10 Psychology Programs for High School Students in Boston
If you are a high school student interested in psychology, structured programs can be a strong option to receive early exposure to how human behavior, cognition, and mental health are studied in academic and professional settings. Through coursework, research activities, and applied projects, these programs help you build practical skills such as data analysis, critical thinking, and scientific writing. Many also introduce you to how psychology is applied in related fields like neuroscience, public health, education, and clinical research.
Why should you attend a program in Boston?
Several psychology programs for high school students in Boston are offered by well-established universities and national organizations, providing students with experienced instructors, structured mentorship, and academically rigorous content. Depending on the program, you might engage in experimental research, clinical case analysis, neuroscience-focused coursework, or media and mental health studies. These experiences are well-suited for students who live or study in the city, as well as those traveling from outside the area to explore a concentrated academic hub.
To help students compare their options, we’ve identified 10 psychology programs for high school students in Boston.
If you’re looking for internships in Boston, check out our blog here.
1. Research Science Institute
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students per cohort
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors worldwide
At the Research Science Institute, you spend six weeks engaged in advanced academic study and original research alongside high-achieving students from around the world. The program begins with intensive coursework and seminars, then transitions to a mentored research phase in which you design and conduct an independent project. If your interests align with psychology, you may pursue work related to cognitive science, neuroscience, or closely related interdisciplinary areas. You read and evaluate scientific literature, apply research methods, and analyze data under the guidance of experienced researchers. Access to MIT’s laboratories, libraries, and computing resources supports your work throughout the program. The experience concludes with formal written and oral presentations delivered in a conference-style symposium.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer.
Application deadline: Rolling basis. Spring sessions have a January deadline; Summer programs have a May deadline; Fall programs have a September deadline; and the Winter cohort has a November deadline. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have participated in the AI Scholars program or have some familiarity with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI runs fully online programs that introduce you to artificial intelligence through structured lessons and research-based projects. If you are new to the field, the AI Scholars program focuses on core skills, including Python programming, data analysis, and introductory machine learning concepts. Students with more experience may pursue the AI Fellowship, which focuses on an independent research project under one-on-one mentorship. You move through the research process by developing questions, working with real datasets, and evaluating model performance. Psychology-related topics, such as mental health data analysis or cognitive modeling, can be explored in these projects. Some participants choose to present their findings or pursue publication with guidance from the program.
3. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions throughout the year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle/high school
Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway allows you to study undergraduate-level subjects through small-group instruction led by academics from universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard. Classes are intentionally kept small, typically ranging from 4 to 10 students, allowing for close academic interaction. You attend subject-specific lectures and participate in weekly one-on-one tutorials with your assigned instructor. Depending on the subject, the program includes practical components such as engineering challenges, mock trials, or applied computing exercises. You select from over 20 disciplines, including psychology, artificial intelligence, computer science, medicine, and economics. The program concludes with a personal academic project and individualized written feedback. You can find more details about the application here.
4. Boston Leadership Institute: One-Week Clinical Psychology Program
Location: The Newman School, Boston, MA
Cost: $699Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15-20 students per class
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12
In this psychology program for high school students in Boston, you will study mental illness and psychological treatment over one week. The curriculum covers the symptoms, causes, and interventions associated with disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, autism, OCD, and ADHD. Lessons emphasize how clinicians assess and understand mental health conditions using psychological frameworks. You may examine case studies and participate in discussions that connect theory to real-world clinical practice. Past sessions have included visits to psychiatric facilities and academic research labs in the Boston area. Faculty members with professional experience guide students through both conceptual and applied learning activities.
5. Harvard Secondary School Program
Location: Virtual or on-campus at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,180 – $15,735 + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students graduating high school in the current or next two years; At least 16 years old by June 21 and under 19 years old as of July 31
Harvard’s Secondary School Program allows you to enroll in real Harvard courses for college credit during a seven-week summer term. You choose from a wide selection of subjects, including multiple psychology and neuroscience offerings. The program follows the same structure as the academic year, with assigned readings, discussions, assessments, and formal evaluations. Depending on the session, you may participate in residential, commuter, or online formats. Psychology courses range from introductory surveys to specialized topics such as psychopathology or cognitive neuroscience. Successful completion results in an official Harvard transcript reflecting your academic performance.
6. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid and unpaid (academic credit) opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are offered all year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
This online psychology program for high school students in Boston introduces you to how psychology is applied in professional settings, including research, education, policy, and communications. You are assigned to a specific department and contribute to ongoing projects that may involve writing, data analysis, or content development. Each intern works under the supervision of an APA staff member who provides feedback and guidance. Optional workshops and networking sessions expand exposure to psychology-related careers. Positions may be paid or offer academic credit, depending on the department.
7. Tufts University – Introduction to Psychology
Location: Online or on-campus at Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA (15 minutes from Boston)
Cost: Non-credit audit: $1,300 | Undergraduate credit for high schoolers: $3,147
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Available year-round
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11–12
Tufts University’s Introduction to Psychology course presents a comprehensive overview of the field using a scientific approach to understanding behavior and mental processes. You’ll study core areas such as perception, learning, motivation, emotion, intelligence, personality, and social behavior. Course content emphasizes how psychological theories are developed, tested, and applied through empirical research, and lectures are complemented by films and guided discussions that illustrate how psychological concepts appear in everyday contexts. You also learn how psychologists use research methods and statistics to analyze behavior and draw conclusions from data.
8. Dartmouth Pre-College Online Program: Psychology: Explore the Mind & Mental Wellness
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Dartmouth’s pre-college online psychology course introduces you to clinical psychology through structured, case-based learning. You’ll study mental health diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic approaches, including psychopharmacology and positive psychology. The coursework focuses on practical skills, including case conceptualization and empathetic patient interaction. You also explore broader topics like stigma, behavioral change, and patient well-being. Several subfields, including neuropsychology and health psychology, are integrated into the curriculum. The online psychology program for high school students in Boston concludes with a capstone project analyzing a fictional character’s mental health profile.
9. Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program: Media and Mental Health
Location: Virtual
Cost: $8,973
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising or recently graduated high school seniors who are age 17 by June 15
Brown University’s Media and Mental Health course investigates how media influences public perceptions of mental health and psychological treatment. Students analyze representations of mental illness across television, film, news outlets, and social media platforms. The program combines insights from psychology, public health, and media studies to assess how these portrayals influence stigma, awareness, and help-seeking behaviors. Class discussions emphasize accuracy, ethics, and the societal effects of media narratives. You’ll also examine how media framing can shape attitudes toward therapy, diagnosis, and mental health policy. The course culminates in an independent research project centered on a media-related mental health issue.
10. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Programs: Psychology: How the Brain Influences Behavior
Location: Virtual
Cost: Enrichment: $1,895 | College Credit: $3,995; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students ages 13+
Georgetown University’s online psychology course focuses on the relationship between brain function and human behavior. You study how neural systems influence emotion, learning, memory, perception, and decision-making. Topics include the brain’s reward pathways, the neurological basis of anxiety and depression, and the effects of drugs on cognition and behavior. The curriculum also examines how psychological principles apply to real-world contexts such as media consumption, technology use, and product design. A final capstone project requires you to design and present a behavioral study grounded in psychological research methods.
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