10 Psychology Internships for High School Students in New York
- Estelle Reardon
- Jan 26
- 8 min read
Topics We Cover:
Whether you’re interested in becoming a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or are still exploring potential career paths, a psychology internship for high school students in New York can set Empire State teens up for success.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Completing a psychology internship for high school students in New York—and high school internships in general—can have a significant effect on your future. The University of Chicago’s student-run consultancy, PRISM, found that 70% of students attending a U.S. New Top 50 university engaged in at least one internship while in high school.
Participating in a high school internship shows colleges that you’ve explored your interests outside of the classroom and verified those interests with real-world experience. They also help develop hard and soft skills, along with building a professional network—all of which give you an advantage in the college admissions process.
Another benefit of undertaking a high school internship is that it can pave the way for future opportunities, such as securing college internships and gaining admission to professional societies, such as pre-health groups, mental health awareness clubs, or peer counseling programs.
How to Find Psychology Internships for High School Students in New York
A proven way to discover psychology internships for high school students in New York is to use online search tools and lists. One valuable tool is StandOutConnect, the largest free online database of internship programs for high-school-age students. Another notable resource—a collection of prestigious high school summer programs and internships—is provided by MIT Admissions.
There’s more demand for official internship programs than open positions; consequently, they’re generally extremely competitive. Because of this, students aiming for an internship should develop a cold outreach strategy—contacting potential providers and showcasing their skills and interest.
Many high schoolers (and even professionals) find cold outreach intimidating, but the guide and templates found further below will help ease anxiety and make the process more straightforward.
10 Psychology Internships for High School Students in New York
Official psychology internships for New York high school students, like those listed below, are highly sought after and generally have acceptance rates under 20%. To increase your odds of securing a position, we recommend applying to at least five opportunities.
If a position below excites you, take a minute to mark its deadline in your calendar so you don’t miss out on an interesting opportunity.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is an innovative program that pairs talented high school students with remote internships tailored to their preferred career fields. These opportunities are available in a wide range of industries, such as:
Psychology
Business
Creative Arts
Law
STEM
The program is supported by StandOutSearch, the leading free online database dedicated to high school internship opportunities. StandOut Connect has been recognized by Forbes and was launched with the help of an investment by The University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Fall
Deadline: TBD
In this apprenticeship program, high schoolers engage in hands-on research and learn firsthand what it takes to become a scientist. Participants connect with professionals, gain experience in a research environment, and develop skills they’ll use throughout their academic and professional careers.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Spring and Summer
Deadline: January 2
Jumpstart is a two-part program, with the first phase taking place after school in the spring and the second phase running full-time during the summer. Participants develop research skills and scientific thinking through hands-on research, workshops, lectures, and mentorship.
This program is highly selective, with only 16 students invited to participate.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Spring and Summer
Deadline: Contact for Deadline
College Now enables high school students to take college-level classes, attend orientations, and participate in special events while in high school—allowing them to experience a slice of college life.
Intro to Psychology is just one of many courses offered, but it is especially valuable for students interested in psychology. The course covers the foundational science behind behavior and mental processes, exploring topics such as:
Research methods
Biological bases of the brain and mind
Sensation and perception
Sleep and states of consciousness
Learning and memory
Cognition and intelligence
Motivation and emotion
Personality
Abnormal psychology and therapy
Social psychology
Classes in the spring are held on Saturdays, while summer courses occur during the week.
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Spring and Summer
Deadline: Varies
The College Now STEM Research Academy at Lehman College is a two-part program spanning a spring and summer semester that explores STEM fields. The first part focuses on scientific research, while in the second part, students choose tracks in areas such as biomedical or environmental science.
The spring phase of the program is held on weekday evenings and the summer phase takes place full-time during the week.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Academic Year
Deadline: TBD
Participants in this exciting program explore their interests, learn alongside undergraduates, and gain firsthand college experience. Courses are held on Columbia’s Morningside Campus and are led by university faculty.
Throughout the program, students develop essential soft skills such as leadership and communication, build connections with professionals and peers, and become better prepared for college and future careers.
Ages: 16 or older
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 2
High schoolers can immerse themselves in college life at one of the country’s most prestigious schools, Columbia University. Students can choose from over 70 courses, including those like:
Exploring Sociology
Foundations in Early Childhood Development
The Science of Psychology
Living and learning like college students, high schoolers build real-world college experience while connecting with other ambitious teens.
Ages: Rising Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Fall, Spring, Summer
Deadline: Varies
Precollege students gain firsthand college experience and earn college credit—living and learning on the NYU campus and in its classrooms. Course offerings of interest include:
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Politics, Power, and Society
Outside of the classroom, students are kept busy with a full calendar of events ranging from attending Broadway shows to visiting museums to going to baseball games.
Ages: Rising Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
This pre-college program enables high school students to sample a slice of college life while earning college credit. Students attend classes alongside undergraduates for seven weeks over the summer, building college readiness while engaging in courses like Bad Love—an exploration of romance gone bad and emotions ranging from rage and revenge to narcissism to obsession.
In addition to seminar discussions, participants will engage in weekly tutorials and interviews with a neurologist and psychologist.
Ages: 16 or older
Location: New York, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 15
High school students selected for this two-week summer course engage in research on how the brain works. Participants are mentored by graduate students as they design their own neuroscience experiments and read and present a scientific article. Students also visit research facilities and even dissect a brain!
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the opportunities above are right for you, you’ll want to develop a cold outreach strategy for securing a psychology internship in New York. The guide below offers practical tips and templates to make the process less daunting.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is an excellent place to discover small companies where you can assist with tasks like administration, data entry, or campaigns focused on mental health awareness or peer counseling. Small companies are often understaffed and more open to taking on a high school intern. When connecting with professionals, try to find a common bond, like volunteering for the same organization, a shared cause, or even a favorite sports team.
Keep your safety in mind when reaching out to professionals you don’t know and schedule meetings and interviews online, rather than in-person.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
One effective approach to finding research opportunities is to search university faculty directories online to identify professors whose research aligns with your interests, then contact them about potential opportunities. Remote research roles are rare, as high school students typically assist with hands-on lab duties.
Remote high school positions are limited, with computational research being the exception. To land one of these positions, you’ll need at least basic programming skills to process and analyze large datasets. It’s possible to learn programming languages like Python and R for free and on your own with resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming.
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, include a Google link to your resume, which offers more dependable delivery than PDFs and Docs that can trigger spam and bounce filters. Just remember to ensure the link’s settings allow anyone with it to view its contents.
If you don’t have a resume, our resume guide and template provide everything you need to know to craft an internship-winning resume. Another handy resource is the resume toolkit priced by the University of Chicago.
In addition to your resume, include any relevant experience you may have, like volunteering at a teen help line or hospital, online classes you’ve completed, or psychology or neuroscience clubs you belong to.
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
Applying for an internship requires perseverance, regardless of whether you’re trying to land an official position or generate one through cold outreach. Although high school internships are challenging to secure, sticktoitiveness is rewarded, as most students find their effort rewarded with getting a jumpstart on their career aspirations.
If you found this article beneficial, bookmark it as a resource or share it with a friend who might also find it helpful. Good luck in your pursuit of an internship!
