10 Chemistry Pre-College Programs for High School Students
Participating in chemistry pre-college programs is a great way for motivated high school students to learn more about the science that studies matter. These programs usually offer hands-on laboratory work alongside rigorous lessons, which will help the participants with a deep understanding of advanced chemical concepts. Moreover, these programs might aid in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are valued in higher education and beyond.
As chemistry is one of the fundamental sciences, some of the top universities in the U.S. host summer pre-college programs for high school students, covering both the academic and research aspects. Universities increasingly look out for applicants who go beyond school curricula, and your participation in these programs will highlight your commitment and passion for the field. Completing these programs demonstrates your proactive learning approach, intellectual curiosity, and readiness for rigorous academic challenges.
If you are looking to sign up for one of these programs, we have curated a list of the 10 chemistry pre-college programs for high school students that you should check out in this blog!
1. Chemistry Research Academy @ UPenn
The University of Pennsylvania has one of the top chemistry programs in the U.S. called the Chemistry Research Academy for high school students. This fully residential summer program combines hands-on laboratory experience, lectures, classroom learning, educational tours, and a capstone project for a comprehensive learning experience.
The subject areas covered in the research lectures will vary based on the organizing department's ongoing research goals. Classroom learning will build on topics that high school students learn in a first-year chemistry course. Topics that you’ll learn include organic and coordination chemistry and materials science.
During the three weeks in the program, you will spend roughly half of your time in research labs exploring different types of chemical instrumentation through open-ended laboratory challenges. You will spend six hours a day in classrooms and labs while the homework assignments might also take up to an hour daily. Through interactions with scientists and instructors, you will work on a capstone project. You can work on this independent research project and build on it to use it for a science fair.
Location: The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,700 tuition and a $75 application fee. High school students from the School District of Philadelphia public or charter schools might be able to attend the program for free with a Penn Summer Scholarship.
Application Date: February 15, 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: July 7 - July 28, 2025 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all 9-11 grade students, including international applicants who have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The online application can include one or more essays and a letter of recommendation.
2. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Virtual Track
UC Berkeley has the top chemistry program of any public university in the U.S. and high school students can explore multiple chemistry courses through the Berkeley Pre-College Scholars program. The Virtual Track of this program allows you to complete actual Berkeley coursework alongside Berkeley students from the comfort of your homes!
Chemistry courses take place only in six and eight-week-long sessions. In the 2024 program, the topics covered included - General Chemistry Laboratory, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Chemical Structure and Reactivity, and Organic Chemistry Laboratory. You can expect similar topics in the 2025 program.
Each course will cover a 16-week semester course in six to eight weeks, so you can expect the course to be quite rigorous. You will earn a Berkeley transcript but that will need to be requested from the Office of the Registrar after the course. The college credits you earn through this program are transferable but the acceptance depends on the institute. You will also be given a personal letter of commendation from the Dean of Extended Education reflecting a passing grade.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $595 per unit. Chemistry courses in 2024 carried two to three units. $550 registration fee, $68 document management fee, and $25 application fee. An additional $500 fee for international applicants
Application Date: June 3, 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: Multiple sessions between May and August.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have completed 10th grade and will be at least 16 years old in June 2025 and not older than 18 years at the end of the program. Applicants need to have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
3. Cornell University’s Pre-college Studies
If you are looking for a chemistry pre-college program from an Ivy League college, Cornell University’s Chem 2070: General Chemistry could be a great option for you. This course is offered over two six-week sessions, both held on the Cornell campus. The course is taught by Dan Lorey, senior lecturer in Cornell's chemistry department, covers fundamental chemical principles and is known for being academically rigorous.
The curriculum includes topics such as chemical transformations and equations, periodic trends of the elements, electronic structure of atoms, and chemical bonding. To apply for this program, you should be at least 16 years old and you must have completed your sophomore year of high school. While there’s no formal GPA requirement, a strong background in high school chemistry is recommended for success in the course.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $1,840 per credit (the 4-credit course costs $7,360). Partial need-based scholarships are available.
Application Date: June 3, 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: June 25 to August 6, 2025 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have completed 10th grade and will be at least 16 years old in June 2025 and not older than 18 years at the end of the program.
4. Yale Summer Session: General Chemistry I
Yale Summer Session offers high school students a chance to study college-level courses from an Ivy League faculty. Courses are offered across multiple domains, including arts, literature, and STEM. In the 2024 cohort, nine different options were available for students interested in chemistry. General Chemistry I is a five-week course that focuses on fundamental chemistry concepts, making it a strong option for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the subject.
In 2024, the course was conducted over five weeks and was only available for commuter or residential students. Dr. Paul Cooper teaches general chemistry, physical chemistry, and the labs related to both courses to undergraduate Yale students and is the faculty for this course.
The grading system is based on a 100-point scale, including homework (25 points), quizzes (5 points), and exams (70 points). The final exam accounts for 30 points, with grades reflecting mastery of concepts rather than comparison with peers.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $5,070, as this is a 1-credit course and $75 application fee
Application Date: May 10, 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: May 26 to June 29, 2025 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors, who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program, that is by May 26, 2025. Your application should have a High School Transcript with at least 2.5 years of grades and two letters of recommendation from teachers or advisors.
5. Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Columbia University offers a variety of pre-college programs, including the Intensive Seminars in Modern Chemistry. Designed and run by Luis Avila, a Columbia University senior lecturer, the seminars are aimed at students looking to expand their knowledge while picking up some laboratory skills. The class combines lectures on modern chemistry research with group discussions and lab sessions.
This course works in a seminar format and after attending presentations from lecturers regarding the latest developments in chemistry research, you will have group discussions and lab sessions to conclude your participation for the day. Apart from regular participation in discussions throughout the program, you are also required to prepare a scientific paper and a small research project.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $6,100 per session, plus a $175 fee for materials, equipment, and field trips.
Application Date: March 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: June 25 to July 13, 2025 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students. Students need to be at least 16 years old if they are opting for the residential program
6. Exploring the World of Chemistry
The Exploring the World of Chemistry program at the University of Notre Dame offers high school students a residential experience focused on various branches of chemistry, including analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The program combines lectures with laboratory sessions, providing hands-on experience with modern equipment and state-of-the-art labs.
Lessons will take place between 9 am to 12 pm and after a 1-hour break, you will be in the lab between 1 pm and 4 pm. Current Notre Dame undergraduates will act as Resident Counselors (RCs) throughout the program and will provide mentorship and support.
Location: The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $4,950 tuition, plus a $60 non-refundable application fee
Application Date: February 19, 2025
Program Dates: Sessions 1: June 7-21, 2025 | Session 2: June 28 to July 12, 2025
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors. Applicants must submit a high school transcript, counselor report, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
UCLA ranks among the top public universities in the U.S. and is known for its academic and research rigor. If you have a strong background in chemistry and are interested in exploring some real-world applications, you should consider enrolling in the Applications of Nanoscience Summer Institute.
Students will explore important and current applications of nanoscience through lectures and hands-on learning and boost skills like scientific literature research and building scientific projects. The second week of the program will allow you to combine your knowledge of chemistry with technology entrepreneurship and you will develop an idea for a technology startup. You will be assigned to teams depending on your interests and work on a final presentation regarding your business and product to technology investors on the last day of the program.
Academically advanced high school students can also apply to the UCLA Summer College Immersion Program and study the course CHEM 14A: General Chemistry for Life Scientists I over six weeks.
Location: The University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $4,281 for the residential option and $2,432 for the commuter option. California-based students may be eligible for the Summer Scholars Support
Application Date: March 15, 2025, for the residential option and June 2025 for the commuter track
Program Dates: Two weeks in July 2025
Eligibility: Open to all rising high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 15 years old by the beginning of the program. Students are expected to have a cumulative 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale throughout high school
Brown University, an Ivy League school, has been successfully running a pre-college program since 1982 and over 7,000 students take part in its various courses. Brown University’s pre-college program offers both online and in-person courses in chemistry. One notable option is the Acid/Base Chemistry: From Food to Everyday Phenomena course.
This course introduces students to common acids, bases, and basic reactions while covering the use of laboratory equipment such as pH meters and spectrophotometers. Participants are expected to have introductory-level knowledge of chemistry.
Nanotechnology is one of the most promising interdisciplinary applications of chemistry and can be used to solve problems in the fields of biomedical science, environmental science, and nanoelectronics. If you are confident in your chemistry basics, you can learn about the foundations, and applications of nanotechnology in this in-person course.
Location: Both in-person and virtual options are available based on course.
Cost: $3,094 (based on the 2024 program, subject to change in 2025)
Application Date: May 2025
Program Dates: Two weeks in July 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 by June 16, 2025 (date subject to change)
9. Accelerated Learning Program (ALP): Badger Precollege
Badger Precollege is a program offered by the University of Wisconsin–Madison for students of all grades. The College’s Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) is a three-week residential program for high school students to pursue in-depth learning in the subject of their choice. The Organic Chemistry: Applications in Food Science and Nutrition course focuses on the role of organic chemistry in the dairy industry.
Participants work with researchers from UW–Madison's Animal and Dairy Science Department, which has over 100 years of history, combining lectures with hands-on lab experience. You will study in depth about organic chemistry but the focus is on the application of the concepts in the dairy industry. The class size is limited to 16 students, ensuring enough exposure and interaction opportunities.
Location: University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Cost:
Early-bird rate: Residential students $4,100, Commuters $2,500, International students $4,550
Regular rate: Residential $4,300, Commuters $2,650, International $4,800.
Limited financial aid is available.
Application Date: May 1, 2025 (tentative)
Program Dates: June 30 to July 20, 2025 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, including international applicants.
10. Applications of Chemistry in Medicine: Johns Hopkins Online Pre-college program
If you are confident in your knowledge of basic chemistry and want to explore how chemical concepts are utilized in other fields, Johns Hopkins University offers an online, self-paced course on Applications of Chemistry in Medicine as part of its pre-college program. This two-week program covers how chemistry is applied in pharmaceutical sciences, focusing on the synthesis of biologically active molecules used in drug development.
Participants will learn about the importance of chemistry in medical advancements, exploring topics such as drug design and the chemical properties of medications. Chemistry holds a central role in the pharmaceutical industry as a strong understanding of chemical concepts is necessary for the synthesis of biologically active molecules that are the active components in any drug.
Location: Online
Cost: $1,950 tuition and a $85 application fee
Application Date: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Two-week sessions in June or July 2025
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have completed 9th grade and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
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