14 Psychology Internships for High School Students in San Diego
Participating in an internship while you’re still in high school can be a smart way to build your resume, gain meaningful experience, and figure out what kind of work you might enjoy in the future. For students interested in psychology, internships offer a chance to see how concepts from class connect to real-world settings like research labs, hospitals, or mental health organizations. They also help you develop useful skills such as communication, data analysis, and critical thinking skills that are valuable no matter what career path you choose.
While in-person psychology internships for high school students in San Diego can be limited, there are strong virtual and hybrid programs that still provide hands-on exposure through projects, mentorship, and applied learning. This list highlights 15 psychology internships for high school students in San Diego, both local and remote, that will give you a closer look at the field of psychology. Some are short-term summer experiences, while others run longer and include research, discussion, or real-world case work. Whether you're curious about neuroscience, clinical psychology, or behavioral science, these internships can help you take a first step toward exploring the subject in depth.
1. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid and unpaid (academic credit) available
Dates: Internships are offered all year round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
Through the APA’s Remote Internship Program, you can gain first-hand exposure to how psychological principles are used in fields like education, research, public policy, and publishing. As an intern, you’ll be assigned to a department where you’ll contribute to real projects, such as analyzing data, assisting with digital tools, or helping create public education materials. The program is virtual, making it accessible no matter where you live, and includes optional workshops and networking opportunities with professionals in psychology. You’ll report to a supervisor for support with your daily work and learning goals. Depending on the position, you may be eligible for either a paid role or one that qualifies for academic credit.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
If you're interested in understanding how psychology intersects with technology, business, or health startups, Ladder Internships connects you to real-world applications. In this eight-week remote internship, you’ll be paired with a startup in a field like mental health tech, behavior-focused AI, or consumer analytics. You’ll work under the guidance of both a company mentor and a Ladder coach, completing projects that contribute to the startup’s goals while developing your skills in research, communication, and analysis. You’ll also present your findings to leadership, gaining practice in professional reporting. Here is the application form.
3. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: 6 weeks from June – August
Application Deadline: Typically in late February
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old by the program start date
The SHTEM program at Stanford allows you to explore research topics that cross traditional boundaries, including areas where psychology overlaps with technology, linguistics, and design. You'll be placed in a group project mentored by Stanford faculty, staff, and students, and you'll contribute to research that connects human behavior with engineering and communication. The virtual psychology internship for high school students in San Diego focuses on interdisciplinary learning, helping you understand how psychological principles play a role in everything from user experience to language processing. You’ll also develop skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and presenting research findings. Please note that this program is currently on hiatus and is undergoing some changes. It should be up and running by 2026!
4. University of Texas Southwestern: Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 2 weeks in June (exact dates unspecified)
Application Deadline: Late September – February
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school
This two-week online program from UT Southwestern is focused on exposing you to the many career paths within mental health and clinical practice. With pre-readings and live virtual sessions led by professionals like neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, you’ll learn about psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, and community psychiatry. For anyone searching for a psychology internship for high school students in San Diego with a strong career exploration component, this virtual option offers insight into both clinical work and the science behind it. Speakers also share personal experiences, including how they navigated educational and financial challenges to enter the field. This structure helps you understand the day-to-day responsibilities and long-term paths of mental health professionals.
5. Child Mind Institute: Youth Mental Health Academy
Location: Summer academy: In-person | Internship: Remote, hybrid, and in-person options available
Stipend: Up to $2,000
Dates: Program runs for two summers and through the academic year
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students in California with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher; Applicants should be from marginalized communities as defined in the FAQ
The Youth Mental Health Academy is a 14-month, community-oriented program that supports California high school students through educational activities, mentorship, and practical mental health internships. Your first summer includes a five-week academy focused on mental health science and communication, followed by monthly workshops and mentor support throughout the school year. The following summer, you’ll complete an internship with a community or research organization, contributing around 100 hours to projects involving mental health data analysis and advocacy. With a combination of guided learning and real-world work, this psychology internship for high school students in San Diego helps you understand how mental health knowledge is applied to support communities.
6. Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience (CNI-X) at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595; Financial assistance available
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 1 (rolling)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18 years
At Stanford’s CNI-X program, you’ll spend two weeks diving into topics in neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology through interactive lectures and small-group projects. You’ll learn from faculty and researchers in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, covering subjects like psychiatric epidemiology, brain function, and behavioral science. One of the program’s highlights is the capstone project, where you and your team propose solutions to a mental health or neuroscience issue and present your findings to peers and faculty. Alongside academic content, the program also emphasizes practical life skills such as self-care, decision-making, and career awareness. Sessions are highly collaborative, encouraging you to explore complex social and scientific challenges with input from mentors and peers.
7. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes–Topics in Psychology
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080; Financial aid available
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 at the time of application
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes introduces you to the foundational areas of psychology through daily live classes and independent assignments. You’ll dive into subjects such as memory, perception, cognitive development, and psychological disorders while learning how researchers design studies and interpret data. The course includes hands-on activities like small-scale research projects, allowing you to apply what you’re learning in a more practical context. You’ll also study how psychology’s historical development influences current research and real-life applications. It’s a chance to develop your analytical and research skills through guided exploration of how psychological principles are applied in everyday situations.
8. Rutgers University’s Pre-College Summer Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $459 – $1,096
Dates: Session I: Starts May 27; Session II: Starts July 7
Application Deadline: March 3 – May 18 (Session I) | March 3 – June 29 (Session II)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 16 or older and have a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0
During the Rutgers Pre-College Summer Scholars Program, you can take for-credit college courses in psychology while still in high school. Course options include General Psychology, which surveys key concepts and theories, and Quantitative Methods in Psychology, which focuses on how psychologists study human cognition. You’ll also find classes like Logic, Reasoning, and Persuasion that support skills useful in analyzing psychological arguments and evidence. Courses are taught by university faculty and are available in online or in-person formats, offering flexibility depending on your schedule and location. This is a useful way to gain exposure to university-level expectations while earning transferable academic credit.
9. Yale Summer Session
Location: Online
Cost: Varies
Dates: Session A: May 26 – June 27 | Session B: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: Session A: May 2 | Session B: June 6 (rolling)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are 16 years of age or older by the program's start date
Through Yale’s Summer Session, you can take part in college-level coursework alongside university students while earning academic credit. The program offers a range of subjects, including psychology courses that allow you to study the field in depth. For example, “Introduction to Psychology” provides an overview of major approaches to understanding behavior, covering biological, cognitive, social, and emotional perspectives. Another option, “Introduction to Clinical Psychology,” examines different forms of psychopathology across childhood and adulthood, addressing symptoms, causes, and approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Both courses are capped at 20 students, giving you a more focused learning environment.
10. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual (in-person available to students in Baltimore)
Cost: No cost; stipend $500
Dates: 5 weeks from June – August
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian high school juniors and seniors
JHIBS is a virtual summer internship that allows you to work alongside researchers on neuroscience and brain science projects. As an intern, you will assist with tasks like data analysis or literature review while learning about brain development, cognition, and neurological disorders. This program includes valuable mentorship and lab-based learning opportunities, helping you understand both the scientific process and the careers available in brain research. Throughout the experience, you’ll participate in seminars and activities designed to build your understanding of how brain science informs treatments and diagnoses. The program's design helps simulate the structure and expectations of an actual research lab.
11. Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program: Media and Mental Health
Location: Online
Cost: $3,218; Scholarships available
Dates: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: January 15 – May 9
Eligibility: Rising or recently graduated high school seniors who are age 17 by June 15
Brown University’s Pre-Baccalaureate Program examines how media shapes public understanding of mental health, drawing on psychology, public health, and media studies. As a participant, you will investigate how television, film, news, and social platforms portray mental illness and therapy, and how these representations can influence stigma, treatment decisions, and help-seeking behavior. Class discussions, independent research, and media analysis will help you evaluate the accuracy and impact of these portrayals. You’ll also learn to identify ethical concerns and consider how media literacy can improve public mental health outcomes. As part of your coursework, you'll complete a project investigating a media-related mental health topic of your choice, applying both research and critical thinking skills.
12. Dartmouth Pre-College Online Program: Psychology: Explore the Mind & Mental Wellness
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Dartmouth’s Pre-College Online Program offers a psychology course that gives you a comprehensive introduction to clinical psychology through case-based learning and conceptual study. You'll learn mental health diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic strategies, including the role of psychopharmacology and positive psychology. The program focuses on practical skills, like case conceptualization and empathetic patient interaction, while also discussing broader issues such as stigma and the stages of behavioral change. A key component is the capstone project, where you’ll analyze a fictional character’s mental health profile and propose a treatment plan based on psychological frameworks. You'll gain early insight into how clinicians approach assessment and intervention in actual patient scenarios.
13. Wake Forest University Pre-College Online Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Up to $1,595; Need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Wake Forest’s pre-college psychology course takes a scientific approach to everyday questions about human behavior. During the program, you will delve into how perception is formed, how memories can be distorted, and what drives unconscious emotion. The course also touches on psychological disorders like anxiety and addiction, while encouraging you to think critically about how science separates fact from common sense. Projects might involve designing a survey or creating a video presentation to explain a psychological concept. While not strictly a psychology internship for high school students in San Diego, by the end of the course, you'll have explored how psychological principles can be tested and applied across real-life contexts, from education to health to media.
14. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Programs: Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior
Location: Virtual
Cost: Enrichment: $1,795 | College Credit: $3,995; Need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Programs offer a psychology course that allows you to understand how brain function underlies emotions, learning, memory, and behavior. Topics span the effects of drugs on neural pathways, causes of disorders like anxiety and depression, and how perception influences everyday decisions—from road safety to app design. You'll examine how psychologists study behavior scientifically and apply that understanding to design your own behavioral experiment. The course combines biological, social, and cognitive perspectives, helping you connect psychological theory with modern challenges like digital media and mental health. A final capstone project allows you to synthesize what you've learned in a research-based presentation.
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