Some recommendations from the Reddit wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophysics/wiki/index/

You could look at the courses you might need and take some if you have any control over electives in high school.

You could read books like Isaac Asimov’s Guide to Earth and Space to prepare.

Here are some opportunities NASA has listed, including for high school: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/learner-opportunities/

STEM program for high school: https://ig.utexas.edu/tsgc/

Virtual program for space life sciences, applications opened today: https://www.nasa.gov/ames/genelab-for-high-schools/

Science Bowl could be a good activity to demonstrate interest in physics: https://www.jlab.org/news/releases/science-bowl-returns

Also Science Olympiad and Science Fair.

Engineering Gov School at the Jefferson Lab, of course, but that's for later in high school.

You could also try looking at the research coming out of NASA Goddard or Langley and reach out directly to the authors, to ask questions and ask if they want a volunteer research assistant. For any application process, it'll help to have specific interest areas within astrophysics to talk about

This has technically been referenced already, but I think NASA's internship opportunities are probably the best around.

In the OSTEM program, you work on real NASA projects with other students under a mentor. You'll have to apply to see what projects are available, but there is plenty offered within astrophysics.

High schoolers who are US citizens can apply for NASA's OSTEM internship once they have turned 16. It is not particularly selective, you just need GPA of 3.0 or higher and be currently enrolled. You don't need letters of recommendation and interviews are usually not required. You only need to submit an application.

OSTEM internships are available across the US, including at Wallop's Island and at NASA's headquarters in DC. There are also plenty of virtual internship offers. OSTEM internships last 16 weeks, and there is also a 10 week summer program. The best part is that most participants get paid a substantial stipend—one source says $7,000 to $11,000 depending on length.

It's a big commitment, but it's also very rewarding and irresistible to both employers and colleges.

When I worked at a University, our lab would take motivated high school students on if they showed up and asked to be involved. They needed to understand the work the lab was doing, be persistent, and show up consistently, but we had at least two high school freshmen who conducted work in our group. It was biology, not physics, but motivated students are impressive in any field. If I were you, I’d go to the nearest university and start chatting up physics professors until you find a good mentor. You might start with the head of the physics department and ask them if they can connect you with a lab/professor who would be willing to mentor you. Tell them you will volunteer and assist with ongoing research for free in exchange for mentorship. Be persistent.

Princeton / PPPL has some, JHU Aspire is smth you can check out. I don't think those have an age cutoff. If you are good, you should be able to email a professor at a decent school to work

Email professors at a nearby university (you have a high density of good ones).

Tell them you are a highschooler who is interested in physics and ask if you can drop in and sit in the back of their class (choose a few specific courses that interest you that aren't too far above you).

After class introduce yourself to the professor and ask them this question.

Relatively low effort and you'll make a contact that will help you for the rest of your life.

I would reach out to local engineering firms in your area and USGS. If your interested in plants I would seek out your local agriculture schools and consider the application of physics to those activities.

science Olympiad

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Sorry I can’t look into all these right now but I’ll try and look at them all and award bounties soonish

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