10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Boston
- Estelle Reardon
- Sep 15
- 8 min read
Topics We Cover:
A computer science internship for high school students in Boston can set tech-focused students on a strong academic or career path. With world-renowned universities, numerous tech companies, and a thriving start-up scene, it’s hard to imagine a better place for a high schooler to start gaining real-world experience.
Why Do Internships in High School?
High school internships offer countless benefits—from gaining firsthand career insight to developing valuable skills and standing out in college admissions. For example, the consultancy PRISM found that 70% of students attending U.S. News top 50 universities completed at least one internship during high school. Students who complete a high school internship also have a better chance at securing college internships and joining pre-professional organizations, like coding clubs and programming teams.
How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Boston
Online search tools and curated lists are an excellent way for Boston area high school students to discover computer science internships. StandOutSearch is a fantastic starting place—it’s the largest free online catalog of internship opportunities for high schoolers. MIT Admissions has also collected a helpful list of notable high school internships and summer programs.
Official internships and programs are typically competitive. Consequently, students serious about landing a computer science internship will want to form a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan for reaching out to potential internship hosts.
Further below, we provide details on how to develop a cold outreach strategy. We also include email templates to make the cold outreach process more straightforward and less daunting.
10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in Boston
Most of the computer science internships for high school students in Boston below have acceptance rates of 20% or lower. Given the competitiveness for high school internships, we recommend applying to at least five opportunities.
If you see an internship that excites you, take a moment to 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 matches gifted high school students with online internships in fields like finance, STEM, medicine, law, and the arts. Powered by StandOutSearch, the largest free online database of high school internships, the program helps students explore careers and build skills before college.
Recognized by Forbes and supported by the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, StandOut Connect gives ambitious students a head start in their future.
Ages: 15-18
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
The Leaders through Education, Action, and Hope (LEAH) Project is a STEM, college access, and career readiness program. The program supports top science students from the Boston area—encouraging them to develop their love of science and providing them with high-level experiential learning opportunities.
Over the course of the two-year program, interns earn a stipend, build knowledge, skills, and experience, receive mentorship, and gain firsthand insight into careers in science.
Ages: 16-17
Location: Cambridge, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 1
The MITES Summer Program is a six-week, on-campus program that immerses students from across the country in life at MIT, packing a semester of college into one exciting summer. Participants take rigorous courses in math, science, and humanities—discovering what it’s like to be a student at one of the nation’s most prestigious schools. Participants also take lab tours, engage in social activities and events, and receive college admissions counseling.
This national program provides firsthand insight into the value of STEM degrees and careers, while also developing the academic and personal skills participants need for success in college and beyond.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Cambridge and Lexington, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 12
The Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers (LLRISE) Workshop is a two-week summer program that teaches students how to build small radar systems. The program is held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) campus and its Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA.
In addition to building radar systems, students develop problem-solving skills, connect with like-minded peers, and begin building a network of professional scientists and engineers.
Ages: 16-17
Location: Cambridge, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 15
The MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP) is a rigorous four-week summer academic experience that introduces rising high school seniors to engineering. Participants take classes and engage in hands-on activities like labs and team-based projects while exploring engineering fields.
This residential program also gives participants a taste of college life while connecting them with peers who share similar interests.
6. BU AI4All
Ages: 14-16
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: May 1
Boston University (BU) AI4ALL promotes diversity and inclusion in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—it’s open to female and female-identifying high school sophomores and juniors from the Boston area.
The free three-week program exposes participants to AI through hands-on projects, field trips, and presentations. Participants will also work on a small group research project and present it to friends and family at the end of the program.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 14
This six-week summer program provides participants with the opportunity to conduct research, develop scientific skills, and advance their STEM knowledge. Interns work 40 hours a week on a research project under the guidance of a mentor in fields like:
Astronomy
Biology
Biomedical engineering
Chemistry
Computer science
Electrical engineering
Computer engineering
Mechanical engineering
Medical laboratory research
Neuroscience
Physics
Psychology
Public health
In addition to the Rise Internship Program, there is also a Practicum track in Computational Neurobiology and Data Science, which offers a more structured research environment.
Ages: 16-18
Location: Boston, MA
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
While not an internship per se, this two-week summer program gives students the chance to pursue fields that interest them, build skills, and gain experience. Participants sit for lectures and discussions, complete individual and group projects, and go on field trips. They also learn about the college admissions process, gain firsthand experience with college life, and connect with other high schoolers.
Ages: 14-18
Location: Online
Timeline: School Year and Summer
Deadline: TBD
Although global, the Inspirit AI Scholars Program was developed and is taught by alumni and graduates from some of the top Boston-area schools, like Harvard and MIT. Scholars learn about technologies like computer vision, recommendation systems, natural language processing, and deep learning, while exploring how they’re changing a broad spectrum of industries.
Participants also work in small groups on a mentor-led AI project.
Ages: 15-18
Location: Online
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: TBD
Boston-area high schoolers with an interest in computers and coding will want to check out the Girls Who Code Summer Programs. This online program is held in two formats: the two-week Summer Immersion Program and the self-paced, six-week Pathways Program.
No matter which program they engage in, participants learn to code and gain hands-on experience on projects focused on:
Game design
Cybersecurity
Data science
Web development
Artificial intelligence (AI)
They also become part of a community and connect with other teens with an interest in tech.
Cold Outreach Strategy for Computer Science High School Internships
If the computer science internships above aren’t right for you, you’ll want to develop a cold outreach strategy, or a plan for contacting potential internship providers to try and secure a position. Cold outreach can feel intimidating, but the guide below will walk you through the process, making it more straightforward and less stressful.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a useful tool for finding small companies that might host an internship. Smaller companies are often shorthanded, and thus more likely to take on a high schooler to help with tasks like managing a website or social accounts, basic data analysis, or digitalizing or organizing files. When reaching out to possible internship providers, try and find something to connect over, whether it’s coming from the same hometown or a shared passion for a sport, hobby, or team.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Online staff directories are an excellent starting spot for finding professors who might host research positions. Remote high school research positions are rare, since high schoolers typically assist with manual lab work like prepping samples and maintaining equipment.
The exception to this is high schoolers working in computational research. Typically, these require a basic knowledge of Python or R, which you can learn on your own for free with resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody or R Programming.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The more inquiries you make into potential high school computer science internships, the better your chances are of landing a coveted position. Consequently, we recommend sending at least 50 emails to potential internship providers.
When contacting potential internship hosts, include a Google Drive link to your resume, as PDFs and Docs can interfere with delivery. Make sure that the link’s share setting allows anyone to view it. If you have work samples—like a website you developed or a video game you developed—include them.
If you don’t have a resume, no worries. Our resume template and tips has everything you need to know about creating a standout resume while providing guidance on structure and pointers on how to build a resume that converts interest into internships.
The University of Chicago also provides a useful resource for building a winning resume.
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 trying a cold outreach approach, the key to landing a computer science internship for high school students in Boston is perseverance. These opportunities can be competitive, but most students agree it’s worth the effort to get an early start on their careers.
If you found this article helpful, be sure to save it for later or share it with a friend. Good luck on your internship search!
