10 Internships for High School Students in Connecticut
Internships offer a valuable opportunity for high school students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. Connecticut and its adjoining areas have various internship programs across industries like healthcare, STEM, business, education, and more. Internships help you develop critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and time management. These skills will be helpful in college and beyond.
Internships also give you insight into your chosen industry. This exposure can help you understand what a typical day in a specific career looks like, the challenges professionals face, and the skills needed to excel. Additionally, internship programs allow you to network with peers, professionals, and mentors. This could even lead to a strong recommendation letter for your college applications.
Here are 10 internship opportunities for high schoolers in Connecticut for you to explore!
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: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: 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!
If you're an 11th-grade student interested in medicine, dental medicine, or biomedical research, this program could be a great first step for you. While technically a summer program rather than a traditional internship, we have included it in this list as it offers hands-on research opportunities at a clinical laboratory and a stipend. This program gives students from underrepresented communities and disadvantaged backgrounds the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to succeed in medicine.
Location: UConn Health, Farmington, CT or Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
Cost: Students are eligible for a stipend
Dates: June to July
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students should be 16 years old by the program's start, have completed junior year of high school with at least a ‘B’ average, and be from a Connecticut high school that has an on-site School-to-Career or Career-to-Work Coordinator
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more. This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The City of New Haven provides work experience in various fields to prepare you for future careers. You can choose which department you would like to work in. High school interns are paid an hourly stipend. Whether you're interested in public administration, urban planning, or environmental services, this internship can be a good starting point.
Location: New Haven, CT
Cost: Students are eligible for a stipend
Dates: No information available
Application Deadline: Typically in December
Eligibility: You should be 16 years of age, residing in New Haven, and enrolled at an accredited high school
This program is highly competitive and a valuable opportunity for biomedical research at Yale. Only two students can be recommended by the educator from a high school for this program. The internship introduces you to cutting-edge research in Yale’s biomedical laboratories under the guidance of experienced faculty. You will participate in research projects and training sessions. To apply, you must contact Ruth Ann Ornstein with your school’s name, location, and a designated contact person.
Location: New Haven, CT
Cost: Information not available
Dates: 6 weeks. Exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: 16-year-old high school juniors residing within commuting distance of the Yale School of Medicine; application requires a teacher recommendation and should be coordinated by your high school educator
Yale’s ITS High School Internship Program is open to students nominated by their high schools. You will be introduced to various Information Technology services in this six-week internship. You will gain exposure to a professional office environment where you will work closely with managers and other IT professionals. The program also includes workshops and events to prepare you for campus life.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Stipend provided
Dates: Six weeks during summer. Dates not specified
Application Deadline: Information not available
Eligibility: You should be 16 years of age, residing in New Haven, West Haven, or Orange, and should be enrolled at an accredited high school
This program offers high school students weekly afternoon classes, weekend jobs, and summer internships. These opportunities allow you to work with peers, museum educators, and scientists on research, cultural artifacts, and natural history. As an EVOLUTIONS student, you could be among a select group who receive paid internships in Yale science laboratories. In this internship, you will work closely with Yale faculty and graduate students, engaging in field and lab work. The experience culminates in a research symposium at the Peabody Museum, where you’ll present your findings.
Location: Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT
Cost: Stipend paid
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: No information
Eligibility: New Haven and West Haven Public high school students
This program will give you valuable workplace exposure, mentoring, and enrichment activities within your school and community in New Haven. Through this employability training program, you will gain hands-on experience while earning Connecticut minimum wage. The program includes several modules, including the Summer Work-Based Learning Experience, Year-Round Work-Based Learning Experience, and Required Program Elements for Work-Based Learning. Your workplace experiences will come from a broad network, including the New Haven Public School system, local businesses, workforce development boards, community-based organizations, civic and faith groups, and universities.
Location: New Haven, CT
Cost: Stipend paid
Dates: October – June
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Students in 9th grade or higher at the time of application submission; must be at least 14 years of age, a full-time high school student, reside in New Haven and/or attend a New Haven Public High School
To qualify for this internship, you must live in or attend a high school or home school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Through this internship, you will connect with art, museums, and creative professionals while developing professional skills. The program allows you to engage with Met professionals across various fields, including editorial, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, conservation, and more. During your time at the Met, you can discover the intersections between your interests and the creative world while learning from peers and mentors.
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cost: Stipend paid
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11
The Bank of America offers high school students an opportunity to contribute to their communities via an internship. You will be paired with a local nonprofit in Connecticut for a paid internship. As part of the leadership training, you will attend the National Student Leaders Summit. This event in Washington, D.C., is a chance to interact with professionals in fields ranging from business to government. This program is highly selective, and we've covered this opportunity in detail here!
Cost: Fully funded, hourly stipend
Location: Fairfield, Hartford, and New Haven, CT, and Washington D.C.
Application Deadline: Applications open in October
Program Length: Eight weeks
Eligibility: Current junior or senior high school students who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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 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.