How to Apply for a High School Internship
Most internship applications for high school students come down to four artifacts: a one-page resume, a short essay, one or two recommendations, and an on-time submission. Here's how to handle each.
1. A one-page resume
List education, activities, projects, and any work or volunteering — with one concrete line each about what you actually did. No high schooler needs more than one page, and reviewers don't expect professional experience.
2. Recommendations, requested early
Ask a STEM teacher who knows your work at least three weeks before the deadline, and hand them your resume plus a sentence about why you want this specific program. Rushed recommendations read rushed.
3. Essays that answer the real question
Every prompt is secretly asking: why this program, and what will you do with it? Name specific parts of the program, connect them to something you've already tried, and skip generic passion statements.
4. Deadlines and follow-through
Track every deadline in one place and aim to submit a week early — portals crash, recommenders forget. After acceptance or rejection, a short thank-you keeps the door open for next year.