Why do internships in high school?
Before we jump into a long list of political internships for high school students in New York, it is important to understand why these opportunities could matter for your future. According to PRISM, a consultancy, 70% of students attending a US News top 50 University have completed at least one internship while in high school. These opportunities serve as a way to distinguish yourself in the admissions process by showing that you have gone out and verified your future goals through experience. Doing internships will help you enter college with a clearer idea of the professional environments you enjoy or don’t enjoy, which will make it easier for you to recruit into a job you love after graduation. Students who have done at least one internship in high school also typically have an easier time recruiting into college internships and pre-professional organizations such as finance or pre-law clubs.
How to Find Political Internships for High School Students in New York
The best way to find political internships for high school students in New York is through online search tools and lists. The StandOutSearch database provides the largest free resource that lists almost every internship program for the high school age group and allows you to search by interest area. MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of High School Internships.
However, official programs tend to be very competitive, so if you are serious about finding a summer internship in high school, you should also prepare a cold outreach strategy. You can read more about how to form a cold outreach strategy to find a high school internship at the end of this article. We also include email templates to make finding an internship or research position through cold outreach less daunting.
10 Political Internships for High School Students in New York
Most of the political internships for high school students in New York below have an acceptance rate of 20% or lower, given that there are many more high school students looking for internships relative to official programs that provide them. We recommend choosing at least five opportunities to apply to. If you see an opportunity that excites you, take a moment to write the deadline on your calendar!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a program created thanks to investment from UChicago’s Polsky Center for Innovation that matches high school students with internships in their interest area. Students interview with potential mentors who are leaders and innovators within their area of interest until they are hired for a two-month internship. Many students then receive optional return offers to continue with their internship for as long as they would like.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Varies
Deadline: Rolling
The Pieces for Peace interns, reporting to the Pieces for Peace Coordinator, will provide essential assistance in project planning on a global scale. The Pieces for Peace interns will be responsible for reaching out to new countries to participate in our global program, Young Minds Build Bridges. Additionally the Pieces for Peace intern will help with our Pieces for Peace Exhibition, planning Peace Walls, and running Pieces for Peace workshops to encourage youth to visual peace within their communities.
Ages: 16, 17, 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March
Interns apply to the department that interests them most, and, if selected, will work within that department for the duration of their internship. In their positions, interns will have the chance to collaborate with staff and work on a range of projects. These projects may include conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, assisting with outreach, and supporting special projects.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: Columbia University - Morningside Campus
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Depends on Session
Residential students enjoy the convenience of being steps away from class and campus resources alike, and can easily attend a wide variety of daily activities and events—like lectures by our prestigious faculty, college prep workshops, community-building activities, and health & wellness programs. Students will choose from over 70 courses in a dozen subject areas, spending about four hours in class every weekday with a two-hour midday break. Classes are taught by expert instructors who will challenge students to think independently, critically, and creatively, with both open-mindedness and precision. Upon successful completion, students will earn a Columbia University Certification of Participation and an evaluation written by their instructor to further set them apart in the college application process.
Ages: 14 - 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Academic Year
Deadline: Summer
The New York University High School Law Institute (HSLI) is a student-run organization that serves talented and motivated high school students throughout New York City. HSLI is a free program that offers courses in constitutional law, criminal law, and speech and debate. Classes are conducted on Saturdays, from 10 AM - 1 PM throughout the academic year. Courses are taught by teams of current NYU Law and undergraduate students who are trained and supported by NYU Law faculty. Students participate in discussion-based classes and complete assignments that are tailored to their interests. At HSLI, students are encouraged to think critically, advocate well, and work collaboratively; they are also taught to evaluate arguments based on analytical rigor and strength of evidence.
Ages: 14 - 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
At BALI we believe that all youth, including female identifying and gender expansive-youth are destined to greatness. Our mission is to inspire them to become effective, dynamic and visionary 21st century leaders as well as active and creative participants in civic, political, corporate and community life. This program provides the skills set and the social-emotional learning needed by the current generation of young women to gain the knowledge and the confidence needed to become leaders in all circles of life.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: Barnard College
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: April
Students enroll in one 3-credit course taught by a member of Barnard's world renowned faculty. Courses are held on campus, run for 7 weeks, and are fast paced and rigorous. Outside of the classroom students are part of our Barnard community and will explore New York City, participate in college readiness workshops and career exploration panels.
Ages: 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March
Since 2005, the Temple of Understanding has implemented its commitment to the education of youth by hosting a Summer Student Internship Program. The student interns are given passes to enable them to attend open meetings of the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly, and various committees. This program launches their careers as global citizens who care about the humanitarian goals embraced by the UN. Students accepted into this program have the opportunity to meet with Missions and NGOs, pursue independent research, learn about different religions through visiting their houses of worship, participate in community volunteer work, and connect with other youth from countries across the world.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: NYC
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January
Ladders for Leaders is a nationally recognized program that offers outstanding high school and college students the opportunity to participate in paid professional summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. By hiring Ladders for Leaders interns, employers are matched with job-ready applicants that have been vetted and trained. Students undergo a competitive application process, and receive 30 hours of pre-employment training.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: NYC or Washington D.C.
Timeline: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
Interns will work with staff to serve the constituents of New York’s 14th Congressional district. Our goal is to provide each intern with a meaningful experience that will enhance their understanding of Congress. Intern responsibilities may include: answering phones, sorting mail, researching legislation, attending briefings and hearings, assisting staff with public events, assisting with constituent casework, administrative work as assigned, and, additionally, interns will have the opportunity to specialize in either legislative or communications related assignments depending on their interests. Interns are able to work on either a part-time or full-time basis.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If the opportunities listed above don’t turn out to be a fit, the next step to finding a political internship for high school students in New York is to launch a cold outreach strategy. This may seem intimidating at first, but the guide below should make it much more simple. As an added note, please exercise caution when reaching out to professionals you don’t know. It is always safest to interview or meet virtually.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
Use LinkedIn to find small companies where you can help with skills such as social media, coding, content/grant writing, or graphic design. Smaller companies that need more hands on deck will be the most likely to hire high-school-aged students. Try to find personal connections with the professionals you reach out to, such as being from the same state originally or liking the same sports team.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
You can use online university staff directories to find professors to reach out to for research positions. Note that if you are looking for a remote research position with a professor, you should be aware that these opportunities tend to be harder to come by. Professors typically have high school students help with more manual laboratory tasks such as washing beakers or running equipment and usually do not have very much use for interns at a high school education level within a remote setting. The exception is if you are doing computational research, which generally requires introductory knowledge of Python or R to parse large datasets. You should be able to learn Python or R on your own for free within a few months using resources such as Coursera’s R Programming Course or Python for Everybody.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
For a successful cold-outreach strategy, aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers. Be sure to include a link to your resume, which should be no more than one page while you are in high school. UChicago provides a helpful free resume template and guide. We recommend including your resume as a Google Drive link because including it as a PDF will sometimes negatively impact the deliverability of your email. However, be sure to check that the sharing settings on the document allow anyone with the link to view its contents. It can also be a good idea to include work samples in your resume, such as the link to a website you designed, a social media account you manage, or your GitHub profile.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Whether you are applying to established programs or launching a cold outreach strategy, the name of the game when looking for a political high school internship or research position is perseverance. These opportunities can be extremely difficult to secure, but most high school students find it worth it in the end to get a head start on building their careers. If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to save it for later or share it with a friend. Good luck on your internship search journey!