Types of Internships for High School Students

When you think about a high school internship, what comes to mind? Maybe you picture yourself making copies and filing paperwork at your high school’s admissions office during study hall. Or volunteering at the local library on weekends. Or maybe you’re imagining working as a camp counselor at your old summer camp. These are all great examples of different types of internships for high school students. But did you know that high schoolers can also intern at NASA, the Bank of America, the Senate, the US Treasury, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the American Psychological Association? 

A lot of high schoolers think that internships are just for college and graduate students. But this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, high school internships are currently on the rise and are a great way to prepare for college coursework and college applications. Internships are also one of the best ways to engage in career exploration for high school students. 

Applying for a high school internship can feel intimidating. After all, there are lots of different types of internships and all sorts of possibilities. So how do you get started? In this article, we’ll help you explore the different types of internships, as well as discuss factors you’ll want to keep in mind as you decide which internships will ultimately prove to be the best fit for you. So if you have questions about how to apply to a high school internship or where to find opportunities to apply to, we’ve got you covered. 

What Is an Internship?

There are many different types of internships out there. So what makes an opportunity an “internship” anyway? 

The truth is, an “internship” can encompass a pretty wide range of opportunities.  Some internships will be clearly labeled as “internships,” while other opportunities may be less formal. In other words, just because a position isn’t specifically called an “internship” doesn’t mean that it isn’t one. After all, internships can look really different from one another. They can be in-person or remote. They can be paid, unpaid, part-time, full-time, and seasonal. They can also offer academic credit, official volunteer hours, or maybe even a stipend.

Perhaps the defining characteristics, though, are that internships are learning opportunities that focus on some sort of job skill, whether that be industry-specific or more general, like teamwork or leadership. Oftentimes, internships include hands-on learning experiences, skill-building activities, and mentorship as well. Broadly speaking, internships are intended to prepare students to enter the workforce by offering opportunities to explore potential careers and develop relevant job skills. 

Types of Internships for High School Students

So we’ve already established that there are lots of different types of internships for high school students out there. So let’s take a closer look. In the sections below, we explore 5 types of high school internships: paid internships, unpaid internships, virtual internships, part-time and summer internships, and research internships. 

1. Paid Internships

Paid internships are a great way for students to gain work experience while earning some extra cash. These positions are often more competitive, but offer valuable insight into workplace expectations. Remember, if there’s a paycheck on the line, there’s no room to slack off! Paid internships may be available through companies, nonprofits, or government programs, and they can help students build job skills while saving money for college.

2. Unpaid Internships

Unpaid internships can be incredibly rewarding, especially when they offer interns mentorship opportunities, job training, and the ability to work on meaningful projects. Many nonprofit organizations, research labs, and educational programs offer these types of internships. While there’s no paycheck, students can walk away with valuable experiences, strong recommendations, and a clearer understanding of their future goals.

3. Virtual Internships

Online internships for high school students allow students to work remotely, offering flexibility and access to opportunities beyond their local area. These internships often involve digital communication and project-based work in areas like marketing, writing, coding, or design. Virtual roles are especially helpful for students with busy schedules and/or limited access to transportation. Virtual internships can often accommodate various accessibility concerns as well. This is because online tools, such as closed captioning, automatic transcripts, text-to-speech tools, and screen readers, can make a huge difference for students with accessibility concerns. 

4. Part-Time and Summer Internships

Part-time and summer internships are often ideal for high school students. Especially those with busy academic schedules who participate in extracurriculars. Part-time roles often take place after school or on weekends, while summer internships provide a more immersive experience during summer break. Overall, these formats allow students to gain experience without compromising their schedules or school commitments.

5. Research Internships

Research internships offer high school students the chance to explore academic and scientific fields in a hands-on environment. These programs often take place at universities, hospitals, or research institutions and allow students to assist with real-world projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. Throughout the course of a research internship, students might help collect and analyze data, conduct literature reviews, or contribute to experiments. 

How to Choose the Right Internship Type

Now, how do you go about choosing the right internship type for you? Well, to start off, it’s important to remember that some internships aren’t inherently better than others. After all, what works best for you might not work for another student. So, try your best to avoid generalizing. An in-person internship isn’t necessarily more immersive than an online internship. And an unpaid internship is no less worthwhile than a paid internship. Again, the best internship type for you is the one that is most reflective of your individual needs and goals. 

Factors you’ll want to consider as you determine which internship is the best fit for you include: personal interests, goals, availability, financial needs, location, and learning style. So take some time to reflect on your goals and interests and reason through your preferences with a trusted adult (such as a parent, guidance counselor, teacher, etc.) who can help guide you and act as a sounding board. 

Conclusion: Explore All Internship Types to Find Your Fit

When it comes to your education and future career, the best thing you can do is keep an open mind. After all, you’ll never know how things will work out or the connections you’ll make throughout the process. 

For example, you could have a business internship and decide that business isn’t the best fit for you…but you learned a lot about scheduling and time management throughout the process. You could go to an MIT pre-college summer program and work alongside one of the professors who later decides to write you a college letter of recommendation. You could accept an internship at a local museum and learn about a completely new subject that fascinates you. You could learn about a scholarship from another intern. Or a promising summer job. 

The possibilities are endless. This is why it’s important to make the most of the opportunities available to you and to actively seek out networking opportunities and opportunities to challenge yourself. You never know where these connections may lead you!

In order to set yourself up for success, research a wide variety of internships and apply broadly. Even if you don’t get the internship, the application process itself will be a learning experience, especially if you gain job interview experience. Dream big and follow your curiosity. And remember, even if you hate your internship, you’ll still learn a lot — especially about yourself, your goals, your preferences, your strengths, and weaknesses. After all, the goal of a high school internship isn’t necessarily to get a jumpstart on a specific career; the goal is to challenge yourself and learn more about your preferences, priorities, and strengths. 

Interested in gaining valuable job and research skills? You may want to consider joining one of our Polygence Pods or our Research Mentorship Program, both of which will challenge you to design, execute, and present an independent research project on a topic of your own choosing. Here at Polygence, we believe in pairing our students with PhD-level experts who can guide them through the completion of their project while more generally providing them with career and industry insights. Interested in learning more? Check out our database of research program mentors and take a look at some of our completed student projects.