10 Internships for High School Freshmen
If you’re a high school freshman looking for internship opportunities, you’ve come to the right place! Freshman year of high school is an ideal time to apply for internships, as they provide an opportunity to work in professional environments, explore potential career interests, and develop valuable skills.
Engaging in internships will help you build a strong resume, showcasing initiative, and practical experience that will set you apart from your peers. These experiences will demonstrate your commitment to learning and personal growth, highlighting your ability to excel in challenging environments. By working alongside seasoned professionals, you can develop a deeper understanding of your field of interest, build a strong foundation for future career pursuits, and enhance your college applications with real-world experience. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here are 10 internships open to high school freshmen that are worth considering!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Dates: 8-week programs with 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!
Ladder Internships, a fairly selective program founded by Harvard alumni, pairs high school students with startups and nonprofits around the world for virtual internships. You can choose the field you wish to work in, from a wide range of industries, including technology, machine learning, AI, computer science, finance, environmental science, sustainability, business, marketing, healthcare, medicine, media, journalism, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form.
As an intern, you will work on meaningful projects that contribute to the startup or nonprofit’s larger mission, and present your work at the end of the program. This internship program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, among other skills, and group training sessions with fellow interns. You will be paired with a manager at the startup and with a Ladder coach, who serves as a second mentor. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. The internship opportunities in this program span the globe, with a concentration in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK.
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session duration.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship opportunity.
Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions –
Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December)
Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May)
Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
Be a full-time student (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers internship opportunities at all their locations across America, accommodating both in-person and virtual formats. Students who live near a NASA facility can opt for local internships, while those who are farther away can participate remotely. Their extensive internship database, which you can access here, allows users to filter and find opportunities specifically open to high school students, including some that welcome high school freshmen.
These internships provide training, mentorship, and career development to over 2000+ students annually alongside exposure to leading experts in science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. The internships are offered in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, robotics, ecology, and even outreach and communications. You will get to design experiments, analyze mission data, and develop innovative technologies.
Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston, NY
Cost/Stipend: Participating in the internship requires a $150 fee. Financial aid can be provided at request and no documentation is necessary. This is an unpaid internship opportunity.
Application Deadline: September (Fall) | February (Spring) | June (Summer)
Dates:
Fall: October 5–November 9 (Saturdays)
Spring: Typically between March and May (Saturdays).
Summer: July 3–August 7 (Wednesdays)
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be at least 14 years old and currently in high school.
Be able to participate in outdoor activities for at least 2 hours.
The Alley Pond Environmental Center’s Field Biology Internship (FBI) is meant for high school students 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.
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Students are provided a stipend.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Dates: June 18–August 16
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school, from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, may apply.
The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program’s mission is to stimulate an interest in biomedical science or medicine as careers – particularly in groups that are typically underrepresented in science.
This apprenticeship program includes seven weeks of paid full-time structured research activity with a Monell scientist and a public conference where you will present your research to scientific staff, family members, and friends. During the program, you will get to participate in enrichment activities including lectures on scientific topics; public speaking and written communication; and ethical principles guiding human and animal research. You will also get opportunities to learn about different careers in medicine and science.
This apprenticeship provides an unspecified stipend for an expected 35 hours of work per week. MSAP is highly competitive and about 10% or less of applicants are accepted. On average, out of approximately 200 applications, only around 18 to 24 students are accepted into the program. You can check the various research opportunities available under MSAP here.
Location: Washington D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; No stipend is provided to the interns.
Application Deadline: June (Fall Internship Period) | October (Spring Internship Period) | December (Summer Internship Period)
Dates:
Fall Internship Period (September-December)
Spring Internship Period (January-May)
Summer Internship Period (May-August)
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be U.S. citizens.
Be enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution and maintain student eligibility and enrollment throughout the internship.
The Treasury Department offers internships for high school students from grades 9–12, providing a unique opportunity to engage in collecting, analyzing, and presenting policy data, as well as conducting research and summarizing academic literature and news relevant to priority missions. This program is ideal for building a strong foundation for a future career in international policy.
During the internship, you will get to develop valuable research, analytical, management, and organizational skills through interactions with Treasury colleagues and other U.S. government agencies. You can choose to work in one of the several offices within the Treasury Departmental Offices (headquarters), gaining comprehensive exposure to the workings of the Treasury. These internships have an acceptance rate of around 10–12%.
Location: Greater Seattle area, WA
Stipend: Stipends are dependent on the project, as some projects offer stipends and others do not.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May after opening in April.
Dates: June to August (~ 6-8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students in the Greater Seattle area who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and can work for 40 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
SparkSMP is an exciting program open to high school students, including freshmen, offering the chance to choose from 1 to 5 projects that ignite their interest. With only 5–6 students selected, participants receive personalized mentorship from sponsors. The program provides valuable resources and opportunities that benefit students during and after the college application process.
SparkSMP allows students to apply concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization to real-world scenarios. Participants have the unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders, university professors, and experienced mentors. Research topics for the past include extreme weather conditions, software engineering, detecting tick-borne infections and cancers, ML workflow, quantum computing, CHIPS/semiconductors (GaN/AIGaN), low-temperature electronics, competitive analysis and market research, data engineering and AI, social media content generation, and more.
Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA. Some parts of the program are online/remote.
Cost/Stipend: $60 application fee; $500 deposit fee; $4250 program fee; there are also optional costs for housing and transportation if needed; need-based financial aid is available upon request. No stipend or credit is provided.
Application Deadline: Typically late March or early April
Dates: This 9-week program typically runs from late June to early August
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be at least 14 years old on the program start date (some projects require 16 years of age). They can be high school freshmen provided they meet the minimum age requirement.
Be enrolled in high school.
This 9-week program connects high school students with UCSC researchers who mentor them on authentic, open-ended research projects in science, art, humanities, and engineering. You’ll work full-time with your mentor to bring your research project to life, building a robust research portfolio before college and gaining foundational skills in engineering. The program features small cohorts, opportunities to share your research, field trips, and training sessions. The program involves two weeks of online research prep, two weeks of online research, and five weeks of in-person research (9 weeks in total).
Although rising seniors often fill some internship spots, the program is open to high school freshmen aged 14 and up. To be accepted, you’ll need to demonstrate a strong interest in engineering, motivation to learn new concepts, and impressive analytical thinking skills in your application. You can explore projects from past programs here, and for a deeper dive into the program, you can check out this blog.
Location: Learning Club, Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $20 stipend per session and/or three community service hours per session during the academic school year.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Interns begin their internship program working with students in mid-September.
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9–12 can apply!
The Learning Club Teaching Internship in Kansas City offers high school students a unique opportunity to teach and mentor children in the local community. As an intern, you’ll tutor younger students one day a week with tasks like helping them with homework, reading, writing, and math, while also serving as a role model to inspire and support them.
Additionally, the internship provides transportation and a weekly stipend, making it accessible and rewarding for all participants. The program includes comprehensive personal and professional development training, covering topics such as financial literacy, career exploration, community service, college applications, resume building, interview skills, and self-care.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. This is an unpaid internship. Students will receive a certificate upon completion and the potential to extend their internship.
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: June 17–28
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be high school students (entering 9th grade through 12th grade in the fall).
Be over the age of 14 by the start of the program.
Have strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a prestigious 2-week virtual internship focused on exploring the technical and clinical applications of AI in healthcare. Due to the intensive and immersive nature of the internship, you will also be under the expert guidance of Stanford AI research engineers. You will also get to attend Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers who are from various parts of academia, nonprofit, and government helping you understand various possible careers and create strong networks!
Open to freshmen and other high school students, this program is highly competitive, accepting approximately 50 students each year. Geared towards those passionate about health and technology, it aims to advance AI research in medicine for public benefit, providing participants with invaluable insights and experiences in this rapidly evolving field.
Location: Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), Cambridge, MA. Virtual mentorship options are also available.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend is provided courtesy of the City of Cambridge.
Application Deadline: Applications are expected to open in May
Dates: September– May
Eligibility: Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students (grades 9–12) are eligible to apply.
With an acceptance rate of under 5%, this program provides high school students with a rare opportunity to engage in a year-long astrophysics project alongside scientists from Harvard or the Smithsonian Center. Each year, 10–16 students are carefully chosen and organized into 5–8 groups to collaborate intensively on their research projects.
During the program, you will get to participate in monthly workshops and lectures designed to enrich your knowledge and skills. You’ll also attend monthly advisory sessions with the SRMP team to discuss your progress. At the culmination of the program, you’ll have an opportunity to showcase your findings at a symposium through posters and presentations, demonstrating your achievements and contributions to the field of astrophysics. This program will allow you to learn what it is actually like to conduct real, cutting-edge research and work closely with living scientists from diverse backgrounds.
One other option — Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in your field of interest, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs 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.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Trisha Malhotra, an Ashoka University alumna, has 5 years of experience being a freelance writer and currently writes for Lumiere Education. She is passionate about music, reading, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a devoted cat parent.
Image Source: Alley Pond Environmental Center logo