12 Internships for Graduating High School Seniors
As the professional and academic world changes quickly, it’s becoming more important for high school students to get professional experience through internships, especially after graduation. Internships give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned to practical situations and build important professional skills. Plus, an internship is a great way to learn about subjects you’re interested in outside the classroom.
Why Are Internships a Good Idea for Graduating Seniors?
Participating in an internship before college can help you decide what you want to major in, as you’ll get to try out a career. Internships can help you make more informed decisions as you think about college and future career paths. After graduating from high school, internships can help you strengthen your resume for future job applications, connect with industry professionals, and build solid work habits.
Here are 12 internships for graduating high school seniors who want to build a strong foundation for both their academic and professional goals:
1. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA, and Atlanta, GA.
Eligibility: Students must live and attend high school within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, or Atlanta, GA, and have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start date of the program. Students must also be members or participants of Microsoft-sponsored organizations for the Redmond, Washington, office location.
Program Dates: July 8 - August 2
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Cost/Stipend: Students are paid $20 per hour.
This is an intensive program that enables students to explore computer science and tech over the course of 4 weeks. Students are given the unique opportunity to work under the guidance of industry professionals and develop their professional and technical skills while learning about the core fundamentals of computer science. Students will also be exposed to the design phase of product development and gain invaluable insights into software engineering. To ensure a holistic experience, students will also work on a real project that will teach them how to gauge potential pain points and unarticulated customer requirements.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Advocacy Institute
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors between the ages of 15 and 18, including graduating seniors.
Program Dates: July 21 to 27
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March 3 | Regular Decision: April 22. All applications submitted after the Regular Decision will be considered on a rolling basis.
Cost/Stipend: Tuition fees are $2,700 per student, which covers lodging, food, and all experiential learning activities and social events. Financial assistance is also available.
This week-long program is designed to prepare future social justice advocates by connecting them with ACLU lawyers, lobbyists, community activists, and other experts who defend civil rights and liberties. It includes site visits, classroom sessions, lectures, policy discussions, and more, which will help students explore the complexities of advocacy and legal strategy involved in real-world political decision-making. The key elements of the program include networking opportunities to build a strong support system across the country, and daily seminars, in addition to a day of action, whereby students gain hands-on experience in mobilizing issue-based advocacy.
4. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Location: Several lab locations across the country
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and are currently enrolled in a high school, or graduating seniors. Students must also be US citizens and 16 years or older by the start date of the program. Further requirements depend on the lab.
Program Dates: 8 weeks during the summer with a possible 2-week extension
Application Deadline: November 1st every year.
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 stipend for new participants, and $4,500 for returning participants.
This program encourages students to engage in Naval research and offers around only 300 placements in their labs across the country, making this a competitive and prestigious opportunity. The program is associated with the US government, and students can select up to three labs to work on in various fields of interest. They conduct research under the guidance and mentorship of top scientists and engineers. Interns are selected based on their academic achievements, personal statements, recommendations, and research interests.
5. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Princeton, NJ. Remote projects may be available
Eligibility: Applicants must be 16 years of age and graduating seniors when the internship begins, US citizens, and able to commute to and from the Laboratory.
Program Dates: 8 to 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost/Stipend: None
In this internship at Princeton, students conduct research under the guidance of the university's engineering or research staff. Projects may include topics such as fusion energy, chemistry, advanced math, computational projects in plasma physics, engineering, and other STEM-related areas of study. This is an intensive internship, and highly prestigious, and students are expected to have some experience in coding, such as Java or Python, and/or computer-aided design (CAD), such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
6. Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program
Location: Burbank or Los Angeles County
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County who plan to attend an accredited college or university and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 upon graduating.
Program Dates: Varies based on the opportunity.
Application Deadline: Varies based on internship opportunity.
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 scholarship towards college will be paid directly to the college/university in equal ($1,250) annual installments while enrolled in school.
This internship program provides graduating high school students who wish to pursue a career in media and entertainment with the opportunity to explore the corporate and studio aspects of the industry. They offer three tracks: Honorship Track, Business Honorship Track, and Production and Studio Operations Honorship Track. This covers traditional business functions such as human resources, finances, marketing, operations, and communication, as well as technical and creative roles such as post-production, sound editing, content development, and more. Students will also benefit from professional development and mentor opportunities, and may receive paid summer internships at Warner Bros. Discovery Studios in Burbank, California, while in college.
7. The Wistar Institute's High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: West Philadelphia’s University City District at 3601 Spruce Street
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and have successfully completed at least one high school science course.
Program Dates: July 15 to August 8
Application Deadline: March 31
Cost/Stipend: $1,000 awarded upon successful completion of the program.
In this internship, students are introduced to the best practices in biomedical laboratory techniques and conduct research that contributes to projects in Wistar’s Training Lab. Highly selective, this program only accepts 15 highly motivated students, who will also learn to read scientific literature and explore the various career options in biomedical research. Students also have the opportunity to showcase their work at the end of the program. For the application, students are supposed to complete the online application, along with a personal statement, two letters of recommendation (preferably one from a current or former science teacher), and a transcript or list of classes, along with the grades received in each.
8. Textron Aviation High School Internships
Location: Wichita, KS, and Columbus, GA
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-19 who are U.S. citizens
Program Dates: During the summer, fall, and spring semesters.
Application Deadline: Summer Program: Applications open in January | Fall Program: Applications open in July | Spring Program: Applications open in October.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Textron Aviation caters to military, government, and commercial clientele, and they primarily deal with engineering and manufacturing. However, students may also find finance, sales, military, marketing, customer service, flight operations, and other opportunities! This opportunity provides experience in the aviation sector and includes various roles. For example, interns may have to support a professional engineer as they perform complex lab procedures and review technical reports. This gives students insight into what working in the aviation sector entails, and enables them to not only enjoy an immersive educational experience but also exposes them to the nuances of the industry beyond what they may learn in the classroom.
9. Georgia Aquarium Internships
Location: Georgia Aquarium
Eligibility: Students must be 18 years or older with a high school diploma or GED, and have proof of US citizenship, a valid Green Card, or a student/work visa.
Program Dates: The exact date depends on the department
Application Deadline: Applications for Summer typically open mid to late February, and for Fall, they open mid-June.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship, stipend not specified. Interns may receive school credit.
This program offers interns an invaluable educational experience along with the opportunity to build a strong network of professional connections. It aims to support the various departments in the aquarium and provide experiential, pre-professional learning opportunities to young enthusiasts. The internships have well-defined learning objectives and goals connected to the student’s academic coursework. This includes various roles such as dive operations, animal training, zoological operations, event services, and more. Interns will be mentored and supervised by professionals and given routine feedback.
10. Athletes First Internships
Location: Laguna Hills, CA | Atlanta, GA. Remote opportunities may also be available
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and college students of at least 18 years of age.
Program Dates: Fall internships run from August 19 to December 20
Application Deadline: June 3 for the Fall internship
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Athletes First is a management firm that represents elite NFL coaches, players, broadcasters, and other personnel. They offer internships in various roles such as graphic design, client relations, marketing, and salary cap. Interns will thus learn about industry research, brand outreach, creating reports, assisting in contract analysis, assisting in event logistics, and more. The website is updated with new internship opportunities, and students may select from the roles available here.
11. Internships at the Connecticut Sports Management Group, Inc.
Location: Middletown, CT.
Eligibility: High school students can apply for the Short Term Internship from mid-May to early August
Program Dates: Depends on the internship
Application Deadline: Depends on the internship
Cost/Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities are available. Students may also receive college credit.
Connecticut Sports Management Group offers students the opportunity to intern for various major events such as the Nutmeg State Games, Connecticut Masters’ Games, and other events. Interns work in various roles over each semester and during the summer, and high school students can apply for the Short Term Internship running from mid-May to early August. There are over 15 positions with around 250 to 300 hours of work available. This internship is unpaid and will meet all credit requirements. Students applying for internships must submit a cover letter, resume, and reference, and specify which internship they are applying for in their email to nutmeg@csmg.org.
12. Sports Management Internships with the South Burlington Dolphins
Location: South Burlington, VT.
Eligibility: High school and college students
Program Dates: Summer: June to July | Fall: August to October. The exact dates depend on the internship
Application Deadline: August 1 for the Fall
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Based in Vermont, South Burlington Dolphins is a youth football team that offers seasonal internship opportunities, enabling students to explore the nuances involved in managing a sports team. This also offers students the opportunity to build a network, boost their resume, and learn about potential career opportunities in the sports sector. During this internship, students can work in various areas of sports management, including operational management, marketing, and more. Depending on the role, students may be involved in game day operations, fundraising, broadcasting, and more. Students will work directly with the coaching and administration staff while also collaborating with a local non-profit organization.
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