research methods, and societal applications
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles (in-person)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Deadline: Applications typically open in winter; check the site for exact dates
The USC Psychological Science & Society Summer Program offers high school students (grades 9–12) an engaging introduction to psychological theories, research methods, and real-world applications. The program combines academic lectures with interactive activities and group projects at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. As they examine how psychology influences society, behavior, and decision-making, students gain hands-on experience in research planning and evaluation. It's a fantastic opportunity to research possible academic programs and careers in psychology and the social sciences.
6. Indiana University Project STEM: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Focus: Research in psychological and brain sciences
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington (in-person)
Eligibility: High school students interested in science and engineering
Deadline: Check the site for current application deadlines
Indiana University's Project STEM: Psychological and Brain Sciences track offers high school students a special chance to learn about psychology and neuroscience research. Participants in the program are introduced to scientific methods, experimental design, and data analysis through hands-on lab experiences and faculty-led instruction at the Bloomington campus. By fostering critical thinking and curiosity about the brain and behavior, it gets students ready for future research in the psychological and STEM fields. Students with a keen interest in science and engineering are the target audience.
7. UT Austin High School Research Academy (HSRA)
Focus: Interdisciplinary research experience
Location: University of Texas at Austin (in-person)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Deadline: Applications typically open in spring; check the site for exact dates
High School Research Academy High school students (entering grades 9–12) take part in an experiential, interdisciplinary research program based at the sprawling campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Participants engage with scholars and researchers on real-world projects across various topics, such as psychology neuroscience, and others. All of this is intended to help them expand their research skills, critical thinking, and confidence learning in an academic environment. HSRA is the perfect choice for students who are interested in learning more about research while in an academic environment.
8. Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA) by Child Mind Institute
Focus: Community engagement and Mental health literacy
Location: Hybrid (in-person in California and remote)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Deadline: Applications typically open in spring; check the site for exact dates
The Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA) from the Child Mind Institute is a hybrid summer program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors who are interested in mental health. YMHA combines a blend of online teaching and in-person meetups in California for mental health literacy, leadership and community participation. They give students a chance to learn from mental health professionals, explore careers in psychology, and work on community-mental-health projects. It’s really empowering to be a young person who stands up and advocates for mental health awareness and change.
9. American Psychological Association (APA) High School Internships
Focus: Various psychology-related fields
Location: Remote
Eligibility: Students in high school (some jobs might need a D.C. work permit)
Deadline: Varies depending on the internship; usually in May
There are remote internships through the American Psychological Association’s (APA) High School Internships, where students can study a variety of topics related to psychology. High school kids can work in Washington, D.C., but some jobs may require a work permit. Interns gain experience in psychological research, policy, communications, and advocacy as well as work with professionals at the largest psychology organization in the country. These internships offers an invaluable insight to the work of a psychology or mental health practitioner being ideally suited to motivated students wishing to learn and contribute.
10. UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship
Focus: Mental health careers and research
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: Usually, applications open in the spring; visit the website for precise dates
The UT Southwestern Mental Health Internship is an online program created to expose high school students to careers and research in the mental health fields. Participants not only gain insight into clinical and research environments, they participate in interactive seminars with mental health professionals and focus on psychiatric disorders, as well as therapeutic methods. This internship is a great choice for students who are interested in psychology, neuroscience or medicine to gain remote work experience and develop their professional skill set whilst being exposed to the mental health field.
11. WashU Summer Programs – Exploration Courses in Psychology
Focus: Psychology and related disciplines
Location: St. Louis's Washington University (online)
Eligibility: Students in high school (grades 9–11)
Deadline: Applications usually open in the winter; for precise dates, visit the website
The WashU Summer Programs – Exploration Courses in Psychology offer a fascinating online introduction to psychology and related subjects for high school students in grades 9–11. Through interesting lectures, discussions, and projects, students learn key concepts in social, developmental, and cognitive psychology. Through this program, students can experience college-level coursework from Washington University in St. Louis in a flexible and accessible manner, preparing them for further study in the social sciences and psychology. Its objective is to spark students' curiosity and lay a solid knowledge base.