The Benefits of Summer Internships for High School and College Students
Time flies. One minute our kids are playing dress-up and dreaming about what they want to be when they grow up…and the next they’re being asked to choose what they actually want to be when they grow up.
Now that they’re in high school or college, the pressure to choose a career path might feel even more intense. But with seemingly infinite possibilities, deciding can be daunting. Is your teen an aspiring lawyer…aerospace engineer …musician…teacher…sports reporter – or perhaps a future physician? Fortunately, a variety of programs and resources are available to help teens decide. And a summer internship might be just what the doctor ordered.
Although internships are typically associated with college students, Independent Educational Consultant Judi Robinovitz says that both high school and college students can benefit from summer internships in a variety of ways.
“A summer internship provides a fantastic opportunity for high school and college students to get hands-on work experience, explore a variety of career paths, build character, and experience personal growth,” she said. “Students also create invaluable professional connections and gain knowledge and experience that can help make them more competitive candidates for both colleges and potential employers.”
Several studies indicate that high school and college internships have a positive impact on a student’s future. For example, American Student Assistance cited a study indicating that 52% of surveyed high school students believed that their internship confirmed their interest in a specific career, 14% gained interest in a new career, and one in 10 interns discovered that they were not interested in a particular field. A college intern study funded by the NACE Center for Career Development and Talent Acquisition found that the total number of internships a student participates in is a major predictor of positive career outcomes six months after graduation.’ In fact, graduates who had two or more college internships were twice as likely to be employed six months after graduating compared to students who did not participate in an internship. Graduates completing one internship also had higher odds of being employed at six months (table 2a).
Types of Internships for High School and College Students – and Where to Find Them
The pressure to choose a profession often begins as early as middle school, with career-oriented programs including pre-medical, pre-engineering, pre-law, pre-education, culinary arts academies…and more. High schools offer an even wider array of specialized programs and educational academies. Although these programs teach students about the professions, undertaking a summer internship allows students to actually experience what it’s like to work in a particular field.
Summer internships are as diverse as the students seeking them, with opportunities available to accommodate virtually any interest. Although many large organizations and nonprofits offer internships, students can also intern with small local businesses, school districts, local government agencies, colleges, and other entities. They range from paid or unpaid summer internships to in-person or virtual summer internships. Hybrid internships, where students work both virtually and in person, are becoming increasingly popular.
At first glance, students might gravitate toward paid internships – but unpaid internships often tout academic credit, community service hours, highly specialized work experience, professional networking opportunities, and other perks. So when considering internships, it’s more important to seek the best match – whether paid or unpaid.
Seek, and you will find. Students can research and locate internships by searching online employment sites like Indeed and LinkedIn, speaking to their high school guidance counsellors, and reaching out to local companies and non-profit organizations to inquire about opportunities. A targeted ‘Google” search can also yield viable options.
Some families opt to work with an independent educational consultant to help their teens plan for and apply to college, as well as to explore their best-fit summer internships and extracurricular project planning opportunities. For students already in college, most universities have career centres and websites with information about internships that allow students to apply what they’re learning in the classroom to the workplace. Some colleges even offer on-campus internships.
When searching for internships, Robinovitz suggests that parents support their teens and young adults by offering ideas and general guidance – without taking the reins. Allowing them to do the groundwork – everything from researching to arranging interviews – empowers them and helps build confidence and essential life skills. She also has advice specifically for students: When it comes to securing summer internships, the sooner the better.
“Don’t wait until you’re a senior in high school or college – start developing a strong extracurricular profile and creating impact with internships, volunteer opportunities, and other relevant activities when you’re a freshman,” she said. “Starting early gives you the opportunity to explore a wider variety of internships and potential career paths, which can help you choose your intended major. It also allows you to broaden your experience and strengthen your skills, which can set you apart in the competitive college application – and job application – process.“
Benefits of High School and College Internships
Summer internships provide a variety of invaluable academic, professional, and personal benefits. Just ask Jonas Eppert.
Eppert worked as a summer intern for his hometown planning and zoning department while attending the University of Central Florida. He graduated with two degrees – one in political science, and the other in public administration with a minor in urban and regional planning. He says his internship not only helped him solidify his career plans – it also helped him land his dream job soon after graduating.
Eppert, now 25, was hired as a city planner for a fast-growing county in Virginia. He was promoted soon after and currently leads the county’s environmental division. He believes that – without a doubt – his internship is the primary reason he was selected. He says he gained professional skills throughout his internship that he still uses in his career today.
“My internship gave me relevant, real-world experience in the field of planning, and I realized that was the path I wanted to follow,” he said. “During my job interview, I came across as more polished because of my internship, and I was able to give actual examples of the work I’d done and articulate how my experience related to the position.”
In addition to hands-on, real-world experience, high school and college internships can introduce students to relevant industry professionals who can write letters of recommendation, serve as mentors, and provide references upon request. Internships can also connect students with potential employers – many are even hired by the companies they intern for. In fact, a 2019 NACE survey reported that 70% of employers offer their interns full-time jobs.
Students also learn and fine-tune transferable skills like communication, collaboration, time management, and critical thinking.
‘When I started my internship, I was timid and rough around the edges, and all of my job-related knowledge came from books,” Eppert said. “But throughout my internship, I participated in professional-level meetings and planning sessions, learned innovative ways to address issues, and communicated and collaborated with all levels of personnel and members of the community. My internship really brought me out of my shell and made me confident in myself and in my abilities as a professional. “
High school internships can also help students strengthen their college applications and can serve as a compelling college essay topic. Likewise, college internships can help students bolster their professional résumés. Certain internships are more selective and prestigious than others, and in general, highly selective and competitive internships can hold even more weight in the eyes of college admission officers and potential employers. If your internship relates to your intended major, it can potentially set you apart even more. However, it isn’t necessarily the internship or activity that’s important – it’s the achievement and impact you create within the internship or activity that matters most.
Eppert agrees, emphasizing his belief that any level of real-world experience is beneficial, whether it’s an internship, volunteer activity, or part-time job. He said his internship was so rewarding that if he could go back in time, he would complete additional internships and volunteer even more – not for the money – but to gain more hands-on experience and build his résumé even further. And he advises current high school and college students to do the same.
“It doesn’t even necessarily need to be a perfect fit for your field, because in the long run, it’s not as much about what the internship was, but about how well you can demonstrate and articulate how the skills and experience you acquired are applicable to the college you’re applying to, the job you’re interviewing for – or to whatever you’re going after. Any amount of real-world experience can give you the competitive edge you need to set yourself apart from the competition. That’s exactly what my internship did for me.”
20 Intriguing Internships for High School and College Students
Internships are available for essentially any interest, so look for an opportunity that best matches your teen’s interests and abilities. Meanwhile, here’s a small sampling of the nearly limitless internships available. If nothing on this list appeals to your aspiring trailblazer-entrepreneur-innovator-leader… don’t despair – opportunities abound.
Although the deadline may have passed to be considered for certain internships this summer, many have varying start and end dates or additional sessions, and all are potential options to keep in mind for the future.
Amazon Student Internships: Amazon offers a wide variety of internships throughout the world for rising college seniors and recent graduates with an undergraduate degree, master’s degree, or PhD.
Bank of America Student Leaders Program: This program connects high school juniors and seniors to paid internships with local non-profit organizations. It includes a week-long student leadership summit in Washington D.C.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Internships: The FCC is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications policies and regulations. The agency offers a variety of student internships with application requirements varying by bureau and location.
Florida Virtual School Instructional Internships: FLVS offers unpaid internships to students enrolled in education degree programs.
Geosciences Bridge Program Internship: This six-week paid internship at the University of Maryland offers hands-on experience and is geared toward students pursuing careers in geoscience. As part of the internship, students take two college courses the summer prior to their freshman year.
Google Internships: Google offers a variety of paid internships for college students, most lasting 12-14 weeks. Start dates, duties, and locations vary by internship.
Governor Ron DeSantis Internship Program: Available to undergraduate and graduate students in the fall and spring, this internship gives students hands-on experience working in state government. Interns have opportunities to interact with elected officials, government agencies, and the media. It’s a highly competitive internship, so be sure to carefully review the requirements and deadlines.
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience High School Internship: This six-week paid summer internship immerses science-minded high school juniors and seniors in a 40-hour work week. It’s designed for students interested in neuroscience, with a focus on brain structure, function, and development. Interns work with scientists and participate in research projects and presentations.
Miami-Dade County Internships: Miami-Dade County offers internships for high school juniors and seniors and college students, as well as a Mayor’s internship for college students. Students gain hands-on experience in a variety of county occupations.
NASA Internship Programs: NASA offers hundreds of internship opportunities each year for high school students 16 and older, college students, and graduate students.
National Security Agency Internship Programs: The NSA offers a variety of internships, scholarships, a co-op program, and other programs to high school and college students. Programs are available in mathematics, cyber security, computer science and engineering, Industrial and organizational psychology, and more.
Office of State Attorney David Aronberg: 15th Judicial Circuit – Palm Beach County: Although the internships are unpaid, high school and college students may be eligible for academic and community service hour credits. High school students must be 16 or older (and a junior or senior), and college students must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program.
The Reef Institute Internships: The Reef Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, offers internship opportunities to high school and college students. Internships focus on coral monitoring, mineral-based sunscreen research, marine science education, and more.
School District of Palm Beach County Internships: The school district provides a variety of paid internships in several district departments for high school students 16 and older and recent school district graduates attending college. Although the application window is closed for this summer, it could be worth keeping in mind for future opportunities.
Scripps Research Florida High School Internship Program: This nine-week research-oriented internship for high school students entering their junior or senior year at a Palm Beach or Martin County high school introduces students to science-related careers. Students engage in biomedical research and get hands-on lab experience.
Smithsonian Internship Programs: Smithsonian offers a wide variety of paid and unpaid internships for high school students, college students, and recent graduates. Their vision: “A Smithsonian internship program that radically transforms future generations of leaders, museum professionals, and consumers of culture.”
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Pathways Internship Program: This program provides students in high school and college with internships at a variety of federal agencies. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for a permanent job in the civil service.
United States Secret Service Student Programs: The secret service offers a variety of programs for high school and college students, touting that “working with the U.S. Secret Service is more than just an internship or fellowship. It’s a unique opportunity to learn and grow guided by an elite group of individuals who are among the brightest and most committed in the nation.”
The Wild Dolphin Project Internship: The Wild Dolphin Project touts itself as the longest-running underwater dolphin research study in the world. Students must pay to participate, as the program includes a nine-day boat excursion (leaving from West Palm Beach), meals, and snacks. The internship, open to high school seniors, college students, and recent college graduates, gives students an opportunity to experience what it’s like to live and work on an at-sea research vessel. Interns conduct daily dolphin watches, assist with research and underwater photography, give presentations, and more.
YouUnited: This student-led nonprofit organization connects middle and high school students with virtual internships, volunteering opportunities, scholarships, competitions, and more.
Searching for the perfect summer internship? Contact JRA Educational Consulting for a free consultation about how we can help your teen prepare for college and beyond. From finding the best-fit internships and activities to guidance with college essays, applications – and everything in between – we’ve got you covered.
