10 Coding Internships for High School Students in Chicago
- Estelle Reardon
- a few seconds ago
- 7 min read
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Coding internships for high school students in Chicago can serve as a valuable springboard for Windy City teens interested in pursuing a computer science degree or a career in technology.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Coding internships offer STEM-savvy high schoolers an abundance of benefits, including demonstrating to colleges that a student has explored their interests outside of the classroom, gained real-world experience, and validated their interest in a field.
Coding internships for high school students in Chicago—and internships in general—help students stand out among competitive fields of college applicants. Consider that the consultancy PRISM found that 70% of students attending U.S. News Top 50 universities engaged in at least one internship while in high school.
Not only can high school internships boost students’ chances of college admission, but they can also increase their odds of securing a college internship. Furthermore, they can make it easier to gain entry to pre-professional clubs and societies, like computer science clubs, hacking teams, and open-source organizations.
How to Find Coding Internships for High School Students in Chicago
Online is a great place to begin your search for a computer science internship in Chicago—search engines and lists, like StandOutSearch, are valuable resources. StandOutSearch is the largest free online database of internships for high school students and is searchable using a variety of filters, including:
Field of interest
Location
Format (in-person, online, or hybrid)
Compensation (paid or unpaid)
MIT Admissions also provides a useful list of summer internships and programs.
Official internships are often easy to find and prestigious; however, they tend to be highly competitive. In addition to applying for established internship programs, high schoolers serious about landing an opportunity should also develop a cold outreach strategy—a plan for contacting professionals directly to secure an internship.
Many high schoolers find cold outreach daunting, but the tips and template further below should make the process less intimidating.
10 Coding Internships for High School Students in Chicago
Most computer science internships for high school students in Chicago have acceptance rates of 20% or lower, due to high demand and limited spots. We recommend applying to at least five programs to increase your chances. If an opportunity excites you, mark 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
StandOutConnect matches high-achieving high school students with online internships in fields like the arts, business, law, healthcare, and STEM—helping them build the skills and experience needed to succeed in their chosen careers. Many interns are invited to continue in their positions even after their original internships conclude.
The program is powered by StandOut Search, the largest free database of high school internships online. StandOut Connect has been featured in Forbes and was created with support from The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 1
The Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM) offers students the opportunity to explore cutting-edge STEM fields and dive into topics including:
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Engineering design
Quantum science
Particle physics
Over the course of the four-week program, interns engage in hands-on activities, listen to lectures, and tour Fermilab’s research facilities—preparing for future academic endeavors and potential career paths.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Multi-year
Deadline: February 14
Students in this free, multi-year program work with astronomers and physicists while tackling college-level math, science, and computer science courses. They also build college and career readiness through tutoring, college application advising, and career-focused workshops. In addition, students participate in field trips and visit research labs to gain hands-on experience.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January 12
Chicago high schoolers in this eight-week summer research program work with mentors in fields including:
Biomedical research
Climate and energy policy
Computer science
Data science
Materials science
Public policy
Social science
Participants build valuable skills, learn to work within a team, and gain firsthand experience with research methodologies.
Ages: Sophomores-Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
QuarkNet provides summer research opportunities in science and technology for students with a strong interest and aptitude in science and mathematics—connecting them with hands-on physics research and the chance to network with professional scientists, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Varies
Deadline: Varies
The Adler Planetarium offers several opportunities for high schoolers interested in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Programs include:
Youth Leadership Council (YLC):Â A student-driven program aimed at making museum experiences more inclusive and relevant to young people.
Far Horizon Teens:Â A chance for high schoolers to measure, monitor, and understand light pollution.
Youth Organization for Lights Out (YOLO): A STEAM-focused program focused on environmental justice and addressing light pollution.
Regardless of the program a student participates in, they can expect to develop real-world skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and leadership.
Ages: Rising Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, IL
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
This two-week residential summer program at Illinois Tech introduces students to a variety of cybersecurity topics, including:
Ethical hacking
Network security
Incident response
Threat analysis
Students gain firsthand cybersecurity experience, working through real-world scenarios to test their knowledge. Participants also get to sample a slice of college life—immersing themselves in the college experience.
Ages: Rising Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Students with little to no coding experience, but an interest in computer science, will want to check out this week-long program at Illinois Tech. Participants learn the fundamentals of the coding language Python through hands-on sessions and interactive projects. Students also explore topics like variables, data types, control structures, and basic algorithms.
Ages: Rising Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Students in this week-long online program are introduced to the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI). Participants explore how AI is transforming various fields and impacting daily life through interactive lessons and hands-on activities, while learning how AI systems learn, make decisions, and solve problems.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Chicago, IL
Timeline: School-year
Deadline: TBD
In this hybrid program for female high school students interested in computer science, participants learn Python and web app development (JavaScript and HTML). They will also explore building hardware, circuits, and wearable technology.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Coding Internships
If none of the official computer science internships for high school students in Chicago are the right fit, the next step is to launch a cold outreach strategy. This can be intimidating, but the guide below simplifies the process and makes it much less stressful.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
The professional networking platform LinkedIn is a great tool for finding potential internship providers. Use it to search for small companies—which are often shorthanded and more likely to take on a high school intern—where you can assist with tasks like writing simple scripts, documenting bugs, or participating in code reviews.
When contacting professionals about internship opportunities, try to make personal connections, like a shared hobby, a passion for a sports team, or a volunteer activity. When scheduling meetings or interviews, opt to connect virtually—it’s safer.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Use online university staff directories to identify professors to contact for research opportunities. Keep in mind that remote research positions for high school students are rare. Most professors typically involve high school interns in hands-on laboratory tasks, such as washing glassware or running equipment, which are difficult to do remotely.
Fortunately, the main exception is computational research, which often involves analyzing large datasets using Python or R. High school students can learn these programming languages independently using free resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody or R Programming courses.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers as part of your cold outreach strategy. When emailing, make sure to include a link to your resume. We recommend sending a Google link—make sure the share setting allows anyone with the link to view its content—as PDFs and Docs can negatively impact deliverability. Also include any relevant work samples, like a coding project you worked on, a game you wrote, or a website you created.
Our resume template and tips are an excellent resource for students who have yet to craft a resume (or those who want to freshen up an existing one before sending it out). The University of Chicago also provides a helpful resume guide and template.
Email Template for Finding a High School InternshipÂ
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.Â
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].Â
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,Â
[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].Â
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!Â
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Persistence is essential as you pursue high school coding internships in the Chicago area, whether through well-known programs or direct outreach. These positions are highly competitive, but many students believe the experience gained is worth the effort, providing a head start on a future career. If you found this article a useful resource, bookmark it or share it with fellow students exploring opportunities.
Good luck with your internship pursuit!