Social Science programs for high schoolers.
49 programs indexed in social science. 38 are free or pay a stipend. 25 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new social science program.
All social science programs
- SelectiveAmeriCorpsAmeriCorps Summer of Service
Service opportunities for teens through select programs.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAshokaAshoka Young Changemakers
Global community of young people (10–20) already leading social innovation projects; selected changemakers receive mentorship, storytelling support, and network access.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Ongoing fellowship📅 Rolling · by country🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAspen InstituteAspen Challenge
City-based design challenge for high school teams to solve community problems.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBank of AmericaBank of America Student Leaders
Paid 8-week summer internship with nonprofits + leadership summit in DC.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ 8 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateBrown UniversityBrown Leadership Institute
Pre-college leadership program at Brown. Need-based scholarships.
📍 RI⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateBrown UniversityBrown Pre-College
On-campus and online courses across the liberal arts.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 1-7 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveTexas Tech UniversityClark Scholars Program
Intensive research with TTU faculty across STEM and humanities. $750 stipend, room and board covered.
📍 TX (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveThe Concord ReviewConcord Review (Humanities Publishing)
The only quarterly journal publishing high school history research worldwide.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCrisis Text LineCrisis Text Line Counselor
Volunteers over 18 (or high school seniors) provide mental health support via text; requires 200 hours of commitment.
📍 Online⏱ Ongoing📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveDartmouth CollegeDartmouth Bound (Free)
Free fly-in program for high-achieving, low-income juniors.
📍 NH⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveDavis United World College ScholarsDavis Projects for Peace
$10,000 grants for undergraduates worldwide to design and implement grassroots peace projects.
📍 Various📅 January🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveDebate MateDebate Mate
After-school debate mentoring by university student coaches, delivered to state schools across the UK and now internationally; free for participating schools.
📍 UK + Global partner schools⏱ School-year program📅 School enrolment: fall🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveGenZ Girl GangGenZ Girl Gang Virtual Internship Program (Open to all GS)
A network for students to find virtual internships in tech, non-profits, and policy. Focuses on social impact projects led by youth.
📍 Online⏱ 8-12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateUN FoundationGirl Up Leadership Summit
Annual leadership summit in Washington, DC for girls, women, and non-binary students worldwide, with workshops on advocacy, policy, and organizing.
📍 Washington, DC + Global chapters⏱ 3 days (summer)📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUnited Nations / WHOGlobal Youth Mobilization Fellowship
An online-based global youth leadership accelerator focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months (Learning)📅 May (Annual)🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveNASA / University of ToledoGLOBE Mission EARTH (GME)
A year-long club-based program where students engage in data-driven environmental justice projects and present to scientists.
📍 Online / Various⏱ Year-round📅 October 31🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveHarvard International ReviewHarvard International Review Academic Writing Contest
A rigorous economics essay competition organized on a global scale.
📍 Online📅 October 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateHarvard UniversityHarvard Pre-College (Need-Based Aid)
Pre-college courses with substantial need-based scholarships covering up to full tuition.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2-7 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateHarvard UniversityHarvard Pre-College Program
Two-week residential program in 50+ disciplines.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveHorizonHorizon Academic Research Program
Trimester-style research cohort with university faculty. Full scholarships available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Notre DameInequality in America: America's Social and Economic Inequities
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 July 18, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveiGeoInternational Geography Olympiad
International geography olympiad with written, multimedia, and fieldwork tests.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 National selection Spring🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateTerra ScienceInternational Journal of High School Research
Open-access peer-reviewed journal for HS research across disciplines.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveIYRCInternational Youth Research Conference & Mentorship
Student-run research group providing mentorship and resources for high schoolers to conduct and publish original research.
📍 Online⏱ Flexible📅 May (for summer/fall)🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveJHSSJournal of High School Science
STEM and humanities journal for high school students.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateJRHSJournal of Research High School
Multidisciplinary peer-reviewed HS journal.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveLumiere EducationLumiere Research Scholar (Aid)
Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Notre DameNotre Dame Leadership Seminars
Free residential seminars for outstanding rising seniors.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 10 days📅 February🎓 Grade 12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of Notre DameNotre Dame Summer Scholars
Two-week immersion in 25+ academic fields.
📍 Notre Dame, IN⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveOhio State UniversityOhio State Young Scholars Program
Free year-round academic + research support for first-gen Ohio students.
📍 OH⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveOxford UniversityOxford UNIQ Summer School
Free residential summer school for UK state-school students.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week📅 January🎓 Grade 11 - SelectivePeace FirstPeace First Mini-Grants
Digital platform and mini-grants (up to $250) for 13–25-year-olds anywhere in the world to design and launch a project responding to injustice in their community.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Project-based📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectivePioneer AcademicsPioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectivePolygencePolygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAmerican Political Science AssociationRalph Bunche Summer Institute
Funded political science research for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveRiseRise (Schmidt Futures × Rhodes Trust)
Global program identifying brilliant young people who need support. Scholarships, mentorship, funding.
📍 Multiple + Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Lifetime support starting at age 15-17📅 January🎓 Grades 9–10 - SelectiveUniversity of Alaska FairbanksRural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)
Free college-prep and research program for rural Alaska Native and rural Alaska students.
📍 AK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveStanford School of MedicineStanford AIM-HI
Free Stanford program for under-resourced Bay Area students interested in health equity careers.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11 - ModerateStanford UniversityStanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Residential courses in humanities, social sciences, and STEM.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 8–11 - SelectiveThe Diana AwardThe Diana Award
International charity honoring young people (9–25) for social action or humanitarian work; programmes include mentoring, anti-bullying, and the Legacy Award.
📍 Remote (Global)⏱ Varies📅 Nominations open year-round🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAspen InstituteThe Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange
A high school program focusing on international affairs and cultural exchange between US and Middle Eastern students. Online workshops.
📍 Online⏱ 6 months📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–11 - SelectiveThe Young ResearcherThe Young Researcher
Peer-reviewed journal for IB Extended Essay and similar research.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUnited NationsUN Youth Opportunities Board
Curated board of fellowships, internships, and youth advisory roles across the UN system.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUNESCOUNESCO Youth Programmes
Rolling list of UNESCO calls: youth forums, writing prizes, sustainability grants. Open to youth worldwide.
📍 Various📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUSCUSC Bovard Scholars
Fully-funded college-prep and academic program for high-achieving, low-income California juniors.
📍 CA⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUW-Madison PEOPLE Program
Free year-round college-prep + research for Wisconsin students of color and first-gen.
📍 WI⏱ Year-round + summer📅 Rolling (school-based)🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateDemidecWorld Scholar's Cup
Team academic tournament — debate, collaborative writing, quiz bowl, and scholar's bowl — with regional, global, and Tournament of Champions rounds at Yale.
📍 Regional rounds worldwide⏱ 2–3 days per round📅 Rolling · regional dates🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateYale UniversityYale Young Global Scholars
Two-week interdisciplinary academic enrichment program.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveYale UniversityYale Young Global Scholars (Need-Based Aid)
YYGS offers full need-based scholarships covering tuition, travel, and room.
📍 CT⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–11