Top 10 Psychology Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

Psychology internships for high school students help you understand how the mind works and what careers in mental health, research, and behavioral science you can pursue. Programs like the APA Internal Internship Program place you inside a national professional organization, where you support ongoing projects and learn how psychology connects to policy, research, and public education

In this guide, we’re walking through some of the strongest psychology-focused internships available to high schoolers across the U.S.  You’ll see what each program offers, who it’s designed for, and the unique ways they help you grow.

• What Are the Best Psychology Internships for High School Students?
• Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
• Barrow Neurological Institute Summer High School Internship Program
• APA Internal Internship Program
• Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship for High School Students
• Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy
• Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University
• Summer Neuroscience Program
• National Institute of Health Summer Internship Program
• EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience Pre-College Program
• Columbia University Summer Immersion in the Science of Psychology
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Psychology Internships for High School Students?

Exploring psychology in depth can help you understand how and why people think, feel, and behave in certain ways. These internships allow you to gain hands-on experience in research labs, clinical settings, and mental health programs where you can explore the field under the guidance of mentors.

Psychology internships also help you stand out in college admissions, especially if you’re aiming to get into the top psychology schools in the Ivy League, like Harvard and Princeton. That’s because these programs show initiative, curiosity, and a readiness to take on serious academic work, especially in a field that’s both scientific and people-centered.

Below, you’ll find a list of standout psychology internships for high school students. You’ll get a quick overview of each program’s name, location, and key dates, so you can easily compare them and find the opportunities that best match your goals.

Let’s discuss each internship one at a time.

1. Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program

• Dates: June 30 – August 8, 2025
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts (Mass General Hospital)
• Benefits: Paid, full-time internship

The Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program is for rising high school seniors in Massachusetts who want exposure to neurology, neuroscience, and clinical research.

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week internship that runs for six weeks. You start with a short “bootcamp” to help you get comfortable with professional expectations, lab basics, and the pace of research. After that, you and your assigned partner join an MGH Neurology lab where you’re mentored by faculty and work alongside researchers on ongoing projects.

To join, you must be a rising senior or recent graduate, live or study in Massachusetts, and be committed to the whole duration of the program. Cohort sizes are limited, so it’s competitive. However, as one of the best psychology internships for high school students, participating in this program will be a strong boost for your future applications, especially if you’re aiming for ultra-competitive schools like the Ivy League or other top research universities.

2. Barrow Neurological Institute Summer High School Internship Program

• Dates: June 8, 2026 (start);  July 9, 2026 (High School Symposium)
• Location: Phoenix, Arizona (Barrow Neurological Institute)
• Cost/Benefits: Free; unpaid volunteer-based internship

For more than two decades, the Barrow Neurological Institute’s Summer High School Internship Program has placed high school students in its labs to experience hands-on experiments in neuroscience research. You also get the option to work in non-lab departments like Marketing, Neuroscience Publications, or the Barrow Neurological Foundation.

The program runs for about a month, and your work depends on the lab or department you join. Lab interns contribute to biological research, learn how to evaluate scientific papers, and shadow professionals who work in this field full-time. The experience culminates in a High School Symposium, where you present the work you have completed.

To join, you must be at least 16 years old, submit a letter of recommendation and a short letter of intent, and indicate which lab or department fits your interests.

3. APA Internal Internship Program (IIP)

• Dates: Year-round (spring, summer, fall, winter sessions)
• Location: Remote or Washington, D.C. (depending on department approval)
• Cost/Benefits: Paid or for academic credit

The APA Internal Internship Program is a year-round opportunity where you explore psychology from the inside of the world’s largest professional psychology organization. Whether you work hybrid or remote depends on which office you join. Regardless, expect regular check-ins with your supervisor, workshops, group projects, and optional professional development events.

Your day-to-day tasks include drafting research summaries, helping with communications projects, supporting program operations, reviewing educational materials, or contributing to policy discussions. Interns must be enrolled at least part-time, and anyone under 18 will need a D.C. Work Permit. Remote interns must also reside in states where APA is registered as an employer.

This is a selective program with positions capped by department needs, and the experience gives you professional credibility early.

4. Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship for High School Students

• Dates: June 2026 (sessions vary)
• Location: Dallas, Texas (UT Southwestern Medical Center)
• Benefits: unpaid 2-week educational internship

The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a short, immersive program for rising 10th–12th graders and rising college freshmen. Throughout the two weeks, you learn directly from licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and psychiatrists.

The schedule mixes discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on learning across areas like psychotherapy, neuropsychological testing, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, and community psychiatry. To apply, you’ll submit an application form, a short personal essay, a recommendation, and an attestation of no felonies.

The program selects a limited number of participants each year, making it competitive. Experiences like this can strengthen your future applications, especially if you’re aiming for Ivy League schools like Princeton, Harvard, or Stanford, where the psychology and pre-health tracks are incredibly strong.

5. Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA)

• Dates: (Summer Academy ) June 22 – July 23, 2026; (Year-Round Programming)  August 2026 – March 2027
• Location: California (community-based + virtual components)
• Benefits: Paid, stipends up to $1,750

The Youth Mental Health Academy is a multi-stage, community-focused program for California high schoolers, especially those from structurally marginalized communities. It starts with a five-week summer academy with hands-on lessons and project-based learning led by experts in psychology, research, and health communications.

During the summer, you explore three main areas: mental health disorders, research skills, and college/career preparation. You also begin building your capstone project. Throughout the year, you attend virtual workshops and receive academic guidance and mentorship. Every student is paired with a mentor working in a health-related field.

To be eligible, you’ll need at least a 2.5 GPA and a genuine interest in mental health fields. Given the mentorship, the paid structure, and the depth of support, this program can add a meaningful boost to your future academic plans.

6. Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University

• Dates: July 12–17, 2026, and July 19–24, 2026 (two sessions)
• Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina — Wake Forest University campus
• Cost: $3,500 (not free or funded)

The Psychology Institute at Wake Forest is an in-person, overnight program running Sunday through Friday, for current 9th–12th graders who want an introduction to psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science.

The structure blends short lectures with labs and group research, where you’ll take part in guided sheep-brain dissections, run sensory-perception labs, study neuroplasticity, and design an observational research project from start to finish.

There’s no published acceptance rate, but cohort sizes are limited, and one session has already moved to a waitlist in past years. If you’re considering psychology, neuroscience, or pre-med later on, this program gives you the experience to help you prepare for college-level coursework.

7. Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP)

• Dates: Summer 2026 (applications open January 2026)
• Location: New York City, NY — Rockefeller University campus
• Benefits: Completely free (includes meals, supplies, and daily MTA fare)

The Summer Neuroscience Program is a two-week, fully in-person course by Rockefeller University graduate students created for NYC public high schoolers. Across the two weeks, you’ll join interactive lectures, meet with neuroscientists, read and present a research article, and tour research facilities.

To apply, you must be at least 16 years old, enrolled in a NYC public high school, and willing to complete the application and provide a teacher reference. A group of applicants will be interviewed in April before final selections are made.

This free program is competitive and highly regarded, and experiences like this can strengthen your academic profile.

8. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program (SIP)

• Dates: 8–12 weeks between May and September 2026
• Location: NIH campuses nationwide (main campus in Bethesda, MD)
• Benefits: Paid; stipend varies by education level

The NIH Summer Internship Program is one of the most respected research internships you can join as a high school senior (or soon-to-be college student). You spend at least eight full-time weeks working inside an NIH research lab where every intern works under a Principal Investigator (PI).

Your exact experience depends on the lab you join, but expect to assist with experiments, analyze data, attend lab meetings, and explore the research pipeline from basic discovery to translational and clinical applications.

To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 by September 30, 2026 (with specific exceptions for local graduating seniors). Eligibility also requires high school graduation before the start of the internship or current enrollment in a college or graduate program. Because each PI selects their own interns, the process is competitive but personal since your application needs to resonate with the specific labs you contact.

9. EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience Pre-College Program

• Dates: (Session 1) Overnight – June 28–July 11, 2026;  Day – June 29–July 10, 2026 |
• (Session 2) Overnight – July 12–25, 2026;  Day – July 13–24, 2026
• Location: Wellesley College, Massachusetts
• Benefits: Residential or day options (pricing varies)

The EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience Program is a two-week, hands-on experience for students ages 12–14.

Each session combines workshops, team activities, and creative projects in which you explore topics such as perception, memory, emotions, and the biological foundations of behavior. You work through activities like building models and running simple experiments that help you think like a young scientist.

This program builds foundational skills and gives you a confident early start in STEM and behavioral science. Thanks to that, it can position you well for more advanced high school opportunities later on, especially if you plan to pursue selective programs or future pre-college experiences that value demonstrated interest in psychology and neuroscience.

10.  Columbia University Summer Immersion: The Science of Psychology

• Dates: (Summer A) June 29 – July 17, 2026; (Summer B) July 21 – August 7, 2026
• Location: New York City, NY — Columbia University (In Person)
• Cost/Benefits: Tuition-based; includes a Columbia certificate upon completion

Columbia’s Summer Immersion course, The Science of Psychology, gives you a college-level introduction to why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Across three weeks, you explore major topics in social and cognitive psychology—including empathy, conformity, obedience, implicit bias, moral decision-making, and how these processes shape both individual behavior and society.

You also get hands-on experience with research methods, from designing experiments to interpreting psychological findings. The class ends with a collaborative project where you create a social intervention based on psychological theory, then test and present your results.

Columbia is selective across all its pre-college offerings, so a strong application matters. Completing a program like this can elevate your academic profile especially if you’re aiming for competitive universities that appreciate early exposure to psychology, behavioral science, and research-driven coursework.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are considered the most prestigious psychology internships for high school students?

Programs like the Mass General Youth Neurology Program, the Summer Neuroscience Program at Rockefeller University, and the NIH Summer Internship Program are often viewed as the most prestigious because of their selectivity, hands-on research access, and connection to major medical and research institutions.

2. Do these programs require previous psychology or research experience?

Usually not. Most psychology internships expect curiosity, maturity, and a willingness to learn, not prior lab or clinical experience. Some programs may require basic coursework or strong academic performance, but interest matters more than expertise.

3. Are there virtual psychology internship options available in 2025–2026?

Yes. Programs like the APA Internal Internship Program (IIP) offer remote or hybrid placements, depending on the department and state eligibility, making it accessible to students across the U.S.

4. How competitive are high school psychology internships?

Very competitive. Prestigious programs receive hundreds of applications for a limited number of spots. Strong essays, recommendations, and a clear interest in mental health or neuroscience can help your application stand out.

5. Can psychology internships improve my college application?

Absolutely. These internships demonstrate initiative, empathy, research interest, and academic motivation, qualities admissions officers value, especially for students pursuing psychology, neuroscience, or pre-med tracks at selective schools.

Takeaways

• Mentorship in psychology internships helps you understand the realities of mental health work, build confidence, and explore career paths you may not have known existed. Many programs even intentionally support students from underrepresented backgrounds, making psychology and mental health careers more inclusive and accessible.
• Hands-on experience in research labs or clinical settings strengthens your understanding of human behavior and helps you make clearer, more informed decisions about college majors and future careers.
• Working with a college admissions advisor can help you choose psychology internships for high school students that align with your goals and give your applications a strong edge.