15 High School Internships in the Bay Area
- Estelle Reardon
- May 14
- 10 min read
Why Do Internships in High School?
College-bound high schoolers will find that an internship can bolster their odds of admission. According to PRISM, a consultancy, 70% of students attending a U.S. News Top 50 university have completed at least one internship while in high school. Attention-grabbing internships can help set students apart in competitive applicant pools and provide them with a clearer understanding of the academic and career paths they’re entering.
How To Find Internships for High School Students in the Bay Area
Online search tools and lists are the best way for high school students in the Bay Area to find internship opportunities. StandOutSearch is a valuable reference—it’s the largest free resource listing almost every internship program for high schoolers and is searchable using a number of filters, including location, interest, and eligibility. MIT admissions also provides a useful list of high school internships.
15 High School Internships in the Bay Area
In recent years, the Golden State has seen a boom in internship opportunities for high schoolers; however, there’s often considerable competition to secure these valuable experiences. We recommend applying to at least five internships to ensure you land a position.
If you find an opportunity below particularly appealing, make sure to add the deadline to your calendar!
Ages: 15 - 19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a program designed to match high school students with internships in industries such as finance, STEM, medicine, law, the arts, and more. Backed by StandOutSearch—the largest free database of high school internships—StandOut Connect empowers the next generation of leaders to embark on their career paths with experience, confidence, and momentum while making an impact in the professional world.
Ages: 14 -19
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: April 19
CiS is a year-round, multi-year paid internship for high school students underrepresented in STEM, including students of color and girls. Participants enter the program as rising sophomores or juniors and continue through their graduation—meeting on weekends during the school year and weekdays in the summer.
As interns progress in the program, they’re given more responsibility and engage in projects focused on scientific research or environmental action. They also learn about STEM, gain firsthand experience with fieldwork, explore potential career paths, and build transferable skills like leadership, communication, and responsibility.
To be eligible to participate in the CiS program, students must attend a San Francisco Unified Schools District (SFUSD) school, commit to attending the program for two to three years, and be able to commute to the program.
Ages: 16 -19
Location: Stanford
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: N/A
Stanford’s STaRS program aims to provide exceptional high schoolers with mentoring and help them discover careers in healthcare and research. Over the course of the program’s seven weeks, participants work side by side with researchers—gaining hands-on lab experience, learning teamwork, and meeting like-minded peers.
Admission to the program is competitive; roughly 20 students are invited to participate annually. The program is open to commuters—no housing is available—and applicants must commit to being present for its entirety.
Ages: 16 -19
Location: Stanford
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 22
The eight-week-long SIMR program introduces students to foundational research principles and provides a deeper understanding of how scientific research is performed while working on a medically oriented project. The program is intended to bolster high schoolers’ interest in biological sciences and medicine. Participants can choose to work in one of eight areas of interest:
Immunology
Neurobiology
Cancer Biology
Bioengineering
Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
Cardiovascular Biology
Bioinformatics
Genetics and Genomics
Housing isn’t provided by the program, so participants will need to commute to the program. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors, and a minimum $500 stipend is awarded at the conclusion of the program.
Ages: 16 -19
Location: Stanford
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 28
GRIPS is a free program that provides students with research experience, professional development, and the chance to build community. Participants engage in lab work, learn about careers in biomedical research from panels and seminars, and receive mentoring. Admission to the program is extremely competitive—just 20 interns are chosen from a pool of more than 400 applicants.
GRIPS is open to students local to Stanford. To be eligible, students must reside in one of the following counties: Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, or San Mateo.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: Stanford
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: N/A
High school juniors and seniors from diverse backgrounds learn about science, medicine, and research in this paid, six-week internship. Participants gain hands-on research experience, learn about biological science and medicine, and receive support prepping for college—including assistance building a college list, completing college applications, and navigating the financial aid process.
The program is open to diverse students—which includes first-generation college students, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities—from the following counties:
Alameda
Contra Costa
Marin
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
San Francisco
San Mateo
The program is free and students with demonstrated financial need are eligible to receive a $3,000 stipend for their participation.
Ages: 14 - 18
Location: Bay Area
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 14
Participants in this six-week program get an inside look at the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks. Participants learn to code, explore fields like arts and media, network with their peers and META employees, and build valuable soft skills. Participants also explore potential career paths, discovering tech careers, but also the numerous non-tech jobs available at technology companies.
The program is open to high school sophomores who are residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City. Stipends are provided for participation in the academy.
Ages: 15 - 18
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: Summer and School Year
Deadline: N/A
High schoolers with an interest in science will want to check out the Exploratorium High School Explainers program. Explainers provide a variety of services, including engaging visitors, leading demonstrations, and running museum operations. In addition to gaining real-world work experience, Explainers receive science-focused training, build career readiness, and receive mentorship.
The program is available in two cohorts: summer and school year.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 2
This eight-week paid internship matches high school juniors with professional scientists and challenges them to complete and present a research project—past research projects have focused on topics including infectious disease, neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, cancer, stem cell research, and developmental biology. Participants build self-confidence and soft skills like communication while exploring careers in biomedical science. College counseling is also provided to participants.
Enrollment in an SFUSD high school or a San Francisco charter school is required to participate in the program. Students receive a stipend for their participation in the internship.
Ages: 16 - 19
Location: Oaklando
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 14
This nine-week summer program pairs high schoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds with a professional healthcare provider or researcher to guide them through a research project—allowing participants to build valuable skills and self-confidence while gaining real-world research experience. Along with their research project, students will attend seminars and trainings, network with like-minded peers and industry professionals, and take part in social activities.
The program concludes with a formal research symposium where participants present their findings to the scientific community. This is a paid opportunity, and students receive a stipend between $3,000 and $4,300 for participating.
Ages: 15 - 18
Location: Online
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: April 27
This is a super program for Bay Area high schoolers interested in how public agencies work. The eight-week paid program is hosted by four Bay Area regional government agencies: the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the Bay Area Air District (Air District). The academy provides real-world insight into how these agencies deal with issues like housing, community health, and social justice; explores careers in the public sector; and provides answers to questions like Why are there so many potholes?
Although the program is held online, it’s only open to students who live in the Bay Area and attend a local high school. A stipend is awarded at the completion of the program.
Ages: 14 - 18
Location: San Francisco
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 8
This outdoorsy program is aimed at community building, service learning, and exploring local communities and parklands. Over the program’s six weeks, participants will engage in service projects, build soft skills, and focus on professional development. Students will also participate in an overnight camping trip, observe wildlife, and learn to work as a team through activities like kayaking and cooking.
The program is open to high schoolers from the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Solano. All grade levels are considered, but graduating seniors are given priority. A $2,400 education award is given to participants in the LINC program.
Ages: 16 - 18
Location: Emeryville
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 16
This six-week paid opportunity offers high school sophomores and juniors the chance to conduct real research and receive mentorship from professional researchers and UC undergrads. Students learn the fundamentals of fields like microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biofuels, and synthetic biology while exploring careers in STEM. Participants also receive college admissions prep and gain skills and confidence.
The program is open to economically disadvantaged students from Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties. A $3,000 stipend is given to participants in the program.
Ages: 15 - 19
Location: Oakland
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 16
This internship program runs through the Oakland Public Library and high schools. It furnishes customizable internships focused on producing a unique project and gaining experience in arts organizing. Students learn about artistic excellence and skills, including organizational, curatorial, and entrepreneurial. Interns can earn academic credit for their work.
Ages: 16 - 19
Location: Bay Area
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: N/A
Students can earn $24 an hour while gaining firsthand experience in healthcare through this seven-week summer internship. Participants work full-time (40 hours a week, Monday through Friday), building skills and networking with peers and professionals. Opportunities vary, but in the past have included work in nursing, internal medicine, administration, and patient care.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If the opportunities listed above aren’t the right fit, the next step in finding an internship for high school students in the Bay Area is to develop a cold outreach strategy. While this might feel intimidating at first, the guide below will help simplify the process. As a reminder, always use caution when contacting professionals you don’t know—virtual meetings are the safest option.
How To Find Companies To Reach Out to For a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a great platform for discovering internships and connecting with companies that may need help with tasks like social media, coding, content, or graphic design. Smaller companies are often short-staffed and more likely to take on high schoolers. Try to connect with professionals you share something with—for example, a connection, a place, or something more common like a passion for a sports team.
High school internships aren’t just good for students! A report by American Student Assistance found that of the 500 US businesses surveyed, 77% said that high school interns enhanced their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and 65% said that interns reduced the workload of their full-time employees.
How To Find Professors To Reach Out to For a High School Research Position
University staff directories are useful for finding professors to contact about research opportunities. Keep in mind, remote positions are typically hard to find. Professors often rely on high school interns for hands-on lab tasks—like washing beakers or running equipment—which aren’t possible remotely. One exception is computational research, which may be a better fit for remote work. These roles usually require a basic understanding of Python or R to analyze large datasets. Fortunately, you can learn either language for free in a few months using online resources like Coursera’s R Programming course or Python for Everybody.
How To Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Persistence is key to securing a high school internship using a cold outreach strategy. Aim to send emails to at least 50 potential internship providers. Make sure that you include a link to your resume in every email.
In high school, your resume should be no longer than a page. StandOut Connect recommends using a Google Drive link, rather than attaching a Word doc or PDF, which can cause deliverability issues. Remember to ensure the sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view your resume.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to include any work samples on your resume, such as a website you designed, a social media account you manage, articles you wrote for the school paper, or your GitHub profile.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
Below are a few basic email templates you can customize to fit the needs of your cold outreach efforts.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you’re having a wonderful day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade/year] at [your school] in [school location]. I came across your company on LinkedIn and found your work interesting, especially in [specific aspect of the company’s work that interests you]. I’m passionate about [your area of interest] and think I can be a valuable asset to your company. For example, [briefly explain how their work relates to your interests or experience].
I wanted to inquire if you are currently offering any internship opportunities. I know I could learn a great deal working with you and I am eager to contribute in any way I can. I’ve attached my resume for your reference. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you’re having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade/year] at [your school] in [school location]. I recently came across your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was particularly intrigued by [specific aspect of the paper].
I was wondering if you might have any opportunities for a summer internship. I’m passionate about [field/subject], have experience in [briefly mention skills, projects, or coursework], and am eager to learn more.
I have attached my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Securing a high school internship can require determination. Whether applying to established programs or engaging in a cold outreach strategy, securing an internship is challenging. However, the return outweighs the investment in time and effort, bolstering your odds of college admission and getting a jumpstart on your career.
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to save it for later or share it with a friend. Good luck on your internship search journey!
