Best Summer Programs and Research Opportunities for Freshmen

EduretiX
Apr 7
3 min read

Updated: Nov 22

If you’re a high school freshman (or the parent of one), you might think it’s a little too early to start thinking about summer programs or research opportunities. But here’s the good news: it’s never too early to get ahead, explore your interests, and start building a foundation for your future academic path.

There are a surprising number of summer programs designed especially for underclassmen, and while many of the most prestigious research internships are reserved for juniors and seniors, freshmen can still access excellent enrichment programs that introduce them to real-world topics, college life, and hands-on learning.

Best Summer Programs and Research Opportunities for High School Freshmen

1. Engineering Tomorrow Virtual Labs (Great for freshmen right now)

If you want real engineering exposure without needing prior experience, Engineering Tomorrow is one of the cleanest entry points. Their interactive virtual labs introduce high-school students to fields like mechanical, biomedical, electrical, and environmental engineering through hands-on simulations and guided instruction. These sessions are offered at no cost to students.

Why it works for freshmen: beginner-friendly, skill-building, and free — ideal for exploration.

Stay updated at : https://engineeringtomorrow.org/virtual-labs/

2. iD Tech Camps & Teen Academies (Freshmen eligible)

iD Tech runs summer technology programs in areas like coding, AI, game development, robotics, and cybersecurity. Teen programs typically serve ages 13–18, and many sessions are hosted on major university campuses or online.

Why it works for freshmen: you can enter at an intro level and return later for advanced tracks.

Reference URL:https://www.idtech.com/camps

3. NASA STEM Challenges & Learning Programs (Freshmen eligible)

NASA’s STEM Engagement ecosystem includes national challenges, engineering competitions, and online learning experiences open to high-school students. These are a strong way to earn early STEM credentials.

Important eligibility note: NASA internships generally require students to be 16+ and are aimed at juniors/seniors, so freshmen should focus on challenges and learning programs first.

Stay updated at : https://stem.nasa.gov/

4. NSLC Medicine & Health Care (Freshmen eligible)

The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers an intensive Medicine & Health Care program that blends clinical exposure, workshops, and guest speakers at multiple campuses and online. It’s designed for high-school students, typically including rising 9th graders.

Why it works for freshmen: structured medical exposure without needing prior lab experience.

Stay updated at : https://www.nslcleaders.org/youth-leadership-programs/medicine-health-care

5. Great Books Summer Program (Freshmen eligible)

For students leaning humanities, philosophy, writing, or debate, Great Books offers residential, day, and online programs based on seminar-style discussions and intensive reading. The high-school track is open to students entering grades 9–12.

2026 snapshot: Programs run in one-week blocks across multiple campuses and online, with campus-specific tuition (example: Stanford campus residential tuition $3,575 per week; online tuition $895 per week).

Stay updated at : https://greatbookssummer.com/

There aren't many research program options for freshmen, but that's not true anymore! Okay that was unnecessarily dramatic, but EduretiX runs a lot of summer programs (online, in-person, residential) with our partner companies, where freshmen are welcome like other high schoolers. Fill this form to register your interest, and we can start planning your kid's summer already! We offer need based financial aid as well.