Internships for High School Students – Access Scholarships

Across the board, there are numerous benefits to getting an internship. However, here we’re focusing specifically on internships for high school students.

So, if you are indeed a high schooler (assuming you are since you read past my introductory line!) you’ll be even more pleased to learn that there are potentially even more benefits to getting an internship in high school compared to, say, a college or post-graduate internship.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of internships for high school students:

1. Exposure to a potential career path – maybe you loved your sophomore year Chemistry class, and it had you thinking about a career as an engineer or chemist. An internship has the potential to provide you with real-world exposure to some of the jobs that people with your same interest have, helping you to decide whether or not it’s the right field or career for you.
2. Build connections – internships can not only be a great place to meet other students with similar interests, but it can also be an awesome opportunity to help you build connections for later on in your academic or professional career. Spoiler: this applies to all work experiences, not just internships! However, if you’re embarking on an internship journey that you know is relevant to your intended field of study, definitely take some extra time to get to know your peers and maybe even find yourself a mentor!
3. Get outside of your comfort zone – You may or may not have worked a job before, let alone one that is in an area you’re professionally interested in. While this can certainly be a bit nerve-wracking to some, remember that internships are a great way to dip your foot in the water and learn!
4. Looks great on your resume, and can be a great topic for college application and/or scholarship essays! – Having an internship in high school shows you’re eager to learn, willing to take risks and put yourself out there, and organized, all impressive things that would certainly be worth mentioning in your next scholarship essay or on your college admissions resume (shoutout to all you high school juniors and high school seniors in college mode!)
5. You might be able to earn academic credit, or get paid – Last, but certainly not least, depending on the program, you may be able to earn academic credits or even money through an internship.

Internships for high school students are designed to be a stepping stone to teach you more about a specific field or job within that field.

The type of exposure that an internship typically offers can help you to decide if that field or job is a potentially good fit for you.

Ultimately, the goal is for you to leave feeling more prepared, exposed, and informed as you take the next step in your journey, whether that’s by obtaining a college degree or diving into the workforce.