8 Investment Banking Internships for High School Students
Internships provide high school students with valuable opportunities to gain real-world experience, develop professional skills, and explore potential career paths. For those interested in the world of finance, investment banking internships offer a unique glimpse into the industry, fostering a deeper understanding of market strategies and financial analysis. Early exposure to finance and business not only enhances a student's resume but also strengthens their college applications by demonstrating initiative, commitment, and a clear career focus.
In this blog, we’ll explore 8 investment banking internships tailored for high school students eager to explore the financial sector.
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, students will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Through this mentoring relationship, you can learn more about investment banking.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore the multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here and the application link here!
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
Program Dates: Multiple, year-round cohorts. December 21, 2024 – January 5, 2025 for the upcoming Winter cohort
Application Deadline: Various deadlines depending on the cohort. November 24, 2024 for the Winter cohort
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. If you’re interested in investment banking, you can check out their finance internships.
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, you will work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
You will have access to 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 your cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming Winter cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. December 16, 2024 onwards for the Winter cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Venture Analyst Summer Internship at 1435 Capital Management LLC offers a unique opportunity for high school juniors and seniors eager to delve into business, finance, and entrepreneurship. 1435 Capital invests in growth-stage startups and late-stage secondaries. This highly competitive internship accepts only 3-4 students from hundreds of applicants each year.
The role involves conducting investment analysis, monitoring portfolio companies, sourcing deals, performing market research, and providing administrative support. This 10-week, full-time internship provides hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and insights into the venture capital field.
Location: Hybrid, with requirements to travel to Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns are paid a stipend
Eligibility: Rising juniors or rising seniors over the age of 16
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can access the application link here!
The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) provides paid summer internships for high school students in Chicago, introducing them to the financial services sector and motivating them to continue their education. The program connects you with internships at local companies such as Siebert Brandford Shank and Cabrera Capital Markets.
You will spend four days a week at work sites under the guidance of a supervisor, and one afternoon each week participating in seminars designed to bridge classroom learning with practical application. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony featuring a keynote address by the Mayor or City Treasurer of Chicago.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns are paid a stipend
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the spring
Eligibility: Chicago high school sophomores and juniors with a B/3.0 average whose family income is below $80,000
In this 5-week program at Fidelity Investments, interns gain a comprehensive understanding of investment strategies, financial analysis, risk management, and portfolio management. The immersive experience involves engaging in real-world projects that sharpen skills in finance, communication, and resource management. Interns work alongside experienced professionals who provide guidance on tasks and projects, as well as offer valuable career advice.
Location: Boston, MA.
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns are paid a stipend.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for five weeks during July and August.
Application Deadline: There is no information available on the deadline. You can check for more updates here.
This program is ideal for students interested in finance and professional services, offering experience in key accounting principles, auditing, tax concepts, and advisory services. The curriculum includes personal development, career readiness, and relationship management. As an intern, you’ll be introduced to the financial services industry and KPMG’s culture. You will be mentored by KPMG professionals, giving you the chance to learn more about their career paths. This internship is available in 11 U.S. cities.
Location: Location varies depending on the KPMG office. You can check the cities here
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns are paid
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors living within commuting distance and authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for future visa sponsorship
Program Dates: July 10 – 30, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025, usually in February/March. You can check for more updates here
The CLA internship program offers high school students an early opportunity to explore career paths in professional services and gain practical experience in business or accounting. Interns work on real projects, applying classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios while developing problem-solving and analytical skills. You will gain first-hand industry experience through interactive case studies, shadowing professionals, and engaging in team projects.
Location: Multiple locations across the country
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns are paid a stipend.
Eligibility: High school students older than 16 who are authorized to work in the U.S. without an employment visa
Program Dates: June 17 – July 19, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
The TIP internship is designed to provide underrepresented youth with valuable experience in finance and accounting. Participants engage in job coaching and skill-building workshops, learning essential skills for their internships. Upon completion of the summer program, a select group of students are invited to join a year-round internship, which can extend for up to three years. This program is aimed at offering a comprehensive skill-building experience and launching a successful career in finance for students who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns are paid a stipend
Eligibility: Boston high school students who have completed their sophomore year
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Application Deadline: There is no information available. You can check for updates here
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in finance or business, 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 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.