High school holidays are no longer a time to visit long-distance relatives or laze around in different parks and pools. Students now see it as additional time to beef up their résumés and improve their chances of landing a good job after graduation. One such way is by applying for and finishing summer internship programs. However, because of the demand for internship programs these days, competition has become pretty cut-throat, especially for people looking to land the best-paid summer internships for high school students. To give you a head start, we’ve reviewed 15 of the best internship opportunities for high school students.
United States Secret Service Student Volunteer Program
Duration: One Summer Session
Here’s a program designed to help students understand the nature and structure of the United States Secret Service. Although the program doesn’t attract any pay, students still get to participate in work-related assignments that allow them to explore unique career options while developing several personal and professional skills.
However, participants are only accepted if they are enrolled in a school. As a participant, you must volunteer 12 hours per week for at least one summer session, one semester, or two quarters. Like most other options in this list, this volunteer service is for academic credits only, and as such, volunteers shouldn’t expect any pay or federal-funded benefits.
Eligibility & Application Process
The program is only open to students who are at least 16 years old. Such students must be United States citizens with a minimum GPA of 2.5. They must also get permission from their institution to enroll for the program. Students who meet all these requirements can enroll by submitting a resume, the most recent transcript, and registration confirmation to the service.
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Duration: 8 Weeks
Although it’s a paid internship opportunity, the Hutton program offers all the learning and mentoring opportunities you’d want from a top internship program. The eight-week program features an extensive curriculum to improve students’ interest in fisheries science. The program is sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) with a vision to help students develop an interest in fisheries and aquatic science. After receiving their acceptance letters, applicants are paired with mentor organizations in the field. The mentorship structure gives participants access to many work and on-field opportunities throughout the program’s duration. Participants also get a stipend of $3,000 payable over 2-week intervals during the summer program.
Eligibility & Application Process
This is a paid summer opportunity open to high school students in their junior and senior years. In addition to being interested in science disciplines associated with environmental management and natural sciences, such students must also be high-performing students who are at least 16 and ready for the experience of engaging in research projects.
Geosciences Bridge Program
Duration: Six Weeks
Here’s a unique 6-week paid internship program designed to help students interested in geosciences find their footing in their careers. The program, which includes field trips, lectures, hands-on activities, housing, travel, and a stipend, is fully-funded by the NSF (National Science Foundation). The program introduces graduating seniors to atmospheric sciences, ocean sciences, remote sensing technology/ geographic information systems (GIS). Participants are entitled to a stipend and a period of stay at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Campus, where they’ll work and learn alongside top-performing high school graduates from other schools. All activities provided are designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of mathematics while teaching them life skills that will prepare them for college.
Eligibility & Application Process
Participants must be U.S. Citizens/permanent residents, graduating from high school, and planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in any geosciences discipline (atmospheric sciences, environmental science, engineering, geography, marine chemistry, marine biology, remote sensing, etc.)
New York Historical Society’s Student Historian Program
Duration: Eight Months
Its eight-month duration means the New York Historical Society’s Student Historian Program is one of the longest internship programs for high school students in the United States. The program is designed as a channel for student historian interns to leverage high-end Historical resources to conduct existing research and collaborate in handling creative digital projects. As part of the program’s schedule, interns are matched with professionals who are responsible for teaching interns about practical topics related to libraries, museums, history, and digital humanities.
In addition to professional mentoring, the program also involves collaboration with students from different schools for better historical thinking and communication skills while engaging in work that will influence how they understand and view American history.
Eligibility & Application Process
This internship is only open to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students in the tri-state area. However, you must submit express permission from your school while applying for this program.
Microsoft High School Internship Program
Duration: Four Weeks
Here’s another internship program designed for graduating high school seniors, but we’ve added it because it’s a great opportunity for students looking to gain vital experience before their first year in college. The program, organized and hosted by Microsoft, is designed to introduce “discoverers” to core computer science concepts while offering them the right mentorship from professional Microsoft employees. Since the program is designed for students with a strong interest in the tech industry, you can imagine it’ll focus more on exploration and hands-on learning. So, unless you’re truly passionate about technology, you may struggle to enjoy the structure of the Microsoft High School Discovery Program.
Eligibility & Application Process
This internship opportunity is only meant for U.S. citizens who have graduated high school. Applicants must also provide proof of completion of pre-calculus or any equivalent course before the start of the program. Finally, applicants are required to live within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington.
Met High School Internship Program
Duration: Seven Weeks
The Met High School Internship Program offers rising high school seniors and juniors from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut the opportunity to connect with professionals in art, creativity, and museums in one of the world’s finest museums. This in-person internship program offers paid opportunities for students in grades 10 and 11 (2 to 3 years to graduation) to gain work experience, develop professional skills, and build networks that will benefit them for a long time. While this internship experience is recommended for passionate lovers, it’s not limited to people in this category. Others can also form small cohorts or one-on-one interactive groups with museum professionals in related fields like marketing, editorial, education, social media, scientific research, etc.
Eligibility & Application Process
The Met Internship program is open to art lovers between 15 and 19 enrolled in high school (2-3 years to graduation).
Adler Planetarium Summer High School Internship
Duration: Seven Weeks
If you’re fascinated by the stars, this summer internship program is for you. Firstly, it allows you to explore different professional planetariums and museum roles. Although the program best suits students pursuing degrees in astrophysics, astronomy, science education, and other related disciplines, it’s still an excellent opportunity for non-science students to appreciate the planetarium. The program allows interns to collaborate with top scientists, communicators, and educators at one of the world’s most renowned planetariums. Participants get the space for scientific experimentation and personal growth while connecting with like-minded peers around the world.
Eligibility & Application Process
High school students can only apply in their graduation year. However, applicants must be between 16-18 years old and show considerable interest in geography-related fields.
Scripps Student Research Internship
Duration: Ten Weeks
The Scripps Student Research Internship is an excellent opportunity for students interested in sciences to explore the healthcare field and learn more about their passion. The research internship allows participants to learn from and work with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and genomics investigators. The program is at the forefront of cutting-edge translational research, focusing on personalized healthcare through proteomic, metabolomic, and genomic correlates of disease and health. All participants get the necessary training and preparations to become future leaders in translational medical research.
Eligibility & Application Process
The program is open to highly motivated students in high school, college, or professional training. However, high school students must be up to 16 years of age to be able to apply for the position.
Stanford Compression Forum Summer Internship
Duration: Eight Weeks
The Stanford Comprehension Forum Summer Internship is popularly known as SHTEM, an acronym for science, humanity, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Although it is an unpaid internship opportunity, it is often recommended because it provides early exposure to research transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. The program is typically structured to group students to handle multifaceted projects that will benefit their strengths and interests while exposing them to new areas. Throughout the program, participants handle projects in technology, engineering, philosophy, psychology, linguistics, computer science, biology, and more under close mentorship from selected staff, students, and faculty members at Stanford Comprehension Forum.
Eligibility & Application Process
Applicants must be 14 and above and current high school seniors or juniors. Note that conditions may change in different years, so we recommend checking the website to be sure before applying.
Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
Duration: Eight Weeks
The Johns Hopkins summer research internship in neurology and neuroscience is organized to take junior and senior high school students closer to their dream careers in science and medicine. The program allows participants to work on research projects under the professional guidance of staff, faculty, and student mentors at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Since its inception, this program has been dedicated to nurturing and inspiring the next generation of doctors and scientists. However, it’s important to note that it’s a very selective program that accepts a mere handful of 5-6 students annually.
Eligibility & Application Process
The program typically invites high-performing students with a strong academic background in STEM from underrepresented backgrounds.
Bank of America Student Leadership Program
Duration: Eight Weeks
The Bank of America Student Leadership Program is an eight-week paid internship program designed to provide high schoolers the opportunity to serve their local communities by working with nonprofits. During the program, participating students are also granted access to the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where they get a glimpse of how businesses collaborate with the government to meet community needs. It’s an excellent internship opportunity for students seeking a career in the government or nonprofit sector. The program also provides stipends and a fully-funded trip to the leadership summit, where students participate as delegates.
Eligibility & Application Process
Open to all senior and junior high school students legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship throughout the program’s year.
Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) | Environmentor Internship
Duration: Seven Weeks
Environmentor is a paid internship program organized to help high school students gain practical knowledge in field research. The science research mentorship program features segments that allow participating students to conduct authentic research under the mentorship of scientists from research institutions and local universities. This dynamic program is known for its ability to foster equity and environmental stewardship among high school students. Most students consider it a fun program since it combines training in water safety with summer activities like biking, kayaking, and surfing. It’s also a paid internship program, so don’t be surprised by the level of competition here.
Eligibility & Application Process
Open to 9th to 11th-grade students who live or attend school in and around the Rockaway Peninsula.
The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)
Duration: Seven Weeks
Here’s another paid internship program channeled to helping underrepresented high school students learn about the business world. The program, founded in 2005, is designed to help underrepresented, underserved, and under-resourced communities develop the skill set needed to excel in their community, political, and corporate life. The program’s structure focuses on helping participants learn to maximize team productivity, gain a competitive edge, and drive breakthrough innovation. As with most other options in this list, this one pairs you with professionals dedicated to mentoring you through the process.
Eligibility & Application Process
Open to junior and senior high school students who have shown considerable interest in business creation and development.
Meta Internship for High Schoolers
Duration: Six Weeks
The Meta Internship Summer Academy provides a fascinating opportunity for high school students who want to gain work experience in fields like engineering, technology, or mathematics. The six-week paid summer program allows high-performing students to intern at Meta, where they’ll be exposed to real projects to help them develop beneficial skills for higher education.
The program matches interns with Meta employee mentors based on skills and shared interests. The six-week program typically has students working on projects that can help them develop tech-related skills. Add that to the generous stipends and network opportunities students get from the program, and you can tell why it’s very competitive.
Eligibility & Application Process
Applicants must be high school students in their sophomore year living in Belle Haven, Redwood City, East Palo Alto, or North Fair Oaks.
BRAINYAC
Duration: Eight Weeks
The Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC) is an internship program designed to prepare today’s children to become future scientists. The program offers immersive, hands-on summer research experiences that can serve as bedrock for students’ development. Experts opine that this program emphasizes the opportunity to connect students to real scientists who can help them learn the research skills needed to work in research environments. Additionally, the professional academic environment that the program exposes students to will help them gain a stronger connection to science.
Eligibility & Application Process
BRAINYAC is only available to 10th and 11th-grade students from select partner schools and programs. Applicants must also reside in New York City, although preference is typically given to South Bronx and Upper Manhattan residents.
How High School Students Can Benefit from Summer Internships
As expected, there are loads of benefits attached to high school internship programs. However, you’d need to immerse yourself completely in the experience to enjoy most of these benefits. That said, here are some of the most popular benefits of summer programs for high school students.
Helps students learn about themselves
Summer internships offer students real-life experiences of what they’ve learned in school. So they can finally be sure whether they like their discipline. Besides, internships also help you see your strong points so you can know which areas you should work on and which areas you should completely avoid.
Students get to create valuable connections
Your network will always significantly affect how quickly you climb your career ladder. Fortunately, internship programs give you the opportunity to acquaint yourself with people from different backgrounds. These relationships can be the base upon which you’d move to different parts of your career.
Discover job opportunities
With the economy biting hard, landing dream jobs is becoming more difficult than it used to be. In most cases, employers prefer candidates with adequate job experience during recruitment. There’s no better way to acquire these experiences than from internship programs. One thing is sure: internship programs help you acquire easily sellable skills in the employment market. It also helps you understand the basics of your dream job so that by the time you start, it’ll become easier for you to move through levels.
An opportunity to earn a recommendation letter
Like work experiences, good recommendation letters can help you stand out in the recruitment market. You can always ask your supervisor to help you write a recommendation letter or a job reference. Most internship supervisors will provide such letters if you dedicate your time to hard work during the internship program.
5 Helpful Tips for Applying to These High School Summer Internships
On paper, an internship is the easiest thing to land, but they’re not. They are, in fact, almost as difficult as landing real jobs. Beyond being an excellent researcher, you need to know how to build connections to land top summer internships for high school. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to find summer internships for high school students. Here, we’ve reviewed useful tips to help you land your dream internship opportunity.
Consider your ambitions and interests
The first advice you’d get from any expert when choosing an internship program is to consider your interests and the sort of career you want. Start by considering your interest in broad categories like finance, science, media, etc. Once you’re clear about the category you want, you can narrow it to more specific areas like engineering, biology, and business and choose an internship that suits you best.
Be clear about your expectations
For starters, it’s important to note the difference between high school summer internships and regular jobs. For example, you’d earn less from paid internships and would sometimes get the most basic tasks to handle.
Before committing to a high school internship opportunity, consider everything about the internship, including its perks and downsides. This way, you can know what to expect before applying at all.
Do adequate research before reaching out
Once you’re sure about your areas of interest and what you want, the next step is to dive into deep research about the options. Although they’re in the same field, three different neuroscience companies will have different goals and areas of interest. Therefore, they’ll typically adopt different working processes. Besides, top intern opportunities are becoming more competitive, so you want to know more about your dream company before approaching potential mentors for interviews. Fortunately, there’s so much you can read about top companies online, so research shouldn’t be too difficult.
Connect to companies
The internet has come to stay, and nearly all companies now have websites and social media profiles that everybody can easily access. A good way to know more about a company of interest is to follow their pages and interact with their posts. You can even take it further by writing well-researched articles and posts. Tag these businesses to such posts and include links to your social media pages. Over time, employers will see your interest in certain areas and may reach out to you with opportunities.
Try, try, and try again
Only very few people get a summer internship on their first try. The internship search is not as easy as many people will make you believe. Like regular job searches, you’ll face rejections, but that shouldn’t stop you. Fight through the disappointments, and don’t take them personally. Many people before you have gone through the same situation, but only the resilient ones can land the best opportunities.
Wrapping Things Up: Best Summer Internships for High School Students
Whether yours is a paid or unpaid internship opportunity, you want to enjoy the experience. So, it’s not surprising that you’ll want to put enough effort into finding top summer internships for high school students. Fortunately, there are so many of them, as long as you’re ready to search. Finding the right internship is just the beginning of a long journey ahead of you, so enjoy the process as it unfolds. While exploring your interests is advisable, we also recommend being open to straying off the path and following even the most unexpected opportunities when they pop up. After all, changing your trajectory is also a sign of discovery, and we expect your experience to bring you to a brighter light.
