Internship Ideas for High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide

For high school students, an internship can be a valuable stepping stone towards gaining real-world experience, developing professional skills, and exploring potential career paths. While internships can significantly contribute to your personal and professional growth, it's crucial to approach them strategically. This guide will provide comprehensive information on how to find the right internship, when and how to apply, and what to consider when making your decision.

Understanding Internships

An internship is a short-term work experience in a field you might be interested in pursuing. It provides hands-on experience and falls under the category of "extracurricular activities" when applying to college. As an intern, your responsibilities are generally lighter than those of full-time employees. You may assist with tasks such as data entry, organizing files, or shadowing professionals.

For instance, if you're interested in computer science, you could seek an internship that allows you to work on coding projects, learn from experienced software developers, and gain insight into the tech industry. Alternatively, if you aspire to start your own business, an internship at a local company, working with a mentor who can provide insights into entrepreneurship, could be invaluable.

Internships typically occur during the summer break, lasting between one to two months. Summer internships focus on real-world work experience, while "summer programs" emphasize education or academics. Paid internships are an option, which is a definite bonus, whereas many summer programs require tuition and fees. Keep in mind that "pay-to-play" programs might be less impactful on college admissions than selective ones.

The Value of Internships

The primary goal of an internship should be to explore and deepen your interests and values. College applications can be seen as a great side-benefit. Internships can help demonstrate your commitment to a field, allow you to reflect on your experiences, and showcase your strengths and passions.

Read also: Your Guide to Nursing Internships

For example, if you're interested in a competitive BA/BS-MD program, completing an internship involving hands-on medical research or shadowing doctors can significantly strengthen your application. It demonstrates your dedication and practical experience, setting you apart from other applicants.

Reflection on your internship experience can be incorporated into your college application essay or supplemental essays, allowing you to discuss your "why." Diving deeper into an area of interest is generally favored by college admissions officers over a series of unrelated experiences. A good internship will demonstrate increasing commitment and exploration in one of your academic areas of interest.

Key Benefits of Internships

A good internship for high school students provides opportunities to:

Gain work experience: Build practical skills and understand workplace dynamics.
Develop a better understanding of a field (and yourself): See if a particular career path aligns with your interests and strengths.
Clarify your academic interests: Guide your course selection and college major choices.
Network with professionals: Professional connections can lead to mentorship and future career opportunities.
Get strong letters of recommendation.

Finding the Right Internship

Finding the right internship involves considering your academic interests, career aspirations, and the type of experience you want to gain, rather than simply focusing on what you think will "look good."

Internship Search Strategies

Apply for Structured Internship Programs:
- Pros: These programs are designed specifically for high school students, offering structured and well-defined roles. Acceptance into a competitive program can be impressive on college applications.
- Cons: High competition can make it difficult to secure a spot.
Reach Out Directly to Businesses:
- Pros: Leveraging personal or community connections can make it easier to secure an internship. You may be able to tailor the internship to your specific interests and needs.
- Cons: Opportunities may be limited to the types of businesses available in your community or network. These internships might not have the same structured learning opportunities as formal programs.

Online Resources for Finding Internships

Online search tools are a great starting point. The StandOut Search database is a fantastic resource that lists almost every internship program open to high schoolers and is easily searchable using a number of filters, like field of interest, location, and age. MIT Admissions has also collected a useful list of high school internship opportunities, as well as the CollegeVine blog.

Read also: Comprehensive Internship Guide

Internship Opportunities

Here are some examples of internships available for high school students:

Adler Planetarium Teen Internships: Exposes Chicago area high school students to museum work and helps them develop valuable skills for community building and professional development.
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program: Offers hands-on experiences working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology.
Bank of America Student Leaders: Connects community-minded junior and senior high school students to local nonprofit organizations.
BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia): A summer internship program offered by the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University, providing hands-on experience assisting scientists with lab work.
Carnegie Museum of Art’s Youth Art Initiative (YAI): Gives teenagers in the Pittsburgh area the opportunity to collaborate with museum staff and artists to produce original projects and public events.
Cincinnati Museum Center Internships: Offers internship programs for graduating high school seniors enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
Expanding Horizons Internship: Exposes first-generation high school juniors and sophomores in the Los Angeles area to professional career paths and provides guidance and support during the college application process.
GeoSciences Bridge Program: Offers a six-week summer internship at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) for graduating high school seniors interested in geosciences.
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program: An eight-week summer internship and mentoring program for high school students interested in fisheries and aquatic science.
Indiana University Cancer Center Summer Research Internships: Offers several summer internships for high school students interested in cancer research.
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS): A 5-8 week summer research program that exposes Baltimore City public high school students to careers in the neurological sciences.
Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Program: A seven-week internship program designed to give high school interns exposure to administrative and supporting careers in healthcare environments.
Library of Congress High School Summer Internship: An intensive four-week summer internship opportunity for current high school students interested in libraries and museums.
Ladder Internships: A selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students, offering remote internships with high-growth companies.
Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship: Connects high schoolers with professionals in art, museum, and creativity fields at one of the world’s finest museums.
NASA Internship Program: Offers a multitude of internship opportunities for full-time high school students over 16 years of age.
New York Historical Society Internship: Interns use the resources of the New York Historical Society to conduct exciting research and share their scholarship through creative projects.
Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program: A full-time, free research experience in the sciences or engineering for high school students.
Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) Student Research Internship Program: Students will work within the program to complete a research project, encapsulating it in a final presentation to faculty.
Simons Summer Research Program: Provides hands-on experience in science, math, or engineering as participants work closely with faculty mentors on real research projects.
Smithsonian Office of Internships: Offers high school students valuable experience at the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR): For high school juniors and seniors interested in hands-on research in immunology, stem cell, cancer, neuroscience, bioinformatics or cardiovascular medicine.
Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program: An intensive six- to eight-week summer program that places diverse NYC public high school students with legal employers for the summer.
United States Senate Page Program: Introduces students from diverse backgrounds to experiences in the nation’s capital.
Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship Opportunities: Offers summer internships, as well as internships during the school year in both the fall and spring.

Maximizing Your Internship Experience

Before committing to an internship, clarify the expectations regarding time commitment, length, responsibilities, and compensation or perks. Some unpaid internships might offer benefits like free classes, travel reimbursement, or housing.

Developing a Strong Resume

Resumes are crucial for showcasing your qualifications. Seek advice from parents, career centers, and teachers on resume format and content. Highlight your grades, after-school activities, hobbies, and career goals, especially if you lack extensive work experience.

Networking

Networking is essential. Talk to teachers familiar with your internship goals and attend local conferences, public meetings, and internet forums to connect with professionals in your field.

Overcoming Challenges

Don’t be afraid to talk to adults or send out your information. High school students often miss internship opportunities due to fear. Lists of available internships can be found in most high schools, career centers, and college offices. Use the internet as a valuable resource.

Read also: Internship Opportunities

Internships as a Path to Career Exploration

Internships are a great way to break into difficult career fields, especially for students interested in research, medicine, law, or other professions normally requiring an advanced degree.

Internships can also introduce students to potential "middle skill jobs," careers that require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree. Completing a career assessment beforehand can make internship experiences even more powerful.

Additional Ways to Explore Careers

In addition to internships, students can learn about career options through informational interviews, job shadowing, volunteering, and part-time or summer employment.

The Importance of Starting Early

Start your internship search early. Many internships require applications, recommendations, and essays with early deadlines. For summer internships, aim to begin your search two to three months in advance. Early planning ensures you can apply for every position you want without being limited by deadlines.

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