About the Program

The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP) is an academic enrichment program for students from first generation and low-income high school juniors. Over five weeks, participants engage in faculty lectures, professional development workshops, Stanford Medicine networking events, and a public health disparities research project. During the program and beyond, participants are mentored by faculty, health professionals, and college students on preparing for college, navigating careers in medicine, and becoming a leader today.

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The 2025 Application Is Now Open! The deadline to apply is March 17th, 2025.

Our 2025 program will be held on Stanford’s campus June 23rd to July 25th, 2025.

Apply here

SMYSP Program Details

Our 2025 program will be held on the Stanford campus from June 23 to July 25, 2025. SMYSP is a full-time weekly summer program. Students will be expected to travel to Stanford’s main campus Monday through Friday for the duration of the program. Our team of dedicated program staff, including program counselors and instructors, will work together to create a supportive, enriching, and exciting summer experience with SMYSP. Our counselors will plan a variety of fun team building exercises throughout the week.

Please note a mandatory in-person program orientation will be held Friday, June 20th, 2025. Applicants accepted into the program will receive a detailed program schedule.

What to Expect

Students will divide their time between the following activities:

Stanford Hospital Internship

Students are placed in hospital internships throughout Stanford Hospital. SMYSP students study not only the factual knowledge of health and medical science but also gain experience in the various aspects of health care delivery such as hands-on laboratory and departmental activities, shadowing experiences and observation, and patient interaction.

These internships provide exposure to the various health and medical professions through hands-on activities, shadowing, as well as formal and informal discussions, and support students to gain confidence in their ability to succeed in the science and medical professions.

Public Health Research Project

Participants engage in a health disparities group research project to improve health and health access in all communities. Students will work in small groups to write a college-level research paper, presentation, and academic poster. Examples of research projects include addressing racial inequities in COVID-19 health outcomes, examining low birth outcomes for African American mothers, and combatting language barriers in hospital settings.

Community Building and Mentorship

We foster opportunities for participants to develop enduring friendships and support systems that last long beyond the summer program. Our passionate team of mentors and counselors support participants to build their confidence, develop a college action plan, and reach their full potential.

Academic Seminars and Lectures

Students will attend two weekly lectures covering the field of public health and research methodology in order to prepare them to complete their summer research project.

Additionally, students will attend two weekly lectures covering human anatomy with Stanford medical student instructors as well as participate in a weekly academic planning workshop in preparation for applying to college in the fall of 2024. Academic planning workshops include creating a college action plan, applying for financial aid, what admissions officers look for, and writing college essays.

Immersive Educational Opportunities

Students will participate in weekly guest lectures, tours, and demonstrations from the Stanford medical community. Potential guests include Dermatology, Anesthesiology, Life Flight, Gastroenterology, Ophthalmology, and more.

The Admissions Process

Summer 2025 Admissions:

The 2025 Application will be available in mid-December.

  • Applications will be reviewed by our admissions team and each application is evaluated holistically. Admissions decisions are released in early May. When your admissions decision is ready, you will receive an email notification. Decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

  • A Note About Email:
    • Email is our primary mode of communication and each applicant will receive a confirmation email from us after their application is received and processed. If SMYSP has any questions about your application, or if there is something missing, an email will be sent asking that the applicant contact us to resolve the situation. Please be sure to check your email regularly and respond to us when needed.

 

Program Overview / Questions

  • What is the weekly time commitment? 
    SMYSP is a full-time summer program. Participants will be expected to travel to campus up to five days a week, specific daily hours will be available in Spring 2025.
  • Is this program in-person? 
    For Summer 2025, the program will be offered in-person.

  • How many students will be admitted to the program? 
    For Summer 2025, SMYSP will accept 24 students.
     
  • I am not a high school junior in Northern California, can I apply?

    No. SMYSP is specifically for high school juniors in Northern California. We cannot offer exceptions for students that do not meet our eligibility criteria. We suggest looking into enrichment programs through Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies or other Stanford School of Medicine Programs.
     

  • Is there a cost to attend SMYSP? 
    There is no cost for students to participate in this program. 

  • Does SMYSP offer a stipend? 
    SMYSP is not able to offer a stipend for Summer 2025.

  • Do I have to attend all 5 weeks? 
    Students are required to participate in all 5 weeks of the program and are required to attend the orientation on the first day and all safety sessions. Students will spend approximately 30-40 hours/week in the program Monday through Friday.

  • Transportation:
    Housing and transportation are not provided by the program and participants are required to live with a family member/legal adult guardian during the program.

  • COVID-19 Guidance
    All students must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and may be required to follow masking and testing requirements. More concrete information will be provided when the accepted students are announced. There is a chance the program could be held virtually if the University does not allow in-person programs depending on the conditions at the time in the spring/summer of 2025. View Stanford COVID-19 Health Alerts