10 Business Internships for High School Students in New York
- Estelle Reardon
- Sep 24
- 8 min read
Topics We Cover:
A high school business internship in New York can pave the way for success in an abundance of industries—as the saying goes, “If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.”
Why Do Internships in High School?
Before getting to our list of business internships for high school students in New York, it’s essential to understand how these opportunities matter for your future. According to the consultancy PRISM, 70% of students attending a U.S. News top 50 University have completed at least one internship while in high school.
High school internships allow you to distinguish yourself in the admissions process, demonstrating that you pursued your interests and took steps to achieve your future goals. Completing a high school internship will also help you enter college with a better understanding of the professional environments you enjoy, or don’t enjoy, which makes it easier for you to work toward a job you love after graduation.
Students who have engaged in at least one high school internship also often have an easier time securing college internships and admission to pre-professional organizations such as investment or entrepreneurial clubs.
How to Find Business Internships for High School Students in New York
Online search tools and lists are a proven way to discover high school business internships, and internships in general. One notable resource is StandOutSearch, the largest free online database of internships for high school students. Another useful reference is a list of high school internships and summer programs provided by MIT admissions.
One challenge of official programs is that they’re often extremely competitive. Consequently, if you’re committed to landing a business internship in high school, you’ll want to form a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan for contacting potential internship providers with hopes of obtaining an internship.
Further below, we share more about developing a cold outreach strategy, some tips for successfully launching a cold outreach plan, and email templates to make the process less daunting and get you off to a strong start.
10 Business Internships for High School Students in New York
Most of the business internships for high school students below are highly selective, with acceptance rates of 20% or lower. Given their competitiveness—there are simply more high school students looking for business internships in New York than official programs that provide them—we suggest applying to at least five opportunities.
If an opportunity below excites you, write the deadline on your calendar so you don’t miss out!
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a program matching talented high school students with online internships in fields including:
Arts
Finance
Law
Medicine
STEM
StandOut Connect is supported by StandOutSearch—the largest free virtual high school internship database—and has been featured in Forbes. The program was launched with the help of an investment from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: 15-19
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Varies
JP Morgan Chase offers two paths for high school students to learn about and work in the financial sector: school programs and an apprenticeship. These programs allow you to work in one of their businesses or corporate functions, where you’ll be assigned meaningful projects, attend meetings, and interact with managers. You’ll gain insights into the industry while developing your technical and soft skills.
Ages: 16-19
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Varies
Deadline: Application Opens in January
The Futures and Options internship program allows high school juniors and seniors to gain real work experience with:
Small Businesses
Nonprofits
Government Agencies
Multinational Corporations
Partipants receive mentorship, develop career readiness, and make professional connections. Interns are paid and leave the program with a better understanding of the steps they need to take on their career path.
Ages: Junior and Senior
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Varies
Interns enjoy an experience that is both meaningful and educational through creative projects and working closely with the staff members at ArtsWestchester. Business interns work with administration staff on accounting, analytics, budgeting, and updating HR or Finance policies.
Ages: 16-19
Location: New York City (lower Manhattan), NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
Musée interns are exposed to established figures in the photographic community, up-and-coming works, premiering films, and gallery openings, while developing professional skills like problem-solving and attention to detail.
High school marketing and business development interns monitor all forms of media and assist with developing content for campaigns, promotions, and social media. Interns will also assist with fundraising—gaining exposure to every aspect of the process, including:
Research
Database Management
Grant Proposals
Donor Cultivation
Direct-Mail Appeals
Sponsorship and Partnerships
Ages: 16-19
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Application Opens in April
CITYarts offers internships in business-related fields, such as bookkeeping, development, marketing, and project management. Interns get to make a real impact in their community while gaining real-world experience, building valuable skills, and earning a stipend.
Depending on the role, high school interns can gain firsthand experience in financial recording keeping, revenue management, database management, and company research and outreach.
Ages: 14-18
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
While not an internship, strictly speaking, this three-week boot camp for young women helps participants build the practical skills and knowledge needed to make a difference in the world. Participants work in teams to create a startup, nonprofit, or advocacy campaign that disrupts the status quo and creates lasting change.
Students learn firsthand about the environment of startups, what it’s like to be a founder, and gain real-world experience in financing, negotiation, branding, and product development.
Ages: 13-21
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
BALI inspires female-identifying and gender-expansive youth to become effective, dynamic, and visionary leaders. Participants are encouraged to emerge as active and creative participants in civic, political, corporate, and community life.
During the program, participants develop the skills, confidence, and social-emotional abilities that today’s young women need to become leaders in every sphere of life. Priority is given to students from underserved schools and communities.
Ages: 16-18
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
The Ladders for Leaders program offers outstanding high school and college students the chance to participate in paid professional summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. The program is run through NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, the nation’s largest summer jobs program.
Participants leave the program having significantly bolstered their career readiness—receiving assistance with writing a resume and cover letter, building interview skills, and learning about business etiquette. They also gain work experience and access to a growing alumni network.
Ages: 14-18
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: School Year
Deadline: Various Deadlines
The Arete internship offers high schoolers two pathways: Aspiring Artist Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Engineers, Computer Programmers, and Computer Technicians. Regardless of the pathway, interns explore career options, enhance job readiness, and contribute to the broader school community through service.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the opportunities above are the right fit, the next step in finding business internships for high school students in New York is to launch a cold outreach strategy. While many high schoolers find cold outreach intimidating at first, the guide below simplifies the process and helps ease some of that anxiety.
Remember to use caution when reaching out to professionals you don’t know. The safest option is to schedule virtual interviews and meetings.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
The professional networking site LinkedIn is an excellent place to search for high school internship opportunities. Focus on smaller companies, which are often short-staffed and more likely to take on a high school intern. You can contribute to business-related tasks such as administrative support, marketing, data tracking, and research.
When reaching out to professionals about internship opportunities, try to find a personal connection, like coming from the same hometown, attending the same school, or sharing a passion for a particular sport or team.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
High schoolers looking for research positions can consult university staff directors to find professors to reach out to. Remote positions are uncommon, as high schoolers typically assist with manual tasks.
The exception is computational research positions, which normally require basic knowledge of Python or R to parse large datasets. Fortunately, you can learn Python or R for free online in just a few months through classes like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming Course.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Students serious about securing a high school business internship in New York will want to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers. When reaching out, remember to attach a link to your resume—links are preferable to Docs and PDFs, which can negatively impact delivery—and ensure that its sharing settings allow anyone to view it.
If you don’t have a resume, it’s time to craft one. Our free resume template and tips provide everything you need to know about creating a resume that will help you stand out from crowded application fields and land an internship. The University of Chicago also provides a helpful resume template and guide.
Don’t forget to include any relevant work samples you may have—like a marketing campaign you created for the school store, a social media account you manage, or school events you managed.
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’re applying to established programs or diving into a cold outreach strategy, the key to landing a high school internship or research position is perseverance! These opportunities can be tough to secure, but the payoff—getting a head start on your career—is totally worth it.
Did you find this guide helpful? Save it for later or share it with a friend, and get ready to take charge of your internship journey!