12 Best Free Extracurricular Activities + Programs for High School Students
Free internships, courses, and specialized programs provide accessible opportunities for you to collaborate with and learn from professionals. Whether you're into coding, medicine, law, engineering, or business, many organizations, universities, and nonprofits offer free extracurricular activities that can help you explore these potential career paths.
What are extracurricular activities?
Extracurricular activities are any structured activities you participate in outside of your regular school curriculum. These can include academic programs, sports, clubs, internships, volunteering, music, research, part-time jobs, competitions, or independent projects. The key idea is that you're spending time outside the classroom to develop skills, pursue interests, or contribute to your community.
Participating in these activities can also significantly strengthen your college application, helping you stand out. Additionally, you'll get to work with mentors and a peer network that shares your interests. To help you get started, we've curated a list of 12 free extracurricular activities/programs for high school students. These programs are rigorous and allow you to apply what you've learned to practical projects. Many of these programs also offer the chance to publish and present your work to leading professionals, allowing you to receive constructive feedback.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts; Summer Cohort II starts July 14
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates and gap-year students
Cost: Varies according to program
Ladder Internships give you the opportunity to work with innovative startups across diverse fields, including technology, AI, finance, healthcare, environmental science, sustainability, business, journalism, medicine, media, and marketing. You'll be mentored by industry experts who've graduated from top universities like Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton, and have experience with companies such as Google and McKinsey. You'll also receive guidance from both a Ladder Coach and a startup mentor. This 8-week internship requires approximately 5 to 10 hours of work per week, during which you'll attend 8 sessions with your host company. While not free, Ladder provides over $204,000 in financial aid and is supported by more than 50 host companies. At the internship's conclusion, you'll present your findings to your host company.
2. The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS): Project Pipeline Baltimore
Location: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine campus or Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 8 high school juniors and seniors for the in-person program, Cohort size limit not disclosed for virtual program
Dates: In-person: 8 weeks; Virtual: 5 weeks
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Stipend: $15/hr for in-person program, transportation cost covered
If you're a high school junior or senior interested in neurological sciences, the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) may be a good fit for you. The program provides research experience, long-term mentoring opportunities, and access to educational resources. You'll work on a guided research project with your mentor and present your project at the program's conclusion. The program typically runs for 8 weeks over the summer. You can choose between an in-person program (which selects 8 high school students from Baltimore public schools) or a virtual program, which is 5 weeks in duration.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost: Program fees apply. However, full financial aid is available through the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation for eligible students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you the chance to work on research projects in collaboration with PhD scholars at top universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. Through this fully virtual program, you’ll work on an original research paper in fields like machine learning, behavioral economics, astrophysics, or gender studies. You can choose from multiple program tracks based on your experience level, like the Individual Research Program and, Premium Research & Publication Program. The duration of the program varies based on the track you choose. At the start of the program, you will finalize a research problem with your mentor. At the end of the program, you will submit and present at the Lumiere Research Symposium. Though the program is not free, financial aid is available to eligible students.
4. MITES Summer
Location: MIT
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Late June to early August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents, high school juniors
Stipend: Free
MITES Summer is a free, six-week residential program at MIT for rising high school seniors with a strong interest in science and engineering. You will cover courses in math, science, and humanities, alongside electives in fields like machine learning, genomics, architecture, and electronics. The program also offers lab tours, admissions workshops, and networking with STEM professionals, including MITES alumni. You'll live on MIT’s campus, collaborate with a diverse peer group, and receive personalized feedback from instructors. At the culmination of the program, you will also receive a written evaluation on your strengths and areas of improvement from your mentor. Over 30% of MITES alumni have been admitted to MIT.
5. The Metropolitan Museum Of Art High School Internship
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue (1000 Fifth Avenue) and The Met Cloisters, New York, NY
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact numbers not listed
Dates: Typically early July to early August
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Must be in 10th or 11th grade at application time
Stipend: you receive a stipend after completing the program and all required paperwork.
As a Met intern, you'll have the opportunity to work behind the scenes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. You'll be paired with staff in various departments, including education, conservation, editorial, or digital media, and contribute to real museum projects. In addition, you'll attend workshops, connect with creative professionals, and gain insight into the operations of the museum. The internship includes departmental placements, career labs, and chances to develop career readiness skills. Upon completion, you will receive a stipend.
6. Harvard–Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), Cambridge, MA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10–16 students, paired into teams of 2–3 per mentor
Dates: September through May (academic year)
Application Deadline: Varies every year
Eligibility: You must be enrolled at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS) in Cambridge, MA
Stipend: Participants receive a stipend funded by the City of Cambridge
The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) offers a year-long research opportunity for Cambridge Rindge & Latin School students. Each year, 10-16 CRLS students participate, working in teams of 2 or 3 per mentor. In this program, you will conduct an independent research project in astrophysics, guided by a CfA astrophysicist. You'll gain firsthand experience in research, collaborating with scientists from various backgrounds. Activities include weekly meetings, monthly advisory sessions, and mentorship sessions held in person or virtually. The program runs from September to May and concludes with a symposium where you will present your research findings through talks and posters.
7. City Of Hope Cancer Center’s Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, California
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective, exact numbers not mentioned on the website
Duration: 10 weeks
Application Deadline: March (might slightly vary each year)
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S citizens or permanent residents who are at least 16 years old
Stipend: $4000
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope Cancer Center offers a 10-week opportunity for high school students to study and explore biomedical research. As a participant, you will work full-time as a member of a biomedical research team. You will be mentored and guided by physicians and scientists who will help you throughout the program. You'll also attend weekly seminars to present your research findings to peers and participate in workshops covering topics such as creating research posters and biomedical ethics.
8. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History High School Internship Program
Location: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 20 students accepted
Duration: 6 weeks
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Must be a high schooler between 14 and 18 years of age
Stipend: $3,600 stipend
In this internship, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to work at a museum. You’ll team up with museum scientists, educators, and exhibit designers to learn how research and public exhibits come together. From handling collections to helping build exhibits, you'll work at museums, galleries, and research centers that make up the Smithsonian network. You’ll also join workshops and field trips. The internships are offered at the Department of Entomology and the Department of Exhibits, and you will cover areas like entomology and exhibits.
9. Crowd Math
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open to all interested high school students
Duration: Ongoing
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Stipend: Unpaid
The Crowd Math program is a partnership between MIT PRIMES and Art of Problem Solving (AoPS). As part of this program, you will have the opportunity to collaborate on research projects with expert mentors and peers. You'll engage in studying research mathematics, discussing preparatory papers, and working on both individual and group projects. Topics covered in the past include Generalizations of the Notion of Primes, Arithmetic of Power Monoids, and Factorizations in Additive Structures. The program also covers mathematical concepts like number theory and linear algebra. This is an open program that runs throughout the year, and all high school students are welcome to participate.
10. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Exact numbers not listed
Dates: Flexible.
Application Deadline: Rolling. Applications are open throughout the year
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least one honors science or honors English class and a GPA over 3.25
Stipend: Unpaid internship
The core goal of EnergyMag is to make information about renewable energy accessible, so more people are motivated to explore, adopt, and advocate for clean energy solutions. As part of the program, you’ll explore topics like emerging renewable energy technologies, energy storage, market trends, and methods to increase the share of renewable energy across the world. You will also have the opportunity to interact directly with energy experts from other organizations. Internships require approximately 20 hours per week for the summer half-time option (2-8 weeks) or about 8 hours per week for the year-round quarter-time option (1-9 months). You'll work with a mentor to research and analyze a company, technology, or market. Your mentor will then help you research and synthesize your research topic to create a final report. A Letter of Accomplishment from EnergyMag is provided upon submission of a publishable report.
11. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, Washington, and Atlanta, Georgia
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive, specific acceptance rates not disclosed
Duration: 4 weeks
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who will be rising first-year bachelor's degree students living within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia. To be eligible, students should also complete pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the program's start.
Stipend: $20/hour
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a 4-week paid internship designed to help you explore technology opportunities at Microsoft. If you are a graduating high school senior (rising first-year bachelor's degree student) near Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia, and are interested in technology, this program is for you. You will gain project experience, working in small teams on projects. This will give you exposure to areas like product development, software engineering, product management, and UX design. You will be mentored by Microsoft employees, who will help you develop professional skills.
12. NASA OSTEM
Location: Various NASA centres across the country
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive, specific acceptance rates not disclosed
Duration: Varies based on cohort
Application Deadline:
Spring 2026: September 12 | Summer 2026: February 27 | Fall 2026: May 22
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens and with a minimum 3.0 GPA and are at least 16 years old.
Stipend: Paid internship. Stipend amount varies based on academic level and session length
If you're a high school student interested in aeronautics, space microbiology, or engineering, the NASA OSTEM is a great way to explore these areas under the guidance of a NASA mentor. You'll have opportunities for training, mentoring, and career development, working alongside professionals in fields such as science, engineering, finance, IT, space microbiology, and business. As an intern, you’ll also get to contribute to live agency projects that are dedicated to advancing science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. Internships may be full-time or part-time at a NASA center or facility. Prior experience is not mandatory to be part of this internship.