11 Psychology Internships for High School Students
Are you in high school and looking to complete an internship in psychology or other related fields? Check out this curated list below of opportunities from across the country!
Participating in an internship can offer valuable exposure and opportunities that set you up for success both in college and for future employment, bridging the gap between the classroom and real-world experience. Below are 11 psychology internships to consider, some of which are offered in the summer and others during the school year. The programs cover fields of psychology –spanning policy to research and communications – all of which can help set you up for future professional success in any related career.
Note that while some entries in this list aren’t marketed as internships, they follow a similar structure to traditional internships.
You can also check out our blogs on psychology research opportunities and some great research ideas in psychology.
Cost: $1490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: April 16 and May 14
Program Dates: 8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: Students who can work for 15-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internship is a selective program for high school students to work with start-ups.
Ladder Startups work in fields including UI/UX design, consumer research, market research, finance, environmental science and sustainability, business and marketing, healthcare and medicine, media and journalism, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship - the Ladder Coach serves as a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students through the internship and helping them navigate the startup environment. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: None
Location: Dallas, Texas
Application Deadline: February 2024
Program Length: 2 weeks
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school
The UT Southwestern Medical Center offers an internship program annually to demonstrate the range of careers available in mental health. Clinician-scientists, licensed social workers, psychiatrists, and neuropsychologists are among the many professionals who will offer interactive sessions to students in the program. It is a rigorous and intense program designed to prepare students well for professional careers. Students will need to complete readings before sessions and answer questions. Furthermore, students get to engage in psychology in settings ranging from hospitals to laboratories, as well as form mentoring relationships. Interested students must submit an application, in addition to two letters of recommendation, a recommendation from a guidance counselor, and a personal statement describing their motivations for participating in the internship. This opportunity will prepare students for any related career in the field of psychology, whether it be in a clinical setting or otherwise.
Cost: No cost
Location: Remote or Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: Rolling, see the application portal for open opportunities
Program Length: Year-Round
Eligibility: High school student, specific details vary based on the internship
The American Psychological Association, known informally as APA, is a premiere scientific and professional organization that represents psychologists in the United States. Internships at APA are intended for students passionate about applying psychological knowledge for societal benefit, with positions ranging from policy to research, to communications and financial services. Both paid and unpaid internships are offered by the organization. Both require a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. An internship with APA is a great opportunity to foster a greater understanding of professional psychology at a prestigious and nationally-recognized organization.
Cost: Unpaid
Location: Stanford, California (Summer 2023 was virtual)
Application Deadline: March 2024
Program Length: Eight weeks
Eligibility: High school juniors
Offered by Stanford University, the SHTEM offers interdisciplinary internship opportunities in various fields, one of them being psychology! Over the course of a summer, students work directly alongside Stanford faculty and graduate students on a project that “transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.” In this way, students can combine multiple passions, such as psychology and computer science, in an innovative and creative way! However, beyond the independent project, students will also collaborate with each other in a series of program-wide activities. This internship is a solid way to impress colleges by completing a project in collaboration with a prestigious university.
Cost: Paid
Location: Remote, Hybrid, and In-Person options available
Application Deadline: March-May 2024
Program Length: 14 months
Eligibility: Any high school student in California
The Child Mind Institute Program is a long-term internship program designed to promote career development throughout the lens of community. Over the course of the internship, students will first complete a paid project-based learning program in the summer, followed by workshops and activities throughout the second year. Then, participants complete a paid internship in a mental health-related field in the second summer, all the while receiving mentorship from early-career professionals. Eligible students must demonstrate a strong interest in mental health and be from a structurally marginalized community .This internship is a great way to demonstrate a long-term commitment in a leadership capacity, while embarking on a unique project in the field of psychology.
Cost: No cost, scholarships available
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Application Deadline: March 2024
Program Length: Four weeks
Eligibility: At least 16 years of age, enrolled in high school full-time
The Barrow Neurological Institute is the world’s largest neurological disease treatment and research institution, regarded as one of the best in the United States. The Summer High School Internship Program is a research-oriented one that allows high school volunteers to participate in hands-on lab work with cutting-edge technology. Students will be educated on advanced scientific techniques, as well as how to evaluate scientific literature and develop communication skills, among other components. Participants work directly under Barrow specialist for the summer, working 20-40 hours per week. This is truly a unique opportunity to take advantage of that provides students with hands-on experience in various fields of psychology and neuroscience.
Cost: Ranging from $7,000-10,000, depending on commuter vs residential status
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Application Deadline: May 2024 for domestic students, March 2024 for international students
Program Length: Four weeks
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th grade students
The University of Southern California offers a psychology program as one of its pre-college programs. While this is strictly not a traditional internship, over four weeks, students learn the fundamentals of being a psychological scientist, and even get to conduct their own independent projects. There are daily activities in class and students get exposure to a variety of career paths and opportunities to pursue more research in the clinical and social sciences. The range of topics of study are quite interesting! Social media and mental health, games, narcotics, and happiness are some of the many topics of study that students will undertake.
Cost: $3,000
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina or online
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Length: One week
Eligibility: All high school students
The Psychology Institute is a week-long program that combines university-level learning with hands-on experiences. At Wake Forest, students will have the opportunity to dive deep into the academic world of psychology with the guidance of industry professionals and esteemed faculty from the university. It is an intensive, overnight program where students can conduct observational studies, participate in brain dissections, and present research findings, among other things. Overall, this is another unique avenue for gaining more exposure to the field of psychology at an advanced level that is sure to prove useful for any career in psychology or neuroscience.
Cost: Varies for residential/commuter students, ranging from $7,000-$13,000
Location: New York City, NY
Application Deadline: TBA, more information here
Program Length: Three weeks, two sessions offered per summer
Eligibility: Current highschool students, domestic or international
Residential options only available for students aged 16 or older
Columbia University, located in the heart of New York City, offers a three-week immersive experience intended to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of psychology: the science of the mind and behavior. In the program, students will learn from esteemed instructors in clinical as well as social psychology. The biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, sensation and perception, cognitive development, language acquisition, personality, and social influences on behavior are among the many topics covered in the program on Columbia’s campus. This is part of Columbia’s Pre-College Summer Immersion Programs. Interested students should demonstrate high intellectual curiosity and an eagerness to contribute original ideas to the cohort.
Cost: Paid
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Application Deadline: February 2024
Program Length: Eight- Ten weeks
Eligibility: Current junior or senior high school student
The Intramural Research Program is offered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus. It is an interdisciplinary opportunity for students interested in learning more about drug abuse and its impacts on mental health and human psychology. As a branch of the National Institute for Health, this is a popular program that can serve as a stepping stone for students interested in conducting research in psychology. Students from marginalized backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply for this paid opportunity, where you can meet new students and develop meaningful relationships.
Cost: Tuition TBD
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Application Deadline: Rolling until camp is full, see their website for updated information
Program Length: Roughly seven weeks
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Offered by Gettysburg College, this camp offers hands-on experience both in a practical setting, as well as in research, to offer insight into how psychological science works. Over the course of the whole summer, students will gain extensive experience in applying learned concepts to real-world dilemmas. The program is run by knowledgeable professionals and professors in psychology from universities like Columbia University. Past alumni of the program have remarked with gratitude that this program solidified their decision to pursue a career in psychology, as well as motivated them to expand their network with like-minded students across the country. There is sure to be something of benefit for any scholar to take away from the program!
If you are interested in doing university-level research in psychology, then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for high school students. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Aisha is a student at Princeton University, studying Anthropology and Global Health. On campus, she is involved with student groups centered around health equity and cultural affinity. In her free time, she enjoys podcasting, learning languages, and trying new recipes.
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