14 Psychology Programs for High School Students in NYC
As a high school student with an interest in psychology, consider participating in a psychology program to get structured exposure to human behavior, research methods, and applied problem-solving. These programs often include workshops, lab sessions, and guided projects, allowing you to explore how psychologists study the mind and how these skills translate to fields like neuroscience, counseling, education, and public health. If you're interested in understanding how people think, learn, and behave, exploring psychology programs is a great way to test your interest before college. Participating in a selective psychology program for high schoolers can also help you stand out in the college admissions process, especially if you plan to major in psychology.
Why should you participate in a high school psychology program in NYC?
New York City is home to several universities, hospitals, and research centers that host solid psychology programs for high school students. Participating in these programs will give you access to expert mentors and new learning environments, allowing you to gain practical experience while building academic confidence and expanding your network. They also provide the opportunity to work on research design, data analysis, observational tasks, or case-based projects. Whether you’re curious about clinical work, cognitive science, mental health advocacy, or research, you’ll find a psychology program in NYC that meets your interests.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed a wide range of opportunities across New York City and narrowed the list to the top 14 psychology programs for high school students in NYC. Let’s dive in!
14 Psychology Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Brain Seminar for Teens and Opportunities for Research Mentorship (BrainSTORM)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (hybrid + virtual options available)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; ~25 students
Dates: June – July of the following year
Application Deadline: January 1
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in neuroscience or psychology
BrainSTORM offers a blended academic and research experience that introduces you to neuroscience and psychology through monthly seminars and a year-long mentored project. In the seminar portion, you’ll explore topics such as memory systems, neurodegenerative disorders, concussion science, and neuroimaging methods while hearing directly from Columbia faculty and research teams. If selected for the mentored research track, you’ll work closely with a scientist to develop, refine, and complete an independent project connected to brain or behavior research. Over the course of the year, you’ll gain experience with experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific communication. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your work alongside other student researchers, offering a unique opportunity to showcase your understanding of cognitive and behavioral science.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships connects you with high-growth start-ups where you’ll contribute to projects that span research, user behavior analysis, mental health innovation, human-centered product design, and more. As a Psychology-interested student, you’ll work on initiatives involving user interviews, data synthesis, wellness-focused product development, or cognitive science-aligned research tasks, depending on the company’s needs. You’ll collaborate closely with a startup manager who provides guidance, feedback, and context for your work, and you also receive support from a Ladder Coach throughout the program. By the end of your internship, you will have completed and presented a real-world project that reflects the skills you developed.
3. BRAINYAC – Columbia University
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid stipend included
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 8 months (tentatively)
Application Deadline: October 6 – 31
Eligibility: Current 10th-11th graders in NYC enrolled in S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, or BioBus
BRAINYAC begins with weekend training sessions during the winter and spring to prepare you for a full-time summer placement in an active neuroscience laboratory. As a participant, you will be matched with a Columbia PhD student, postdoctoral researcher, or faculty mentor who will guide you through the process of designing and carrying out an independent research project. Throughout the internship, you’ll learn core lab techniques, data collection methods, and foundational scientific reasoning relevant to neuroscience and psychology. The program also exposes you to fields such as computational neuroscience, molecular biology, and behavioral science through hands-on work. In addition to lab research, you’ll participate in enrichment sessions and community-building activities that introduce you to Columbia’s research environment and academic expectations.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate strong academic ability
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers individualized research mentorship, allowing you to work 1-on-1 with a PhD-level researcher on an independent project. If you’re interested in psychology, you can explore topics such as cognitive processes, development, behavioral science, social psychology, or mental health–related research questions. Over the course of the program, you’ll learn how to develop a research question, review scholarly literature, and apply methodological tools used in psychological research. Your mentor will guide you through data interpretation and scientific writing, culminating in an independent research paper.
5. Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)
Location: Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: NYC public high school students (16+)
Rockefeller University’s Summer Neuroscience Program offers you the chance to participate in a two-week, fully funded introduction to brain science. As a participant, you’ll partake in sessions led by graduate researchers that cover core concepts in neuroscience, behavior, and experimental methods. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in journal clubs, lab demonstrations, and hands-on activities such as tissue dissections to better understand neuroanatomy. You’ll also design and present a small research project, strengthening your ability to interpret scientific literature and communicate findings. With direct access to researchers and scientific facilities, the program provides an immersive look into how neuroscientists study the brain.
6. College Now – City University of New York (CUNY)
Location: Multiple CUNY campuses across New York City; online, hybrid, and in-person options
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not mentioned
Dates: Varies by term
Application Deadline: Varies by campus and term; on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: NYC Public Schools students in grades 11-12; Limited opportunities for eligible 10th graders; GPA and course-specific requirements apply
College Now is a dual enrollment and college transition program that allows you to earn free college credits while still in high school through the City University of New York. You can take credit-bearing courses that often fulfill introductory, first-year college requirements across a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, STEM, humanities, business, social sciences, and health fields. Some of the psychology courses available include Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and Psychology; you can see more details here. The program also offers non-credit college and career readiness courses that focus on skills such as academic writing, mathematics, study strategies, and time management.
7. NYU SPS High School Academy – Exploring Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior
Location: NYU, New York, NY
Cost: $850
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Rolling; Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12
This NYU SPS weekend course introduces you to key psychological principles through a mix of lectures, hands-on activities, and collaborative problem-solving tasks. You’ll explore areas such as the biological basis of behavior, cognitive processes, and applied psychology in professional settings. Each session emphasizes how psychological research connects to real-world careers, giving you a clearer understanding of how the field functions beyond the classroom. Guest speakers and case-based learning help you practice critical thinking and communication skills.
8. Manhattan College: Psychology Pre-College Camp
Location: Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY
Cost: Tuition fees apply; $100 non-refundable registration fee; Residential add-on available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 1-3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 10-12
This pre-college camp at Manhattan College offers an in-depth introduction to psychology through a full schedule of interactive lectures, lab-based activities, and guided discussions. You’ll explore multiple subfields, including clinical, cognitive, social, developmental, forensic, and sports psychology, while learning how psychological theories inform behavior. Daily sessions blend hands-on demonstrations, small-group exercises, and case-based learning so you can see how psychological concepts apply across different professions. The camp also incorporates specialized modules on animal cognition, neuroscience, and performance psychology, giving you exposure to areas often not covered in typical high school courses.
9. Summer Springboard: Psychology & Neuroscience
Location: Barnard College, New York, NY
Cost: Residential: $5,898; Commuter: $3,298
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – July 17; July 19 – July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling; Early pricing available until November 30
Eligibility: High school students interested in psychology or neuroscience
This two-week program at Barnard College introduces you to core concepts in psychology and neuroscience through hands-on workshops, classic experiments, and guided research activities. You’ll explore topics such as mental health, cognitive processes, social behavior, and the biological foundations of the mind–brain connection. Activities may include brain dissections, simulations, and structured lab demonstrations that highlight how researchers study human behavior. The program also incorporates discussions with psychologists, neurologists, and academic researchers, giving you insight into multiple career paths within the field. As a culminating project, you’ll design and conduct a small experiment to test a psychological theory and present your findings to your peers.
10. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: The Science of Psychology
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Varies by session; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Summer A: June 29 – July 17; Summer B: July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 2 (early); April 2 (general)
Eligibility: High school students; Must be 15+ to participate in the NYC Residential Summer program
The Science of Psychology course will introduce you to the scientific study of human behavior, placing focus on how social, cognitive, and emotional processes shape the way people think and act. During the course, you will explore core topics in social psychology, including empathy, conformity, obedience, implicit bias, and moral decision-making, and examine how these concepts influence relationships and society more broadly. Instruction combines interactive lectures, guided discussions, and collaborative activities to mirror college-level psychology coursework. You will also gain hands-on experience with psychological research methods by learning how to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and interpret empirical findings. The course culminates in a group project in which you design and test a social intervention, applying psychological theory to a real-world problem. Through this process, you’ll build analytical, research, and teamwork skills while developing a deeper understanding of how psychology can promote individual and collective well-being.
11. Fordham University: Summer Psychology Courses
Location: Fordham University, New York, NY (virtual available too)
Cost: Standard Fordham summer tuition rates (varies by credit load)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – June 25; June 30 – August 4 (varies by course)
Application Deadline: Rolling until courses reach capacity
Eligibility: High school students; Must meet course prerequisites
Fordham University offers a range of summer psychology courses that introduce you to college-level concepts across multiple subfields of psychology. In-person courses, such as Social Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, allow you to explore topics like social influence, decision-making, neural processes, perception, memory, and behavior. These classes blend lectures, discussions, and empirical examples, helping you build foundational knowledge while experiencing the expectations of a university classroom. You’ll also get to earn college credit while studying alongside undergraduates.
12. NYU SPS High School Academy – Psychology and the Workplace: Social Functions of Emotions
Location: NYU, New York, NY
Cost: $2,579 per course; $50 application fee; optional housing/dining: $640
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Rising 9th-11th graders
This NYU SPS summer course examines how emotions shape human behavior and influence workplace dynamics, blending psychological theory with real-world applications. You’ll explore topics such as the biological basis of emotion, motivation, resilience, and interpersonal communication as they relate to career success. The curriculum includes reflective writing, hands-on activities, and guest lectures from professionals who use psychology in organizational or wellness settings. Through guided projects, you’ll practice identifying emotional patterns, understanding their function, and considering how they impact teamwork and decision-making. By the end of the course, you will have gained a clearer understanding of how psychological science can support both personal development and professional goals in a wide range of careers.
13. NYU Precollege
Location: New York University, New York, NY (in-person and online options)
Cost: Tuition charged per credit (approximately $6,006 for a 3-credit course); Additional housing and fees apply; No blanket financial aid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple terms in a year
Application Deadline: Fall: August 15; Spring: January 5; Summer (U.S./Online): June 15
Eligibility: High school students (domestic and international); Additional credit requirements for international students
NYU Precollege allows you to experience undergraduate-level coursework while earning official NYU college credits toward a future degree. You can choose from a wide range of academic subjects across psychology, STEM, humanities, social sciences, arts, media, and business, with courses taught by NYU’s faculty and industry professionals. Classes are offered in person on NYU’s campus and online, giving you flexibility in how you participate. In the summer, you’ll also gain access to College 101 workshops focused on college admissions, study skills, and financial aid navigation. As a pre-college student, you receive academic advising and full access to NYU resources, including libraries, events, and learning support services. The program is designed for motivated students seeking a rigorous, college-level academic experience and early exposure to NYU’s global academic community.
14. High School Bridge Program
Location: Pace University campuses, New York, NY
Cost: $150 per credit hour; Additional course fees may apply
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Fall, spring, and summer semesters
Application Deadline: Rolling; Applications accepted up to the first day of each semester
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in good academic standing; Additional requirements for international students
The High School Bridge Program at Pace University allows you to earn college credit by enrolling in 100-level undergraduate courses while still in high school. Through the on-site option, you take up to one course per semester (with a maximum of four total courses) at Pace University, choosing from a list of approved offerings. Courses follow the same academic standards as Pace’s undergraduate classes and count for official college credit. The off-site option enables participating high schools to offer Pace-approved courses taught at your high school by qualified instructors and overseen by Pace faculty, with students completing the same final exams as Pace undergraduates. Admission requires an online application, transcript, counselor recommendation, and parent consent, with additional English proficiency documentation for some international students.
Image Source - Columbia University Logo