13 Internships for High School Students in Philadelphia
If you’re a high schooler in Philadelphia looking for ways to learn a new skill this summer, or explore a subject that interests you, this list is for you. An internship can help you gain some real-world experience in a field of your choice, build knowledge, and boost your college applications! Not to mention, internships also help you develop skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and communication – which will be useful in the future!
Philadelphia offers a range of internship opportunities across several disciplines, offered by universities, institutions, and private organizations. We’ve covered 13 of the best ones in this list! Whether you’re interested in STEM research or business, medicine or the humanities, this blog has something for you.
Subject areas: Multidisciplinary
Application Deadline: Summer cohort (regular admission 1): April 14, 2024 | Summer cohort (regular admission 2): May 12, 2024
Program Duration: 8-week program with multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort starts on June 3, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 5-10 hours per week, for 8 weeks.
Cost: Starting $1,990. Financial aid is available!
Location: Virtual.
Ladder Internships is a selective program that pairs high schoolers with startups and nonprofits across the world for virtual internships. It offers an opportunity to work on a real-world project that will contribute to the larger goal of the startup or nonprofit, and present your work at the end of the internship. A benefit of this internship is its flexibility – you can choose to work in a field of your choice – whether that’s machine learning, AI, technology, engineering, marketing, business, finance, media, journalism, sustainability, or medicine.
During the program, you will be paired with a manager at the startup, who will guide you throughout the internship. You will also be paired with a Ladder coach, who will serve as a second mentor. This internship includes one-on-one professional skill training sessions, and group sessions with other interns.
Subject areas: STEM and medicine
Application Deadline: There is no information available at the moment.
Program Duration: CHOP-RISES I takes place over 6 weeks in the summer, and CHOP-RISES II over 8 weeks in the summer.
Eligibility: Rising juniors can apply to CHOP-RISES I and rising seniors can apply to CHOP-RISES II.
Note: Students must be nominated by partner schools or community-based agencies.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. A stipend is provided, but information on the exact amount is not available.
Location: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA
CHOP-RISES offers a comprehensive opportunity tailored for students interested in the fields of STEM-M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine). Both programs I and II provide students with the chance to work alongside distinguished researchers and scientists at the hospital, while they develop practical laboratory skills focused on advancing STEM-M disciplines. This internship is a compelling opportunity to dive into various research domains.
As an intern, you will be guided by experienced professionals, and will receive training in essential research methodologies, performing experiments, and data analysis. As a CHOP-RISES II intern, you'll engage in clinical observation and conduct independent research. At the end of the program, you will put together a presentation to demonstrate what you learn during the internship.
3. Bank of America Student Leader Program
Subject areas: Community service, leadership, business, nonprofit work, administration
Application deadline: Applications open in October and typically close in January.
Program dates: 8-week summer internship, including an all expenses-covered week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Dates vary by location, but the internship usually begins shortly after the school year ends.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. See all eligibility criteria here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will be paid, but information on the exact amount is not available.
Location: A local non-profit organization in Philadelphia that the Bank of America has partnered with for the internship program.
The Bank of America Student Leader Program is a prestigious program that provides students with a paid opportunity to work with nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity. Through this initiative, the bank aims to cultivate a sense of community engagement, empowering students who are passionate about improving their community. By working with a local non-profit organization, you get the chance to develop leadership and community-building skills. You will learn about the intricacies of non-profit management, engage in community service endeavors, and deepen your comprehension of social issues, while concurrently developing skills beneficial for future academic and career pursuits in interested fields.
The 8-week paid internship includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, with travel, accommodation, and meals covered by the bank. This comprehensive experience equips young leaders with the knowledge and tools necessary to enact positive change within their communities.
Only about 300 motivated students are selected from across the country every year for this program!
Subject areas: Arts, administration, exhibition planning, marketing, event coordination
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Program Dates: This is a 7-week program held June-end to mid-August, exact dates depend on the location of the program. If you live in Philadelphia, you also have the option of applying for a year-long internship program called Bloomberg Arts Internship - School Year (BAISY).
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors residing in participating cities
Location: Five locations – Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA | New York City, NY | Philadelphia, PA | Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $17.53/hour for Summer 2024, with transportation and meals
The Bloomberg Art Internships are facilitated by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. These internships offer an avenue for high school seniors to explore their creativity while diving into the realms of art and culture.
The internships aim to link you with diverse arts and culture institutions throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, where you will engage in work that helps you develop skills that will be useful in your future academic and career pursuits. The program aims to develop students’ work readiness while also offering college prep training. Students can expect to participate in hands-on projects and receive mentorship, get insight into various aspects of arts administration, exhibition planning, marketing, and event coordination. The program also includes other activities, such as helping teens explore careers in the creative sector.
Note: This program is fairly flexible and in Philadelphia, there is also the Bloomberg Arts Internship - School Year (BAISY) program. The first step is to apply for the summer internship, as the school year program is reserved for current seniors who wish to continue their projects from the previous summer.
5. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Subject areas: Medicine, biomedical sciences
Application deadline: Applications typically close by January - February.
Program dates: June 18, 2024 - August 16, 2024
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school, who are from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, may apply.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. It is a paid internship, but the exact amount has not been specified
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
This apprenticeship program is for students with a keen interest in scientific research in the fields of medicine and biomedicine. The program is aimed at students from communities typically underrepresented in STEM. As an apprentice, you will get the opportunity to collaborate with some of the top researchers in their respective fields, in a multidisciplinary environment. Throughout the program, you will gain practical experience by engaging in various research projects and picking up laboratory methodologies.
As an apprentice, you will participate in activities such as scientific lectures, public speaking, written communication, and discussions on ethical principles that guide research involving humans and animals. The program culminates in a public conference where apprentices have the chance to showcase their research to scientific professionals, as well as friends and family.
MSAP is a highly competitive program, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%. On average, 18-24 students are selected from 200 applicants. Typically, approximately 20-30% of accepted students (5 students) are returning students who have attended MSAP in the past.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Subject areas: Physics, chemistry, biology, robotics, engineering, behavioral sciences, computer science, mathematics and more.
Application deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1st every year.
Program dates: Eight weeks in the summer. Exact dates vary depending on the lab you choose.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9, are at least 16 years old when the internship begins, can apply. Graduating seniors are eligible as well. There is room for some exceptions. Students are recommended to check whether their preferred lab choice has any other particular requirements.
Cost/Stipend: There are no registration costs, however, housing, meals, transportation, and medical expenses are not covered. You can expect to have to travel to and from your lab, depending on your placement.
Students receive a stipend - $4,000 (new participant) | $4,500 (returning participant)
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from across the country. Students in Philadelphia can select one of two options in the city - Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Information Warfare Center.
SEAP is a highly prestigious and competitive opportunity that offers high school students the chance to work in Navy labs across the country, on actual Naval research. If you’re interested in exploring STEM fields further, specifically engineering, this is a solid opportunity. During the program, students will be mentored by expert scientists and engineers at the Navy labs. While working on projects hands-on, you will build on your valuable knowledge and skills in various STEM disciplines, such as computer science and aeronautics.
Your lab choice is based on your subject of interest. With approximately 300 placements across over 38 laboratories nationwide, SEAP is highly competitive, and because of its association with the US government, it’s regarded as highly prestigious too.
7. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Subject areas: Foreign policy, international relations
Application deadline: July - Fall internship | November - Spring internship | March - Summer internships
Program dates: September - December (Fall) | February - May (Spring) | June - August (Summer)
Eligibility: High school students who have the right to work in the US can apply.
Cost/Stipend: None.
Location: Remote and in-person (FPRI, Philadelphia) options are offered.
This internship program is for motivated, ambitious high school students interested in pursuing a career in international relations. This program is structured to help students develop industry-specific skills in foreign policy and relations, while also sharpening their critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. As an FPRI intern, you will get the chance to connect with members of the foreign relations community and attend weekly foreign policy seminars with guest speakers. You can apply to be a research intern, a special events intern, or an operations intern, and you also have the opportunity to work on a research paper for publication on FPRI’s Intern Corner.
Subject areas: Fashion, retail, merchandising
Application Deadline: The applications for the 2024 cohort are closed. You can expect the applications for 2025 to open around September.
Program Dates: June 3, 2024 - August 9, 2024 (10 weeks)
Location: Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Competitive hourly rate (exact amount not specified)
URBN, parent company to many popular brands such as Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, offers a 10-week paid internship program for students keen to discover their interest in the field of fashion and fashion merchandising. The internship program prepares students for the fast pace of retail and fashion and provides hands-on experience in areas like trend research, data collection and analysis, and teamwork.
Most URBN internships are based at the company's headquarters in the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard, but there are some remote opportunities offered as well. As an intern, you will gain practical experience in your chosen fashion field of interest. During the program, interns hone their leadership skills that are essential for success in a dynamic retail setting. This program also organizes social events, off-site field trips, group leadership activities, and insight into company workings.
9. Teen Research Internship Program (TRIP)
Subject areas: Medicine, STEM
Application deadline: Open call for applications. Students generally apply in October for the spring session, and in March for the summer session.
Program dates: Two options: Consecutive Saturdays from late-January to early-May | Tuesdays and Thursdays from July to August
Eligibility: All high school students from Philadelphia and the surrounding communities may apply.
Cost/Stipend: Free. No stipend is offered.
Location: William Tennent High School, Warminster (January - May) | Temple University, Philadelphia (July - August)
This is an intensive lab-based internship program that encourages students to pursue their interest in science and medicine. The program offers an opportunity to conduct hypothesis-driven research and learn hands-on in a laboratory. The program is conducted in three phases. In the first phase, you will develop potential research questions surrounding the impact of diet, environmental stress, and genetics on organismal development and behavior, while also learning basic lab and problem solving skills. In the second phase, you will learn how to use common laboratory equipment, design and perform experiments, learn about data collection and analysis, and, most importantly, learn how to think through and overcome failure. In the last phase, practice explaining their experimental design, data, conclusions, and future directions throughout the program. At the end of the program, students present their findings to the scientific community, their peers and their family in a scientific symposium where they gain insight into the real world and big picture applications of their work.
This program is offered by the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
10. High School Program in Biomedical Research at the The Wistar Institute
Subject areas: Medicine, biomedical research
Application deadline: March 31, 2023
Program dates: July 10, 2023 - August 3, 2023
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and have completed at least one high school science course may apply.
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive a $1,000 stipend
Location:The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia
This is a competitive program that only accepts 12 students a year. The program at the Wistar Institute has been running for over 20 years, offering high schoolers the opportunity to engage in hands-on research projects in cancer biology, vaccine development, and infectious diseases. Over three weeks in the summer, you will spend time training in cutting-edge biomedical laboratory techniques and contributing to real projects at the institute in their state-of-the-art facilities. During the program, you will be taught to read scientific literature and encouraged to explore multiple careers in biomedical research. At the end of the course, you will present your work to your peers and mentors.
11. Penn Vet Working Dog Center Internships
Subject areas: Veterinary science
Application Deadline: Rolling (intersession) | March 29, 2024 (summer)
Program Dates: Minimum 12 weeks (part-time) during the school year (intersession) | May 29, 2024–August 16, 2024 (full-time during the summer)
Eligibility: High school students or recent graduates who are at least 18 years old can apply. Note that eligibility criteria can vary based on the position.
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
The University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Vet Working Dog Center focuses on enhancing research and application of veterinary expertise to support and enhance the performance of scent detection or working dogs. The center regularly offers internships to students, including high school seniors/recent graduates and even students taking a gap year.
The center’s student internships allow students to gain experience in dog training, bio-med, behavioral science, canine fitness, canine olfaction, and psychology. Interns will work with dogs daily, learn about scientific research, receive guidance from trainers and veterinary staff, and help maintain the condition and training environment of the dogs.
12. Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
Subject areas: Environmental science
Application Deadline: February 5, 2024
Program Dates: July 8 - August 5, 2024
Eligibility:
- Students must have completed grades 9, 10, or 11 by the summer.
- GPA must be at least 3.0/4.0.
- Students must live in Philadelphia or the surrounding area.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; No information about stipend availability.
Location: University of Pennsylvania.
The TREES is a summer research and mentorship program that provides high school students with hands-on environmental research opportunities. Each summer, around 8 high school students get to work one-on-one with mentors on projects that they choose and design.
During the first two weeks of the program, you will receive hands-on instruction in basic laboratory skills, skills that you will use later in your projects. The remainder of the program is an independent research project. Through your projects, you will learn to take a scientific approach towards an environmental problem, conducting in-depth library research, training in scientific methodology, carrying out hands-on bench science, and where possible, fieldwork.
Some projects are carried out as team projects involving multiple students. At the end of the program, you write a research report and present your projects to guests for a public presentation.
13. Veritas AI Internship
Subject areas: AI, ML, computer science
Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Program Dates: The start date for the upcoming cohort is November 11, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Cost: $2,490 (some financial aid is available)
Location: Virtual
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Bonus! Here’s a few more programs in Philadelphia that you can consider:
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, including computer science, tech, and engineering. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.