15 Fall Programs for High School Students in NYC
Looking to make your fall semester more meaningful? Joining a fall program is a great way for high school students to explore their interests, build new skills, and take their learning beyond the classroom. You’ll work on projects in fields that interest you, whether that means creating a prototype, conducting research, or collaborating on community initiatives. By participating, you’ll enhance your college applications and connect with mentors who can guide you toward future opportunities.
What fall programs are available for high school students in New York City?
The city offers many programs for high schoolers through its great universities, tech hubs, cultural institutions, and museums. Several industry leaders run structured opportunities for high school students each fall, allowing you to explore potential career paths. You might conduct research alongside scientists, collaborate with professional engineers, or contribute to design studios and community projects that make an impact. Fall programs for high school students in NYC blend academics with industry experience, giving you access to valuable opportunities during your regular school schedule.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of the top 15 fall programs for high school students in NYC.
1. ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: ACE Mentor Program, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: October–May; full-year program (after-school, weekly sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Open to all NYC high school students in grades 9-12
The ACE Mentor Program lets you learn about the work of architects, engineers, and construction managers by designing and developing a realistic building project from concept through presentation. Each week, you’ll meet in offices or worksites across NYC, gaining first-hand knowledge of fields such as structural engineering, mechanical systems, and project management. Mentorship is central to ACE – you’ll work closely with industry professionals, who will provide regular feedback and share insights. The program culminates with a final presentation to experts.
2. Ladder Internships
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. American Museum of Natural History — Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,500 upon completion
Dates: 1 year; June - August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school 10th and 11th graders attending NYC schools, and taking at least one program from this list
The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) gives you an opportunity to do real science. In SRMP, you’ll be paired with a museum scientist to work on a year-long research project in fields such as astrophysics, conservation, or genetics. Before your project begins, you’ll attend a four-week summer institute to learn basic coding and research skills. The program concludes with a research symposium, where you will present your research to the AMNH community.
4. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; up to 100% need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Rolling based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students in good academic standing
The Lumiere Research Program is meant for high school students who are curious about research work. Under the program, you’ll work one-on-one with a PhD-level mentor to design and complete an independent research project in a field of your interest. Over the semester, you’ll learn how to conduct a literature review, apply research methods, and write a formal academic paper. You’ll also have opportunities to join peer review groups and receive structured feedback to help you refine your work. Mentorship is the core of the program – every student receives personalized guidance from experts in the field. At the end of the session, you’ll have a completed research paper that can be submitted to journals or competitions.
5. NYC Department of Buildings — “Next Gen” Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: NYC Department of Buildings, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: October - December
Application Deadline: September 22
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors; must apply through the DOE portal
This program lets you step into the world of engineers and inspectors who keep New York City’s skyscrapers, bridges, and buildings safe and standing. Each week, you’ll meet with NYC Department of Buildings professionals to learn about structural systems, safety codes, and urban infrastructure. The program includes site visits to active construction projects where you can see engineering in action and connect what you learn to real-world practice. You’ll also take part in group discussions and workshops on career pathways in architecture, construction, and engineering to help you prepare for the future.
6. CCNY STEM Institute — Fall After-School Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Location: City College of New York (CCNY), New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: September 13 - December 20
Application Deadline: July 31 - August 30
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 9–12
The City College of New York (CCNY) gives high school students an opportunity to study advanced topics in physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering. You’ll attend after-school classes on the CCNY campus that combine hands-on labs and collaborative projects, helping you to apply classroom theory to practice. You’ll also meet with college mentors who will help you explore pathways in engineering and STEM.
7. Cooper Hewitt Design Hive
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
Stipend: $2,000
Dates: December 2 - May 19
Application Deadline: September 26
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors
Design Hive is a place to bring your ideas to life. You’ll work in small teams to create products, prototypes, and design solutions guided by museum educators and professional designers. Each session takes you through the design process, from brainstorming ideas to building physical models. You’ll also learn about industrial and product design practices, learning how designers approach innovation in the real world. The program includes mentorship from design professionals and concludes with a showcase of your finished projects. Although this is not a fall-only program, Design Hive stands out for its real-world value and accessibility.
8. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: BioBase Harlem and Lower East Side labs, New York, NY
Stipend: $16.50/hour ($1600+ total over the course of the internship)
Dates: Varies based on program type
Application Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 9-11
The BioBus Junior Scientist Internship is meant for high school students who are passionate about science. As a BioBus intern, you’ll join a small cohort of students to conduct lab research in biology, chemistry, and engineering-adjacent fields guided by mentors. You’ll work with advanced lab equipment and design experiments at BioBase labs, learning lab techniques, analyzing data, and contributing to ongoing projects.
9. NYC FIRST Robotics — STEM Centers & FTC Season
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Location: NYC FIRST STEM Centers, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; some teams fundraise for parts
Dates: September onwards (FTC robotics season kickoff and competitions)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: NYC high school students; grades 9–12
NYC FIRST is a place for high school students who love robotics and technology in general. You’ll join a robotics team that designs, builds, and programs robots for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). You’ll work with teammates and coaches to tackle real engineering challenges, learning key skills in engineering design, coding, and mechanical systems along the way. Hands-on building and collaboration with other students and mentors are central to the program, giving you the entire experience of engineering from concept to competition.
10. CUNY College Now — Fall STEM Courses at Queensborough
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Location: Queensborough Community College (CUNY), Queens, NY
Cost/Stipend: None; tuition-free college credit
Dates: September 6 – December 20
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors; must attend a partner school, specific courses have different academic prerequisites
The College Now Program at Queensborough Community College allows high school students to get a head start on college by enrolling in college-level STEM courses that count toward both high school and college credit. Each Fall, you can choose from subjects such as engineering technology, computer science, and advanced math, taught by college faculty on the campus. You’ll complete assignments, collaborate with classmates, and experience what it is like to learn in a college environment. You’ll also get valuable insights regarding STEM careers.
11. Queensborough STEP Program (Science & Technology Entry Program)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Location: Queensborough Community College (CUNY), Queens, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Vary yearly
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: NYC high school students underrepresented in STEM
The Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at Queensborough Community College helps high school students strengthen their skills in science and mathematics through Saturday classes and research mentorship. You’ll take part in lab-based learning and STEM competitions, building confidence in advanced topics while preparing for college-level study. The program pairs you with faculty and industry professionals who will guide you through hands-on learning, while offering structured support for students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. Throughout the fall semester, you’ll take part in interactive workshops and team projects, building your technical skills and confidence for the future.
12. Solar One - Green Design Lab “Schoolyard Solar” Residency
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Solar One & participating NYC high schools, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Determined by participating schools
Application Deadline: Determined by participating schools
Eligibility: NYC high school students at participating schools; grades 9–12
With Solar One, you’ll join a clean-energy design residency that brings sustainability projects right into your school. You’ll work with Solar One educators on solar power, sustainable design, and energy efficiency projects. You might design and build small-scale solar systems, analyze your school's energy use, and develop solutions for greener, more efficient campuses. The program combines environmental science and engineering with mentorship from sustainability professionals, giving you a chance to see how technology and design can make a real impact.
13. Columbia University Science Honors Program (SHP)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $700; fee waivers available for eligible students
Dates: September - May
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12; live within a 75-mile radius of campus
The Science Honors Program (SHP) at Columbia University gives high school students an opportunity to attend Saturday courses taught by Columbia professors and researchers. Each fall, you can take classes in engineering, physics, computer science, or advanced math alongside other students. You’ll also gain access to campus labs and demonstrations, offering a first-hand look at how research takes place at a university. Moreover, you can connect with the faculty on campus, who can guide you on future STEM careers.
14. Cooper Union STEM Saturdays
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Cooper Union, New York, NY
Cost: $2,000 - $3,000, depending on the program; fee waiver available on a need-basis
Dates: 8-14 weeks in the fall, starting October 18
Application Deadline: September 21
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 9–12, from low or moderate-income households above the NYC Median income
Cooper Union’s STEM Saturdays are the perfect place for students who love tinkering, building things, and solving problems. Each weekend, you’ll take part in hands-on workshops led by university faculty. Courses rotate each semester, covering topics such as robotics, coding, sustainable design, and mechanical systems. You’ll spend each Saturday building, testing, and refining projects in a university lab. Collaboration with college-level mentors helps you sharpen both technical and teamwork skills. By the end of the program, you’ll have created functional prototypes or research projects to showcase your learning.
15. New York Academy of Sciences — The Junior Academy
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round challenges; new cohorts every fall and spring (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Fall: March 27 - July 8
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 worldwide
The Junior Academy, part of the New York Academy of Sciences, gives you an opportunity to team up with students from around the world to solve scientific challenges. You’ll collaborate with an international student team on projects in science, technology, and engineering under the guidance of STEM mentors. Over the course of the program, you’ll develop solutions to real-world problems, such as climate change or biomedical innovation. By the end of the program, you’ll present your team’s project to experts and receive feedback on your approach.
Image Source - ACE Mentor Program Logo