10 Fall Internships for High School Students
As the fall semester approaches, high school students have a prime opportunity to make the most of it by considering taking up an internship. In this article, we'll introduce you to 10 fall internships for high school students. These internships not only provide valuable real-world experiences but also offer insights into potential careers in the subjects of your interest. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
From finance to arts to science, there's a diverse range of opportunities for all students. We'll also discuss how these internships can help you gain practical skills, build your resume, and get a head start on your future career path.
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. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location:Â Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline:Â Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).Â
Program Dates:Â 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!
The Dolphin Research Center’s Volunteer Resources Department hosts an Internship Program that provides an exciting opportunity for high school students to have a glimpse of the inner workings of a marine mammal facility at DRC. These internships are department-focused, typically spanning 16 to 18 weeks.
As an intern, you must dedicate 40 hours per week, typically spending four days within your designated department and one-day providing support in various facets of daily operations through the Volunteer Resources Pool. Additionally, you may take on supplemental projects based on DRC's needs and your own specific skills and interests, which may involve assisting your department and collaborating with other teams.
The Dolphin Research Center offers internships across several departments, including Animal Care and Training, Education, Information Technologies, the Medical Department, Research, and Visual Communications.
Stipend: Unpaid
Location: Dolphin Research Center, FL (Non-residential)
Application Deadline (Fall): June 15
Program Dates (Fall ): September-December (duration is 16-18 weeks)
Selectivity: Selective (number of internship positions is very limited)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who have English language proficiency and are physically fit (due to the nature of the work)
Textron Aviation is an aviation company catering to the aviation needs of government, military, and commercial clientele. While the company's core expertise lies in engineering and manufacturing, it offers a diverse set of internships for high school students. Apart from engineering and manufacturing internships, other openings include internships in fields like finance, sales, marketing, IT, flight operations, and human resources. The aim behind these internships is to offer young individuals a chance to explore potential careers within the aviation sector, exposing them to substantial, business-oriented tasks that bridge their foundational knowledge with their future career aspirations.
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Location: Wichita, KS and Columbus, GA
Application Deadline (Fall): TBD, see their website for openings
Program Dates (Fall): Part-time work during the Fall Semester, between 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Selectivity: Selective (cohort size unspecified)
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-19 who are U.S. citizens
The U.S. Senate Page Program offers a distinctive opportunity for high school juniors to engage in public service, interact with prominent national leaders, and directly observe Senate debates. As a page, you'll have a significant role in the Senate's daily operations, sharing responsibilities with other pages. These tasks involve delivering letters and legislative materials within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, setting up the Senate Chamber for sessions, assisting during roll call votes on the Senate floor, providing support to senators and staff during debates, and delivering bills and amendments to the Senate desk. This program provides a window into the legislative process and grants you firsthand insight into the inner workings of the nation's capital.
Check out our in-depth review of this program here!
Stipend: Pages are paid on an annual salary basis of $35,360.
Location: United States Senate, Washington, DC (Residential)
Application Deadline (Fall): The application materials you need vary by senator and state, so you’ll need to contact your senator’s office if you’re interested in this kind of opportunity.
Program Dates (Fall): Early September - Late January
Selectivity: Highly Selective (only 30-page positions exist each term - 15 male pages and 15 female pages)
Eligibility:
High school juniors
Aged between 16-18 years
U.S. citizen with a valid social security number
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The NYC Office of the Mayor provides internship opportunities to high school students interested in gaining insights into city government and policy. When you apply, you have the option to choose the department that aligns with your interests, and if selected, you'll work closely with that department throughout your internship.
During your internship, you may need to work with full-time staff on a range of projects. Among other responsibilities, these tasks will involve research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, data analysis, drafting briefings, and assisting with event coordination. You'll also have the chance to get an inside look at City government operations through the bi-weekly Speaker Series where esteemed guest speakers like Deputy Mayors, Commissioners, Program Directors, and other senior staff, will share their professional insights.
Plus, you'll have the chance to collaborate with fellow interns to develop a service project with a shared objective: to create and implement a project that positively impacts deserving communities and uplifts New Yorkers in need.
Stipend: $15/hour
Location: New York City
Application Deadline (Fall/Spring): August 11th
Program Dates (Fall/Spring): October 2nd - April 19th.
Selectivity: Selective, with an acceptance rate of <30% for Summer
Eligibility: You must be a New York City Resident, enrolled in high school, 16 years old or older, and have current working papers at the time of application.
The internship opportunity with Congressman Scott Peters' office is designed for students interested in political science. As an intern, you'll take on a range of responsibilities, including everyday office tasks like handling phone calls, composing letters, and addressing constituent inquiries. You may also have the chance to assist with and make meaningful contributions to constituent casework and important District-based projects, which offer ample opportunities for community outreach and engagement.
This internship places a significant focus on engaging with the local community, offering multiple opportunities for you to connect with residents and acquire valuable insights into the workings of legislation. Within this program, you can sharpen your research, critical thinking, and communication skills, build professional relationships, and play an active role in improving the lives of San Diego's constituents, all while benefiting from the guidance and mentorship of Congressman Peters' dedicated team.
Stipend: $15/hour
Location: Congressman Scott Peters’ San Diego District Office
Application Deadline (Fall): August 20
Program Dates (Fal): 20 hours/week for 10-12 weeks during the Fall term, depending on the students’ availability
Selectivity: Highly selective, since this is a position also open to college and graduate students (cohort size is unspecified)
Eligibility: All high school seniors are eligible to apply
The Alley Pond Environmental Center’s Field Biology Internship (FBI) is meant for high school students who are interested in field research, urban biology, and the intricacies of local ecosystems and wildlife. This program offers a foundation in research and experiment design, vital skills that will prove invaluable in college, and even more so if you’re interested in becoming a researcher. As FBI interns, you'll explore a range of ecosystems within Alley Pond Park and other Queens, NYC areas, conducting tasks such as biodiversity surveys, bird observations, soil and water quality assessments, macroinvertebrate identification, coastal seining, and native flora planting. Throughout your internship, you'll gain practical experience, learn from environmental experts, and build a supportive community with fellow interns and mentors.
This program is ideal for students contemplating majors in sustainability, environmental science, natural sciences, biology, or related fields, offering a hands-on opportunity to study biodiversity, identify local wildlife, and engage with professionals in the field.
Cost: $150 program fee (financial aid is available upon request)
Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, NY
Application Deadline (Fall): September 1
Program Dates (Fall): Saturdays, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, with specific dates being:
September 30th,
October 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th,
November 4th
Selectivity: Welcoming (cohort size unspecified)
Eligibility: All high school students aged 14 years and above
On the Money Magazine operates as an online publication headquartered in Chicago, with a focus on catering to the teenage demographic. Crafted ‘by teens and for teens', this platform is dedicated to elevating financial literacy and fostering entrepreneurship education among adolescents. Specifically, their fall internship program seeks to assemble a group of students with the goal of researching and crafting articles centered around finance and entrepreneurship. Notably, this publication collaborates closely with DePaul University's Writing Center, offering you an opportunity to apply economic and financial concepts in a compelling manner. It's important to mention that prospective applicants will be required to undergo an interview, either virtual or in-person, and are expected to submit a sample of their work prior to the interview process.
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Location: Chicago (Hybrid)
Application Deadline (Fall): Applications are due before September. See more details here.
Program Dates (Fall): Part-time, September - December
Selectivity: Selective (cohort size unspecified)
Eligibility: You must currently be in high school and a resident of the city of Chicago
DiverseWorks, a non-profit organization at the intersection of multiple art disciplines, offers internship opportunities ideal for students aspiring to careers as curators, artists, or arts administrators. Those selected will gain exposure to the workings of a non-profit arts entity by collaborating with staff on curatorial, marketing, development, and administrative projects. The work schedule typically spans two days a week, each day encompassing five hours, with occasional evening and weekend commitments to support events and activities.
As an intern, you will have a range of responsibilities, including artist research for upcoming events, assistance with promotional and marketing endeavors, updates to the membership database, general administrative tasks, aiding in gallery upkeep, and preparations for evening art performances, events, and exhibition openings. Additionally, you must also be part of a reading group with other interns, aimed at fostering mutual understanding and a deeper appreciation of contemporary art spaces and practices.
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
Location: DiverseWorks Office, Houston, TX
Application Deadline (Fall): August 28
Program Dates (Fall): September - December
Selectivity: Highly selective (only 2-3 interns are engaged each semester, and preference is given to college students seeking academic credit)
Eligibility: All high school students
A few other great prestigious fall internship options are Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the Youth Council Internship at Democracy Maine, and the NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships.
Treasury student internships, based in Washington, D.C., offer unpaid but highly enriching opportunities for high school students, granting you direct exposure to federal careers. While specific responsibilities vary by office placement, intern tasks may include data analysis, research, communication, government engagement, event coordination, and contributing to key management functions. These internships offer a glimpse into the workings of the Treasury Departmental Offices, the headquarters responsible for devising strategies in economics, finance, and national security, and the overall management of the Treasury Department.
These internships provide you with a platform to explore a variety of public sector career avenues, acquire practical career experience, build a robust professional network, and gain valuable insights into the daily operations of a high-level federal agency.
Stipend:Â Unpaid
Location:Â Washington, D.C. (Non-residential)
Application Deadline:Â Apply in June. All internship opportunities will be announced on www.usajobs.gov.
Program Dates (Fall):Â September-December
Selectivity:Â Selective (cohort sizes depend on the specific opportunity)
Eligibility:Â Students must be U.S. citizens and enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to conduct advanced research, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Dolphin Research Center logo