12 Physics Winter Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in physics, then consider attending a structured program during the winter. These programs let you utilize your winter break productively and provide you with opportunities to gain experience in the field and learn from industry professionals, professors, or graduate students. Additionally, these programs allow you to establish valuable connections and begin building your professional network.
During physics programs, you can work on projects, explore advanced theoretical concepts, and develop analytical and research skills. Hosted by top universities and organizations, these programs help you explore your interests in a structured manner and give you access to college-level resources and faculty to help you build your profile and skillset.
In this blog, we have highlighted 12 physics winter programs for high school students.
If you are interested in winter programs and internships, check out our blogs here and here.
1. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Apply 3 months before your preferred internship’s start date
Eligibility: 16+ high school students (selection based on mentor)
Sandia National Laboratories offers internships and co-op programs to high school and college students. Internships typically vary depending on the mentor and the nature of the work involved. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to contribute to Sandia’s missions and engage in meaningful, real-world projects. During the internship, you will work under the guidance and supervision of a mentor, who may also be your manager. Sandia National Laboratories’ co-op programs, on the other hand, supplement classroom learning with hands-on experience. Along the way, you’ll also get to attend professional development activities like tours, speakers, lunchtime socials, and more.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by deadline. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students
Founded and run by Harvard graduates, Veritas AI offers several programs to high school students interested in exploring the world of artificial intelligence and data science. If you’re a beginner and looking for a gateway program, then try the AI Scholars program. It is a 10-session bootcamp that covers the fundamentals of data science and AI. You’ll also get to experience hands-on learning by participating in real-world projects. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more challenging, then consider the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program. During the program, you will get to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on an individual project. You’ll also get the chance to publish your work in high school journals with the help of the in-house publication team.
3. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Varies based on site and project
Application Deadline: Varies based on site and project
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+); GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale highly recommended; More info available here
The AFRL Scholars Program offers limited fall sessions for high school students, which usually extend into the winter season. As a participant, you will work alongside AFRL scientists and engineers and explore cutting-edge research and technology. You’ll also get the chance to contribute to research-based projects. Based on your interests, you may choose to apply to a range of research topics. However, please note that each applicant is limited to three topics per location.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Physics Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by deadline. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.3
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives high school students the chance to explore research across a variety of fields. This includes physics, international relations, data science, psychology, engineering, and more. During the program, you will be paired with a PhD scholar who will act as your mentor and offer support and guidance as you work on an independent project. At the end of the program, you will have a research paper that you will get to present at the Lumiere Research Symposium.
5. MITES Semester
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 6 months from June – December
Application Deadline: November – February 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors
The MITES Semester program starts in the summer before senior year and runs through December. This means you’ll be participating in two phases of the program, the STEM Immersion Phase and the College and Career Prep Phase. During the STEM Immersion Phase, you’ll complete two STEM courses in either astrophysics, machine learning, thermodynamics and climate change, and so on. You’ll also join a team and work on a project that you can present at the MITES Semester Conference. During the College and Career Prep Phase, you will get to interact with researchers, professionals, and other faculty members. You’ll take part in community-building events, mock interviews, and essay reviews. You’ll also attend workshops that focus on preparing you for college.
6. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Internships
Location: Johns Hopkins APL, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: summer internship (June – August) + academic year (September – May)
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The ASPIRE program at APL is a highly selective program for high school students looking to explore STEM pathways before committing to one. During the program, you will be paired with an APL mentor who will offer guidance as you work on projects, solve problems, and improve your technical and interpersonal skills. When applying, you can choose up to three project types, and you will be placed accordingly. Some of the fields include Aerospace and Space-Related Engineering, Environmental, Earth, and Life Sciences, Physical Science, and so on. You’ll also get to choose between participating in virtual or in-person internships. While this program begins in the summer, it is also possible to extend participation into the academic year and continue during the winter term.
7. Science and Engineering Prep: Pre-university Calculus and Physics
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (paid certificate)
Dates: 13 weeks; Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
During this program, you will cover two main courses: Pre-University Calculus and Pre-University Physics. For around eight weeks, you will focus on calculus, reviewing concepts like functions, equations, integration, differentiation, and analytic geometry, and preparing for introductory calculus. Then you’ll spend 5 weeks on the fundamentals of physics and will familiarise yourself with how physics and related topics are taught at a university level. You’ll also explore topics like mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and waves. To make the course more interesting, you’ll also get to learn through real-world examples from fields like aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, applied physics, and so on.
8. Mechanics: Motion, Forces, Energy, and Gravity, from Particles to Planets
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (paid certificate)
Dates: 3 weeks; Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school seniors
During this course, you will learn about how much of the world around you is based on physics and how that physics is based on mechanics. By understanding mechanics, you will understand motion, forces, energy, and momentum. You’ll also get to better understand the mechanics of planets, stars, and galaxies. As a participant, you will learn from unique multimedia tutorials, work on interesting practice problems, and maybe get to complete at-home experiments. To participate, you will need some experience in high school mathematics.
9. StanfordOnline: Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers 1
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (paid certificate)
Dates: 9 weeks; Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This course explores quantum mechanics and its applications. You will learn how it is designed to be accessible to physicists, as well as students and professionals from diverse science and engineering disciplines. During the course, you will deepen your understanding of fundamental physics concepts. Additionally, you will explore the mathematics of quantum mechanical waves and their applications. The course also includes an examination of how quantum mechanics can evolve. Some other concepts you’ll explore include the uncertainty principle, the hydrogen atom, and so on. To participate, you should have a basic understanding of mathematics and physics.
10. LTTx: Physics Fundamentals
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (paid certificate)
Dates: 3 weeks; Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This course is designed for students seeking to refresh their understanding of physics or to deepen their knowledge of fundamental concepts. Additionally, it explores the role of physics within the aviation maintenance industry. During the course, you’ll explore key topics like matter, mechanics, thermodynamics, sound and wave motion, and optics and light. Under these topics, you’ll learn about several concepts, from the basic states of matter to fluid dynamics. In addition, you’ll learn about the laws of thermodynamics, the speed of sound, the laws of reflection and refraction, kinetics and statics, and so much more.
11. University at Buffalo Upward Bound Program (UBP)
Location: University at Buffalo
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply at any time)
Eligibility: 9th to 10th graders with an 85% GPA average or above; More info here
The University at Buffalo Upward Bound Program (UBP) offers two main components: one during the summer and one during the academic year. The academic year component includes a fall/winter session and a spring session. During the program, you’ll have access to personal, academic, and career counselling sessions. You’ll also get to go on campus visits and educational field trips. The program also offers after-school tutoring sessions in subjects like maths, English, foreign languages, and science, including physics. This program is a good option for those interested in exploring an academic career in physics and seeking assistance with college application preparation.
12. AlphaStar Academy: Online Winter Physics Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $925; Early bird discounts available
Dates: December 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: High school students with some background in physics
AlphaStar Academy’s Online Winter Physics Camp is a day camp focused on the concept of F=ma. As a participant, you will learn to pick up on solid problem-solving techniques and will also get to prepare for the Physics Olympiad. Some other topics you’ll explore during this camp include Newton’s Laws of motion, kinematics, gravitation, work and energy, and more. To participate, you should either have completed first-year high school physics or AP Physics 1, AP Physics C Mechanics, and so on.
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