Extracurriculars are a key aspect of college applications and life, and summer is the best time to take advantage of such opportunities. For STEM students, summer can be a time to pursue independent study through various programs, whether that be through research internships, paid programs, applying to scholarships, or even just cold emailing some professors in nearby universities or colleges to see if they have any opportunities for you. Summer is a crucial time, and there are hundreds of opportunities that STEM students have available to them if they wish to pursue them. This list is not exhaustive, and there are no STEM competitions or science fairs listed either; instead, the purpose of this list is to introduce students to a few of the more prestigious and competitive programs that are available to STEM students of various concentrations.
When asked about what she feels are the benefits for students that choose to pursue STEM during the summer, Ms. Murphy states, “First of all, exposure! You never know what you really want to do or study until you actually get to do it. These programs are a great way to be exposed to different areas of STEM and see what might interest you. Take every opportunity to learn about things that might interest you, whether guest speakers at school, talking to a friend of a parent who works in STEM, or summer programs. Additionally, students gain more science skills, connect with other students from around the country (or even around the world), and grow in confidence.”
For students that are interested in pursuing such a program or opportunity, but are nervous about the level of competition or application process, Ms. Murphy suggests, “Apply anyway. You may get told no, but the field of STEM is all about trying again when something doesn’t go as planned. If you get accepted, you’ll learn and grow through being challenged and meet other students who are being challenged too. You might even surprise yourself with how good you are and how much you really do deserve to be there!”
- The Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a variety of experiences for students interested in both STEM and literacy to conduct meaningful research. They offer one-on-one mentored research programs connecting students with PhD researchers from top universities across the globe. This program is for curiosity driven high school students who want to conduct research, and potentially have it published. This program is entirely virtual and has rolling admissions throughout the year – students are able to apply to the summer, Spring, Fall or Winter Cohorts. For example, I am currently a junior at Indian Hills enrolled in the program. As of now I am conducting an independent research study on computational oncogenics and working towards publishing my own paper this spring. I am welcome to receive any questions or advice from aspiring applicants!
- MITES (Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science) at MIT
MITES is a prestigious STEM summer program hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology aimed at serving underrepresented students in STEM. They strongly encourage students of African American, Hispanic/Latinx, or Native American descent to apply, however, all applicants, regardless of race or ethnicity, can apply and will be eligible for acceptance into the program. It is a free, six-week residential program at MIT where rising seniors with strong academic backgrounds will have the opportunity to engage in college-level STEM courses and collaborate on research projects. The applications for MITES 2026 are open in November and due February 1st, 2026 by 11:59 pm PST.
- Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (Virtual or In-Person)
This program can be done virtually or in-person. It is a two-week program that introduces female and nonbinary high school students to the world of computer science by engaging in real-world projects related to technology, innovation, and coding. You don’t need any experience with coding, programming or computer science to enter this program, which makes it an excellent platform for beginners to make professional connections and build their confidence. The deadline for applications for 2026 has not been announced yet, however, in 2025, the deadline for applying was in February, so keep an eye out!
- The Davidson Fellows Scholarship
With an award of up to $50,000, this scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships for STEM students. This scholarship is for students under the age of 18 who have completed a significant or impactful project in science, technology, engineering, math or literature. You do not need to have conducted research in a lab setting in order to be eligible for this scholarship. The deadline for applications is on February 11, 2026, 11:59 pm Pacific Time!
- The Science Ambassador Scholarship
Sponsored by Cards Against Humanity, this scholarship is only available to female high school seniors, but offers a $20,000 tuition scholarship. The only requirement is to submit a 3-minute video explaining any STEM concept that you feel passionate about. Applications are open NOW and the deadline is on December 15, 2025!
For more information please visit each of the scholarship and/or programs websites to learn more about the application processes!