From: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/internships-for-high-school-students

For high school students, an internship can help you gain real-world experience, build professional skills, and explore potential career paths.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean an internship is the best use of your time, nor will it guarantee your admission to a top-ranking college. 

(Important note that it’s way more useful to pursue an internship because of your interests and values than because you think it will “look good” to a college—that tends to be a core misunderstanding with college admissions.)

So, what makes a good internship for high school students? How do you find them? When and how should you apply?

This guide will answer all of those questions and more! But before we dive in, let’s start with a basic overview…

So… what is an internship?

You may already have a clear understanding here, but in case: An internship is an opportunity to get hands-on, short-term work experience in a field you might be interested in pursuing. In college application land, it falls under the general category of “extracurricular activities.”

As an intern, your responsibilities are typically on the lighter side of professional work. You may only get to assist with simple tasks like data entry, organizing files, or shadowing professionals.

For example, if you think you’d like to major in computer science while in college, you might find an internship that allows you to work on coding projects, learn from experienced software developers, and gain insight into the tech industry.

Or if you’re hoping to start your own business, an internship at a local company, underneath someone who has gone through the process and will help mentor you and give you insight into the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, could be fantastic.

But the value of an internship isn’t limited to your work. As a high school student, an internship can also be valuable for:

• Gaining practical experience in a professional setting

• Building a network of professional contacts

• Developing soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving

• Exploring different career paths to make informed decisions about your future

• Enhancing your college applications 

How do you balance an internship with school?

Typically, you don’t have to—most internships for high school students take place during the summer break, lasting between one to two months. If an internship does occur during the school year, it will likely allow you to have a flexible schedule to ensure your work doesn’t interfere with your academics.

But in the (rarer) case that your internship is both during the school year and is inflexible, you’ll need to really focus on your time- and project-management skills, planning well ahead so that you can maintain your well-being.

How are summer internships different from summer programs?

Summer internships focus more on real-world work experience in a professional setting, while “summer programs” have a more educational or academic focus. 

In some cases, you may also be able to secure a PAID internship (which is awesome), whereas many (maybe most) high school summer programs require paying tuition and program fees. (Side note that “pay-to-play” programs tend to be less impactful on college admissions than their selective counterparts, so keep that in mind when deciding on how to spend your summer.)

We’ll share some of the more reputable paid and unpaid summer internships for high school students later in this guide. But let’s get to why you may be considering an internship in the first place…

How can internships impact college applications?

Again, with the caveat that your primary goal with an internship should be to explore and deepen your interests and values (think of college apps as a great side-benefit), here’s your primary goal when working on college applications: to showcase your strengths, passions, and readiness for college-level work. So, how do internships help? They can help demonstrate your commitment to and experience in a particular field, and allow you to reflect on what you learned and how your experiences shaped you.

For example, let’s say you’re interested in the BA/BS-MD program at the University of Colorado Denver. This program allows students to fast-track the path to becoming a medical doctor. So, the program is quite competitive! (And in case something like that is true of you: here’s a guide to writing BS/MD essays.)

Stating your intention to pursue that type of program on your college application means you’ll have to convince admissions you can handle the program's rigor. If not, they may be hesitant about accepting your application.

But… if you have completed an internship that involves hands-on medical research or shadowing doctors, you have a better chance of convincing admissions officers that you have the dedication and practical experience necessary for the program. (Especially since BS/MD programs tend to prioritize some kind of experience in the medical field—which is understandable, since they don’t want students getting to the MD portion of the program and realizing that they don’t actually want to be a doctor.)

You’d also stand out among other students who may not have similar experiences to justify their reasoning for choosing that major.

Where would you show the value of your internship on your college applications? Well, reflection on your internship experience may become a component of your college application essay or your supplemental essays (expounding on your “why” would likely be a strong choice for some of your writing). You can also list the experience in your activities section. 

But keep the following in mind: internships aren’t the only way to demonstrate your passion, dedication, and skills on college applications. 

Participating in other experiences, such as summer programs, research assistantships, volunteer work, or even part-time jobs, can provide just as much valuable experience.

What makes a good internship for high school students?

College admissions officers tend to prefer to see students dive deeper into an area rather than having a series of unrelated, one-off experiences. So, you’ll know you found a good internship when it allows you to demonstrate increasing commitment and exploration in one of your academic areas of interest. (For more on what colleges look for in students, check out that guide.)

A good internship for high school students also provides opportunities to do things like:

• Gain work experience. An internship experience can help you build practical skills and understand workplace dynamics.

• Develop a better understanding of a field (and yourself). Internships allow you to see if a particular career path aligns with your interests and strengths.

• Clarify your academic interests. What you learn as an intern can guide your course selection and college major choices.

• Network with professionals. Professional connections can lead to mentorship and future career opportunities.

• Get strong letters of recommendation. Recommendations from professionals in the field can significantly enhance your college applications and future job applications.

A good internship should also be a safe and supportive environment where you can ask questions, learn from mistakes, and grow personally and professionally.

How to find internships for high school students

So, how do you find an internship for high school students? There are a few ways. 

• Apply for one of the internship programs listed in the next section of this guide. 

• Search for internships accepting applications from high school students on job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn.

• Reach out directly to businesses in your community or family network. 

• Create your own internship or research project. 

Which option is best for you? Let’s explore each option's major pros and cons to help you decide.

1. Apply for one of the internship programs listed in the next section of this guide.

Pros

• Structured Programs: These internships are designed specifically for high school students, offering structured and well-defined roles.

• Prestige: Being accepted into a competitive program can look impressive on college applications.

Cons

• High Competition: These internships can be highly competitive, making it difficult to secure a spot.

2. Search for internships accepting applications from high school students on job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn.

Pros

• Wide Range of Opportunities: These platforms may offer a wide range of internships in various fields and locations.

Cons

• Lack of High School Focus: Many internships on these platforms are geared towards college students or graduates, making it harder to find high school-appropriate roles.

• Variable Quality: The quality and relevance of internships can vary greatly, requiring thorough research to find a good match.

3. Reach out directly to businesses in your community or family network.

Pros

• Personal Connections: Leveraging personal or community connections can make it easier to secure an internship.

• Customization: You may be able to tailor the internship to your specific interests and needs.

Cons

• Limited Scope: Opportunities may be limited to the types of businesses available in your community or network.

• Less Formal: These internships might not have the same structured learning opportunities as formal internship programs for high school students.

4. Create your own internship or research project.

Pros

• Flexibility: You can design an internship or research project that perfectly matches your interests and schedule.

• Initiative: Creating your own internship or research project demonstrates strong initiative and leadership skills, which can impress college admissions officers.

Cons

• No Established Path: Without guidance or support, it can be challenging to set up an internship or research project from scratch.

• Resource Intensive: Finding a willing mentor and defining meaningful work can take significant time and effort.

As you can see, each option has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. 

Key takeaway: Consider what best aligns with your goals, interests, and resources to choose the most suitable path.

Find this article and more at: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/internships-for-high-school-students