§ NY

Research programs in New York.

171 local programs run in New York, 106 of them free or paid, and 10 explicitly prioritize under-resourced or first-generation students. Plus 210 nationwide programs open to anyone in the US.

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Local to New York

New York Film Academy
3-Week Summer Filmmaking Camp for Teens
An intensive teen filmmaking camp in which students aged 14-17 write, direct, shoot, and edit two short films while learning directing, cinematography, lighting, and post-production in Premiere or DaVinci Resolve.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Columbia University
Academic Year Programs
Make the most of the school year with on-campus or online courses, including weekend options.
📅 Fall 2026 applications now open🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Syracuse University
Accelerated Semester Online
Juniors and seniors take eight-week online university courses for college credit during the school year. Fall 2026 enrollment is active.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Wave Hill
ACES — Art, Community, Education and Science
Year-long paid youth program connecting arts education, environmental science, community engagement and informal teaching.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Acting Intensive
Conservatory-style acting training with scene work and performance development.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Acting on Camera
Students learn screen acting, audition technique and on-camera performance.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
AAHSFF
All American High School Film Festival
Largest film festival exclusively for student filmmakers.
⏱ 4 days📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Legion Department of New York
American Legion Department of New York Oratorical Contest
A public-speaking contest that challenges New York high school youth to improve their speaking skills and develop a deeper appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, with a rehearsed oration and an assigned-topic speech judged at post, county, district, and state levels. The 2026 state final was held March 7, 2026 in Albany, with the state champion advancing to the national contest at Hillsdale College.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University at Buffalo
Arcadis Pathways to Engineering Camp
Free engineering exploration emphasizing environmental impacts, laboratories and hands-on field activities.
🎓 Grade 9
Selective
Baruch College / CUNY
Baruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by a five-to-six-week faculty-mentored summer project. Recent research includes genetics, biology and environmental science; participants receive a $1,000 stipend.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore
BEYOND ALBERT High School Research Program
Eight-week full-time biomedical/cancer research placement followed by optional school-year work. Students receive a $2,500 stipend, meal support and transportation assistance.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Mountain Lake PBS
Beyond the Peaks Student Film Festival
A student filmmaking festival for ages 14-18 in New York, Vermont and Quebec, with documentary, narrative, thriller, open and 60-second categories and a Red Carpet Showcase each June.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
BioBus
BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Twelve-month paid science-research experience combining summer laboratory research with academic-year independent projects and science teaching.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Selective
Genspace
BioRocket Internship
Six-month biotechnology internship combining spring training with summer research in molecular/synthetic biology. Participants receive a $2,000 stipend.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cornell University
Boyce Thompson Institute Plant Genome Research
Paid 7-week plant-genomics research; housing provided.
📅 Not yet announced — check official site for next cycle🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The American Legion, Department of New York
Boys' State of New York
A week-long immersive citizenship and leadership program in which high school juniors build a mock state government, running mock elections and legislative sessions under American Legion and U.S. Marine guidance.
📅 April🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
Columbia University Zuckerman Institute
Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)
An eight-month neuroscience apprenticeship for NYC 10th/11th graders combining weekend coursework in neuroscience, programming, and lab techniques with a seven-week full-time summer research placement in a Columbia neuroscience lab.
📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Columbia University Zuckerman Institute
BRAINYAC
January–August neuroscience pathway culminating in seven weeks of mentored laboratory research. Participants receive a $3,500 stipend.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Art of Problem Solving Initiative
Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)
Free intensive math programs for underserved middle schoolers in NYC and LA.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 6–8
Selective
Brooklyn College / CUNY College Now
Brooklyn College STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by summer research in fields such as ecology, environmental science and biology.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Adelphi University
Business & Leadership Academy
Students conduct market research, build a startup concept, develop branding/product strategy and pitch an entrepreneurial idea. The 2026 fee was $1,000.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Adelphi University
Careers in Healthcare Academy
Students explore healthcare professions and receive hands-on preparation such as CPR, Narcan and Stop the Bleed training.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall NYO-USA
Free national youth orchestra summer training and tour for ages 16-19.
⏱ 1 month📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
University at Buffalo
Chem-E Camp
Week-long chemical-engineering program for upperclassmen interested in chemistry, physics and mathematics. The 2026 fee was $400.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
CICER Summer High School Program in Business, Economics & Data Analytics
A two-week program on Cornell's Ithaca campus where high schoolers take foundation courses in behavioral and environmental economics or global strategy plus an elective in big data analytics or engineering economics, alongside two business competitions.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
City College of New York / College Now
City College STEM Research Academy
Faculty-guided research pathway with projects that have included anthropology and stem-cell science.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
NYC College of Technology / CUNY
City Tech STEM Research Academy
High-school students complete research preparation and summer projects in engineering technology, computer science, biology and chemical technology.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Civic Spirit
Civic Spirit Civics Day
National civics competition for middle and high school students from diverse religious schools.
⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
City University of New York / NYC Public Schools
College Now
Free dual-enrollment program allowing NYC high-school students to take CUNY courses and earn college credit before graduation.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Columbia International Relations Council and Association (CIRCA)
Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition (CMUNCE)
A crisis-focused Model UN conference on Columbia's Morningside Heights campus where roughly 900 high school delegates debate international affairs across general assembly, specialized, and crisis committees.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Columbia University
Columbia Science Honors Program
Free Saturday science program for NYC-area HS students, taught by Columbia faculty.
⏱ Year-long📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University
Columbia Summer Immersion
Three-week pre-college sessions in NYC across 80+ subjects.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cornell University
Cornell School of Continuing Education Pre-College
Three or six-week pre-college programs in hundreds of subjects on campus or online.
⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Cornell University
Cornell Summer College Business
Three-week pre-college program in hotel admin, business, marketing.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Cornell Tech
Cornell Tech Summer Innovation Intensives
A three-week, non-residential summer program on Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus where high schoolers build an AI-powered product while learning ethical coding, data science, and product innovation from Cornell Tech faculty.
📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Coro Northern California
Coro Youth Fellows
Civic leadership fellowships for young people exploring careers in public affairs.
⏱ Varies📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NYU School of Professional Studies
Creative Writing (High School Academy)
A one-week intensive course in which students who have completed grades 9-11 develop fiction-writing technique, covering story structure, character development, dialogue, and description, culminating in a peer-reviewed portfolio.
🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
Columbia University Summer Immersion
Creative Writing: Introductory Workshop
A three-week workshop within Columbia's Summer Immersion program in which high schoolers write and revise free verse poetry, short prose, drama, fiction, and creative nonfiction into a final portfolio.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
CSPA Spring Convention
A three-day national scholastic journalism convention at Columbia University offering 250+ sessions on newspaper, yearbook, magazine, online media, and broadcast journalism for student editors and advisers, plus an on-site critique service and the Crown Awards.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Design Hive
Paid youth-led design initiative where students collaborate with professional designers, create projects and develop public programming. The 2027 cohort runs January–June.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Brooklyn College / partner organizations
EELS — Environment, Ecology & Learning for Sustainability
Fourteen-month environmental-science internship with training, field research and up to approximately $4,000 in stipends.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York
Empire Girls State
A week-long hands-on workshop in which high school junior girls elect officials, form political parties, and write bills to simulate New York State government.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
New York State Council on the Arts / NYS
Empire State Arts Scholarship
Need-based funding helps New York students participate in approved arts education programs. Grades 9–12 are within the eligible grade range. Note: waitlist-only for summer 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Stony Brook University
Engineering Summer Program
Hands-on engineering program using electronics, Arduino systems and design challenges. The 2026 session charged approximately $800.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Rockaway Waterfront Alliance / CUNY partners
Environmentor
Paid January–August environmental-research program focused on marine ecology and the Rockaway Peninsula.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
New York State HESC
Excelsior Scholarship
Eligible NY residents can receive tuition support to attend SUNY or CUNY tuition-free after other aid.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Studio Museum in Harlem
Expanding the Walls
Free eight-month photography program combining art, history, community research, artist workshops and exhibition curation. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend and DSLR camera.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Filmmaking Institute
Students develop, shoot and edit original films while learning directing, cinematography and production. 2026 tuition was approximately $2,200.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYC FIRST
FIRST Robotics Competition - NYC & Hudson Valley Regional
The premier high school robotics engineering competition, where student teams raise funds, design a robot, and compete in a new field game each year, with NYC FIRST providing STEM Centers with CNC routers, 3D printers, and laser cutters for team fabrication.
📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Fordham University
Five-Week Pre-College Program
Rising seniors take actual Fordham undergraduate summer courses for college credit, with commuter and online options.
🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
Adelphi University
For-Credit Pre-College Program
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors earn three college credits through subject tracks including Coding & AI, Pre-Med, Pre-Law, Psychology, Quantum Engineering, Music Production, Writing and Art.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Wave Hill
Forest Project
Paid summer internship in ecological restoration and woodland management, combined with environmental coursework and college/career development.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University Center for American Studies
Freedom & Citizenship
Free eleven-month program combining an intensive summer seminar in political philosophy with academic-year civic leadership and college preparation. Successful 2026–27 participants receive a $2,500 stipend.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
NYU Stern School of Business
Future Makers Institute
A five-day in-person business simulation experience at NYU Stern for high schoolers in grades 9-12, featuring faculty sessions, team activities, and near-peer mentoring.
📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stony Brook University
Garcia Research Scholars Program
Seven-week polymer research program for highly motivated high school students.
⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Stony Brook University
Garcia Summer Scholars
Polymer research with university mentors; partial stipend.
📅 Not yet announced — 2027 cycle dates not yet posted🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Adelphi University
Grace Pilcer Pre-College Scholars
Need-based awards of up to full tuition for Adelphi's for-credit pre-college program, prioritizing students facing financial/access barriers.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Graphic Design
Studio-based design intensive covering visual communication, typography and digital design.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York Botanical Garden
High School Explainer Program
Competitive environmental-education program where students complete 125 volunteer hours, conduct citizen-science phenology research and teach visitors; successful interns can advance to paid tiers. Spring 2027 applications are open.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia Law School
High School Law Institute (HSLI)
A free, yearlong Saturday program in which Columbia Law School students teach NYC high schoolers constitutional law, criminal law, and moot court through discussion-based seminars.
📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Brookhaven National Laboratory (DOE)
High School Research Program (HSRP) at Brookhaven
Paid summer research program for local students to gain hands-on experience in physics and engineering at a major particle physics lab.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
High School Summer 10-Day Courses
Ten-day summer precollege courses at FIT for students in grades 9-12 covering fashion, design, and related creative fields, with graded coursework and an official transcript.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
CUNY CREST Institute
HIRES — High School Initiative in Remote Sensing
Seven-week research program using GIS, remote sensing, satellite data and environmental monitoring.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
A free five-week summer program for NYC 8th-10th graders combining coding, electronics, and entrepreneurship training as students prototype an IoT-based solution to an urban 'smart cities' challenge.
📅 May🎓 Grades 9–10
Selective
The Cooper Union
Introduction to Architecture Online
A five-week online foundation studies and portfolio-development course in architectural thinking and design, with live synchronous sessions, instruction in Rhino and Adobe Creative Suite, and a final portfolio review.
📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Junior Achievement of New York
JA Business Plan Competition (BPC)
An intensive entrepreneurship education experience where high school teams develop a viable business plan for a product or service over six 45-minute sessions, competing through online and live rounds for cash prizes.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Journalism & Introduction to Multimedia Production
Students practice reporting, interviewing, writing and multimedia storytelling.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York State Unified Court System
Judiciary Civics Essay Contest
Statewide high-school essay competition addressing constitutional government, courts, law and civic participation. The 2026–27 submission window runs September–November.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Juilliard School
Juilliard Pre-College
Saturday conservatory training for talented young musicians.
⏱ Academic year📅 December🎓 Grades 5–12
Moderate
Stony Brook University
Lab Techniques in Biotechnology
Intensive laboratory experience covering contemporary biotechnology techniques. Students must have completed ninth grade; the 2026 fee was $700.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
LaGuardia Community College / CUNY
LaGuardia Community College STEM Research Academy
Research experience spanning biology, chemistry and computer science with CUNY faculty and laboratories.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
New York State Unified Court System
Law Day High School Art Contest
Students create original visual art responding to the annual Law Day theme, with statewide recognition and cash prizes.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Bar Association
Law, Youth and Citizenship Program (We the People NY)
NYSBA's civic education initiative, established in 1974, which administers New York's We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution competition alongside the state's high school Mock Trial program.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Learn & Earn
Year-round academic/career program for eligible NYC juniors and seniors culminating in a paid six-week summer internship.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Lehman College / CUNY
Lehman College STEM Research Academy
Students complete research preparation and a six-week summer laboratory experience in fields including biology, chemistry and psychology.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music Pre-College
Saturday conservatory program for serious young musicians.
⏱ Academic year📅 December🎓 Grades 3–12
Moderate
University of Rochester
Medical Exploration Pre-College Program (Explorations in Pathology)
A competitive, full-day residential pre-college program for 11th-12th graders at Strong Memorial Hospital/URMC where students learn pathology and laboratory medicine through hands-on instruction, organ dissection, and clinical shadowing.
📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Moderate
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
MELNHE High School Research Opportunity
A free, year-round hands-on lab research opportunity for high schoolers to join the Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project, processing soil and leaf-litter samples and earning optional college credit.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Museum of Modern Art
MoMA Teen Programs
Free teen programs at the Museum of Modern Art.
⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Memorial Sloan Kettering
MSK HOPP Summer Student Program
Paid cancer research at MSK for students from groups underrepresented in medicine.
⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
IMUNA
National High School Model United Nations
World's largest model UN conference held at UN headquarters in New York.
⏱ 4 days📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York Bioforce
New York Bioforce
Workforce pathway combining roughly 100 hours of biotechnology training with approximately 120 hours of mentored research.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
New York DECA
New York DECA
The state chapter for high schoolers in grades 9-12 interested in marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality, and management, offering role-play competitive events, conferences, and over $300,000 in national scholarships.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York State FBLA
New York FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
The state chapter network for high schoolers in grades 9-12 enrolled in a business-related course, offering competitive events, leadership development, and community-service activities through local school chapters.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York Association of FFA (NY Agricultural Education, with Cornell CALS)
New York FFA Association
A school-based agricultural education organization open to all New York middle and high school students, building leadership through public speaking, team challenges, and career exposure to agriculture, veterinary medicine, engineering, and entrepreneurship.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Film Academy
New York Film Academy High School Programs
Summer and gap-year programs in filmmaking, acting, photography, and game design.
⏱ 1-12 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York HOSA
New York HOSA (Future Health Professionals)
The state chapter of the national health-sciences CTSO, open to middle school, high school, and college students pursuing healthcare pathways, with regional and statewide conferences and competitive events testing healthcare skills.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Math Circle (hosted at NYU Courant Institute)
New York Math Circle High School Summer Program
An intensive three-week summer math program for high schoolers covering topics like number theory, graph theory, and knots and surfaces, offered in-person at NYU or remotely via Zoom with TA support.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Cornell University (lead institution, NASA Space Grant)
New York Space Grant Consortium
A NASA-funded statewide consortium of colleges, universities, and industry partners that funds K-12 STEM engagement, student project teams, and competitions to prepare New York students for careers with NASA and the aerospace/high-tech workforce.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
NYS FCCLA
New York State FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America)
The state association of the only national CTSO centered on family and consumer sciences, developing high schoolers' leadership and life skills through competitive events, state/national conferences, and community-service projects.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Forensic League (NYSFL)
New York State Forensic League
A statewide speech and debate league open to all New York high schools that runs an annual Grand Championship Tournament and supports member schools' forensics programs.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
US Chess Federation
New York State High School Chess Championship
A six-round Swiss-system scholastic chess tournament at the Saratoga Hilton crowning the New York State High School Champion team and individual, with the top eligible player qualifying for the Denker Tournament of High School Champions.
📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York State Bar Association / New York Bar Foundation
New York State High School Mock Trial Program
A statewide tournament-style competition in which high school teams argue a civil or criminal case before volunteer attorney judges, building courtroom procedure and advocacy skills.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Cooperstown Graduate Program, SUNY Oneonta
New York State History Day
New York's affiliate of National History Day, in which students research a historical topic tied to an annual theme and present findings as an exhibit, website, documentary, paper, or performance, advancing from regional to state and national contests.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Teachers & Writers Collaborative (with the New York State Council on the Arts)
New York State of Poetry
A free statewide program engaging high school students with poetry through a curated anthology of classic and contemporary poems, including New York State Poet Laureates, with students writing original responses published in an annual statewide anthology.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYSSEF
New York State Science & Engineering Fair
ISEF-affiliated statewide competition for original student research across science and engineering.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYS SkillsUSA
New York State SkillsUSA
The state CTSO for high school and college students in technical, skilled, and service career fields, offering contest-standard competitions, leadership development, and industry networking through local chapter advisors.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Syracuse University Newhouse School
Newhouse Summer Immersion NYC
Rising juniors and seniors spend a week in New York City exploring professional media and communications. The 2026 fee was $995.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Barnard College Pre-College Programs
NextGen Leadership Institute
Barnard's signature summer program in which high school students choose courses across humanities, social sciences, STEM, and the arts alongside a Leadership in Action workshop series examining leadership through gender and identity.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
NYC Commuter Summer
Engage in a rich and demanding academic experience on Columbia's tranquil campus, in the heart of New York City.
📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC DYCD
NYC Ladders for Leaders
Free paid summer internship program for NYC high schoolers. Stipend included; competitive admission.
⏱ 6 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Baruch College
NYC Public High School Journalism Conference
Free annual conference with reporting workshops, journalism/AI sessions, professional journalists and the Newsies student journalism awards. About 200 students from 26 NYC public high schools attended in 2026.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Columbia University Pre-College Programs
NYC Residential Summer
Engage in a rich and demanding academic experience on Columbia's tranquil campus, in the heart of New York City.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Hall
NYO-USA
Free national youth orchestra tour for top high-school musicians; full scholarship including travel and residency.
📅 Auditions typically held each December for the following summer — exact date not yet posted🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State HESC
NYS STEM Incentive Program
Top-10%-of-class NY seniors entering approved STEM majors at SUNY/CUNY can receive full resident tuition in exchange for working in a STEM field in New York after graduation.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
NYT / NABJ / NAHJ
NYT Student Journalism Institute
Paid summer journalism program at The New York Times for diverse students.
⏱ Summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
NYU
NYU PreCollege
Earn college credit across a number of artistic disciplines, including casting and auditioning, dramatic writing, producing for film and television, and more. NYU Precollege is open to all current high school sophomores and juniors.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU Tandon
NYU Tandon ARISE
Free seven-week research program for NYC HS sophomores and juniors in engineering and science.
⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Paideia Institute
Paideia Institute Living Latin in NYC
Two-week intensive Latin program in New York City for high schoolers, with site visits and immersive translation.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Parsons / The New School
Parsons Pre-College Academy
Online and in-person pre-college art and design courses.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Teachers College, Columbia University
Philosophy for Students: Dialogue to Save the World
A pre-college course using the Philosophy for Children method in which students ages 14-17 hold philosophical dialogues on justice, climate change, identity, and truth, expressing ideas through zines, creative writing, and performance.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Posse
Posse Foundation
Full-tuition leadership scholarships nominated by partner cities. High schoolers from cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta nominate by August of senior year.
⏱ Senior year📅 August🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab
PPPL Plasma Physics Research
DOE national lab program — fusion and plasma research mentorship.
⏱ 1 week + mentorship📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt Pre-College
Four-week summer college experience in art, design, and architecture.
⏱ 4 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Pratt Institute
Pratt PreCollege
A college-level art and design program on Pratt's Brooklyn campus in which high schoolers aged 15.5-18 follow undergraduate curricula in fields like architecture, fine arts, graphic design, and fashion design, earning college credit and portfolio-ready work.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Skidmore College
Pre-College Program
Students take real undergraduate courses alongside college students for credit. Residential and commuter options are available; 2027 applications open in January.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia University
Pre-College Program: Intensive Modern Chemistry Laboratory
An intensive three-week, in-person chemistry laboratory course for highly motivated high schoolers, with spectroscopy, chromatography and computer-simulation work plus a small research project and paper. Requires Algebra 1 and 2 and one year of high school chemistry; about $175 for class equipment.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
American Chemical Society
Project SEED (Summer Experiences for the Economically Disadvantaged)
A paid summer research fellowship placing high school students from economically disadvantaged families in real chemistry labs with scientist mentors for 8-10 weeks, requiring at least one completed chemistry course.
📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Wildlife Conservation Society / Fordham University
Project TRUE
Bronx students conduct authentic urban-wildlife and ecology research at the Bronx Zoo with scientists and Fordham mentors during summer and fall.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Queens College / CUNY
Queens College STEM Research Academy
Research preparation and faculty-guided projects emphasizing molecular biology and chemistry.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Queensborough Community College / CUNY
Queensborough STEM Research Academy
Students may work in biotechnology, chemistry, computer science, information security, engineering, environmental science, mathematics or psychology.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Rockefeller University
Rockefeller Summer Science Research
NYC-area students do paid biomedical research at Rockefeller.
⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
S-PREP
Free academic enrichment program for students interested in medicine and STEM, with courses and preparation spanning science, math and health.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State Education Department / HESC
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
School-nominated awards of $500 or $1,500 annually for high-achieving New York graduating seniors.
🎓 Grade 12
Selective
New York Public Library (Schomburg Center)
Schomburg Center Junior Scholars Program
A six-month program for NYC students to examine inequality and social justice through research and advocacy.
⏱ 6 months📅 January 15🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Columbia University
Science Honors Program (SHP)
A selective Saturday-morning program (10am-12:30pm, September-May) for high school sophomores through seniors living within 75 miles of Columbia's Morningside campus, with courses in the physical, chemical, biological, behavioral and computing sciences taught by active researchers. Starting Fall 2026 the annual program fee is $900 for new students ($700 returning), with hardship waivers possible.
📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Hudson River Park
Science Leadership Program
Six-week paid marine/ecology research and science-leadership internship for eligible female-identifying students from designated feeder programs.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
American Museum of Natural History
Science Research Mentoring Program
Paid year-long authentic research with AMNH scientists in areas such as genomics, evolutionary biology, astrophysics and earth science. Class of 2028 applications are expected in winter 2027.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory / Columbia partners
Secondary School Field Research Program
Six-week summer field and laboratory research experience focused on environmental and ecological sciences for students from participating schools.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
New York State School Music Association
Senior High Area All-State Festival
Selected high-school musicians perform in regional NYSSMA ensembles after competitive evaluation. The 2026 festival cycle includes November events around New York.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia Engineering
SHAPE — Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers
Three-week project-based engineering program with tracks in engineering, robotics, computing, design and related technologies.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stony Brook University
Simons Summer Research Program
Seven-week stipended research program for HS juniors in STEM at Stony Brook labs.
⏱ 7 weeks📅 Winter🎓 Grade 11
Highly Selective
New York University
Simons-NYU Science Explorations Program
A fully-funded, three-week residential program giving rising juniors, seniors, and recent grads college-level coursework and labs across biology, chemistry, neural science, physics, and psychology, taught by NYU faculty.
📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Songwriting & Introduction to Music Production
Students write original music while learning recording and digital production techniques.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU Tisch
Spring Future Artists Program
The Spring Future Artists Program is free of charge and offered to students in the Tri-state area. It is designed for students who may not have access to other programs in their schools and/or communities and who would qualify for financial aid at NYU. This program requires a 14-week commitment on Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from early February through mid-May, and is taught by faculty from the undergraduate departments.
📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spring Semester High School Internship
Students work with museum professionals, attend career workshops and explore careers in art, conservation, education and museum administration. Spring participants receive a $1,100 stipend.
🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
New York State School Music Association
Student Electronic Music Showcase
Students submit original electronic compositions for evaluation and potential All-State Conference performance/coaching.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
New York State Archives
Student Research Awards
Students create research projects using historical records and primary sources. High-school projects compete for statewide recognition.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York State School Music Association
Student Songwriters Showcase
Student songwriters submit original work for adjudication, coaching and possible performance at the statewide conference.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Natural Areas Conservancy / CUNY partners
Student Urban Nature Program
Paid summer urban-ecology internship conducting field research in places such as Forest Park and Staten Island's Greenbelt.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Syracuse University
Summer College — On Campus
Rising sophomores through seniors choose one-to-four-week residential courses spanning Syracuse's schools and colleges; credit and noncredit options are available.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Syracuse University
Summer College — Online
Three- and six-week online pre-college courses for rising sophomores through seniors, with both credit and noncredit study.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Columbia Engineering
Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
A selective three-week pre-college program for rising sophomores through recent grads offering courses in biomedical engineering, computer science and AI, data science, electrical engineering, robotics, and sustainability/environmental engineering.
📅 December🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Summer High School Research Program
Eight-week paid research program for Rochester-area students entering senior year, with projects in laser physics, plasma science, optics, materials and related fields.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Legal Outreach
Summer Law Institute
A five-week summer program for NYC students entering ninth grade that teaches criminal justice topics through daily meetings with lawyers, field trips to legal institutions, and a judge-presided mock trial competition.
📅 Rolling🎓 Grade 9
Selective
The Rockefeller University
Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
A two-week, fully-funded program for NYC public high schoolers that pairs interactive neuroscience lectures and a journal club with an original student-designed neuroscience experiment, led by Rockefeller graduate students.
📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
Summer Program for Machine Learning
A two-week, full-day program introducing high schoolers to the computer science, data analysis, and mathematical techniques behind machine learning and AI, taught by NYU Tandon faculty and graduate researchers.
📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)
Summer Science Corps
Free weeklong environmental science and ecology learning experiences for K-12 students across Central New York, delivered through partnerships with local schools, libraries, parks, and arts organizations, facilitated by ESF student mentors.
📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Summer Youth Employment Program
Massive paid summer-employment program placing NYC youth in jobs and career experiences across nonprofits, government, businesses and cultural organizations.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Rochester / Eastman School of Music
TEAMuP AI Music Production Camp
NSF-supported free high-school camp combining digital music production with artificial-intelligence tools and creative technology.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Ithaca College
Tech Innovation Summer Academy
Free residential program offering tracks in fields such as robotics, AI, app/web development, VR, gaming and hardware; tuition, housing and meals are covered and students earn 0.5 college credit.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
New York Civil Liberties Union
Teen Activist Project
Students organize around youth rights, education, health and civil-liberties issues while receiving advocacy/public-speaking training. Participants can receive a stipend or service hours. The 2026–27 cycle includes NYC, Buffalo and Nassau-area participation.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
New York Public Library
Teen Center Ambassadors
Paid teen internship in which students help develop library programs and resources, build professional skills and serve their communities.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
New York Jewish Week
Teen Journalism Fellowship
NYC-area Jewish teens report and publish professional journalism while receiving editing and mentorship; fellows receive compensation for published stories.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
TeenHacks LI
TeenHacks LI
Free high-school hackathon where programmers, engineers, designers and entrepreneurs form teams and build technology projects during an intensive event hosted on Long Island.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Cooper Union
The Saturday Program
A free, 55-year-old program offering NYC public high schoolers weekly Saturday studio classes in architecture, drawing, graphic design, media production, painting, and sculpture, with portfolio development for college art and architecture programs.
📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYU Tisch
Tisch Summer High School Four-Week Residential Program
This residential program is a commitment of four weeks on campus that encompasses a highly structured class schedule, which include projects, professional training, and collaboration. Tracks include: Animation, Dance, Drama, Production & Design, Dramatic Writing, Filmmaking, Game Design, Photography and Imaging, and Recorded Music. The program is tuition-based and culminates in four to six college credits (units).
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center
Urban Barcode Research Program
Students complete prerequisite training and then conduct year-long independent DNA-barcoding/bioinformatics research. Participants receive a $500 stipend.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute
Urban Journalism Workshop
Intensive journalism boot camp bringing together about 20 juniors and seniors from NYC and the surrounding tri-state region for reporting, writing and multimedia journalism.
🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of New York
VFW Voice of Democracy (Department of New York)
An audio-essay scholarship competition for high school students who record a 3-5 minute essay on an annual patriotic theme; New York's 2026-2027 entries are due to local VFW posts by October 31, 2026. The national grand prize is a $35,000 scholarship, with nearly 80,000 students competing nationwide.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Purchase College, SUNY
Visual Arts Institute
Intensive studio-art experience emphasizing portfolio development and multiple media.
🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Vocal Intensive
Advanced vocal training, musicianship and performance preparation.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Wildlife Conservation Society
WCS Youth JIVE — Job, Internship & Volunteering Expo
Annual youth career expo connecting students directly with volunteer, internship and job hiring managers across NYC's zoos and aquarium. More than 500 youth attended the 2026 event; 2027 updates are planned.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wave Hill
WERM — Wave Hill–Riverdale Mental Health Association Ecology Research Mentorship
Fourteen-month urban-ecology research program combining three college courses with mentored research and an approximately $3,500 stipend.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Whitney Museum
Whitney Museum Youth Insights
Paid teen programs and internships at the Whitney.
⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Workshops
Spend an afternoon exploring Pratt’s Brooklyn campus through a 3-hour hands-on workshop led by Pratt faculty.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Purchase College, SUNY
Writing for Film
Students develop screenplay concepts, characters, dialogue and film narratives. 2026 tuition was approximately $1,200.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NextGen InterArts Foundation (listed via Idaho Commission on the Arts)
XC Creative Art Contest
An international, cross-disciplinary art competition for students in grades 6-12, promoted to Idaho students through the state arts commission, celebrating originality across a range of visual art mediums.
📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
York College / CUNY
York College STEM Research Academy
Spring preparation and summer research in engineering, biology and chemical technology.
🎓 Grade 11
Selective
New York State School Music Association
Young Composers Honors
Student composers submit original music for adjudication, feedback and potential performance at the NYSSMA All-State Winter Conference.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Citizens' Committee for Children of New York (CCC New York)
YouthAction NYC Internship
A year-long civic engagement internship in which NYC teens learn fact-based advocacy in the fall, then run campaigns, meet legislators, and take an Albany lobbying trip in the spring.
🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Nationwide programs open to New York students

University of Pennsylvania
Academic English & University Readiness Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn for non-native English speakers. Students do university-style work: reading, lectures, discussions, research and group projects, ending in a final presentation. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 26 - August 8, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP)
AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
Students work alongside Army scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research projects in world-class laboratories.
⏱ 8 weeks📅 Early March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
American Foreign Service Association (AFSA)
AFSA National High School Essay Contest
An essay contest designed to engage students in thinking about peace and conflict resolution.
📅 February 15🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
AI Scholars at CMU
Free AI-focused summer program for rising seniors underrepresented in computing.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
AI4ALL
AI4ALL Open Learning
Girls in grades 6-12 learn AI and Python through interactive virtual classes.
⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AIME
Invitational round for top AMC scorers. 15-question, 3-hour exam that gates the USAMO. No fee for invited students.
⏱ 3 hours📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Freedom Forum
Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference
An all-expenses-paid journalism conference for one student from every US state and DC.
⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Amazon
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
Scholarship for high school seniors planning to study computer science in college.
⏱ 4 years scholarship📅 December 1🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Mathematical Association of America
AMC 10/12
The entry-level American Mathematics Competition. Top scorers qualify for AIME and the path to the USAMO. Open to all US high schoolers; school registration required.
⏱ 75 minutes📅 November🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
ACSL
American Computer Science League (ACSL)
A multi-division computer science competition covering both theory and programming.
⏱ School year📅 November 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Online Seminar
Two-week online seminar (daily Zoom sessions) teaching basic ASL conversation and narrative skills in an immersion setting, plus Deaf community perspectives through vlogs, lectures and a panel of Deaf professionals. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 13 - 24, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Highly Selective
Amgen Foundation
Amgen Scholars Future Track
Free online biotech simulations and pipeline programs preparing high schoolers for biomedical research.
⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Apple Inc.
Apple Swift Student Challenge
Swift coding competition hosted by Apple to showcase creativity and app development skills.
⏱ 1 month📅 February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Berklee College of Music
Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive
The world's premier summer performance program for contemporary music, including jazz, rock, and pop.
⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Astronomical Techniques Research Academy
Two-week residential academy at Penn. Students learn observational astronomy and data analysis, build simple cameras and spectrometers, observe the Sun and stars, and analyze data with Python. Current 9th-11th graders; non-credit.
⏱ 2 weeks (July 11 - 25, 2026)🎓 Grades 9–11
Moderate
NCWIT
Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
Award for girls and non-binary students in computing, providing recognition and a cash prize.
⏱ One-time📅 April 15🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bard College at Simon's Rock
Bard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
MIT Lincoln Lab
Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Free MIT-led project-based courses in AI, robotics, cybersecurity.
⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grade 11
Selective
ELASH / Bebras US
Bebras Computing Challenge (US)
An international computational thinking and informatics competition. Students can take the test remotely or through a local school coordinator.
⏱ 45 minutes📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

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