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Writer's pictureStephen Turban

Northrop Grumman's High School Involvement Partnership (HIP)—Should You Apply in 2024?

Some of the biggest tech and engineering firms in the world run scholarship and internship programs to enable high schoolers to explore fields like engineering, science, or technology while gaining hands-on experience and mentorship from professionals. Not only does this make your application stand out, but it also shows your commitment to learning beyond the classroom. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore potential career paths and develop skills that universities value. Our blog today covers one such program—Northrop Grumman’s High School Involvement Partnership or the HIP.



What is the High School Involvement Partnership?


Northrop Grumman’s HIP is a two-year-long specialized mentoring program for high school juniors and seniors from Northrop Grumman partner schools who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM. The program’s main goal is to provide you with real-world programming experience, exposure to Northrop Grumman’s work in aerospace and defense, and dedicated mentorship to help you build critical skills. 


Through the two years of the Partnership, you’ll benefit from various virtual and in-person experiences and get the opportunity to learn from professionals at one of the leading companies in the defense industry. The HIP also offers competitive high school and early college internships as well as vocational programming, allowing you to earn experience and develop skills crucial in today’s work environment.



How is HIP structured?


The High School Involvement Partnership is spread across both junior and senior years:

  • Junior year (November – May): The first year is structured in a more introductory fashion. You’ll learn about Northrop Grumman’s products and technologies, getting a solid introduction to the vast fields of aerospace research and defense. This is facilitated via one-hour virtual sessions held 10-12 times throughout the term, as well as on-site activities at some of Northrop Grumman’s key production and research facilities. These seminars and sessions are designed to teach you STEM literacy, learn about Northrop Grumman’s core capabilities, and build your overall knowledge of organizational components like HR, Manufacturing, Systems, and more.

  • Senior year (November – April): In your senior year, if you still qualify for the program (not a guarantee), you will benefit from the bulk of the experience. The second year features individual and group mentoring opportunities with Northrop Grumman scientists, engineers, and researchers, offering significant learning and exposure. With their guidance, you will pursue and develop a senior-year project that’ll enhance your STEM knowledge and can be added to your profile. There are also opportunities offered via HIP’s network for high school and early college internships.



Is it prestigious?


HIP is a highly competitive program, making it a prestigious addition to any resume. Not more than 100 students are selected to participate each year, and this exclusivity helps make your profile stand out, especially when applying to colleges or even future internships. As explained in the previous sections, the program provides excellent networking opportunities, as you’ll work alongside professionals in one of the leading aerospace and defense companies in the world. The individual mentorships, as well as the opportunities for internships, make the program even more valuable. Overall, we would rate it as highly prestigious.



Who is eligible, and how do you apply?


To apply for the HIP, you need to:

  • Be a high school junior when applying to the program originally OR have completed the Junior Year of the program when applying to the senior year

  • Have a strong interest in science, technology, engineering, or math

  • Maintain at least 3.0 or higher unweighted cumulative GPA

  • Attend a public high school in a Northrop Grumman community. This is absolutely mandatory! The list of Northrop Grumman community schools is available here

  • Be a U.S. citizen


With respect to the application itself, you will need to reach out to your school authorities if your school is a Northrop Grumman affiliate. Keeping a close eye on the program website will also help, as all details are updated there.



Pros and cons of participating in the HIP


Pros:

  1. You will receive dedicated mentorship: You’ll receive guidance from experienced professionals at Northrop Grumman, giving you first-hand insights into STEM careers and a solid idea of how you should build your own career.

  2. There’s a holistic learning experience on offer: With both virtual and on-site sessions at Northrop Grumman facilities as well as a senior-year project, you will be building your STEM skills with a variety of learning experiences.

  3. Plenty of networking opportunities: You’ll meet and work with industry professionals, building connections that could help you in future internships or jobs.

  4. Good opportunities for further advancement: HIP offers you another route to obtain high school and early college internships, which can be extremely valuable to further advance your STEM skills and round out your profile.


Cons:

  1. It’s a major time commitment: HIP requires a significant time investment of two academic years, with evening classes and an additional project, which could interfere with your regular schoolwork or extracurricular activities.

  2. Admission is quite selective: The program is highly competitive, and not all applicants are accepted, which means you need alternatives in place when applying.

  3. Administrative limitation: If your school is not affiliated with Northrop Grumman, you will simply be unable to participate.



Our review—should you apply?


Applying for the High School Involvement Partnership is a valuable opportunity to strengthen your STEM skills and obtain in-depth, industry-specific mentorship. With its unique mix of virtual and on-site training, project experience, and professional exposure, the HIP is well worth considering if you’re aiming for a future in engineering, technology, or science. While it’s a big commitment, the reward in terms of skill development and profile enhancement makes the program worth it if your school is eligible. 



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 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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