10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in San Francisco
- Estelle Reardon
- Nov 21
- 7 min read
Topics We Cover:
Why Do Internships in High School?
A computer science internship for high school students in San Francisco can pave the way to professional success by opening doors along the way. For example, completing an internship in high school can increase your chances of gaining admission to a top college. Roughly three in four students at U.S. News Top 50 universities served as interns during high school, according to the consultancy PRISM.
Engaging in a high school internship demonstrates to colleges that you’ve pursued your interests outside of a classroom setting, explored potential career paths, and gained real-world experience—helping you stand out from crowded fields of applicants.
Fulfilling a high school internship also increases your chances of landing an internship in college. It also makes it easier to gain admission to preprofessional societies and organizations, like programming groups and game development groups, as well as participate in activities like hackathons.
How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students in San Francisco
The best place to find computer science internships for high schoolers is online, using search tools and lists, like StandOutSearch—the largest free online database of internships for high school students. StandOutSearch is easily searched using a variety of filters, including location, format (in-person, virtual, and hybrid), and compensation (paid or unpaid).
Another helpful resource is a list of official summer programs and internships collected by MIT Admissions. The drawback to official programs is that they’re generally very competitive, which makes forming a cold outreach plan an essential step for most students to secure a high school internship.
Cold outreach involves reaching out to potential internship providers to introduce yourself and spark interest in hosting you as an intern. Many high schoolers find cold outreach intimidating; however, the guide and email templates provided below should make the process less daunting.
10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in San Francisco
The computer science internships for high school students listed below generally have acceptance rates below 20%. We recommend applying to at least five internships. If an internship below catches your eye, mark its deadline on your calendar so you don’t miss out on a highly sought-after opportunity.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect pairs exceptional high school students with virtual internships in fields they’re passionate about, including the arts, business, law, STEM, and beyond. Powered by StandOut Search—the world’s largest free database of high school internships—and backed by investment from The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the program has earned recognition from Forbes for opening real-world opportunities to talented teens.
Ages: Sophomores
Location: Menlo Park, California
Timeline: June-July
Deadline: February 14
Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) offers students the chance to gain firsthand experience with the day-to-day operations of the world’s leading technology companies. Participants explore career paths, learn to code, and build soft skills, including leadership, teamwork, and communication, that transcend the tech field.
Check out our guide to the Meta internship to learn more about this superb opportunity for Bay Area high schoolers.
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: Berkeley, California
Timeline: June-July
Deadline: March 23
This paid apprenticeship program introduces students to STEM—building hard and soft skills, exploring career paths, and gaining hands-on research experience. Students will also receive college and career guidance and build a network of STEM-focused individuals—from professionals to peers.
Students who complete the program are eligible to participate in a traditional lab internship the following year.
Ages: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Location: Berkeley, California
Timeline: June-July
Deadline: March 23
Through the Experiences in Research (EinR) program, high school students gain authentic hands-on laboratory experience at Berkeley Lab—one of the world’s leading scientific research institutions. Participants work alongside STEM professionals in fields including:
Administration
Science communication
Data science
Experimental research
This is a paid opportunity and interns should anticipate working between 30 and 35 hours a week over the duration of the six-week program.
Ages: 14-17
Location: Berkeley, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement in STEM (SAGE) is a one-week STEM-focused summer camp for aspiring scientists and engineers. During the program, participants shadow STEM professionals, engage in hands-on projects, build progressive skills, and gain insight into potential careers, all while growing their network of like-minded peers.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: San Francisco, California
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: April 1
Careers in Science (CiS) is a paid, year-round, multi-year program exploring science and building leadership. Interns join the program as rising sophomores, and as they progress through the program, they can level up to positions that demand more leadership and responsibility.
Participants will engage in hands-on projects focused on science research or environmental action, conduct fieldwork, serve on a leadership council, and are eligible for individual mentorship. They’re also able to attend STEM conferences and attend college tours.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Berkeley, California
Timeline: April
Deadline: January 26
This free bilingual STEM camp offers activities at both UC Berkeley and the Berkeley Lab. Participants engage in a variety of activities, including:
Touring Berkeley Lab facilities
Seeing science in action through physics demonstrations
Exploring career paths with scientists and engineers
Solving an engineering challenge
Constructing and testing a Rube Goldberg machine
Participation SeA is often a first step to landing a summer internship at Berkeley Lab.
Ages: 16-19
Location: Livermore, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Varies
High school students learn about national security and the science used to detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate threats. Sandia welcomes student interns—including high schoolers—to assist researchers working on challenging real-world projects contributing to Sandia’s mission.
Ages: 14-18
Location: San Francisco, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
SFUSD provides paid internships to high school students—providing them a chance to expand their learning beyond the classroom and explore careers in a hands-on environment.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: San Francisco, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 17
The City and County of San Francisco offers various internships and summer programs for high school students through several departments and programs, including:
Airport
City Attorney
Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families
Department of Elections
District Attorney
General Services Administration
Office of Economic Workforce Development
Public Utilities Commission
Opportunities for All (San Francisco Students Only)
Public Works
Interns are paid and must commit to working 20 hours a week for eight weeks during the summer.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School InternshipsÂ
If none of the computer science internships for high school students above are a good fit for you, your next step is to develop a cold outreach strategy. Cold outreach can feel daunting, but the guide below simplifies the process and removes some of the stress.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is an excellent tool for finding potential internship hosts. Look for companies where you can assist with tasks like writing simple scripts, updating website content, or running basic data analysis. Target small companies, which are often short-staffed, and more willing to take on a high school intern.
When connecting with professionals, look for shared interests to bond over, like having attended the same high school, being members of the same church or nonprofit, or being passionate about the same sports team. When reaching out to professionals you don’t know, it’s always safest to schedule virtual interviews or meetings.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Online university staff directories are a good place to look for research opportunities with professors. Remote positions for high school students are uncommon, since most lab work requires in-person tasks like washing equipment or running experiments. Fortunately for students with an interest in computer science, the exception is computational research.
Coding languages like Python or R are commonly used to analyze data. If you already have foundational knowledge of these languages, you’re in luck! If not, these languages can be learned independently in a few months for free using courses like Python for Everybody or R Programming on Coursera.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The more internship inquiries you make, the better your odds are of landing a position. Aim to send at least 50 emails to bolster your odds of securing a computer science internship. When reaching out, include your resume. Send your resume as a Google Drive link—rather than a Doc or PDF, which can negatively impact deliverability—and make sure the link’s settings allow anyone with it to view its contents.
If you have any relevant work samples, include those as well. A small program, simple game, or basic automation you’ve coded; a website you’ve designed; or basic data analysis using Python or R could be just the thing to grab the attention of a potential internship provider.
Our resume template and tips are a valuable resource, whether you need to craft your first resume or want to brush up on best practices before sending an existing one. The University of Chicago also provides a useful resume guide.
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
Landing a computer science internship for high school students in San Francisco—whether through established programs or by reaching out directly—takes persistence. These opportunities can be competitive, but the experience is invaluable for getting an early start on your career. Found this useful? Bookmark it or share it with a friend.
Wishing you the best on your internship journey!