15 Winter Programs for High School Students in California
Winter programs give high school students a valuable opportunity to learn through projects and mentorship. These programs often feature interactive workshops and research experiences led by university faculty and professionals. Many are designed to offer exposure to career paths in science, business, technology, and the arts. By participating, you’ll gain professional insights, build confidence, and connect with mentors who could write your letters of recommendation for college.
This early engagement with university-level academics helps you clarify your interests. California’s array of programs, ranging from STEM research camps to leadership workshops, allows you to develop new skills. By participating in these programs, you can enhance your academic credentials, explore specialized fields, and build connections with university faculty and peers. To make your search easier, we’ve rounded up the top 15 winter programs for high schoolers in California.
15 Winter Programs for High School Students in California
1. UC Berkeley Extension Concurrent Enrollment Program
Location: UC Berkeley Campus
Cost: $850 per unit + $100 application fee + $374 registration fee
Dates: January 13 – May 15
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Enrollment is on a space-available basis for high school students after all matriculated UC Berkeley students have registered
The UC Berkeley Extension Concurrent Enrollment program offers high school students the unique opportunity to take regular UC Berkeley campus courses alongside matriculated university students, though enrollment is strictly space-available and requires instructor approval. Topics span the entire course catalog, from advanced STEM like Computer Science and Math, to Humanities and Social Sciences. You essentially become university learners for a semester, meaning you will attend college lectures, complete college-level assignments and exams, and utilize campus resources like the library. A key feature is that students earn an official UC Berkeley grade and transcript, demonstrating the ability to handle university rigor. This process significantly helps students develop crucial academic maturity and time management skills.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies according to the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Winter: November 16
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 program that connects high school students with emerging startups across industries such as AI/ML, deep tech, health tech, marketing, consulting, and journalism. Partner organizations are established, growth-stage companies, allowing you to gain insight into real business operations. Over eight weeks, you’ll collaborate remotely with company leaders and Ladder Coaches on meaningful projects. The experience concludes with a final presentation highlighting your contributions and key takeaways. The program provides structured exposure to the startup ecosystem and hands-on professional experience.
3. Stanford Grades 9–12 Math Circle
Location: Stanford University in Stanford, CA
Cost: $525 tuition per quarter
Dates: January 13 – March 19
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; acceptance on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12
The Advanced Math Circle at Stanford, an after-school enrichment opportunity, is a quarter-long program tailored for mathematically inclined high school students. This initiative focuses on fostering problem-solving strategies and deeper conceptual understanding by tackling complex mathematics beyond the standard high school curriculum. You participate in weekly online sessions during the fall, guided by expert instructors, and you promote active collaboration with both teachers and peers. If you are a self-motivated student eager to explore advanced topics and challenge your current mathematical boundaries, this program provides a fitting platform.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June); upcoming cohort: Winter I on December 8
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort; Winter I Cohort: November 16; apply here
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive 12-week research opportunity designed for high school students with a strong interest in academic exploration. You’ll collaborate one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to develop and carry out an independent research project in areas such as economics, psychology, data science, or engineering. The program includes workshops focused on research design and academic writing to support the development of your paper. By the end of the program, you’ll complete and submit your original research work for review and be eligible for a UCSD Extended Studies credit.
5. California Academy of Sciences – Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid (above minimum wage)
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students in 9th or 10th grade in an SFUSD school | 2.5 GPA | Grade C or higher in math and science | U.S. citizens or authorized to work in the country
The Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program at the California Academy of Sciences provides a substantial opportunity for students enrolled in San Francisco public high schools. It allows you to acquire practical experience in environmental science through hands-on participation in various Academy initiatives. You will undertake field studies, contribute to ongoing sustainability efforts, and support public science education programs. The curriculum also features training in essential professional skills, including science communication, financial literacy, and data collection methodologies. Furthermore, you attend college preparatory workshops with long-term opportunities to collaborate directly with Academy scientists and educators and present their work at local STEM gatherings.
6. JA NorCal Financial Literacy Course
Location: Junior Achievement of Northern California, various sites, CA, or remote, or hybrid formats
Cost: None
Dates: Semester-long course aligned with school calendars, flexible scheduling available depending on the school
Application Deadline: Varies as schools or districts interested in participating coordinate with JA NorCal for scheduling
Eligibility: All high school students at partner schools
Part of the JA High School Experience, this semester-long course delivers instruction in personal finance using a structured, standards-aligned curriculum. Focusing on essential concepts, you will delve into key topics including banking, credit management, budgeting, investment strategies, saving, insurance, and mitigating financial risk. The course features a dynamic instructional approach, blending teacher-led lessons with presentations from guest speakers and interactive online elements like simulations and activities. This program also meets the A-G requirements for University of California admission and complies with both state and national educational guidelines. You demonstrate your understanding of financial concepts and decision-making by completing various projects and real-world case studies.
7. High School Explainers Program at Exploratorium
Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Applications for year-round are typically available in July and due in early January
Eligibility: High school-aged students between the ages of 15 and 18 for first-time Explainers, and up to the age of 20 for returning Explainers
The High School Explainer program at the Exploratorium offers a compensated position where you actively engage with museum visitors by demonstrating science exhibits and assisting with daily operations. The program recruits diverse teams reflective of Bay Area communities for two main groups: a summer cohort and a school-year cohort. As a new Explainer, you receive comprehensive preparation, completing over 60 hours of training focused on science content, effective communication, and youth development principles before you start working on the floor. Beyond public engagement, experienced students can also participate in supplementary activities, such as mentoring newer Explainers, joining study groups, or undertaking specialized internships.
8. Rosetta Institute Biomedical Research Camps – Alameda & Berkeley
Location: Alameda, CA (Biomedical Research workshop, commuter only) | Berkeley, CA (Cancer Research workshop, commuter only)
Cost: Alameda: $1,890 | Berkeley: $1,690
Dates: December 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: All high school students
The Rosetta Institute Biomedical Research Camps, held in locations like Alameda and Berkeley, are intensive, hands-on programs designed for high school students interested in medicine and biomedical science. The camps delve into topics such as cancer biology, bioinformatics, drug design, and genetic engineering. You engage in a variety of activities, including performing virtual and wet-lab experiments, analyzing genomic data, and participating in guest lectures by university professors and industry researchers. A unique feature is the focus on project-based learning, where students design and present their own independent research project. By the end of the camp, you will have developed critical thinking, research methodology, and data analysis skills.
9. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: NASA centers across the U.S., including California, with some remote options depending on the project
Stipend: Varies based on academic level, project, and session length
Dates: Typically mid-January – early May
Application Deadlines: September 12
Eligibility: High school students who are US citizens with a minimum 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
The NASA OSTEM internship program allows high school students to engage with active projects in scientific research, space exploration, and aerospace engineering. You will collaborate closely with NASA personnel, acquiring valuable experience within a professional research context. Placements are varied, with tasks potentially including supporting software development, assisting with data analysis, contributing to communication and outreach, or helping to design and test equipment. The roles encompass diverse technical areas such as structural design, programming, systems testing, and space biology. Although some positions are remote, the majority are conducted at various NASA centers located throughout the United States.
10. UCSD Neurogenomics of a Developing Brain Under Heat and Nutrient Stress
Location: Hybrid (at Boz Life Science Research and Teaching Institute, La Jolla, CA)
Cost: $3,000
Dates: January 5 – March 14
Application Deadline: December 18
Eligibility: 10th – 12th grade students
UC San Diego’s Neurogenomics of a Developing Brain Under Heat and Nutrient Stress course focuses on understanding how environmental stress affects brain development at the genetic level. Over 10 weeks, you’ll explore sex-specific differences in fruit flies exposed to varied heat and diet conditions. The hybrid format combines online sessions with in-person lab work, including DNA/RNA extraction and metagenomic sequencing. You’ll analyze behavioral and molecular data using R and bioinformatics methods. The course ends with a formal research seminar where you present your study outcomes.
11. UC San Diego’s BioEngineering Research Project B – Research (BERP-B)
Location: Virtual or hybrid at the University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $2,600 (Online); $3,000 (Hybrid); + potential $500 lab fee + out-of-pocket cost of $50 for locally sourced miscellaneous supplies
Dates: January 10 - March 1
Application Deadline: December 18
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 14 years old (15 for the in-person or hybrid programs); Required minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 | Completion of BE-BOAT, BE-ROW, and BERP-A required
The UC San Diego BioEngineering Research Project B (BERP-B) allows high school students to design and execute an independent bioengineering research project through experimentation and data analysis. The course includes lectures, discussions, and lab meetings totaling 6–10 hours weekly, plus 3–6 hours of homework. You’ll implement your proposed research with guidance from collaborating labs, analyze findings, and prepare both a scientific abstract and a research paper. The program concludes with a formal presentation that may align with science fair requirements. Remote participants receive a mailed lab kit and must return loaned materials after the course.
12. UCSD Fundamentals of Neurosciences: Health and Disease
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,700
Dates: January 17 – March 14
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: 9th – 12th grade students
In UC San Diego’s Fundamentals of Neurosciences: Health and Disease, you’ll study the structure, function, and complexity of the human nervous system. The course examines how neuronal circuits influence behavior, cognition, and emotion while exploring mechanisms of neurological disorders. You’ll learn core neurobiology concepts through lectures, analysis, and guided demonstrations, including a comparative brain dissection. Key topics include neurodegeneration, neuroprotection, and theories surrounding diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. You’ll also design hypotheses and apply critical thinking to understand how brain health is maintained and disrupted.
13. UCSD Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000
Dates: January 5 – March 12
Application Deadline: December 18
Eligibility: 10th – 12th grade students
UC San Diego’s Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics course introduces you to the computational and statistical methods used to study genes and proteins. Delivered synchronously online through lectures and lab sessions, the course covers genomics, proteomics, and the use of bioinformatics databases. You’ll gain hands-on experience with tools like NCBI, PDB, and UCSC Genome Browser, as well as learn to analyze data using R. Topics include sequence alignment, genome analysis, and RNA-Seq data interpretation. By the end, you’ll be able to design experiments, test hypotheses, and evaluate primary biological research.
14. Bioimaging & 3D Printing (BI3DP) - UC San Diego
Location: Virtual (Zoom, with lab kits shipped to students)
Cost: $2,700 (3 pre-college units) + ~$50 supplies fee; international shipping costs may apply
Dates: January 10 – March 1
Application Deadline: December 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 with a minimum 3.0 GPA | Ages 14
The Bioimaging & 3D Printing (BI3DP) program at UC San Diego offers students foundational knowledge and practical experience in biomedical imaging and 3D printing, technologies that are rapidly evolving in research and clinical settings. You engage in acquiring and manipulating both 2D and 3D biological images, remotely 3D print medical models, and perform hands-on exercises using a home lab kit. The course features live online lectures, interactive discussions, and office hours for personalized guidance, while you earn pre-college units. Skills developed include proficiency in biomedical imaging, 3D printing techniques, data visualization, and applied biomedical engineering concepts, preparing you for advanced study and research in the field.
15. Cornell Precollege Winter Session
Location: Virtual (Cornell University)
Cost: $1,940 per credit; financial aid is available
Dates: January 2–17 (three-week winter session)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 15–19) who have completed their sophomore year | Meet all stated course prerequisites
Cornell Precollege Winter Sessions offer a rigorous and immersive college experience by compressing a full semester’s coursework into an intensive short-term program. You engage in a single subject such as business, science, arts, international relations, or social change through a mix of live synchronous lectures, recorded video content, and interactive group discussions. The program hones critical thinking, writing, and time management skills while challenging participants to meet college-level standards. It fosters global collaboration with peers, direct instructor guidance, and active classroom participation. Upon completion, you earn official Cornell credits and an undergraduate transcript that reflects your academic achievement.
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