15 Prestigious Psychology Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in psychology, consider pursuing an internship in the field to gain hands-on experience. Psychology helps us understand why individuals think, feel, and behave the way they do, and participating in an internship will provide insight into how these questions are explored in a professional setting. You’ll also get to develop your communication skills and network with experts who could write your letters of recommendation for college.
As a psychology intern, you may help collect data for a research project, observe behavior studies, or assist mentors as they analyze patterns and outcomes. Working in these environments will help you see how theory is applied and how psychologists use evidence to better understand the human experience. Whether you’re drawn to neuroscience, developmental studies, or counseling, internships can help you explore where your curiosity fits within the field. With that, here are 15 prestigious psychology internships for high school students that include research exposure, mentorship, and engagement with the study of the mind.
15 Prestigious Psychology Internships for High School Students
1. Internships at American Psychological Association (APA)
Location: Remote or Washington, D.C. (varies by position)
Stipend: Paid and unpaid options available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Year-round (spring, summer, fall, and winter sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students residing in states where APA is a registered employer; Must be enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution; Students under 18 must submit an official District of Columbia Work Permit with their application
The APA Internship Program places you within the American Psychological Association, where you will work alongside staff in departments that match your interests and career goals. As a participant, you will get to choose from a range of positions in areas such as policy, research, communications, operations, publishing, or education. You’ll also be paired with a supervisor who will guide your daily work and help you meet your learning goals. Depending on your placement, you may assist with research projects, contribute to reports, help develop communication materials, or support ongoing administrative or outreach efforts. The program also gives you opportunities to attend workshops, group discussions, and collaborative projects that connect classroom knowledge with professional practice.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25%; Around 100 students per cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships connects you with startup and nonprofit teams for an eight-week remote project experience. As a participant, you will be matched based on your interests and will be expected to work for about 10-20 hours per week. You will receive regular check-ins and feedback from your host company. If you’re interested in psychology, placements may involve research support, behavioral analysis, or projects related to human-centered design and decision-making. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a project and deliver a final presentation, gaining practical exposure to how early-stage companies operate and collaborate.
3. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Summer Research Internship Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $15.00 per hour
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 6 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students (18+) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The NIDA Summer Research Internship Program is a national initiative that allows you to work in labs studying substance use and addiction through biomedical, behavioral, and social-science frameworks. As part of the program, you’ll take part in projects that focus on psychological factors, clinical patterns, or community influences connected to substance-use disorders. Your work can involve gathering behavioral data, assisting with study procedures, or contributing to analyses that examine treatment outcomes. A research mentor guides your day-to-day tasks and helps you understand the methods used in addiction and behavioral-health research. Throughout the program, you’ll create short reports or data summaries that match the expectations of your research group. Regular discussions and lab meetings introduce you to ongoing questions in addiction science, including how psychological and environmental factors shape substance use.
4. Barrow Neurological Institute: Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 5 – July 9
Application Deadline: January 6 – February 10
Eligibility: High school students (16+) interested in neuroscience or laboratory research
The Barrow Neurological Institute High School Research Program places you in a neuroscience research environment where you’ll assist with ongoing lab projects and departmental activities. You may contribute to studies in areas such as neuroimaging, neuropsychology, or biomedical research while learning how data is collected, analyzed, and interpreted. The program includes lab work, literature reviews, and seminars led by scientists and clinicians, offering structured exposure to neurological research methods. You’ll also take part in discussions and research presentations that help you understand how scientific findings are developed and communicated. By the end of the program, you’d have completed a research project under the guidance of your mentor and presented your work to peers and faculty.
5. UCLA Neuroscience High School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly specified
Program Dates: June 15 – July 23
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Neuroscience High School Scholars Program at UCLA introduces you to the study of brain health and neurological disorders with a focus on Alzheimer’s research. You’ll attend seminars, journal discussions, and guest lectures led by clinicians and researchers from UCLA’s Department of Neurology. The program includes interactive lab simulations and guided sessions where you learn how research questions are developed and tested. You’ll also attend neurology grand rounds to observe how medical and research teams communicate their findings. Working in small groups, you’ll design a research project and present your conclusions to faculty and peers at the end of the program.
6. Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy
Location: California (Hybrid: on-site, virtual, and in-person internship)
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Summer and year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; February 15 (priority); March 31 (final)
Eligibility: High school students in California with an overall GPA of 2.5+
Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month hybrid program that introduces you to careers in mental health through paid training, mentorship, and internships. During your first summer, you’ll participate in a five-week, project-based academy that combines lessons on mental health science, treatment approaches, and community impact. You’ll collaborate with peers on a capstone project that integrates research, writing, and creative presentation to explore a mental health topic of your choice. Throughout the academic year, you’ll continue your learning through monthly workshops, mentoring sessions, and college access activities, both virtual and in-person. In the second summer, you might complete a paid internship with a mental health organization, gaining practical experience in areas such as research, advocacy, and data analysis.
7. The AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: October 10 – January 9
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who are U.S. citizens with a GPA of 3.0+
The AFRL Scholars Program is a research initiative that connects you with Air Force laboratories to work on projects tied to science, technology, and human-focused inquiry. As part of the program, you’ll get the opportunity to work on topics related to human performance, cognitive workload, decision-making, and human-machine interaction. Your project may involve examining how people respond to demanding operational environments, analyzing behavioral or performance data, or assisting in developing methods that predict cognitive fatigue or attentional shifts. Throughout the program, mentors will help you navigate the scientific and technical context of the lab, giving you a clearer view of how behavioral findings shape aerospace research. You’ll also get to take part in discussions that explore how psychological principles influence training design, safety assessments, or the usability of complex systems.
8. National Institutes of Health: High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: NIH campuses across the U.S., including Bethesda, MD
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 18
Eligibility: High school seniors (ages 17-18) or graduated seniors
During this internship, you’ll become part of a research team within one of the NIH Institutes or Centers in the Intramural Research Program. You’ll assist Principal Investigators and staff scientists with projects that explore topics such as neuroscience, psychology, epidemiology, computational biology, and behavioral health. Your daily work may involve supporting ongoing experiments, analyzing data, or helping prepare materials for presentations or publications. In addition to lab research, you’ll take part in professional development workshops, educational seminars, and mentoring sessions that introduce you to careers in biomedical and health sciences. The program also offers advising on graduate and professional school pathways, a resilience and well-being series, and events like the NIH Summer Poster Day, where you will present your research.
9. Stanford’s SHTEM Summer Internship
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Opens in December
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors (14+)
The SHTEM Summer Internship at Stanford University covers interdisciplinary projects that merge science, technology, engineering, humanities, and psychology. You’ll work in groups of two to five students under the mentorship of Stanford faculty, staff, and researchers from the Stanford Compression Forum. Your project placement is determined by your interests and strengths, and may involve themes such as neuroscience, information theory, linguistics, or design. Throughout the program, you’ll participate in collaborative research meetings and learn how different disciplines intersect to solve complex problems. You’ll spend much of your time conducting research in a lab setting, with guidance from your assigned mentor. The internship concludes with opportunities to discuss or present your findings within your research group.
10. Johns Hopkins University Psychology and Brain Sciences Summer Pre-College Programs
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Virtual options available
Cost: $85 application fee; Program fee varies by program
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: November 20 – February 3 (early), March 10 (regular); Rolling (virtual)
Eligibility: Rising 10-12th graders cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Through the Johns Hopkins University Psychology and Brain Sciences Summer Pre-College Programs, you can explore key areas of psychology and neuroscience through university-level courses taught by Johns Hopkins faculty. You can choose from multiple two-week sessions focused on topics such as neurobiology, neuroscience and human behavior, psychological profiling, or psychopathology. Each course introduces you to foundational theories, current research, and practical applications in understanding the human brain and behavior. You’ll attend live virtual lectures, engage in discussions with instructors and peers, and complete projects or assessments that reinforce critical thinking in psychological science.
11. Camp Psych at Gettysburg College
Location: Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
Cost: $1,395; Limited financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Camp Psych at Gettysburg College introduces you to psychological science during a one-week residential program. You’ll participate in sessions that address topics such as helping behavior, cognition, and social psychology, then move into small-group experimental work where you design and collect data under faculty guidance. Lab sessions are followed by group discussions and a final presentation that helps you articulate your findings. Evenings typically include informal activities that give you space to engage with peers and resident advisors who are psychology majors.
12. The University of Chicago Pre‑College Summer Program
Location: University of Chicago, Illinois; Remote options available
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on specific program
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies based on program
Application Deadline: January 22 (priority); March 5 (regular); April 15 (extended)
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors
The University of Chicago Pre‑College Summer Session lets you take college-level courses in psychology. You can enroll in courses such as “Introduction to Biological Psychology,” which covers brain structures, neural communication, and how physiology shapes behavior, or “Social Neuroscience,” where you study the neural basis of social cognition, decision-making, and empathy. Courses like “Developmental Psychology” explore cognitive, emotional, and social development across the lifespan. As part of the program, you’ll engage with lectures, primary research literature, and data analysis, applying psychological methods to understand behavior and cognition. Mentors and instructors guide your interpretation of experimental results and help you connect theory to practical examples. You will also take part in class discussions and collaborative exercises that expose you to diverse perspectives on human thought, behavior, and social interaction.
13. The Boston University AIM: Introduction to Experimental Psychology
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: $5,708.25 (commuter); $7,245 (residential)
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 50 students per course
Program Dates: June 29 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school rising juniors or seniors
The Boston University AIM: Introduction to Experimental Psychology is a three-week pre-college program that gives you direct experience with university-level psychology coursework and research. During the program, you’ll attend seminars covering experimental design, behavioral science principles, and methods for collecting and analyzing data. You’ll also get to work on small projects where you design experiments, gather data, and interpret results under guidance from instructors. As part of the process, your mentor provides feedback on your analyses and helps you prepare clear summaries and visualizations of your findings. There will also be class discussions focused on applying psychological concepts to experimental settings and understanding research methodology.
14. Columbia University Pre‑College Program: Social Sciences and Psychology
Location: Columbia University, NY
Cost: Varies based on program; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: June 29 – July 17; July 21 – August 07
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12
The Columbia University Pre‑College Program lets you explore courses in psychology and neuroscience. You can take courses such as “Social Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior,” which examines empathy, conformity, prejudice, and personality within social contexts, or “Neuroscience of Psychiatric Disorders,” which introduces neural mechanisms underlying conditions like addiction, depression, and PTSD. Courses like “The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory” explore how experiences shape the brain, how memories form, and how disruptions relate to mental-health outcomes. You’ll engage with lectures, readings, and assignments that introduce research methods, data analysis, and experimental design. Instructors will guide your interpretation of findings and help you connect theoretical concepts to real-world behavior. Collaborative discussions and exercises allow you to see how psychological theory is applied in practical contexts.
15. Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University
Location: Wake Forest University – Reynolda Campus, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500 + $60 non-refundable application fee; Need-based scholarships offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly specified
Program Dates: July 12 – 17; July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Opens on November 1; Rolling
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students
The Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University introduces you to core areas of psychological study, including emotion, perception, and brain function. During the weeklong program, you’ll take part in sensory perception labs, conduct an observational research study, and complete a supervised sheep-brain dissection that connects structure with behavior. Faculty-led lectures are paired with small-group discussions and team-based research sessions focused on data collection and analysis. Evening activities provide additional opportunities to review material and engage with instructors. The schedule includes a balance of lab sessions, seminars, and collaborative work. The program concludes with a formal presentation of findings and a Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
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