How Can I Find Engineering Internships as a High School Student?

Hello everyone! I'm super passionate about engineering and want to get some hands-on experience. Does anyone know of any engineering internships available to high school students? Thanks for any help!

Hello! It's great to hear that you're passionate about engineering and looking to gain hands-on experience during high school. Finding internships as a high school student can be more challenging than for college students, but it's not impossible! Here are a few resources and tips to help you in your search:

1. Local companies and start-ups: Research and reach out to local engineering firms, start-ups, or companies with an engineering department. Send a well-crafted email expressing your interest in an internship and highlighting your skills in engineering. Many companies appreciate motivated high school students and may offer internships or shadowing opportunities.

2. High school connections: Check with your high school's career center or guidance counselor. They may have connections with local businesses or organizations that could provide engineering internships or project-based learning opportunities.

3. Engineering clubs and competitions: Participate in extracurricular activities, such as engineering clubs or robotics competitions like FIRST Robotics or VEX Robotics. These experiences can help you develop technical skills, collaborate with like-minded students, and network with professionals in the engineering field.

4. Pre-college summer programs: There are many reputable summer programs offered by universities and research institutions that focus on engineering for high school students. Examples include MIT's Engineering Design Workshop, Johns Hopkins' Engineering Innovation Program, and Northwestern's Engineering Preparation Program. While these programs are not internships, they can provide valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities.

5. Online platforms: Make use of online internship search platforms, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, or Internships.com. Although most internships will be geared towards college students, you may find some opportunities for high school students by using filters or modifying your search terms.

6. Networking: It's essential to network with professional engineers, teachers, or even family friends who work in the field. Talking to people in your network helps you gain industry insights, make connections, and possibly uncover unadvertised internship opportunities.

Remember to be persistent, professional, and proactive in your search for engineering internships. It may take some time, but the effort you put in now can result in valuable opportunities to gain hands-on experience and make connections in the engineering field. Good luck!