This page covers research opportunities, HOSA® chapters, science competitions, and other extracurricular activities available to Connecticut high school students interested in healthcare careers.
Summer Research Programs
Research experience distinguishes strong pre-health applicants from the rest of the field. While most medical schools expect research experience at the undergraduate level, starting in high school gives you a meaningful advantage. Connecticut’s concentration of research universities and medical centers creates opportunities for high school students that are not available in every state.
Yale University: Yale offers several programs that expose high school students to biomedical research. The Yale Pathways to Science program provides free STEM enrichment for New Haven-area students, including summer research placements for qualifying high school juniors and seniors. Yale’s Science, Technology, and Research Scholars (STARS) program has historically provided summer research opportunities for students from groups underrepresented in STEM. Check pathways.yale.edu and the Yale Office of New Haven Affairs for current offerings, eligibility, and application deadlines.
UConn Health: The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington has offered summer research internships for high school students in biomedical research laboratories. These programs typically run for 6 to 8 weeks during the summer and provide hands-on experience in a research lab under the mentorship of a faculty scientist. Contact UConn Health’s Office of Research at (860) 679-2000 or visit health.uconn.edu for current program availability.
The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine (Farmington): The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), a world-renowned genetics research institution, has its genomic medicine campus in Farmington, CT (adjacent to UConn Health). JAX offers summer student programs that introduce students to genomic research, bioinformatics, and computational biology. While the main JAX summer student program is based in Bar Harbor, Maine, the Farmington campus may offer local opportunities. Visit jax.org for current programs.
Connecticut high school teacher connections: Many Connecticut high school science teachers maintain relationships with researchers at nearby universities. Ask your AP® Biology, AP® Chemistry, or AP® Physics teachers whether they know of research opportunities for students at local institutions. Sometimes the most effective path to a research position is a personal introduction from a teacher who knows a professor.
Independent research: If you cannot find a formal research program, consider designing your own research project under the guidance of a teacher or mentor. This could be a literature review, a data analysis project using publicly available datasets (NIH databases, CDC data), or a small experimental study. Independent research projects can be submitted to science fairs and competitions (see below) and demonstrate initiative and intellectual curiosity.
HOSA® (Future Health Professionals)
HOSA® is a national student organization for future health professionals, and Connecticut has active HOSA® chapters at high schools across the state. HOSA® members participate in competitive events that test knowledge and skills in areas including medical terminology, biomedical debate, behavioral health, medical math, health career exploration, CPR/First Aid, forensic medicine, epidemiology, and many other topics. Connecticut HOSA® holds a State Leadership Conference each spring where qualifying students advance to the HOSA® International Leadership Conference.
HOSA® membership provides leadership development, healthcare knowledge, networking with other pre-health students, and competitive achievements that strengthen college applications. If your school has a HOSA® chapter, join it as early as possible (freshman year is ideal). If your school does not have a chapter, you can start one by finding a faculty advisor and following the chartering process at hosa.org. See our CTE and HOSA® page for detailed guidance on getting involved.
Science Competitions and Fairs
Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF): The CSEF is the state’s premier science fair for high school students (grades 9 through 12). Students conduct independent research projects and present their findings to judges from Connecticut’s academic and industry community. Winning projects advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), one of the most prestigious pre-college science competitions in the world. Health science, biomedical, and behavioral science categories are available. To participate, you typically begin your project in the fall, conduct research during the fall and winter, and present at the regional and then state competition in the spring. Your school science department or guidance counselor can provide details on the entry process and regional fair dates. Visit ctsciencefair.org.
Science Olympiad: Connecticut high schools participate in Science Olympiad, a national team-based STEM competition. Health-related events include Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Detectives (epidemiology), Forensics, and other rotating topics. Science Olympiad develops collaborative problem-solving skills, deep content knowledge, and the ability to perform under pressure. The Connecticut Science Olympiad invitational and state tournaments are held annually. Visit scioly.org or ask your school science department about participation.
Biology Olympiad (USABO): The USA Biology Olympiad is a national competition for high school biology students. The competition involves multiple rounds of increasingly difficult biology exams, with top performers representing the United States at the International Biology Olympiad. Preparing for USABO deepens your biology knowledge well beyond the AP® level and demonstrates exceptional academic ability. Registration is through the Center for Excellence in Education at usabo-trc.org.
Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO): The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad is administered by the American Chemical Society. Local ACS sections in Connecticut nominate students for the national exam based on performance on a local qualifying exam. Like the Biology Olympiad, USNCO preparation goes far beyond the AP® Chemistry curriculum and signals serious scientific commitment.
Connecticut Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS): JSHS is a Department of Defense-sponsored program that encourages high school students to conduct original STEM research. Connecticut JSHS participants present their research at a regional symposium, and winners advance to a national competition. Health and biomedical research projects are common among participants.
Health Science Clubs and Activities
Beyond HOSA®, Connecticut high school students can participate in a range of clubs and activities that develop healthcare knowledge and leadership skills. Red Cross Club: Many Connecticut high schools have Red Cross Clubs that organize blood drives, first aid training, and community health education events. Pre-Med Club: If your school does not have a pre-med or health careers club, consider starting one. Activities can include guest speaker events (invite a local physician, nurse, PA, or EMT to speak about their career), group shadowing trips, CPR certification sessions, documentary screenings about healthcare topics, and college application workshops focused on pre-health students.
Debate and Model UN: While not directly healthcare-related, these activities develop the public speaking, critical thinking, and persuasion skills that are valuable for medical school interviews and healthcare leadership. Students who participate in health policy debates, bioethics discussions, or Model UN committees focused on WHO or global health topics can connect these activities to their pre-health narrative.
Community service clubs: Key Club, Interact (Rotary’s youth organization), National Honor Society, and other service-oriented clubs provide structured opportunities to accumulate service hours and develop leadership experience. When choosing service activities, try to select projects with health connections (health fairs, elder care, disability support, food security) so that your service record tells a cohesive story of healthcare interest and community commitment.
Making the Most of Extracurriculars
Quality matters more than quantity. Medical schools and competitive colleges do not want to see a list of 20 activities with minimal involvement in each one. They want to see sustained commitment to a few activities that demonstrate genuine interest, growth, and impact. We recommend choosing 3 to 5 activities that you pursue consistently throughout high school, ideally including at least one clinical experience (hospital volunteering, EMT), one research or academic competition (science fair, HOSA®, Olympiad), and one community service commitment. Seek leadership roles within these activities as you gain experience. See our Extracurriculars for Medicine page for general guidance on building a compelling activity profile.
References
Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair. “About CSEF.” CSEF, 2025. https://ctsciencefair.org/. Accessed March 2026.
HOSA-Future Health Professionals. “About HOSA.” HOSA, 2025. https://hosa.org/. Accessed March 2026.
Yale Pathways to Science. “Programs.” Yale University, 2025. https://pathways.yale.edu/. Accessed March 2026.
Science Olympiad. “About.” Science Olympiad, 2025. https://scioly.org/. Accessed March 2026.