11 Vet Internships for High School Students in NYC
Vet internships for high school students in NYC can create opportunities to enhance your academic profile, improve your employability prospects, and gain practical experience in your chosen fields. These experiences allow you to explore potential career paths while developing professional skills, building networks, and demonstrating commitment to your interests.
New York City is home to several veterinary hospitals and institutions, such as Midtown Animal Hospital and Banfield Pet Hospital, that offer internships and help reduce housing and travel costs. Such experiences at vet internships for high school students in NYC can significantly strengthen college applications and provide clarity about future educational and career decisions.
In this article, we have researched and compiled a list of 11 vet internships for high school students in NYC. These opportunities represent the best available options for aspiring young veterinarians in the NYC area and also include some virtual internships that students in NYC can apply to.
11 Vet Internships for High School Students in NYC
1. Banfield Pet Hospital NextVet Internship
Location: Banfield Pet Hospital, New York City
Stipend: Minimum $15 per hour (rates vary by location)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 6% / Approximately 30 students selected from over 500 applications
Dates: 6-10 weeks during summer
Application Deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older
The NextVet Internship provides high school students with behind-the-scenes exposure to veterinary hospital operations through shadowing veterinarians and veterinary technicians. You’ll participate in observational activities, including animal handling techniques, transcribing medical notes, setting up surgeries, and preparing laboratory tests. The program combines hands-on hospital experience with virtual group sessions exploring various aspects of the veterinary industry. You’ll receive mentorship from local doctors and market leaders while gaining insight into different veterinary career paths. This paid internship offers valuable networking opportunities and real-world experience in a professional veterinary environment. The program emphasizes practical learning while ensuring interns understand both the rewards and challenges of veterinary medicine.
2. Wildlife Conservation Society - Central Park Zoo Animal Care Internship
Location: Central Park Zoo, Manhattan
Stipend: $640-$1,140 (varies by number of days)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited positions available
Dates: Winter/Spring (January-May) and Summer (late May-August)
Application Deadline: September 2 (rolling admissions)
Eligibility: High school students who are 18 years old
The Animal Care Internship offers hands-on training in animal husbandry, involving daily tasks such as exhibit and enclosure maintenance, diet preparation, animal observation, handling (based on experience), and enrichment activities. The program aims to develop skills in humane animal care, public speaking through educational demonstrations, and data management. You will learn to engage effectively with zoo visitors, provide educational information, and gain insights into the operation of a zoological facility. At the end, you will complete and present a project assigned by the animal department or a university-approved assignment. Collaboration and learning from experienced professionals in animal care are emphasized throughout the internship.
3. Vet Explorations Program at Cornell University
Location: Cornell University campus, Ithaca, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1,000 - $4,000 depending on the program / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Typically during the summer (June–August)
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Vet Explorations Program at Cornell University is a summer credit course designed specifically for high school students passionate about veterinary medicine and animal sciences. You will explore veterinary topics such as animal health, biology, and basic clinical skills. You will engage in hands-on experience through activities like animal handling, laboratory work, shadowing veterinarians, and participating in diagnostic processes. One unique feature is the opportunity to learn directly from Cornell’s renowned veterinary faculty, providing insider insight into the profession. You will develop critical skills in scientific observation, problem-solving, and communication, which are essential for a career in veterinary medicine.
4. BioBus New York City Virus Hunters Program
Location: New York City, with focus on Harlem, South Bronx, and Lower East Side
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students per year
Dates: Year-long program
Application Deadline: Not specified; interested students should email christine@biobus.org for information about future applications
Eligibility: All high school students
The New York City Virus Hunters program, operated by BioBus in collaboration with Mount Sinai's Krammer Lab and Wild Bird Fund, offers paid Junior Scientist internships. You’ll conduct research in their neighborhoods, collecting bird feces samples to test for viruses. The program involves modern viral surveillance techniques and generates crucial data on avian disease prevalence. You’ll have the opportunity to work with scientist mentors throughout the research process, culminating in publications and research symposium presentations. The program provides valuable pandemic preparedness education while building scientific identity and belonging. This unique opportunity combines veterinary-adjacent research with hands-on scientific methodology and community health applications.
5. VetSummer NYC at College of Mount Saint Vincent
Location: College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions in July
Application Deadline: Not specified; typically open months in advance of camp start dates, so early application is recommended
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-17
VetSummer NYC at the College of Mount Saint Vincent is a hands-on summer program designed for high school students aged 12-17 who love animals or are considering a career in veterinary medicine. The program covers a range of topics, including common canine and feline diseases, diagnostic methods, therapeutic treatments, and the ethics and values associated with animal care. You will engage in activities such as practicing suturing, performing basic physical exams on cats and dogs, participating in veterinary workshops, and going on off-campus field trips to meet and learn about animals firsthand. You will gain real-world veterinary skills and a deeper understanding of the profession, which can strengthen your college application.
6. Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley - Veterinary Shadowing/Internships
Location: Wappingers Falls, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified; possibly year-round
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older
The Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley Shadowing/Internship program for high school students offers a unique opportunity to explore a career in equine veterinary medicine through hands-on observation and supervised activities. You will get to observe equine veterinary procedures, assist with basic daily tasks, and learn directly from experienced veterinarians. Topics covered include routine care, diagnostic procedures, and the overall workings of an equine veterinary practice. You will receive personalized mentorship and direct exposure to real-life veterinary scenarios involving horses and develop skills like animal handling, observation of medical techniques, and understanding veterinary operations.
7. PAWS NYC Internships and Externships
Location: PAWS facilities in New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple 8-12 week cohorts during the year including Spring, Summer, and more
Application Deadline: Vary as per cohort, rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 18 years old
The PAWS NYC internships and externships for high school students offer a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an animal shelter environment, focusing on the care and well-being of companion animals. You will participate in activities such as feeding and walking dogs, cleaning and maintaining shelter spaces, assisting veterinary staff with preparation and paperwork, and helping with adoption events. You will gain exposure to practical animal care, shelter operations, and community outreach, and develop essential skills like teamwork, communication, responsibility, and empathy, all of which are crucial for careers in veterinary medicine or animal care.
8. Internships at the Smithsonian Zoo
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 6-10 weeks between May and August
Application Deadline: Varies by internship, typically early March
Eligibility: High school students between ages 14-18
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute offers several internships for high school students. Some internships specifically focus on veterinary medicine and research, while others focus on general animal care and maintenance of their environment. It has previously offered the Carnivore Animal Keeper Internship (SCBI), wherein interns worked in the field of animal care and conservation biology by learning about and carrying out activities like animal husbandry, behavioral observations, and enrichment, and nutrition. The zoo also provides volunteering opportunities for students aged 18+ and occasional teen volunteer opportunities.
9. Ladder Internship Program - Health Tech and Medicine Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students where you’ll work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships can range across a variety of industries, from health tech, medicine and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Past founders of the startups have included YCombinator alums or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you’ll work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort.
10. Loop Abroad - Vets Around the World Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year; Winter cohort: December to January
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort
Eligibility: High school students aged 18
In this internship, high school students virtually join veterinarians working with diverse animal species in countries like Thailand, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Belize. You will explore topics such as veterinary diagnostics, wildlife and domestic animal care, conservation medicine, and disease prevention. You will participate in activities like live vet rounds, case study discussions, shadowing veterinary procedures, and virtual tours of wildlife sanctuaries. The program’s unique feature is the opportunity to connect cross-culturally with vets in different parts of the world, gaining insights into global veterinary practices while attending live, interactive sessions scheduled to simulate real-time vet rounds abroad. You will develop practical skills in communication, animal health assessment, and clinical reasoning.
11. Online Veterinary Program for High School Students by US Career Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Tuition details are available upon inquiry or application on the website / None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: No deadline
Eligibility: High school students seeking a high school diploma with veterinary electives
The Online Veterinary Program for High School Students by US Career Institute is a fully online program designed to teach the fundamentals of veterinary care. It covers topics like animal care across four courses, career development strategies, and communication skills tailored to veterinary environments. You will engage in activities such as learning veterinary terminology, understanding animal anatomy and behavior, practicing career preparedness, and developing professional communication skills. The program integrates veterinary electives with traditional high school credits, preparing you both academically and vocationally. You will gain practical skills to work confidently in veterinary settings, including communicating with vets and clients and handling animals safely.
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