Engineering internships for high school students are a realistic approach for students to taste what it’s like to work as an engineer. Many students look for internship opportunities to gain experience in the relevant field of study, but they often don’t know where to look. Many of them are paid, meaning your internship might be the first move toward a future profession. There are numerous reasons why we begin internships in high school to gain a competitive advantage in university and our future professions. There are many internships available, but our goal is to assist you in finding the most fantastic engineering internship.

Being an Engineer

To address issues, an engineer employs science, technology, and mathematics. Engineering can be seen all around us, enhancing how we perform, travel, connect, remain fit, and entertain ourselves. Engineering, more than any other profession, now offers more job prospects. Mechanical, pharmaceutical, civil, and electrical engineering were the four primary engineering disciplines in the previous. The number of engineering degrees accessible nowadays has substantially expanded. Mechanical, chemical, civil, electrical, managerial, and engineering geology are today the six significant areas of engineering, with hundreds of specializations within each branch. Because you deserve the finest, these programs will help you get additional skills and knowledge about engineering.

Engineers develop machinery, construct skyscrapers, and supervise public works projects, but they also handle society’s demands and challenges on a variety of other levels. They focus on drug delivery technologies that act inside cells on a cellular scale. Engineering internships are an excellent way for high school and college students to learn more about the field of engineering, and it gives high school students the most nuanced picture of what they’ll do in college. Engineering internships are available to students in grades 10 through 12, and applicants must have a 3.0 GPA. Students can do an internship pre or post-high school, and employers frequently come to the campus for placements after the 6th, 7th, or 8th semesters. As a result, you can register for internships once employers visit your school.

Summer interns often work for 10 to 12 weeks (3 months) or one semester or quarter. Nevertheless, the duration of an internship can be based on the length of the school vacation. Winter internships, for example, are often completed throughout a winter vacation. In addition, based on your choice or your institution, some internships last a whole year or two semesters. In the United States, the median compensation for an Engineering Intern is $43,212 per year. Salary estimates are based on 707 confidential salaries reported to Indeed by Engineering Intern professionals, users, and data gathered from previous and present job adverts on Indeed in the last 36 months.

These are the top 10 engineering internships.

1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Being a NASA Intern is a highly competitive procedure that will provide you the opportunity to work on cutting-edge science while being mentored by actual NASA personnel. Internships can be conducted in the fall, spring, or summer, with only a few centers accepting high school students. You must be at least 16 years of age and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale to be eligible (or an unweighted 3.0 GPA). You’ll want to make sure you have a great recommendation letter. Being a NASA intern is the dream for a lot of students. This is why you will get a lot of competition for this internship. This is probably one of the toughest internships that you will see on this list. If you have amazing grades and some strong recommendations, you might just be lucky enough to get this one. 

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2. National Institute of Health

Over the summertime, you will get the opportunity to work alongside NIH scientists and clinicians for eight weeks. You can also enroll in one of their subprograms: the first, HiSTEP, is aimed at financially underprivileged youth in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and provides exposure to STEM and leadership training. Step 2.0 is a Bethesda-area alternative for HiSTEP graduates and ordinary high school students. You must be at least 17 years old by June 15 of the internship year and live near one of the NIH facilities to qualify for the regular NIH internship. 

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3. NSA High School Work-Study

This program permits high school students to work at the National Security Agency and earn money throughout the vacation and into the school year. If you have computer programming skills, you may be allocated to the position of Computer Aide, where you will learn how to use the NSA’s cutting-edge data processing facilities. You must be a junior in high school with a 2.5 or better-unweighted GPA and history or passion in business, technology, or computer science to be considered.

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4. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

You may be qualified to enroll in a project-based internship at the Plasma Physics Laboratory if you are a high school senior residing in the Princeton region! This internship necessitates working with your high school to develop a plan that allows the employee to count for credit while also accommodating your internship project requirements. This is a semester-long internship, and you must be at least 16 years old and a senior during the semester in which you apply. Fall internships must be completed by April 30, and spring internships must be completed by November 30.

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5. Idaho National Laboratory

Interning at INL is a fantastic method for learners to enhance valuable life and professional experience. Students are compensated for working on projects with mentors who are masters in their industries. Students work with INL specialists to address real-world challenges and learn how to apply science, maths, engineering, and technological (STEM) concepts to individual programs throughout their eight-week internship. This broadens their understanding in this crucial area while also confirming and complementing what they learn in high school.

An internship with INL boosts self-esteem and exposes learners to fields they might wish to pursue in college.

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6. Spark Summer Internship Program

Spark is a Seattle-based nonprofit that offers STEM enrichment students the opportunity, including internships with a variety of partner organizations. Their partner organizations specialize in computer science, offering positions in software design, mobile application development, and internet application. The specific needs differ for every partner organization, but there is one universal application. The deadline for applications is April 14, and you can apply for up to three groups online.

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7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

If you’re more interested in science than engineering, this paid internship and coaching opportunity is ideal for you. This program is offered anywhere there are active members of the American Fisheries Society who can participate as mentors. You’ll work alongside experts to get a firsthand look at what research is like in the real.

You must be junior or senior in high school and submit your application within the open time to be considered. The application will be available on December 17 and will close on February 15. Internships are often held throughout the summer, and you will be assigned to a location that is within commutable distance.

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8. National Cancer Institute

An internship at the National Cancer Institute will provide you with an inside look into healthcare research. You’ll gain the core skills necessary to accomplish biological research as a scientific internship, and you’ll be paired with a mentor who can share their academic and employment expertise with you. You must be a junior in school at the time of enrollment and at least 17 years old when the program begins in June to be eligible. You’ll also need a 3.0 unweighted GPA and Hepatitis B vaccinations. Create an NCI account to begin your application, and then fill out the job application once it becomes open in October.

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9. Introductory College Level Experience in Microbiology (ICLEM)

This is an 8-week paid summer program for financially deprived high school juniors and seniors. It is not a regular internship. It is conducted in the Joint BioEnergy Institute, where students will learn rigorous science skills such as microbiology, biochemistry, and biofuels while working on a research project with JBEI researchers and undergraduates. This chance is offered to sophomores and juniors in California who live in Alameda, Contra Costa, or San Francisco counties, have a 2.5 GPA, and have completed Algebra 1 and Biology. The application will be available on January 24 and must be submitted by March 21.

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10. Careers in Science Intern Program

If you live in San Francisco and are from a community that is underserved in STEM, you should consider becoming a paid CIS intern! Interns of the California Academy of Sciences work at a site in Golden Gate Park, where they not only assist researchers with field investigations but also educate the public about science and gain career development through meetings and seminars. You must be in 9th or 10th grade, registered in an SFUSD school, have and retain a 2.5 GPA, and achieve Cs or higher in math and science classes to be qualified. From February to April, you can apply at the URL above, and you’ll need to undergo an interview. It is also a huge time investment, so be sure you are prepared to devote two or three years to this endeavor!

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