Maximize Winter Break: Top 10 Programs For High School Students
Winter break is often a well-deserved opportunity for high school students to relax and recharge after a tough first semester. However, for students looking to get a head start on building their resume, winter programs offer them a unique opportunity to grow academically and personally. Students can broaden their horizons as they dive into new or existing interests or develop new skills. While winter programs are less common than summer program opportunities, there are a few that can allow students to make the most of their time off.
Benefits Of Winter Programs
Winter programs can be beneficial to high school students who are trying to gain hands-on experiences beyond the classroom. Here are some of the key benefits:
Skill Development
Winter programs can introduce students to material that might not be offered in a traditional high school curriculum. Whether it is learning how to solve a coding problem, researching a health condition, or writing a TV pilot, these programs offer practical learning opportunities. The tangible skills gained won’t only help them on their academic journeys in high school, but also might strengthen their college applications and help clarify academic interests.
Expand Their Network
Winter programs allow students to meet people from all over the country, offering a chance to meet like-minded peers and forge connections that could last for years. Additionally, they might learn how to network with professionals, which could be useful for finding internships or mentorships in the future.
Time Management
Even though it is a break from school, winter holiday times often have many demands on a student’s time: they might still need to study for finals over break, work on applications for summer programs and spend time with their families. With the added pressure of attending a winter program, students will need to balance class and homework time with their already busy schedule. The discipline and accountability needed to succeed in a winter program can help develop vital skills that are essential for success.
Top 10 Winter Programs For High School Students
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
Location: Cleveland, OH
Dates: Flexible
Cost: Free
Age requirements: 16 years or older
Deadline: Rolling
Overview: Students can join an established lab and learn in a fast-paced environment. To apply, students should first identify labs of interest and send a customized email to the Principal Investigator. The email should detail your relevant experiences and why you would like to be involved in the research project.
EnergyMag
Location: Virtual
Dates: Flexible, will last 1-9 months
Cost: Free, unpaid internships
Age requirements: 10th-12th grade
Deadline: Rolling admission (space is limited)
Overview: Students will work under the guidance of an EnergyMag mentor to learn how to research a scientific or business issue. Students will work with industry leaders to analyze and synthesize information, with the result being to create a publishable report.
Girls Garage: Construction and Community
Location: Berkeley, CA
Dates: Tuesdays from 1/21/25 – 3/11/25, 4:30pm-6:30pm PT
Cost: Free
Age requirements: 9th-12th grade
Deadline: Application opens December 1
Overview: This program is ideal for high school girls and gender-expansive students to learn construction skills to mutually benefit the community. Students interested in STEM, design, or architecture can apply hands-on skills as they learn how to physically construct their surrounding environments.
Georgetown Pre-College Programs
Location: Virtual
Dates: Various; 1, 2, and 4-week options available.
Cost: $1,795+
Age requirements: 13 years or older
Deadline: Rolling
Overview: Georgetown University has a plethora of Pre-College online programs available that cover the gambit of business, medicine, communication and more. Students can watch dynamic video lessons with Georgetown faculty while completing additional coursework. Students have the option to earn college credits.
Penn State University: Research Internships And Observations
Location: Penn State University
Dates: Rolling
Cost: Free
Age requirements: Not listed
Deadline: Rolling
Overview: There are several options available, including a short-term research shadowing experience or an extended internship in a lab. Students will undergo an extensive training process before beginning the work. Before applying, students must identify a prospective research supervisor.
Rising Researchers
Location: Virtual
Dates: 3 winter sessions are available. Two sessions starting on 12/16/25 and one session starting on 2/3/25.
Cost: $3,100; register by 11/29/24 to save $200
Age requirements: 8th-12th grade
Deadline: Rolling admission (space is limited)
Overview: Rising Researchers, a sister company of Moon Prep, offers a 4-week virtual camp. Students can choose between two camp topics. The first topic, “Bioinformatics Research in Medicine or Microbiology for Beginners,” introduces students to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Students work with data analysis and are introduced to key Bioinformatics tools. The second option, “Exploring Topics in Neuroscience + Research Methodologies,” provides an in-depth exploration of the various fields within neuroscience, exploring the brain and its complex functions. Both options offer students an opportunity to present their posters at a poster symposium and publish their work.
UC San Diego: BioImaging & 3D Printing (BI3DP)
Location: Virtual
Dates: 1/8/25-3/09/25
Cost: $2,500
Age requirements: 10th-12th grade, must be 14 years old by the start of the virtual sessions
Deadline: 1/2/25
Overview: Students will get to practice imaging and 3D printing as they gain practical knowledge. The course will cover how 2D and 3D biological images are acquired, stored, displayed, manipulated and transformed. They will use a home “lab” to perform exercises to practice the skills they learn in class.
University Of Rochester: Online Courses
Location: Virtual
Dates: Various
Cost: $1495+
Age requirements: 13 years or older
Deadline: Rolling
Overview: The University of Rochester offers different courses related to medicine or STEM. Some of the options include “Personalized Medicine: Customizing Care Through Genetics,” “Orthopedic Medicine: Treatments & Surgery” and “Biomedical Engineering: Solving the Body’s Challenges with Technology. ” The online format of the courses means students can learn at their own pace but still receive guidance from a mentor as they support and answer any questions. The classes require students to complete a final project.
Stanford Engineering Everywhere
Location: Virtual
Dates: Flexible
Cost: Free
Age requirements: Open
Deadline: Rolling
Overview: Students can enroll in three of Stanford’s most popular sequences in the Introduction to Computer Science. The subjects covered include “Programming Methodology, Programming Abstractions” and “Programming Paradigms.” Students can learn on their own time from Stanford’s staff.
Tech Scholars: Web Design
Location: Virtual
Dates: Monday-Friday, 2/17/25-2/21/25, 10am-3pm ET
Cost: Free
Age requirements: 9th-12th grade, attending school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut and New Jersey)
Deadline: 1/12/25
Overview: The one-week class will cover how diverse women have affected change in their communities. Students will be empowered to be digital changemakers and learn how to use HTML and CSS to design and build their own websites that share stories about powerful women.
This article was originally posted on Forbes.