13 Internships for Freshmen in High School
Internships are a great way for high school students to gain early exposure to different professions. They can help you build skills, explore your interests, and strengthen your college applications. By working alongside mentors and professionals, you’ll learn what it takes to turn classroom knowledge into practical experience. This experience improves your employability odds by giving you professional experience and a network of contacts.
Why Should I Do an Internship as a High School Freshman?
For high school freshmen, internships act as a powerful first step toward career clarity. At this early stage, an internship allows you to try out professions and see what matches your interests. This early exposure can inform your future course selections and extracurricular choices, ensuring your high school career aligns with your emerging interests. Ultimately, doing an internship as a freshman builds professional maturity and demonstrates initiative on future applications.
To make your search easier, we’ve compiled 13 internships for freshmen in high school.
1. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 18 – 24 students
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: High school students in the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, with work authorization in the U.S.
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program offers a seven-week paid summer internship in Philadelphia, aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in science. You will work alongside Monell researchers on projects in sensory biology, neuroscience, and biomedical science, developing your own research under expert guidance. The program emphasizes practical lab skills, experimental design, and data analysis. Alongside hands-on research, students attend workshops on scientific writing, ethics, and communication. The experience concludes with a symposium where you present your findings to scientists, family, and peers, providing valuable professional and academic development.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote; Attend from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies according to the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10 – 20 hours per week for 8 – 12 weeks
In Ladder’s internship program, you will spend several weeks working remotely with a startup on real business or technology projects. You will assist founders and team members with research, product development, marketing, or strategy while learning how startups operate day to day. You will also receive regular mentorship from industry professionals and attend workshops on teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills. Many of you may also present your work to company leaders at the end of the program. The experience encourages collaboration across roles and industries, helping you understand how creativity, business thinking, and leadership come together in the startup world.
3. Fox Chase Cancer Center – Teen Research Internship Program
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 16 students
Dates: Two 5-day sessions typically happen in the summer, in July
Application Deadline: Summer: typically spring
Eligibility: All Philadelphia-area high schoolers who are at least 14 years old before the start of the program (residents of New Jersey and Delaware can also apply)
The Teen Research Internship Program allows high school students to design and conduct experiments to explore how factors like diet, stress, and environment impact human health and development. Under expert mentorship, you develop your own research questions, perform lab techniques, collect and analyze data, and overcome experimental challenges. The program also emphasizes effective communication of scientific findings through a recorded presentation and a blog post. Additionally, Fox Chase provides a 10-week volunteer program for high school students interested in further engagement with science and medicine.
4. Novant Health Bridges to Healthcare High School Internship
Location: Raleigh-area medical centers, NC
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 10 participants per site
Dates: 8 – 16 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students attending one of the partner schools | Minimum 2.5 GPA | Household income $40,000 or less
The Novant Health Bridges to Healthcare High School Internship is a paid, two-phased initiative aimed at closing the skills gap in the healthcare sector. The initial phase is a structured six to eight-week summer internship where you gain exposure to a hospital's operations, rotating through both clinical and non-clinical departments such as nursing, IT, radiology, and community outreach. This experience provides a clear, holistic view of inter-departmental hospital function. Beyond rotations, the program emphasizes professional development through mentorship, career workshops, and collaborative team projects. The program’s second phase offers educational assistance to recent graduates who choose to pursue healthcare degrees at community colleges.
5. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Remote and in-person (Philadelphia, PA) options available
Stipend: Unpaid, but financial-need-based stipends are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies as per session
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Typically between March – April
Eligibility: All high school students authorised to work in the US
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) internship in Philadelphia offers high school students a unique introduction to global affairs, national security, and diplomacy. It pairs you with scholars based on your research interests, ranging from the Middle East to Eurasia and U.S. foreign policy, to assist with research, writing, communications, and event planning. You engage in seminars featuring guest speakers who discuss current international issues and career insights in policy and global relations. Additionally, you have the opportunity to contribute to public discourse by publishing research articles on FPRI’s Intern Corner, gaining valuable real-world experience and mentorship in the field.
6. Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office High School Volunteer Internship Program
Location: Miami, Florida
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; typically large cohort sizes
Dates: Year–round (minimum 3-month commitment)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: All high school students
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office offers interns hands-on experience within one of the country's most prominent prosecutorial offices, providing direct exposure to the criminal justice system. You gain a practical foundation in law and public service by supporting attorneys and investigators on active cases, which include conducting crucial research, attending bond hearings, and engaging with victims and witnesses. The program places you in specialized divisions like Domestic Violence and Victim/Witness Services, and emphasizes professional responsibility and ethical conduct through comprehensive training on courtroom procedure. This opportunity is ideal for students exploring careers in law, social work, or community advocacy.
7. ACLU Georgia Internship Program
Location: American Civil Liberties Union, Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Generally unpaid, except for the legal internship program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size varies as per placement
Dates: Summer, fall, and spring options available
Application Deadline: Varies by season and type of program
Eligibility: All high school students
The ACLU of Georgia provides interns with exposure to civil rights and public policy, offering insight into legal reform and civic action. You contribute to ongoing organizational projects by assisting various departments, including communications, community outreach, and legal research. This involvement allows you to attend team meetings and observe the day-to-day operations of an advocacy organization. You benefit from mentorship by policy and legal professionals while strengthening essential research and writing skills. This program is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about justice and advocacy work.
8. ArtWorks Summer Internship Program
Location: Miami, Florida (MDC Koubek Center)
Stipend: $13/hour up to 180 hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; typically 50 – 150 students
Dates: June – July (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically mid-April
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th graders; must be at least 14 years old and Florida residents meeting I-9 work eligibility requirements (non-residents may earn community service credit)
The ArtWorks Summer Internship Program is a six-week, paid opportunity designed to help students explore their creativity while gaining professional experience in various artistic disciplines such as visual art, music production, creative writing, animation, film, architecture, dance, and theatre. You collaborate with professional artists and Arts for Learning staff, developing essential teamwork skills that support creative and professional growth. No previous art experience is required, only a passion for the arts and a willingness to learn. This mentor-led program uniquely combines artistic expression with workforce development to prepare participants for future creative careers.
9. University of Pennsylvania – Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 7 – 8 students
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically February
Eligibility: Local high school students in grades 9–11 | Minimum 3.0 GPA
The TREES program offers a comprehensive, six-week summer immersion in environmental science and public health, expertly blending hands-on laboratory work with outdoor field activities. You collaborate closely with faculty and graduate student mentors to conceive, develop, and execute an independent research project. The curriculum focuses on critical areas such as toxicology, environmental monitoring, and water quality assessment, while field excursions provide practical skills in sampling and data collection. Through this experience, you cultivate technical expertise, strengthen analytical thinking, and master the full cycle of scientific inquiry, culminating in the presentation of your research findings.
10. Zoo Atlanta Volunteen Program
Location: Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: $30 orientation fee; scholarships are available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies each year based on the Zoo's needs and the number of qualified applicants selected through the interview process
Dates: June – May (year-round program)
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 – 17
Zoo Atlanta’s Volunteen Program is a year-long opportunity for high school students that combines conservation education with community engagement. It starts with an intensive five-day summer training to prepare you for on-site volunteering. You commit to at least 160 service hours throughout the year, supporting visitor interaction and species education. Returning volunteers may assist animal care staff with enrichment and husbandry tasks under supervision. The program offers practical experience in zoology, animal behavior, and conservation, while fostering teamwork, leadership, and advocacy skills to help students explore careers in wildlife science.
11. Brooklyn Museum - Museum Apprentice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Second-year apprentices paid $17.50/hr; below second-year: $16.50/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: November – August
Application Deadline: October 5
Eligibility: NYC high school students
The Brooklyn Museum's Museum Apprentice Program (MAP) is a year-long, paid internship offering extensive exposure to museum careers and arts education. You gain behind-the-scenes access to a major NYC cultural institution, collaborating with educators and curators on topics like social justice in art and community outreach. You build crucial professional expertise in research, presentation, and communication by leading public tours and assisting with family programs. This culminates in valuable work experience and refined skills that significantly enhance college and career applications.
12. ADA Forsyth Student Scholars Summer Program
Location: The Forsyth Institute, Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Minimum wage paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; around 12 – 15 students per cohort
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school students currently enrolled in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade at the time of application
In this summer research program, you will work with scientists at the Forsyth Institute on ongoing studies in microbiology, immunology, and oral health. You will assist with experiments, data collection, and lab documentation while learning essential research methods and scientific inquiry. You will also receive daily mentorship from Forsyth researchers and attend sessions on science careers, bioethics, and data analysis. Each week, you will share updates with your peers and conclude with a final poster presentation of your research. In the end, you’ll complete a small-scale project and present your findings to a professional audience.
13. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 + $40 application fee; financial aid is available for both fees / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 25 students
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be 14 years or older by the program's start
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship helps high school students explore AI's role in healthcare, especially medical imaging and diagnostics. Through daily expert lectures, hands-on technical workshops, and collaborative group projects, you learn how machine learning and data science enhance patient care and medical decisions. The program also features mentorship from Stanford researchers and virtual career talks with experts from academia, industry, and government. Students who complete the internship earn a certificate and may have the option to pursue an extended independent research project.
Image Source - Fox Chase Cancer Center Logo