15 Winter Programs for High School Students in Massachusetts
Joining a structured program during the winter can be a great way to make your break more meaningful. These opportunities allow high school students to explore new academic fields, gain practical experience, and build skills that go beyond what’s taught in the classroom. Whether it’s developing research skills, strengthening communication, or learning problem-solving, winter programs can be a good use of your break. A program in your field of interest can also help you stand out in the competitive college application process by providing proof of your skills and abilities.
What does Massachusetts have to offer for a high school student interested in winter programs?
Massachusetts offers great opportunities for high schoolers due to its world-class universities like Harvard and MIT, research centers, and cultural institutions. From STEM labs and policy workshops to writing seminars and leadership programs, you can explore a range of interests. To help you see what’s available, we’ve put together a list of 15 winter programs for high school students in Massachusetts.
P.S. If you're also thinking about summer, 15 Computer Engineering Summer Programs for High School Students is a natural next read, and 15 Prestigious Engineering Internships for High School Students is worth checking out if you want something more competitive to aim for.
1. MassArt Winter Workshops
Location: Boston, Massachusetts & virtual
Cost: $205 per session; need-based aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: January 17–January 18 | Session 2:February 17–February 18
Application Deadline: Session 1: December 15 | Session 2: January 19
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
The MassArt Winter Workshops provide high school students with the opportunity to explore studio art in short, intensive two-day sessions during the winter months. Whether you attend in person or online, you can explore topics like drawing, illustration, mixed media, printmaking, fashion illustration, observational drawing, papermaking, and more. These workshops are especially suited for students looking to build or expand their art portfolios, experiment with new media, or simply deepen their technical skills in a flexible, low-commitment format. Experienced instructors lead each class, which includes demonstrations, guided work sessions, critiques, and collaborative learning activities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full 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. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Burke Neurological Institute Introduction to Neuroscience
Location: Virtual
Cost: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Winter session: February 4 to March 27
Application Deadline: Varies; registration opens before each session
Eligibility: Successful completion of NYS Regents Living Environment or equivalent biology course
This winter program for high school students provides a foundational understanding of the mammalian nervous system, focusing on movement, sensory processing, learning, and memory. Delivered through twice-weekly webinars, the curriculum covers neuroanatomy, synapses, neurogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurorehabilitation. It prepares you for college-level neuroscience studies and research opportunities at institutions like the Burke Neurological Institute. Scholarships are available for those with financial need. Learning methods include lectures, discussions, and explorations of brain repair and neurological disorders.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. Cornell University’s Online Courses for High School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1940 per credit; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: January 2–January 17
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Open to juniors and seniors between the ages of 15–19
Ideal for students unable to travel during winter break, this winter program for high school students in Massachusetts provides a virtual Ivy League experience. You get to study with Cornell instructors, exploring various subjects such as architecture, hotel management, international relations and more. Cornell’s online pre-college program runs year-round, including a winter session. You can earn up to 8 credits and receive an official Cornell transcript. Courses are offered in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, providing maximum flexibility.
6. High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Location: Life science institutions, companies, or incubators based in Massachusetts
Stipend: $17/hr or $4,080 for 6 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Between May 1 – April 30 (part-time and full-time options available) Varies by internship (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students (16+)
The High School Apprenticeship Challenge gives high school students the chance to intern at life sciences companies, research institutions, and incubators in Massachusetts. You will gain hands-on experience in labs, performing experiments and learning various techniques under the guidance of scientists and lab technicians. The program also includes pre-internship training covering biotechnology, biomedicine, professional skills, and career exploration in life sciences. Internships offered are both part-time and full-time.
7. Girls Who Code Clubs OHSU School of Medicine Partnership for Scientific Inquiry (PSI)
Location: Remote and in-person options available across various locations
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Ongoing throughout the school year; Clubs typically meet one to two hours/week after school or on weekends
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 3-12 of any skill level
The Girls Who Code Clubs program allows young students to learn coding and computer science in a collaborative, supportive setting. You’ll work in small groups with guidance from trained facilitators and follow a flexible curriculum that adjusts to your interests and learning speed. The program focuses on core computational thinking skills, and introduces tools used in the tech industry such as web development, game design, and AI. The program encourages project-based work where you build digital creations aimed at addressing real-world challenges.
8. Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: Cambridge, MA, and virtual
Stipend: Students receive stipends courtesy of the City of Cambridge.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10–16 students are selected annually
Dates: September–May
Application Deadline: Summer
Eligibility: Exclusively for students enrolled at Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS)
The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) gives CRLS students the chance to work directly with astrophysicists from Harvard and the Smithsonian on independent research over the school year. You will meet weekly with your mentors and also participate in monthly check-ins and lectures covering topics like observational astronomy, telescope optics, scientific databases, and basic coding in Python. You will learn to formulate research questions, conduct data analysis, interpret results, and present their findings. The program ends in a symposium where you deliver talks and posters to share your work with peers and faculty.
9. The APA Internal Internship Program (IIP)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None; includes both paid and unpaid (for academic credit) internships.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. high school students, part-time enrolled, in APA-registered states; under 18 need a D.C. Work Permit.
The APA’s Internal Internship Program (IIP) offers high school students paid and unpaid internships in psychology. You will work at the American Psychological Association, gaining experience in research, policy, and communication. You’ll develop skills in writing, analysis, and collaboration while exploring how psychology applies across professions. The program also includes group projects, workshops, and discussions with fellow interns. You can apply to up to three positions aligned with your interests.
10. The Stanford Daily – High School Winter Workshops
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program (ranges between $1000 to $4050); need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: December 15– January 9
Application Deadline: November 30
Eligibility: High school students
Stanford Daily’s Winter Workshops are a 4-week remote series offering three tracks: Journalism, Tech, and Multimedia. In the Journalism track, you will learn reporting fundamentals, source interviewing, ethical issues, features writing, opinion, and breaking news, and even have the chance to see your work published on The Daily. The Tech track introduces web development with no prior background needed—covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, data visualization, and newsroom tech integration. The Multimedia track explores podcasting, photography, video journalism, scripting, remote interviews, and editing skills. All tracks combine lectures, small group mentorship, and project work. During the program, you will meet weekly with editors or leaders for feedback and work toward a final project or portfolio.
11. SCAD Joint Enrollment Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $100 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: January 5–March 12
Application Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors aged 16 or older
SCAD’s Joint Enrollment program gives high school students the chance to experience college-level learning while still in school. You can take up to two online courses per quarter, each worth about 5 credit hours, in subjects ranging from art and design to psychology, anthropology, digital communications, and more. Taught by SCAD professors, the classes are delivered virtually, incorporating interactive elements such as Zoom sessions and online discussions.
12. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Rolling dates
Application Deadline: Open all year round
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; minimum GPA ~3.25; at least one honors science or English class
EnergyMag provides remote internships for high school students eager to explore renewable energy and energy storage. You will collaborate with a mentor to research companies, technologies, or markets, synthesizing insights into a draft report that may be featured on the EnergyMag site. The experience involves tasks like background research, expert outreach, data analysis, and writing, supported by regular virtual check-ins. The program is designed with flexibility in mind, offering half-time internships during the summer and quarter-time opportunities throughout the year.
13. One-on-One Bioinformatics Research Mentorship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,900 (Bioinformatics Research); $2,900 (Science Fair Project Collaboration)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Flexible scheduling with mentor; 10 sessions for Bioinformatics Research; 6 sessions for Science Fair Project
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; scheduled with mentor
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and college students; no prior experience required
This personalized mentorship program connects you with Dr. Jedy, a Ph.D. expert in biochemistry and molecular biology, to undertake tailored research in bioinformatics with a focus on AI and machine learning applications in human disease, microbiology, or plant biology. Across 10 virtual sessions, you’ll learn research methods, analyze data using no-code bioinformatics tools (like GEO2R and DAVID), write a research paper, and create a scientific poster for presentation. The program concludes with a published, indexed report and a certificate of completion. Alternatively, you can work with Dr. Jedy on a science fair or conference project through a 6-session course designed to guide your work toward presentation.
14. Molecular Medicine Workshops
Location: Online and UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia University, University College London, and Alameda, CA
Cost: Varies between $670 – $1,890
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by session
Dates: Winter Break: December 26–30 (online workshops). Residential workshop: December 26–31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High-achieving middle and high school students interested in medicine and biomedical fields
Molecular Medicine Workshops offer both online and residential programs that immerse students in molecular and cellular biology, emphasizing disease mechanisms, drug development, and personalized medicine. Led by Ph.D.-level instructors, you will engage in lectures, lab work, and original research projects focused on genes and molecular processes. Residential camps provide a college-like experience, including dorm living and mentorship from teaching assistants and advisors. Workshop topics range from molecular neuroscience, cancer biology, and immunology to specialized bioinformatics tracks. Online sessions cover foundational and applied subjects such as cellular medicine, medicinal chemistry, and medical bioinformatics. Winter programs concentrate on bioinformatics and medicinal chemistry and require an application but not letters of recommendation.
15. Ecampus at Oregon State University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course; you can calculate the total cost here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Dates: Winter: January 5 – March 20
Application Deadline: November 17
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus allows high school students to earn college credit online, giving them a head start on their academic journey. You will enroll as a non-degree learner until you decide to pursue a full degree, allowing you to explore courses beyond typical high school offerings. With more than 100 courses available across fields like anthropology, animal sciences, business, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, environmental science, political science, psychology, sociology, and more, you can build university-level skills and gain experience in areas that match your interests.
Image source - MassArt logo