10 Internships for High School Students in Oklahoma
Internships offer high school students opportunities to gain hands-on experience and skills essential for academic and career growth. By working in real-world environments, you will develop teamwork, problem-solving, and time-management skills. These experiences provide insight into industry-specific challenges, preparing you to pursue that field in college.
Beyond practical learning, internships help you build connections with industry professionals and mentors who can open doors to future opportunities. These experiences can also give you an edge in college applications by showcasing your initiative, curiosity, and commitment to your chosen field. Moreover, internships allow you to explore potential career paths before committing to a college major.
For high school students in Oklahoma, here are 10 internships worth checking out!
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!
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: $5,000 stipend
Location: Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK
Application Deadline: February 1
Program Dates: June 2 – July 25
Eligibility: Oklahoma residents who are high school seniors and age 16+
The Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars Program offers an 8-week paid summer research experience for students interested in biomedical research. You will work alongside senior scientists on individual research projects, contributing to research that may lead to new treatments for human diseases. Throughout the program, you will gain hands-on experience in bench research, attend professional development workshops, and attend social and cultural events. You will also write an abstract summarizing your project and formally present your findings.
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 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.
Cost: $15 uniform shirt
Location: Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma City, OK
Application Deadline: Deadlines are released in the spring
Program Dates: October – August
Eligibility: Students aged 14-17
This role involves tasks to enhance the guest experience and supporting zoo operations. Key duties include providing customer service by answering questions, assisting with wayfinding, and engaging visitors with biofacts and activities about animals. You will help with animal care tasks such as diet preparation, cleaning, and enrichment. The position also supports the housekeeping and horticulture departments through gardening, weeding, plant care, and cleaning tasks, contributing to the upkeep of the zoo’s environment. In addition to operational duties, the role includes helping with special events. You can also assist the education department with craft preparation, animal husbandry, and research.
Cost: No cost
Location: Tulsa, OK
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: This is a 3-year program. Students should expect to attend monthly meetings (8 hours/month), committee meetings (1-2 hours/week), and individual assignments (1-2 hours/week)
Eligibility: High school students
The Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) offers high school students a three-year experiential learning program. Cohorts of about 25 students are selected to design and implement a community-based intervention, receiving mentorship in leadership and philanthropy. A core element of YPI is its student-led model, as you will choose your focus issue and take charge of all aspects of your project. The program also encourages community engagement, allowing you to collaborate with local leaders while working on your project.
Cost: None
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program Dates: 50 hours per year
Eligibility: Students aged 14-17; Individual volunteers must be 16
The OKC Zoo offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, allowing students to assist in connecting the public with wildlife and conservation efforts. You can contribute to various departments, including education, guest experience, horticulture, and animal care, making a daily impact on zoo operations and community engagement. Additionally, the Zoo provides special event volunteer opportunities, ideal for those seeking short-term commitments. These events may include fundraisers, holiday celebrations, and other one-time projects throughout the year. As a volunteer, you will help promote conservation and educate the public.
Cost: Stipend offering dependent on internship pairing
Location: Shawnee, OK
Application Deadline: This program is available for students all year long
Program Dates: Dependent on the Internship
Eligibility: Students attending Shawnee public schools
Shawnee Public Schools emphasizes preparing students for their futures by helping them create personalized career goals through Individual Career Academic Plans (ICAP). These plans start as early as middle school, allowing students to map out the steps to achieve their goals. Community partnerships are pivotal in these initiatives. High school students can earn course credit through internships with local businesses. Information on participating in these internships is available at the link above.
Stipend: Upon successful completion of the program, interns will receive a $500 stipend
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Internship Dates: ~5 weeks through July and August
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors across the U.S.
The JHBIS program is designed to inspire high school students interested in neurological sciences. The program provides in-person and virtual opportunities. You will gain hands-on experience through mentorship from Johns Hopkins neurologists and learn essential laboratory techniques while conducting basic experiments. This internship is particularly valuable for high school students without significant laboratory exposure. It addresses disparities within the neuroscience workforce by recruiting talented students from underrepresented communities. Professional development sessions led by JHU faculty and educational presentations on neuroscience further enrich the experience, offering both practical skills and a deeper understanding of the field. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Cost: None
Location: Online
Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round. Apply here.
Program Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with enrollment in one honors science or English class with a GPA of 3.25+
EnergyMag offers virtual internships for high school students who want to explore renewable energy. These internships provide a flexible pathway to building research skills and developing analytical expertise. Assignments are tailored to your academic background, graduation timeline, and previous experience. Projects include analyzing new technologies, investigating niche markets, or researching specific companies within the renewable energy sector. You will be paired with a mentor. You will be responsible for gathering data from relevant stakeholders and compiling the findings into detailed analysis reports. At the end of the program, these reports will be published on the EnergyMag website.
Cost: None
Location: Online
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 14 by mid-June
With an expected commitment of 30 to 40 hours per week, this internship focuses on conducting research with mentors and peers. Under the guidance of Stanford University’s faculty and industry leaders, you will explore technological innovations. You will engage with a broad spectrum of disciplines, from computer science and engineering to design, psychology, and beyond. In addition to its academic and technical aspects, the program offers networking opportunities within Stanford’s community. To learn more about this internship, check out our complete guide here.
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 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.