No rule in place says that high school students must wait until they enter a university/college before beginning an internship.
As a high school student interested in enrolling in a STEM-related program at the university, you should seek an internship to help you gain admission into your preferred program and make a big difference in your life.
There are several such internships, most of which are highly beneficial. In this piece, we’ll look at a few examples of STEM internships for high school students.
Are STEM Internships Beneficial to High School Students?
STEM internships will benefit you in the following ways below if you are a high school student who wants to specialize in a STEM field:
1. Gain relevant work experience
As a high school student wanting to develop a STEM career, you can learn much about the working world by participating in STEM internships.
Even though you can still gain experience in your area through volunteer work or part-time employment, an internship is an excellent opportunity to learn more about your STEM field.
Internships in the STEM fields will give you valuable experience and help you build abilities that will serve you well in college and even afterward.
Problem-solving, research, logical and rational thinking, and statistical analysis are all examples of such abilities that you will derive from participating in STEM internships.
2. Enhances your CV
Internships count as work experience, so having one on your resume will help you get a job or enter the university after high school.
Internships are a great way to acquire valuable work experience, and you can use the knowledge gained to write an outstanding college essay that will wow admissions officers at the universities of your choice.
3. Create beneficial connections with leaders in your preferred STEM field
You can network with successful people in STEM fields as a high school intern.
By interacting with them daily, you can learn about their educational and occupational journey to get where they are now.
This information can serve as a map to help you attain your professional goals.
You can even use your connection with them to your advantage to get a great job after college or the materials you need for your senior thesis or other personal initiatives.
8 STEM Internships for High School Students
Here are some of the internship programs that every high school student looking to major in a STEM field at college must consider engaging:
1. Maine Space Grant Consortium
Maine Space Grant Consortium is a STEM internship for high school students. This six-week program is open to only high school juniors that are currently residing in the state of Maine.
It is very impactful, and the experiences that students acquire prepare them for a career in a STEM field.
To secure a spot in the Maine Space Grant Consortium internship program, you must hold an excellent GPA (not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) and take mostly STEM-related classes in high school.
This internship program runs from Monday to Friday every week. The deadline for applying to the Maine Space Grant Consortium internship is January 31.
2. Meta Summer Academy
Meta Summer Academy is another excellent addition to this list of STEM internships for high school students. This program runs between June and July.
This six-week program is open only to North Fair Oaks, Belle Haven, and East Palo Alto residents.
Meta Summer Academy interns are taken through several experiences that enable them to acquire knowledge of tech work, practical industry experience, and an understanding of how arguably the most prominent social media company in the world operates.
To stand a chance of securing a spot in the Meta Summer Academy internship, you must have a GPA above 2.5. The deadline for applying to this internship is March 1.
3. National Institute of Standards of Technology
The National Institute of Standards of Technology internship is an option for any student seeking an impactful STEM internship. This internship lasts between June and August every year.
This internship is open to students passionate about scientific research.
Accepted interns engage in activities that enable them to develop skills useful in any STEM-related career.
The National Institute of Standards of Technology does not place their interns under stipends, so those living close to their Gaithersburg, MD facility or the Boulder, CO facility are prioritized for available slots.
The deadline for applying to the National Institute of Standards of Technology internship program is February 13.
4. Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program
Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program is open to Northern New Mexico high school students who desire to acquire valuable knowledge and skills to succeed in a STEM-related career.
It is arguably one of the best STEM internships for high school students.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory High School Internship Program is open to high school students above the age of 16 at the commencement of the internship.
It also prioritizes students with an excellent academic record (a GPA of not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) and those that pass the latest employment drug test.
The deadline for applying to this program is December 31 and April 11 for the fall/spring, and summer application windows, respectively.
5. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Broad Summer Scholars Program is a STEM internship for high school students. It runs between June and August.
It is open to high school students residing in Massachusetts that are enthusiastic about the field of science.
Students accepted into this program can engage in advanced research projects in chemical biology, infectious diseases, cancer biology, computational biology, and psychiatric disease.
To qualify for the Broad Summer Scholars Program, a student must be in a senior class in high school and have a minimum grade of B in science and math classes.
Broad Summer Scholars Program places their interns under a stipend of $3,600 and still reimburses part of their travel costs.
The deadline for applying to the Broad Summer Scholars Program is January 23.
6. Careers in Science Intern Program
The Careers in Science Intern Program is open to San Francisco students interested in less popular STEM fields.
Interns that make it into this program get to assist scientists at the California Academy of Sciences facility in Golden Gate Park to conduct several research.
They participate in several conferences and seminars that improve their professional knowledge of their chosen STEM field.
However, the Careers in Science Intern Program is only open to students that are in 9th and 10th grades, have enrolled in an SFUSD school, have a GPA of not less than 2.5, and also hold a record of at least a C grade in their math and science classes.
Furthermore, students who are interested in a STEM career are prioritized more. The Careers in Science Intern Program lasts all year, and the application deadline is April 3.
7. Microsoft Discovery Program
Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week internship that lasts between July and August each year.
It is open to students who reside about 50 miles from Redmond, Washington and are passionate about computer programming.
The Microsoft Discovery Program exposes interns to basic programming knowledge, enabling them to develop valuable professional skills, and connects them with experts working for this tech brand.
To secure a spot in this program, you must be a high school senior under 16, hold a pre-Calculus program certificate, and be available all through weekdays.
Microsoft Discovery Program interns are placed under a reasonable stipend. The deadline for applying to this program is March 14.
8. Animal Care at San Diego Zoo
The Animal Care at San Diego Zoo internship is meant for high school students curious to know how zoos operate and how animals in zoos are taken care of.
Besides animals, Animal Care at San Diego Zoo interns also get to learn about plants.
This program lasts 12 weeks, and all interns are placed on a stipend of $4,500 in three parts. It is only open to high school students that are above the age of 18.
The application deadline for the Animal Care at San Diego Zoo internship program is February 24.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on STEM Internships for High School Students
In the body of the email, explain how you learned about the opening, introduce yourself, and explain what you hope to gain from the internship. You should also explain how committed you are to the internship and what you bring to the table that makes you an ideal candidate for the position.
You can land an internship by researching companies that fit your needs, contacting them, giving them your resume, and following up.
The CV you need for an internship application needs to be customized to the goals of the company you are interested in interning at. You ought to talk about yourself and the qualities you offer that will benefit the company. It would be best to discuss some of the vital abilities you gained through learning and previous works.
Most businesses typically compensate interns. You can be paid by the hour or by the month.
Conclusion
You should sign up for an internship if you’re a high school student interested in studying a STEM field in college.
An internship in the STEM fields will provide you with hands-on experience and look fantastic on your resume when applying to universities.
Internships in STEM fields are discussed in this article as potential options for high school students.
In addition to the list above, Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program, National Eye Institute, and J. Craig Venter internship programs are other valuable options that will benefit you.
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