If you’re a high school student from NYC, these paid internships should definitely be on your radar! Paid internships are great ways for you to explore potential career interests, gain practical skills, and understand the dynamics of a professional environment. These programs are also great ways for you to figure out what fields interest you and the stipend that comes with a paid internship is an additional bonus.

These internships can also significantly enhance your college applications. Demonstrating that you have taken the initiative to gain work experience while still in high school highlights your motivation, time management skills, and commitment to personal growth, traits that college admissions officers value. Additionally, the skills and networks you build during an internship can provide strong references and insightful experiences to discuss in your application essays and interviews. 

1. Zuckerman Institute’s Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia (BRAINYAC)

Cost: No cost; stipend provided

Location: Columbia University Labs

Application Deadline: Applications open in the fall

Program Dates: 5 weeks during the summer.

Eligibility:

• Must be sophomores or juniors in high school.

• Applicants must reside in New York City, but preference is given to students in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.

BRAINYAC is a great opportunity to explore neuroscience if you are interested in the premed track. This program matches you with a Columbia neuroscientist who serves as a mentor, guiding you through a specific research project. Over a seven-week period, you will gain experience in laboratory research. This exposes you to the processes by which laboratory work can lead to significant scientific discoveries. You will receive a stipend during your internship and have opportunities to receive a Merit Fellowship for continued work in your mentor’s lab. You can also access an alumni network, including special events and trips.

2. New York City Office of the Mayor Internship

Cost: No cost; a salary of $15/hour is provided.

Location: New York City, NY

Application Deadline: March 31

Program Dates: June 10 – August 9

Eligibility:

• Must be 16 years of age or older.

• Must be enrolled in high school or accepted to an undergraduate degree problem.

Note. For the Fall/Spring Term, you must be a New York City resident and be enrolled in high school.

The NYC Office of the Mayor offers internships to high school students interested in the functioning of city government and policy. You can apply to the department of your choice. You can expect to collaborate with full-time staff and work on various projects, such as conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, etc. Through the bi-weekly Speaker Series, you will learn more about the inner workings of the City government. Guest speakers include Deputy Mayors, Commissioners, Program Directors, and other senior staff. You will also get a chance to develop a service project with other interns. The goal is to design and execute a project to impact the most deserving communities and uplift New Yorkers in need.

3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center HOPP Summer Student Program

Cost: Free (Paid stipend of $1,200)

Application deadline: February 9

Program dates: June 27 – August 22

Eligibility: Students must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of at least the 9th grade by June

• Must be 14 or older by June 27

• A genuine interest in science and laboratory research 

• 3.5 GPA in science subjects

In the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP), you will explore biomedical and computational research. This program focuses on laboratory or computational-based research projects and includes postdoctoral-led journal clubs, student-led journal clubs, PI luncheons, laboratory tours, team building, and social networking sessions. Each participant is matched with a mentor, such as a postdoctoral fellow, graduate student, or research technician. This program ends with a presentation of your research project at a poster session. Beyond the scientific training, HOPP SSP allows you to participate in tours of MSKCC's facilities, training sessions, and luncheons with principal investigators. 

4. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs

Location: NASA centers across the country

Stipend: Awarded based on academic level and session duration

Program dates: Spring session (Mid January - Early May), Summer session (Late May - August), Fall session (Late August - Mid December)

Application Deadline: May 26 (Fall), August 30 (Spring), October 20 (Summer)

Eligibility: 

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)

• Be a full-time student

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age at the time of application 

The NASA OSTEM (Office of STEM Engagement) High School Internship Program is a great opportunity if you are interested in technology and space exploration. These internship programs allow you to engage with technologies used in space exploration, satellite communication, and aerospace engineering. Whether you're fascinated by robotics, software development, or the mechanisms behind spacecraft, the NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program allows you to apply your theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. You will build valuable connections while gaining hands-on experience in NASA labs. Check out this guide to learn more about NASA internships! 

5. NYU High School Medical Ethics Internship

Cost: Free (Paid)

Application deadline: TBA

Program dates: July 8 – 19

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors

If you're a high school student interested in healthcare, social justice, or public policy, the High School Bioethics Project's two-week paid internship is a good opportunity for you. This program will introduce you to a variety of bioethics topics. It's structured to foster an understanding of the ethical considerations inherent in the healthcare sector. During this internship, you'll have the opportunity to engage with professionals from public health, healthcare, biotech, patient advocacy, and law, which could lead to mentor relationships extending beyond the program. Your responsibilities will include discussing articles, participating in talks, and writing reflection papers. You will conclude your internship by submitting a short paper on a topic covered during your experience. 

6. Metropolitan Museum of Art School-Year and Summer High School Internships 

Location: New York, NY

Stipend: A stipend commensurate with the New York State minimum wage

Program dates: January-June (school year) and July-August (summer)

Eligibility: Students who are two to three years from graduating high school (in grades 10 and 11) or obtaining their High School Equivalency degree and who, on the application deadline date, either reside in or attend a high school or home school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers internship opportunities in art, museums, and creative professions. The High School Internship Program allows students to explore a diverse array of professional fields. Whether your interest lies in editorial work, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, or conservation, the program will connect you with the right museum professionals. During your internship, you'll have the chance to engage one-on-one or in small cohorts with these experts, gaining valuable insights. If you belong to a group that is historically underrepresented in these fields, you're strongly encouraged to apply. 

7. Student Historian Internship program at the New York Historical Society

Location: New York, NY

Stipend: Interns who attend a Title 1 School or are eligible for free or reduced lunch will be offered a stipend to participate. Unpaid internships will be provided for all other accepted students, with the option to receive community service hours or school credit. Participation in this program can be used to fulfill the extracurricular requirement for the NYSED Seal of Civic Readiness. 

Program dates: October – June

Eligibility: High school students, entering grades 10, 11, or 12. Applicants must live in and attend school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey). 

If you’re interested in history and digital media, the Student Historian Internship program at the New York Historical Society is a great way to explore American history. In this program, you'll conduct research using the resources of the New York Historical Society and have the chance to share your scholarship through creative digital projects. You'll meet with professional staff to learn about various aspects of the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields. You will work with fellow students to develop your skills in historical thinking and communication. The program will deepen your understanding of the theme "Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America." If you attend a Title 1 School or are eligible for free or reduced lunch, you will be offered a stipend to participate in the program.

8. Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education Medical and Scientific Exploration Program

Cost: Free (Paid)

Application deadline: March 3

Program dates: July 1 – August 9

Eligibility: 

• Demonstrated interest in biomedical sciences

• Must attend NYC public school or charter school

• Must be an under-represented minority and/or economically disadvantaged

If you're a high school student interested in the pre-med track in college, the Mount Sinai Center for Excellence in Youth Education Medical and Scientific Exploration Program might be a good fit for you. This program is designed to expose you to health and medical careers while enhancing your basic science knowledge, specifically in cellular and molecular biology. Through weekly rotations, you will engage with various laboratories and clinical departments within the Mount Sinai Health System. Each department showcases the applications of scientific concepts, with activities conducted in a virtual setting. You will participate in sessions that cover health disparities, leadership development activities, and college readiness training. 

9. American Museum of Natural History Science Research Mentoring Program

Location: New York

Stipend: $2,500

Program Dates: August – June

Eligibility: You must be in the 10th or 11th Grade and passing your classes for the last three or more semesters. You must ALSO meet at least one requirement from the list below: a) Complete a course in the Science and Nature Program, the Science Alliance Middle School Program or Science Alliance High School Program OR b) Attend one of the partner high schools or partner programs

The Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at the American Museum of Natural History offers an opportunity to engage in a year-long scientific research project alongside Museum scientists. Projects cover a diverse range of topics, from the genetic basis of foraging in ogre-faced spiders to the mysteries of ancient Maya diets. You'll be working with your peers and dedicated scientist mentors throughout the school year, for a total of four hours a week. In SRMP, you are not expected to have any prior experience in research activities. You'll develop an array of skills, including working with DNA in the lab, analyzing data from space-based telescopes, reading scientific articles, and coding and data analysis using Python and R.

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.

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