10 Engineering Internships for High School Students in New York
- Estelle Reardon
- Dec 1, 2025
- 8 min read
Topics We Cover:
An engineering internship for high school students in New York can put you on the path to your dream career—allowing you to build real-world skills, gain industry experience, and connect with professionals.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Engineering internships for high schoolers, and internships in general, also provide an advantage in college admissions. Engaging in an engineering internship while in high school shows college admissions committees that you’ve pursued your interest outside of the classroom, explored potential career paths, and gained firsthand experience in the field—all of which can help you stand out in competitive pools of applications.
How much influence do high school internships have on college admissions? The consultancy PRISM found that 70% of students at U.S. News Top 50 universities engaged in at least one internship while in high school.
In addition to opening doors to higher education, completing a high school engineering internship can make it easier to secure a college internship. It can also make it easier to gain admission to preprofessional clubs and groups, like engineering societies, rocket clubs, and hackathon teams.
How to Find Engineering Internships for High School Students in New York
StandOutSearch is an excellent starting place for students looking for engineering internships for high school students in New York. StandOutSearch is the largest free online database of internships for high school students and is easily searched using a number of filters, including:
Location
Age
Season
Format (in-person, online, hybrid)
Compensation (paid vs. unpaid)
Another useful resource is a list of internships and summer programs collected by MIT admissions. The downside of the majority of official programs you find online is that they’re extremely competitive. Consequently, students determined to land an internship will want to form a cold outreach strategy.
Cold outreach involves proactively reaching out to professionals, organizations, or companies you don’t know to ask about internship opportunities. Further below, we’ve included some helpful information and email templates to help make creating a cold outreach strategy less daunting.
10 Engineering Internships for High School Students in New York
Most engineering internships for high school students in New York have acceptance rates below 20%—we suggest applying to at least five programs. If an opportunity stands out, be sure to jot the deadline on your calendar.
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: Various Deadlines
StandOut Connect is a unique program designed to match talented high school students with online internships tailored to their career interests. Opportunities span across diverse fields such as:
Arts
Business
Law
Medicine
STEM
Powered by StandOutSearch—the largest free database of high school internships—StandOut Connect provides students with unparalleled access to real-world experiences. The program has been spotlighted in Forbes and was launched with support from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Ages: 15-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31
The HIRES program provides STEM research opportunities to academically talented students with little to no access to STEM resources. Participants work with scientists in the field and in the lab, on a project related to:
Climate change
Atmosphere and weather
Water resources or oceans
Coastal waters
Participants gain firsthand experience collecting and analyzing data and present their findings at the conclusion of the program at a poster symposium.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Buffalo, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: May 30
Just 30 students are chosen to participate in this competitive free program exploring the educational and professional opportunities provided by the transportation industry. Participants build STEM skills through hands-on design competition and see firsthand local and regional transportation hotspots, like Buffalo International Airport and the Erie Canal.
Students also connect with like-minded peers and begin building their professional network.
Ages: Rising Juniors and Seniors
Location: Buffalo, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: May 30
Participants in this summer program explore chemical engineering careers while gaining real-world experience through both hands-on and digital activities. Students also have the chance to meet and interact with university faculty, current students, and professionals—offering a glimpse into life as both a college student and a working engineer.
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: School year
Deadline: TBD
This summer program places high schoolers in after-school internships—bolstering their college applications and resumes by building essential skills and work experience. Participants will develop their knowledge of engineering and coding, gain hands-on experience troubleshooting computer hardware and software, and engage in engineering challenges.
Ages: Rising Sophomores-Seniors
Location: Buffalo, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: May 30
This residential summer introduces high school students with an aptitude for math and science to STEM careers and fosters their existing skills. Students compete in an engineering challenge, engage in lab and computer exercises, and build teamwork and leadership skills.
Participants also live and learn at the University of Buffalo, tour National Grid, and attend a business lunch—gaining firsthand insight into both academic and professional settings.
7. Hk Maker Lab
Ages: Sophomores and Juniors
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 5
The Hk Maker Lab is an intensive six-week summer program that teaches the fundamentals of engineering while providing hands-on experience with design and innovation. The program consists of two phases: in the first phase, students participate in a course led by Columbia Engineering faculty. In the second phase, participants work on a group project involving digital media focused on addressing a health disparity.
Students who complete the Hk Maker Lab are eligible to join NY Bioforce the following year—a program that includes a paid summer internship at a prestigious research or healthcare institution.
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Spring and Summer
Deadline: TBD
New York Bioforce is a workforce development program that offers paid internships at prestigious research labs and healthcare institutions. During the spring, students receive research and skill training on Saturdays, then over the summer, complete a paid six-week internship.
The program culminates with participants presenting their research during a poster session at the American Museum of Natural History.
Ages: Juniors
Location: Stony Brook, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 5
The Simons Summer Research Program provides high-achieving high schoolers the chance to engage in hands-on research in science, math, or engineering at Stony Brook University. Participants work under the guidance of faculty mentors to learn about laboratory techniques and tools, engage in active research teams, and experience life at a research university.
The Simons Summer Research Program is extremely competitive—only about 5% of applicants are accepted.
Ages: 14-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Contact for deadline
Students in this program gain hands-on experience maintaining high-profile New York City vehicles—helping service the largest municipal fleet in the nation. During the course of the six-week internship, students use diagnostic equipment, perform basic maintenance, and work with automotive equipment, developing a better understanding of fleet management and potential careers in the automotive industry.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the engineering internships for high school students in New York above strike a chord with you, you’ll want to develop a cold outreach strategy. Many high schoolers (and even professionals) find cold outreach intimidating, but the guide and templates below help simplify the process.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
Use LinkedIn to find small companies that may offer high school internships. Smaller companies often need an extra set of hands and are more likely to take on high school students to assist with tasks such as cleaning, organizing, and maintaining lab equipment, inputting data, performing basic calculations, and preparing reports and presentations.
When reaching out to professionals, try to make a personal connection—such as attending the same high school, sharing a hobby, or rooting for the same sports team. When connecting with professionals you don’t know, it’s safest to meet virtually.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
Online university staff directories are a useful tool for identifying professors to contact about research opportunities. Keep in mind that remote research positions for high school students are relatively rare. Most professors typically assign high school interns hands-on, in-lab tasks like cleaning glassware or assisting with basic equipment operation, rather than complex research.
One exception is computational research, which often involves analyzing large datasets and requires familiarity with programming languages like Python or R. Fortunately, you can teach yourself these skills for free in a few months using online courses such as Coursera’s Python for Everybody or R Programming.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
When emailing potential internship providers, include a Google Drive link to your resume. PDFs and Word documents can sometimes interfere with email deliverability, so a link is preferred. Be sure the link’s sharing settings allow anyone with it to view the document.
A resume is something you’ll use throughout your academic and professional career—it’s required for everything from applying for scholarships to jobs. If you have a resume, there’s no better time to begin crafting one. Our resume template and tips are an excellent place to get started. The University of Chicago also provides a helpful resume resource.
Cold outreach is a numbers game, and the more inquiries you send, the better your chances of securing an internship. We recommend sending at least 50 internship inquiries.
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]. 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
Pursuing an engineering internship or research role in high school isn’t easy—whether you’re applying through formal programs or reaching out directly to professionals, persistence is key. Securing these positions can be challenging, but the payoff is significant, providing early experience that lays the foundation for your future career. If this guide provided useful insights, be sure to bookmark it or share it with someone else who’s looking.
Wishing you success on your internship journey!