11 Political Internships for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
If you are a high school student in New York City interested in politics, then a political science internship can be a great starting point! The internship opportunities in the city can help you get some early exposure to careers in politics and the work environment and culture at political organizations. Through such programs, you may also get some solid insights into public service, political process, and civic engagement.
As an intern, you will also get opportunities to network with public officials and other professionals, helping you build connections crucial for a career in politics. This experience can also be a chance to assess your interests and decide if political science is something you want to pursue in the future.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down the options to 11 political internships for high school students in NYC:
1. NYC Mayor’s Office Internship Program
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Stipend of $16.50/hour offered
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: March 30 (summer)
Program dates: June – August (summer) or September – April (fall/spring)
Eligibility: High school students who are NYC residents, have current working papers, and are at least 16 years old
Interning with NYC’s Office of the Mayor is an opportunity to delve into various fields while learning about how the city government functions. You can apply to one of the many departments, such as Administrative Services (human resources, information technology, or payroll/timekeeping), Chief Counsel to the Mayor, Community Affairs Unit, and more, and work on a range of projects. Your tasks may include conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, assisting with outreach, and supporting special projects. You can also attend the bi-weekly Speaker Series and tour various Mayors’ Office facilities. Developing a service project is a key component of the internship. The aim of this project is to impact deserving communities and uplift New Yorkers in need.
2. Centre for Justice Innovation’s Youth Action Institute
Location: New York
Cost/Stipend: Free. A stipend is offered.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Acceptance rate is not specified. Cohort size is 20
Application deadline: September 30 (tentative)
Program dates: To be announced
Eligibility: New York City residents aged 16 – 21 years
The Youth Action Institute is a public policy fellowship where you will delve into various policy-related issues and their solutions. You will investigate topics that affect young people’s safety and agency. You will also undergo training on qualitative research, anti-oppression practice, the policy landscape of New York City, and the intersections of those areas. Once the training ends, you will decide on the subject, i.e., the policy and issue, that you want to analyze. After conducting research, you will make initial policy recommendations and then narrow the scope of your research during the second phase. You will refine your policy recommendations and share them with stakeholders within community-based organizations, government offices, and advocacy groups to seek feedback. This feedback will help you prepare your material for publication, advocacy, and sharing across audiences.
3. Internships with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Location: The Bronx District Office in New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend of $18/hour is offered
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: November 30 (spring), April 30 (summer), July 30 (fall), or October 30 (winter)
Program dates: February – May (spring), May – August (summer), September – December (fall), or December – March (winter)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens
The opportunity to intern at the offices of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is meant for students interested in developing a clearer understanding of Congress. You can choose to work either part-time or full-time. The primary tasks you will undertake during the internship include answering phones, sorting mail, researching legislation, attending briefings and hearings, and assisting staff with public events, constituent casework, and administrative work. So, the experience can provide you with some hands-on experience in political work. You will also have the choice to specialize in either legislative or communications-related assignments.
Location: Remote!
Cost: Starting at $2,490 | Financial aid is available.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort | The upcoming Summer cohort’s applications are due on May 11
Program dates: Multiple cohorts run throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective opportunity to intern with a high-growth start-up. Its partner start-ups belong to a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, nonprofits, consulting, and more. These start-ups, on average, raise over a million dollars. During the internship, you will work with a company manager as well as a Ladder Coach on real-world projects. These projects, which you will present to the company, can be a white paper, marketing campaign, machine learning model, competitor analysis, and more. You can learn more about the program on its application form.
5. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Remote and in-person options available. Students in NYC can opt for virtual internships.
Cost/Stipend: Free | Need-based stipend is available.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Typically in November (for the spring session), March (for the summer session), and July (for fall internships)
Program dates: February – May (spring), June – August (summer), or September – December (fall)
Eligibility: High school students who are authorized to work in the US
Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) offers high school students the opportunity to get hands-on experience while working with a think tank. During the program, you will be paired with a scholar or professional and get to develop industry-specific as well as general skills, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and time management. You can attend weekly foreign policy and career-focused seminars along with FPRI’s virtual events. Internships are available in research, special events/development, communications, and operations. Additionally, you have the opportunity to work on a research paper that could be published on FPRI’s Intern Corner.
6. Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s Summer Institute
Location: Various locations in New York
Cost/Stipend: Free. A stipend is offered.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: May 5
Program dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive youth in high school living in New York City or Newark
The Summer Institute is a six-week program that can help you develop leadership skills while becoming part of a community. Each week involves various activities. For instance, you will participate in workshops on identity, social justice, leadership, and other topics. Meeting and establishing meaningful relationships with women and gender-expansive leaders like elected officials, business owners, and artists are important aspects of the program. Classes are available on various topics, including contemporary political issues. Field trips may also be a part of the experience.
7. USC CPF/Wrigley High School Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Acceptance rate is unspecified | Approximately 25 students accepted
Application deadline: May 19
Program dates: June 1 – August 1
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum GPA of 3.5
The University of Southern California’s CPF/Wrigley High School Internship program is a free virtual experience for students interested in political science. Here, you will work on two projects: a legislative policy memo and a legislative process analysis, both focusing on a bill on the local, state, or federal level that is related to environmental policy or sustainability. Your bill of choice can be one that was passed, is currently in the legislative process, or died during the legislative process. Upon successful completion, one of your projects will be published online.
Location: New York University campus, New York City, NY
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: July 6 – 26
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in NYC
The Democracy Scholars program at New York University (NYU) is a three-week opportunity to explore themes of political philosophy and social justice. Here, you will study text, including classical literature and contemporary pieces, that shaped the country’s political framework. Although not an internship, this program involves hands-on work. As a participant, you will also attend discussion-based sessions led by NYU professors to gain some experience in college-level writing, reading, and critical thinking. You will also get insights on the college application process with the help of professors and Democracy Scholar Writing Mentors. A key part of the program is the civic engagement project, on which you will continue to work throughout your senior year. This experience will help you get real-world experience as a community activist and student leader.
9. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program
Location: New York City
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Stipend of $16 – $22/hour is offered
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: January 13
Program Dates: June 18 – August 28
Eligibility: Students attending a New York City public high school who are at least 16 years old
The Summer Law Internship Program is an opportunity to work with law firms, corporations, nonprofits, and/or government organizations. Working with government organizations can help you understand how civic engagement and policies work. You will typically assist paralegals and support staff and perform tasks like recordkeeping, mail filing, faxing, and fielding phone calls. You also participate in development programs. A networking event is also part of the program.
10. Teen Civics Ambassadors at The New York Public Library
Location: New York
Cost/Stipend: Free | A stipend is offered.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: Varies depending on available positions
Program dates: Varies
Eligibility: Teens interested in civic engagement
The New York Public Library’s Teen Civics Ambassadors offers internship opportunities to help you develop job readiness and leadership qualities. During the program, you will focus on creating fun library resources, engaging peers to learn about civics, and encouraging them to get involved with the community. You will also have access to training sessions that can help you in your academic and career-related pursuits. The experience can help you pick up leadership skills and learn about civic responsibility.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Application deadline: None. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program dates: Unspecified
Eligibility: Students interested in politics and reporting
Pasquines is a non-profit news organization that covers policy-related developments and politics. It offers virtual internships to students interested in politics-based journalism, public affairs, writing, and reporting. Some internship positions include editing, political affairs correspondent, federal affairs correspondent, human resources, and more. This internship encourages innovation and ideation, encouraging you to think critically and act proactively. You will also have the opportunity to build a strong network within and outside the organization. Although this is an unpaid internship, it may offer college credit.