15 Medical Internships for Sophomores in High School
For sophomores, an internship can offer meaningful exposure at a stage when they are still deciding what fields they want to pursue more seriously. If you’re interested in medicine, internships are especially valuable because the field rewards curiosity, commitment, and early engagement with healthcare settings, research, and patient-facing work. Even at the high school level, medical internships can help you better understand what a career in medicine actually involves while developing discipline, communication skills, and a stronger sense of purpose. They can also enhance your profile and stand out by showing initiative, intellectual maturity, and sustained interest in a demanding field.
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of virtual healthcare internships here.
Why should I do a medical internship in high school?
A medical internship in high school can give you firsthand exposure to the healthcare field, helping you understand the daily work, responsibilities, and challenges involved in medicine. It can also help you build relevant experience early, which is useful for future research opportunities, volunteering, and more advanced internships later on. Beyond career exploration, these programs can strengthen college applications by showing you have taken initiative to pursue learning outside the classroom.
In this blog, we’ve put together 15 medical internships for sophomores like you that can help students gain experience and explore medicine in a structured way!
1. Stanford Medicine - Clinical Anatomy Summer Program (CASP)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 (a few scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size
Dates: Session 1: June 8-12; Session 2: June 22-26; Session 3: July 6-10; Session 4: July 20-24, 2026
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: High school students aged 15+ before the session start, with an interest in exploring anatomy and pursuing future studies in medicine, bioengineering, or related healthcare fields.
The Stanford Medicine Clinical Anatomy Summer Program is a short, intensive experience that introduces you to anatomical study in a university medical setting. You can expect hands-on exposure to anatomy concepts and a closer look at how the human body is studied in medicine and related fields. The program is designed for students already interested in healthcare, so the material is focused and academically oriented. You’ll also gain insight into how medical education connects classroom learning with applied clinical knowledge. Being on Stanford’s campus gives you exposure to a structured academic environment and helps you understand what studying anatomy at a medical school level can look like.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (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.You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Georgetown University School of Medicine - Gateway Exploration Program in Medicine for High School Students
Location: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: NA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~ 11 students
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Georgetown says the program historically supported D.C. Public Schools students, and starting this summer, it also includes Prince William County Public Schools students.
The Georgetown Gateway Exploration Program in Medicine is a small, selective program that gives you early exposure to the field of medicine. You will explore medical topics in an academic setting while learning from a university-based health sciences environment. The program is useful if you want to understand what a career in medicine involves beyond general interest. With a limited cohort, you can expect a more focused and interactive experience.
4. UC San Francisco - High School Intern Program
Location: UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Interns are paid a stipend
Cohort size: Cohort of 25 Interns
Dates: June 8 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current high school juniors enrolled in an SFUSD high school or an SF public charter school.
The UC San Francisco High School Intern Program gives you the opportunity to experience a real research and academic medical environment. You may observe or assist with work connected to health sciences while learning how professionals operate in a major medical institution. The program focuses on practical exposure rather than classroom instruction alone. Since it offers a stipend, it can be a meaningful option if you are looking for both academic experience and financial support. The small cohort size also allows for more individualized interaction with mentors and staff.
5. The Scripps Research Institute - Student Research Internship
Location: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: none
Cohort size: 40 students
Dates: June 1 - August 7 and June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Applicants may include highly motivated individuals currently in high school, college, or professional programs (such as medical, law, graduate, or business school). Admission is primarily based on a demonstrated interest in genomics or mHealth translational research. High school applicants must be at least 16 years old by the start of the internship.
The Scripps Research Institute Student Research Internship is a research-focused program for students with a strong interest in genomics or translational health research. You can expect to work in a scientific environment where you are exposed to research methods, lab practices, and project-based inquiry. The program prioritizes motivation and interest, so your engagement with the subject is important. You will gain insight into how research questions are developed and studied in a professional setting.
6. Johns Hopkins Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences - Student Internship Program
Location: Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St Petersburg, FL
Cost/Stipend: none
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: vary according to the applicant
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled in high school or pursuing an undergraduate degree. A minimum commitment of two months is required for the internship.
The Johns Hopkins Student Internship Program offers you direct exposure to biomedical research over an extended period. You’ll spend time in a professional setting learning how scientific projects are structured and carried out. Since the internship requires a minimum two-month commitment, it allows you to experience the pace and depth of real research work. The flexible schedule can make the experience more tailored to your interests and availability.
7. Indiana University School of Medicine - SEED/ STEM Summer Program
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Stipends of up to $4,000 are provided to eligible students based on financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current Indiana high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have completed at least one chemistry course, show a strong interest in science or research, and can commute to the IU Indianapolis campus are eligible.
The SEED/STEM Summer Program at Indiana University School of Medicine gives you structured exposure to science and research in a medical school setting. You’ll engage in academic and hands-on learning designed to build your interest in scientific fields. Because the program expects prior coursework in chemistry, it is more focused than general enrichment programs. The availability of stipends based on financial need also makes it more accessible. Overall, it helps you understand how biomedical research and medical education function together.
8. University of Minnesota Medical School - BioDiscovery Summer High School Internship
Location: The University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
Stipend: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: Session 1: July 7 - 9 and Session 2: July 14 - 16
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students who will be entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
The BioDiscovery Summer Internship provides you with a short, structured introduction to biomedical learning in a medical school environment. You’ll participate in focused sessions that introduce scientific thinking and healthcare-related concepts. The brief format makes it manageable if you are looking for a concise summer experience. You will also gain insight into how medical education connects with research and discovery. It is a useful entry point if you want to explore medicine without committing to a long program.
9. Magee-Womens Research Institute - High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Stipend: $1,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: June 15 - July 24
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors (age 16+ by program start) with an interest in biomedical research who reside in designated southwest Pennsylvania counties.
The Magee-Womens Research Institute Internship gives you hands-on exposure to biomedical research in a specialized setting. You’ll learn how research projects are structured and how scientists approach health-related questions. The program focuses on practical experience, making it suitable if you want to go beyond observation. It also has a regional focus, which supports local student participation. This internship helps you understand research careers within a professional institute environment.
10. Stanford University Department of Surgery – High School Virtual Mentorship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: none
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
The Stanford Department of Surgery Virtual Mentorship Program allows you to explore surgical and academic medicine remotely. You’ll receive guidance that helps you understand the work of surgeons and the broader medical field. The virtual format makes it accessible regardless of your location. You will also have opportunities to engage with professionals and ask questions about medical careers. This program is especially useful if you want insight into medicine through mentorship rather than hands-on lab work.
11. UTHealth McGovern Medical School - High School Summer Research Program
Location: UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: June 8 - July 2
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors aged 16 and up
The UTHealth McGovern Summer Research Program introduces you to research within a medical school environment. You will gain familiarity with scientific inquiry, laboratory practices, and academic research culture. The structured format makes it suitable if you are looking for a serious introduction to biomedical research. Being part of a medical school setting also helps you understand how research and clinical practice are connected. This program is a strong option if you are considering a future in healthcare or science.
12. Meharry Medical College - High School STEM Internship Program
Location: Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: none
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: high school students with strong academic performance, an interest in STEM, and extracurricular involvement; students must not have graduated from high school by November.
The Meharry Medical College STEM Internship allows you to explore science in a medical education setting. You’ll participate in an academically focused experience that values strong performance and engagement. The program is suited for students who are already active in academics and extracurricular activities. You’ll also gain exposure to how STEM learning connects with medical training. This helps you better understand potential pathways in science and healthcare.
13. George Mason University - Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (may be waived based on financial need); tuition - $1299
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: June 18-August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Interns must be at least 15 years old by June 18 for remote, in-person, or hybrid computer lab internships. For “wet-lab” internships involving chemicals, biohazards, or other risks, interns must be 16 years or older by June 18, with no exceptions.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University allows you to work in a research environment through in-person, remote, or hybrid formats. You will develop research skills while collaborating with mentors on scientific or technical projects. The program offers a range of experiences, including lab-based work where applicable. You’ll also learn about the responsibilities and standards involved in real research settings. This makes it a strong option if you want practical experience across different formats.
14. Stanford University School of Medicine – Clinical Summer Internship (CSI)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $6,580 (on-campus) and $4,580 (virtual)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: NA
Dates: On-campus session: July 13 – 24 and Virtual session: July 27 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or undergraduate pre-med students must be at least 16 years old by program start
The Stanford Clinical Summer Internship introduces you to medicine through an academic and clinical perspective. You explore medical topics while gaining exposure to the culture of a leading medical school. The program is designed for students who are serious about pursuing healthcare pathways. Its structured format allows you to focus on key concepts within a limited timeframe. This helps you better understand what medical education and training involve.
15. Harvard Medical School – Pre-College Online Certificate Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895 - $2,195 (need-based scholarships are available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: vary according to the course
Application Deadline: varies according to the course
Eligibility: open to students ages 13 and up
The Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program allows you to explore medical topics through structured online coursework. You will learn through guided instruction rather than hands-on lab work, making it more flexible. The format is suitable if you want to build foundational knowledge alongside other commitments. You’ll engage with academic material that emphasizes understanding and subject mastery. This program is a practical option if you want an accessible introduction to medicine in an online format.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. As a sophomore, am I actually eligible for most of these programs, or are they mostly for juniors and seniors?
Several programs on this list are explicitly open to sophomores. Georgetown Gateway Exploration, Indiana University SEED/STEM, Magee-Womens Research Institute, ASSIP at George Mason, and the University of Minnesota BioDiscovery Internship all list sophomores as eligible. A few programs, including UTHealth McGovern and Stanford CSI, are open to sophomores but with an age minimum of 16, which some sophomores may not yet meet depending on their birthday. Ladder Internships and the Harvard Medical School online certificate program have no grade restriction at all, making them accessible regardless of class year.
2. Which of these programs do not require travel or being near a specific city?
Ladder Internships is fully remote and can be done from anywhere in the world. The Stanford Department of Surgery Virtual Mentorship Program and the Harvard Medical School Pre-College Online Certificate Program are also entirely virtual. Stanford's Clinical Summer Internship offers a virtual session as an alternative to its on-campus option. All other programs on this list require in-person attendance at a specific university or medical school campus, and several, like UCSF's High School Intern Program and Magee-Womens, are further restricted to local students.
3. As a sophomore with limited research experience, how do I make my application competitive for these programs?
Most programs at this level do not expect prior research experience, but they do look for demonstrated curiosity and follow-through, which you can show through relevant coursework, volunteer work, or any independent reading or projects related to medicine. Programs like Indiana University SEED/STEM and UTHealth McGovern do list specific prerequisites such as completed chemistry coursework, so checking eligibility carefully before applying matters. For sophomores who want to build a foundation before committing to a competitive program, Ladder Internships and the Harvard Medical School online certificate are good lower-barrier starting points that can later support a stronger application to a more selective in-person program.
Key Takeaways
This list covers 15 medical internships designed with sophomores in mind, ranging from short three-day introductions like the University of Minnesota's BioDiscovery program to extended commitments like Johns Hopkins' two-month minimum internship, with most programs hosted at university medical schools including Stanford, Georgetown, and UTHealth McGovern. The strongest stipended options for sophomores specifically are Indiana University SEED/STEM (up to $4,000 based on need) and Magee-Womens Research Institute ($1,800), both of which are explicitly open to sophomores and require applications by March 1 and TBA, respectively, so students should track these deadlines closely as they are announced. For sophomores who want a flexible, remote starting point with no grade or location restriction, Ladder Internships and the Harvard Medical School online certificate program are the two most accessible options on this list, useful either as standalone experiences or as preparation before applying to a more competitive in-person program in junior or senior year.