Four Myths About Internships for High Schoolers

As you make summer plans, you'll likely be looking for something to add to your resume for your college applications. One option is an internship where you can get hands-on experience in a field that you're curious about. Internships are a great way to learn more about a potential future career, and certainly can be included on college applications, but I'd like to address some common misconceptions about summer internships that will make your planning easier. 

Myth #1: High school students need an internship to be competitive college applicants.

College admissions officers understand that internships are more difficult to get than ever before and don’t have an expectation of seeing them on applications. It’s important to note that internships are primarily intended as college-credit-granting opportunities that undergrad and grad students pursue to complete their degrees and earn work experience. Yet, these roles are now harder to find, as many companies have eliminated internship programs because they no longer rely on them to build their workforce.  

So, not having an internship will not hurt a high school student’s chance of admission if they spend that time they would have committed to one doing something else meaningful. That could be everything from a passion project, to a volunteering experience, to working a part-time job in a smoothie shop. Colleges aren’t looking for a specific resume item; they’re looking at how you’ve chosen to spend your time and what you’ve gained from it. 

Myth #2: Students need a personal connection to get an internship. 

If you do have a connection who can help you land an internship in a field you care about, you should absolutely take advantage of it. You won’t be evaluated on how you got the opportunity, only on what you did with it. That said, many students assume they don’t have connections when they actually do. Start by asking family members, family friends, and peers if they know anyone working in an area related to your interests. 

If you find someone, ask if they’d be open to a short conversation about their work. If that goes well, see if you can shadow them for a day. And if that goes well, ask about interning with them. 

And if you truly don’t have any connections, you still have options. Research local organizations doing work you find interesting and reach out directly. Emailing works, but calling can be even more effective. Introduce yourself, explain your interest, and ask if they’d be open to having a high school intern this summer. The worst they can say is “no,” and it only takes one “yes.”

Myth #3: Colleges only care about internships at well-known companies. 

Colleges care about what you did and what you learned. You could have a meaningful, hands-on role at a small local organization and gain far more insight than someone doing basic tasks at a major company. 

Both paths have their pros and cons. Some large companies offer formal high school internship programs with a clear application process for roles that have built-in mentorship and structured learning opportunities. But, because these companies are more well-known, the internships will be highly competitive. Smaller organizations may be more accessible but lack an official internship application process and, if they’ve never had an intern before, they may not know exactly what to do with you at first. But that might mean that you get more responsibility, as well as more flexibility to carve out your own role and focus on areas in which you’re most interested. Either option can be valuable.

Myth #4: There aren’t resources to help high school students find internships. 

While there’s no universal database of local internships for high school students, that doesn’t mean you’re on your own. 

Start with your high school’s counseling office and/or career center. They may know where previous students have interned or who is hiring. Then think locally. Government departments, city councils, and local politicians’ offices can be great resources, not just for students interested in politics, but across many fields. Libraries and community programs (such as neighborhood gardens, food banks, and senior citizen outreach) often need help as well with tasks ranging from tutoring, to event organization, to social media management.  

You might find opportunities labeled as “volunteering” instead of internships, but that distinction doesn’t really matter. The goal is to gain experience, explore your interests, and contribute in a meaningful way, which you certainly can do as a prospective pre-health student assisting a community health information session, or a future engineering major teaching younger students STEM through their  local parks and recreation department.

Internships are just one of many ways to strengthen your college applications, and spring is the time to start exploring opportunities. Good luck!