If you’re a high schooler looking for internship opportunities in Boston, we’ve got you covered! High school internships help you go beyond classroom learning and put your skills to work in real-life situations. You can use this opportunity to build a professional network, which could be helpful for future job searches and college applications.

Early exposure through internships can provide an advantage in the competitive college admissions process by demonstrating your proactive approach to learning. It also highlights your commitment to personal and professional growth and your willingness to step out of your comfort zone.

In this blog, we will explore 10 internship opportunities for high school students in Boston spanning various fields such as science, architecture, marketing, film production, creative arts, law, and more! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. MIT’s Research Science Institute

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA

Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; stipend is provided to the participants (the exact amount is undisclosed).

Dates: Spans 6 weeks between June and August.

Application Deadline: TBA

Eligibility: Only high school juniors can apply. Check the standardized test score requirements on the website.

Each summer, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hosts RSI, a selective program for 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students. You will engage in intensive STEM coursework during the initial week led by professors before embarking on a five-week research internship. Under the mentorship of scientists and researchers, you’ll conduct independent research spanning various scientific disciplines. The program concludes with you delivering conference-style oral and written presentations on your research findings. Participation in RSI will not only enhance your scientific knowledge and skills but will also significantly strengthen your college applications.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort 

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

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 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. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. 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. 

Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

3. Arch/Design High School Internships

Location: Local architecture firms in Boston, MA.

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Interns are paid.

Dates: July 8 – August 16

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility: Boston public high school students in grades 9–12 can apply. 

This six-week program offers Boston public school students an exploration of architecture through placements at local firms. This internship fosters career exploration and professional development. Partnered with the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, it aims to give students paid opportunities and meaningful experiences in the architectural field. This program, in collaboration with eight local firms, offers exposure to architecture and design through practical projects and site visits. You will improve your skills in drawing, presentation, and 3D modeling. You will also develop essential soft skills like time management and teamwork.

4. Fresh Films Boston Summer Film Program

Location: Charlestown High School, Charlestown, Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; a stipend is provided for sessions attended by participants.

Dates: July 10 – August 11.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in June (Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis).

Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14 and 18 who reside in Boston can apply.

Fresh Films Boston Summer Film Program is a paid, 5-week-long summer film training program for Boston Public High School Students. This program aims to help students develop production, pre-production, and post-production skills and create film and documentary projects. During this program, you’ll film music videos, short films, and documentaries. You’ll gain experience using professional equipment, including a camera, boom mics, lighting, and audio recording. You will also create scripts, storyboards, shot lists, and more. You will learn about careers in film and film set etiquette. Additionally, you will sharpen your interview skills for future internships and jobs.

5. Broad Scholars Summer Program

Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $3,600 stipend + partial reimbursement for transportation costs is provided to the participants.

Dates: June 24 – August 2

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in mid-November and close in January

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who attend a high school in Massachusetts within commuting distance of the Broad Institute, have earned a B or better in science and math classes, and are US citizens, permanent residents, or non-US citizens with employment authorization (i.e. DACA).

The Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP) allows high school students with a strong interest in science to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute. During the program, you’ll be matched with Broad scientists to conduct research in areas such as cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, infectious disease, genetics, and genomics. In addition to original research, you will explore scientific careers, attend scientific talks, and present your research to the Broad community in a scientific poster session. You will also attend a college fair, participate in social events, and meet other students who share your interests. 

6. Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) Program: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 

Location: Boston, Worcester, and Springfield, MA 

Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend. Interns will receive a stipend of $15 per hour (25 hours per week). 

Dates: July 8 – August 16

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.

Eligibility: Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who attend a high school in Boston, Worcester, or Springfield (depending on the location of the application). 

JYC, sponsored by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, is a six-week summer internship that teaches students about the Massachusetts court system. As an intern, you will work four days a week in one of the Suffolk County courts and spend one full day in law-related educational sessions. In this paid internship, you will be mentored by judges, lawyers, clerks, probation officers, and other court personnel who volunteer their time in educational sessions or as work supervisors. You can also opt to participate in a mock trial in federal court in August. For further details about the internship and the application links for the various locations, check here.

7. 826 Boston Internships

Location: Roxbury, Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend is paid but depends on the opportunity.

Dates: Internships are offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer cohorts.

Application Deadline: Applications for Fall are reviewed on a rolling basis till August 15. The deadline for the Spring cohort is December 15, and for the Summer cohort is April 15.

Eligibility: High school students 

As an intern, you will design, write, or teach in a professional environment, gain experience in creative arts education, and learn about the day-to-day operations of a small non-profit. You can also apply to 826 Boston’s Youth Literary Advisory Board (YLAB), which represents students from across Boston and aims to provide a safe place for teens to express themselves. Students meet weekly, and their work culminates every year in a final project. Past projects have included a podcast and a professionally printed book. This will help you build job skills, advance your resume, and acquire excellent references. You can keep an eye out for the Fall opportunities that will be posted in June on their website!

8. Young Scholars Program (YSP) at Northeastern University

Location: Northeastern University campus, Boston, MA 

Cost/Stipend: None

Dates: June 24 to August 1.

Application Deadline: Typically, applications roll out in January and close by March. 

Eligibility: Open to Massachusetts residents (within commuting distance of Northeastern University) who have completed their junior year of high school (i.e. rising seniors).

YSP offers Massachusetts residents a solid research experience in collaboration with faculty from Northeastern's Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences. You will engage in laboratory research, exploring topics such as agent-based modeling, model compression algorithms, battery chemistries, and cancer therapies. You will also attend seminars on various engineering topics, including radar, environmental issues, superconductivity, lasers, microwave materials, biotechnology, chemical analysis, and robotics. You will have access to education and career counseling and visit corporate and government sites to observe engineers. You can check out past research topics here.

9. MFA Boston Teen Programs

Location: The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Participants receive a stipend of $15/hour.

Dates: This is a 12-month program.

Application Deadline: TBA

Eligibility: Applicants must be Boston residents and/or attend a Boston Public School.

This year-long paid opportunity is designed for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in the arts. The program is designed for leadership development, career exploration in museum professions, and creative expression through studio art classes and workshops. It includes behind-the-scenes access to the museum and workshops with artists. You will gain firsthand experience of the museum's operations and explore its collections. You will also provide assistance to Museum visitors as a Visitor Aide and Program Assistant and help organize teen-focused events.

10. Museum of Science’s Summer Youth Internship Program

Location: Museum of Science, Boston, MA

Cost/Stipend: No cost; Both paid and unpaid opportunities are available.

Dates: Typically a 7-week program between July and August

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 19 can apply.

The Museum of Science offers paid internship opportunities where you will learn how the museum operates and participate in professional development workshops. Opportunities are available in Educational and Visitor Support, Business and Administrative, Technical, and Hands-On roles. During the program, you will attend weekly professional development workshops on topics such as financial literacy and resume and cover letter writing. You will go on field trips to other cultural institutions and local colleges. You’ll also receive free admission and access to the Museum of Science’s exhibit halls and venues.

One other option - the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.