12 Internships for High School Students in Sacramento, CA

If you’re a high school student in Sacramento looking to engage in hands-on projects, enhance your skills, and build your profile, participating in an internship could be a good idea.

Internships are a great way to get hands-on experience in the field of your choice and apply classroom knowledge to real-world settings. They’re also a great addition to your resume as they speak of your dedication and work ethic to college admissions committees and future employers.

In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 12 internships for high school students in Sacramento, California. Let’s dive in!

1. Ladder Internship Program

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Starting $2490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The deadline for the Winter Cohort is November 24, 2024.  
Dates: There are multiple cohorts throughout the year; the Winter Cohort starts on December 16, 2024.
Eligibility:  Open to high school students who can work 10-20 hours per week. 

Ladder Internships is a selective internship for ambitious high school students. In this program, you get to work with high-growth start-ups across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies with founders who have been YCombinator alumni or who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. 

During the program, you will work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and eventually present your work to the company. Interns are also offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other valuable skills. They will have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

2. ACS Project SEED Program

Location: Varies based on lab choice. Opportunities are available in Sacramento. Check here.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $4000 is awarded to the interns.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in April.
Dates: 8-10 weeks, June to August.
Eligibility: Applicants must; be current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (and recent graduates); have completed one course in high school chemistry; preference is given to students whose maximum family income does not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Note: Project SEED has multiple methods of documenting eligibility that you can access here!

Project SEED is a great foundational program for budding chemistry enthusiasts to get an in-depth understanding of what it’s like to work in a chemistry lab. As an intern, you will work on an independent project at a research lab located in the nearest Project SEED location. You get to choose the type of project you’re interested in – from a wide range of choices. Depending on your project site, you might have the chance to go on field trips and campus tours, attend career panels, and more!


The main aim of Project SEED is to enable students from underrepresented communities to get a foundation in STEM by giving interns a chance to work in real laboratories. This is an intensive 8-10 week internship where you will be a part of different types of projects writing reports, conducting experiments, preparing reports, and a poster presentation at the end of your internship. Additionally, your coordinator can also choose to register you for the American Chemical Society National Meeting - where you will present your work to thousands of attendees!

3. Broadway Sacramento Internship Program

Location: Sacramento, CA.
Cost/Stipend: None.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024.
Dates: May 20, 2024 - August 30, 2024 (Costume department) | May 28, 2024 - August 11, 2024 OR June 11, 2024 - September 1, 2024 (Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair, and Make-up departments)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors.

Broadway Sacramento is North California’s leading producer of musical theater, and its internship provided students with relevant backstage production exposure. Students interested in fashion may apply to the following departmental internships:

  • Costume: Assist with costume coordination, costume crafts, fittings, garment constructions, and costume repair.

  • Wardrobe: Assist with care, storage, handling, and maintenance of costumes and support costume changes, scenic breakdowns, costume tracking, and dressing lists.

  • Wigs, Hair and Makeup: Assist with setting, fitting, and maintaining wigs and facial hair and learn how to do specialty makeup designs.

Interns will also receive access to productions, resume-building workshops, and weekly talks and dinners.

4. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Remote
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.
Application Deadline:  March (tentatively)
Dates: This is a 2-week program held during June.
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. high school student over 14 years old and have strong math or computer programming skills.

This 2-week virtual internship by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging is a boon for those interested in exploring the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare. It’s a selective program that accepts only around 20 students each year.

Stanford AIMI aims to advance AI research in medicine. Its summer research internship can be highly useful for students interested in working at the intersection of health and technology. It includes introductory and technical lectures on AI in healthcare, mentoring activities with researchers and students, social activities, hands-on group sessions for research projects, and virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers from academia, non-profits, industries, and the government.

5. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Location: Depends on where you live. Thanks to its network of mentors, Hutton can place students from the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada within a 45-minute commute of the intern’s home.
Stipend: $3,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit conducted at the University of Arkansas.
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in November and close in January.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 and live and are residents of the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico

The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid summer internship that offers students the opportunity to delve into the world of fisheries and aquatic science. This 8-week program, sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, is specifically designed to encourage underrepresented groups to explore careers in this field. 

As a Hutton Scholar, you'll be paired with a seasoned fisheries professional in your local area who will serve as your mentor. Together, you'll engage in a hands-on learning experience that combines laboratory and field research. You'll have the chance to contribute to vital resource conservation and management projects while gaining invaluable insights into the diverse career paths available within fisheries science. Some potential activities include electrofishing, examining aquatic specimens, data analysis, creating healthy habitats for fish and plants, and educating children about aquatic habitats.

6. Medicine Encompassed Student Internships

Location: Remote.
Stipend: None.
Application Deadline: Applications for general positions are on a rolling basis. Applications for executive positions are closed. 
Dates: Year-round internships are available. Apply here!
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9 to12 from all over the world 

Medicine Encompassed is a student-led non-profit organization designed for high school students interested in biology, medicine, and STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts, and math). As an intern, you will contribute to the organization’s medical curriculum development, the Project Cultivation outreach initiative, and other committee-specific projects.

Current available positions include writers, editors, and resource creators. Responsibilities for these positions include drafting accurate articles, revising blogs and social media resources, and making study guides and slideshows for students. You might also get to research medical topics, write informative articles or guides, and develop educational materials about various medical fields. 

7. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) – Virtual Experience

Location: Virtual.
Stipend: $500 scholarship.
Application Deadline: Applications annually close on March 1.
Dates: The virtual program goes on for 5 weeks from July to August. Applications for 2025 should open in December. 
Eligibility: Applications for the virtual program are open to high school juniors or seniors in the U.S. with a strong academic record in STEM subjects

The John Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) program aims to encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in neuroscience by offering in-person and virtual internship opportunities in the field. The program aims to expose students to a career in neurological sciences by providing hands-on research experiences and mentorship to high school students across the US. 

During the virtual program, you will participate in professional development training, networking activities, educational workshops, mentorship training, learning basic lab experiments and techniques, and more. You’ll also get to partake in collaborative projects, discussions, and final presentations and discover a passion for a career in the neurological sciences. 

You can check out the program’s past projects here.

8. American Psychological Association (APA) internships

Location: Virtual options are available to students residing in states where APA is a registered employer. 
Stipend: Some internships are paid, while others offer academic credit. 
Application Deadline: This depends on the different internships offered.
Dates: Year-round internships offered
Eligibility: Open to high school students with U.S. work eligibility, who reside in states where APA is a registered employer, and are enrolled in a part-time institution. Students 18 or above will need to submit an official District of Columbia work permit.

The American Psychological Association (APA) offers a few remote internships alongside its hybrid/in-person internships across the country. Selected interns will get to learn about psychology and its applications and explore non-traditional career options in the field, like research, policy, communications, financial services, and operations.

Throughout your internship, you will apply theoretical concepts to projects, understand how the workplace functions, carry out daily tasks, attend meetings with mentors and supervisors, and participate in workshops, discussions, group projects, and more. Interns will also receive support for research, networking, university applications, and resume and cover letter writing

9. Girl Rising’s Future Rising Fellowship

Location: Remote.
Stipend: $5,000.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024/2025 aren’t open yet. 
Dates: The 2024/2025 session is yet to start; check the website for updates. 
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 17-25 

This year-long opportunity provides support to young women leaders interested in working at the intersection of climate and gender justice. As a participant, you will have access to global artists, journalists, filmmakers, authors, advocates, climate scientists, and academics.

You will work individually on your supervisor’s projects using any medium of their choice (film, animation, graphic novels, essays, journalism, photography, and more) while also attending virtual group workshops and professional development sessions. Information regarding this year’s topics is yet to be announced; however, topics in the previous years included ‘Girls and Women in Conservation’ and ‘Local Solutions.’ View past projects here.

10. Veritas AI Internships

Location: Virtual.
Cost:
$2,490.
Application Deadline: November 24, 2024.
Dates: The start date for the cohort is December 16, 2024.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.

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.

11. EnergyMag Research Internship

Location: Virtual.
Cost/Stipend: None.
Application Deadline: Applications are on a rolling basis and are open all year round.
Dates:  Half-time summer internships can go on for 2-8 weeks. Quarter-time internships are available all year round and can go on for 1-9 months
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have taken at least one honors science or honors English class, with a minimum GPA of 3.25, can apply.

The EnergyMag Research Internship offers a limited number of virtual research internships to high school or college students looking to gain experience in the renewable energy sector. As a participant, you will gain research and analytical skills from researching companies, analyzing technologies, and conducting market research. 

During the program, you will be assigned a mentor who will guide you and supervise your work. You’ll be able to work from home and stay in regular contact with your mentor via Skype or email. Your work will involve conducting research, studying energy markets and trends, analyzing government policies, and more. You will also have to produce a draft analysis report, which will reference your name and be published on the EnergyMag site.

12. National Breast Cancer Foundation’s High School Ambassador Program

Location: Virtual.
Stipend: None.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2024-2025 program have closed. However, you should typically apply by June.
Internship Dates: It typically runs from August to May of the next year.
Eligibility: Applicants should be high schoolers between the ages of 15 to 18 and should be available for the duration of the program. 

The National Breast Cancer Foundation's High School Ambassador Program provides a flexible virtual platform for students to support breast cancer awareness and assistance initiatives. As a participant, you’ll be involved in activities like fundraising, community outreach, and social media advocacy. 

The program's remote nature allows students to contribute from any location and at their convenience, making it widely accessible. As an NBCF High School Ambassador, you will ultimately host a fundraiser that creates more awareness about NBCF’s mission. To achieve this, you should have excellent communication skills and have the desire to help people. This experience not only positively impacts those affected by breast cancer but also allows you to connect with other ambassadors and collaborate on a variety of projects.

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, with a large number of them in tech. 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. 

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