<p>Almost every summer program I'm interested in requires you to be 16 years old and a junior in HS. Are there any research/biochemistry oriented programs for sophomores such as myself?</p>
<p>Do you mean you’re a current sophomore or that you’re going to be one next year?</p>
<p>I’m a current sophomore.</p>
<p>If you live close to your state university, try emailing some professors doing research you’re interested in. I just did that for a project, and got a amazingly receptive reply. Seriously, being young and motivated impresses people- try it! What do you have to lose?
Good luck :)</p>
<p>Here are some of the organized programs I know of that allow you to work individually on a project, but they can be costly, so it would probably better to contact professors for research. </p>
<p>UC Davis YSP [Young</a> Scholars Program | Summer Research Opportunities for High School Students](<a href=“Young Scholars Program - UC Davis School of Education”>http://ysp.ucdavis.edu/)
UCSD Research Scholars [San</a> Diego - UC San Diego: Academic Connections](<a href=“http://academicconnections.ucsd.edu/sandiego/research.cfm]San”>http://academicconnections.ucsd.edu/sandiego/research.cfm)</p>
<p>I am actually already working with a professor on my own project. Do you think I should just spend the summer doing that rather than doing an official summer program?</p>
<p>I think that would be perfect. You’ll have more opportunities the summer before senior year, some of which don’t cost money.</p>
<p>Yeah, hopefully this project will be good enough to get me a publication and an acceptance into RSI for my junior year summer.</p>