12 Pharmacy Internships for High School Students
In the arena of healthcare, pharmacy is a critical field that bridges the gap between groundbreaking scientific research and delivering life-saving treatments to patients. If you’re a high school student considering a career in the pharmaceutical industry, an internship is a great way to understand the real-world applications of pharmaceutical sciences. You can observe firsthand the day-to-day operations of pharmacists, understand how and why different medication is prescribed, and contribute to meaningful research projects. Not to mention, internships show demonstrated interest in a subject and can add value to your college profile!
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 12 pharmacy internships for high school students interested in the field!
1. Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program
Location: Various medical centers across Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Unpaid
Application Deadline: February 16, 2024
Dates: Four weeks (July to August)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
The Los Angeles Pediatric Society runs the Eve and Gene Black Summer Medical Career Program to encourage high school students to pursue careers in healthcare. The program allows you to shadow healthcare professionals, undertake medical research projects, and experience clinical simulations firsthand. You will also get mentorship opportunities; the program connects participants with practicing pediatricians, surgeons, pharmacists, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
A typical day in the program includes attending presentations, interactive sessions with general pediatricians and specialists, and clinical simulation experiences. You can also undertake research projects during the program, which will be aligned to work being conducted by your mentor.
2. Pharmacy Summer Research Program at Chapman University
Location: Chapman University, CA
Cost: TBA
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by May-end
Dates: July 8 to 26, 2024
Eligibility: Must be entering grades 9-12 in the fall following the summer program; recommended minimum GPA of 3.0
The Pharmacy Summer Research Program is a sound option for students looking for hands-on experience in pharmacy research. Here, you can learn about research methods, use laboratory equipment, and access technology used by professionals in the field. Additionally, you can undertake a research project under the mentorship of a faculty advisor and interact with current Chapman Pharmacy students. Previous research projects undertaken by students include the role pharmacists play in travel health services and reducing patients’ readmission rates. The program also focuses on developing essential academic skills like writing research reports, critically evaluating scientific literature, and presenting findings in a professional context to prepare you for college and beyond.
3. Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program at Medical College of Wisconsin
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, WI
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 31, 2024
Dates: Monday, August 5 - Friday, August 9, 2024
Eligibility: High school students; to participate, you must attend the one-week in-person summer boot camp at the Medical College of Wisconsin
This unique year-long program is specifically designed for high school students in the Milwaukee area to expose them to different career opportunities within the pharmacy sector. The program kicks off with an intensive one-week boot camp at the Medical College of Wisconsin campus where you learn about equity and inclusion in the pharmacy sector, build leadership skills, and foster community engagement. You will also be matched with a practicing pharmacist and a student pharmacist who will mentor you during the year. The program emphasizes the role pharmacists play in addressing health disparities and gives you a firsthand view of a day in the life of a pharmacy student.
Through the program, you will explore potential career paths, engage in hands-on activities, and receive advice on the pharmacy school application and interview process. You can participate in quarterly experiences like shadowing a pharmacist at their practice, attending a pharmacy school class, and meeting with mentors to discuss career goals.
4. Pharmacy Summer Institute at the University at Buffalo
Location: University at Buffalo South Campus, NY
Cost: $150
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Dates: July 15 to 17, 2024
Eligibility: Must be a current high school student; minimum GPA of 3.0, B-letter grade, fall in the 83-86th percentile
The Pharmacy Summer Institute at the University of Buffalo is a three-day-long summer program for students interested in pharmaceutical studies to learn about the various career opportunities in the field. Here, you can learn about the pharmaceutical industry through academic advising, lab tours, live demos of skills relevant to pharmacy, and interaction with U-Buffalo faculty.
U-Buffalo has the #1 pharmacy school in New York State and #14 in the U.S., making it a prestigious school to pursue studies at!
5. RxPLORE Camp at the University of Pittsburgh
Location: University of Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Check the program website for the 2025 deadline
Dates: July 25 to 27, 2024; 2025 dates TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
RxPLORE is a dynamic professional summer camp designed specifically for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in exploring the role of pharmacists in healthcare. Whether you're already passionate about pharmacy or just beginning to consider your career options in healthcare, you can use this free, three-day summer camp to connect with faculty and current pharmacy students and gain insights into the diverse career paths a PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) can unlock. The camp dedicates each day to exploring a different area of pharmacy — community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and the pharmaceutical industry — requiring students to commit to all three days upon registration. You can tour the University of Pittsburgh and its pharmacy school, and participate in hands-on activities like taking blood pressure measurements and administering vaccines and IV injections.
6. STEP Summer Program at the University of Washington
Location: University of Washington, Washington
Cost: $100
Application Deadline: April 30, 2024
Dates: July 8 to 11, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school students; STEP prioritizes rising juniors and seniors
Students Exploring Pharmacy (STEP) is a four-day program that encourages students to explore the possibilities within the pharmacy profession. The UW School of Pharmacy, which ranks among the top 10 pharmacy schools nationally and internationally, hosts the program. You will get to attend classes led by some of the nation's leading pharmacy experts and learn about the vital roles pharmacists play in improving healthcare beyond the traditional scope of medication dispensing. You will have the opportunity to interact with pharmacists from a range of specialties, learn from faculty and current pharmacy students, and explore an array of career opportunities in the field.
A day in the program includes lectures, interactive presentations, lab time, campus tours, and discussion groups with PharmD students and faculty. You will also learn about basic medication compounding procedures and gain clinical skills.
7. Pharmacy Camp at Auburn University
Location: Auburn University, AL
Cost: $900
Application Deadline: March 1, 2024
Dates: June 2 - 7, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Pharmacy Camp at Auburn University is a week-long residential program for rising high school freshmen, juniors, and seniors that introduces pharmaceutical studies through a blend of hands-on learning experiences that include compounding medication and its administration and exploratory visits to local pharmacies and healthcare facilities. Auburn University faculty oversee the camp, which is guided by rising second and third-year pharmacy students. You will learn about the various career paths within pharmacy, interact with budding pharmacy professionals, and experience college life at Auburn.
8. Pharmacy Summer Program (PSP) for High School Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: The 2024 deadline has passed, check back for the 2025 deadline.
Internship Dates: July 14 - 17, 2024
Eligibility: All High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors; minimum GPA of 3.0
The Pharmacy Summer Program is a four-day residential camp designed to introduce high school students to careers in pharmacy, acquaint them with the UW-Madison PharmD program, and help them experience campus life. Through the program, you can interact with practicing pharmacists, connect with current pharmacy students to learn more about their day-to-day activities and resolve any admission doubts with representatives.
To apply, you need to demonstrate your interest in pharmacy through two well-written essays (150-300 words).
9. Pharmacy and Science Career Camp at the University of Toledo
Location: University of Toledo, OH
Cost: $300
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until maximum capacity is reached
Dates: Session One: June 10 to 12, 2024 | Session Two: July 8 to 10, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Pharmacy and Science Career Camp, offered by U-Toledo’s pharmacy college, is a three-day residential program that introduces students to potential career paths in pharmacy, including becoming community pharmacists, cosmetic scientists, forensic scientists, research chemists, clinical pharmacists, and drug developers. Rising high school juniors and seniors can apply for the program, which has two sessions.
A typical day includes exploring the U-Toledo campus, career exploration workshops, and lectures and activities relating to forensic science, medical simulations, and drug discovery, to name a few.
10. High School Pharmacy Camp (HSPC) at the University of Illinois Chicago
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago IL
Cost: $25
Application Deadline: The 2024 deadline has passed, check the program website for 2025 dates
Dates: April 20, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school students
The UIC College of Pharmacy High School Pharmacy Camp (HSPC) offers high school students a unique half-day, in-person experience to discover the diverse world of pharmacy. Since its inception in 2016, HSPC has helped students from Illinois and beyond decide if a career in pharmacy aligns with their interests and aspirations. Through panel presentations, guidance on pharmacy as a profession, and hands-on activities, HSPC provides insights into the field from different perspectives. The program introduces students to the 80+ career paths available in pharmacy and explores the traditional and more innovative opportunities you can pursue with a pharmacy degree.
11. Pharmacy Student for a Day at the University of Illinois Chicago
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Depends on when you book a slot
Dates: March 1 to April 19, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school, community college, and university students
The Pharmacy Student for a Day experience lets you accompany a pharmacy student for half a day to experience their daily lives and understand the tasks and challenges they face. You can attend lectures alongside your assigned students and clear any doubts you have with them. Through the program, you will -
Attend a lecture with a third-year pharmacy student,
Shadow a first-year pharmacy student during a case discussion, and
Participate in a compounding lab alongside a second-year student.
The program offers around 100 individual shadow opportunities; you can mail uhp-pharm@uic.edu to schedule a session!
12. Pharmacy Technician Job Shadow for High School Students
Location: Walgreens stores across the United States
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Varies based on location
Dates: Varies based on location
Eligibility: Current high school students
Walgreens, the second-largest drugstore chain in the U.S., offers interested high school students the opportunity to shadow a pharmacy technician at one of their stores to learn more about the day-to-day activities of the business. Here, you can learn more about some of the most advanced retail pharmacy technology and see what Walgreens’ pharmacy technician training program includes. Not to mention, this program could lead to job opportunities at Walgreens in the future! The exact nature of the role differs by store and region; to know more, contact your nearest Walgreens store.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.