12 Internships for High School Students in Tennessee

Internships can help you build your career and give you insight into the professional setting. They provide essential exposure, helping you learn the intricacies and operations of fields you’re interested in. 

For high school students, securing internships can be challenging, as many companies prefer applicants with advanced qualifications and more experience. Summer internships offer many opportunities across sectors like business, medicine, technology, and the arts. Participating in an internship demonstrates your passion for your chosen field and your initiative in seeking hands-on experience early on. These experiences can significantly enhance your college applications, offer a networking platform, and open doors to potential new opportunities.

In this blog, we’ve compiled a curated list of 12 internships for high schoolers in Tennessee.  

1. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote.
Cost: Starting at $2490. Some financial aid is offered.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines for cohorts throughout the year.
Internship Dates: This is an 8-week program with several cohorts throughout the year. The Fall Cohort begins on September 16, 2024.  
Eligibility: Applications are open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can work 5-15 hours a week.

Ladder Internships serve as a bridge between students and innovative startups, offering internship opportunities across diverse sectors, including tech, marketing, business development, finance, and design. As a participant, you will get to engage in actual projects, apply your academic knowledge to real-world scenarios, and develop practical skills while gaining insight into startup dynamics, challenges, and benefits. Working closely with founders and team members, you will receive mentorship and guidance. 

The program prioritizes networking and career growth by facilitating connections between students and industry professionals. Ladder Internships aims to provide a valuable experience that equips young professionals with the necessary skills, confidence, and practical knowledge to excel.

2. Nashville Bar Association

Location: Nashville, Tennessee.
Stipend: $10–15 per hour.
Application Deadline: The application deadline is typically in March. 
Internship Dates: Early June to late July.  
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school seniors and rising seniors and have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. You will also need to write an essay and attend interviews with the Program Selection Committee and prospective employers.  

The Nashville Bar Association's High School Intern Summer Program offers paid internships at law firms, corporate legal departments, and government law offices in Metro Nashville. As a participant, you’ll receive mentorship from legal professionals and attend "Lunch and Learn" sessions on law school preparation and career development. The program also emphasizes networking, allowing you to connect with industry professionals and peers. 

This hands-on experience will help you gain insight into the legal field and build foundational skills for future academic and professional pursuits. The program serves as a valuable stepping stone for those considering a career in law, providing practical experience and exposure to the legal community in Nashville.

3Veritas AI’s AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase

Location: Online.
Cost: $5400. Financial aid is offered.
Application Deadline: For Winter 2024: December 1, 2024.
Internship Period: 12-15 weeks. Multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be in grades 9-12 and have a basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars. 

The Veritas AI Fellowship program, started by Harvard alumni, provides high school students with a structured opportunity to learn and work with artificial intelligence. During this program, you’ll explore AI applications in various fields, from healthcare to climate change, and showcase their projects through publications or competitions. Students will get to work closely with AI expert mentors and receive guidance on leveraging their AI experience for college applications. 

The Veritas AI Fellowship program aims to equip young learners with practical AI knowledge and skills and the necessary support to navigate their academic and professional aspirations.

4. Urban Archaeology Corps

Location: Across the U.S.; it depends on the national partners the UAC works with and their locations.  
Stipend: This is a paid internship; however, the exact amount is not specified. 
Application Deadline: Most UAC programs occur during the summer, so applications would be open before that. Keep an eye on their website for specific dates! 
Internship Period:  This program takes place during the summer for 6-10 weeks.
Eligibility: Applicants can be high school students or recent graduates (some projects require participants to be ages 15-34). Applicants should also be enrolled in a degree or certificate-seeking program. 

The Urban Archeology Corps (UAC) provides paid work experiences in National Park Service (NPS) archaeology, with a focus on youth employment, diversity, and creating a pipeline for federal service employment. 

UAC projects typically last 6-10 weeks and involve historical research, site investigations, collections processing, and public education development. As a participant, you may be supervised by NPS staff, a UAC-funded archeologist, or a project manager. You might also get the chance to work at more than one park.

5. Lumiere Research Scholars Program

Location: Online.
Cost: Starting $2990. 
Application Deadline: Varies with the cohort.
Internship Dates: Programs are available year-long.
Eligibility: All high school students.

The Lumiere Study Scholar Programme is an online internship program designed for high school students interested in independent study in various academic subjects. Through one-on-one collaboration with a specialized mentor, you will gain a customized, in-depth research experience. You will get to design and carry out an independent research project and develop skills in academic writing, data analysis, and research methods. 

The program's capstone project is a research article that can be submitted to scholarly journals or presented at conferences. Lumiere offers various program tracks to accommodate different timetables and research objectives, allowing students to contribute to their field, receive mentorship, and gain experience in academic research.

6. Fordham University Real Estate Institute Summer Program

Location: Online
Cost: $995 – $1,650.
Application Deadline: Applications are closed for 2024. It’s recommended that you apply 1 week before the online courses start. For the in-person course, applications tend to close between April and May.
Internship Period: June – July (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.0. 

Fordham University's Real Estate Institute offers various summer programs for high school students interested in exploring the real estate industry. The Summer High School Program provides a behind-the-scenes look at the NYC real estate market, focusing on development, entrepreneurship, and hospitality. 

As a participant, you will get to engage with live lectures, hands-on exercises, and analyses of prominent properties, gaining insights from industry professionals. You can choose from real estate development, entrepreneurship, and hotel management courses. Each of these includes practical, team-based projects that will earn the students a valuable certificate of attendance upon completion. 

7. Nicklaus Children's Hospital Teen Academic Year Program

Location: Virtual, hybrid, or in-person.  
Application Deadline: No information regarding the application deadline is provided.
Internship Dates: August to May. 
Eligibility:  Applicants must be at least 16 years of age, a high school junior or senior, have an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or better, and have excellent school attendance. record. Applicants must also be enrolled in the M-DCPS Academic Internship program. 

The Teen Academic Year Program at Nicklaus Children's Hospital provides high school juniors and seniors with the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the healthcare field. As a participant, you will rotate through different departments within the hospital, observing and assisting healthcare professionals in their daily tasks. 

This immersive experience allows you to explore diverse medical specialties, from pediatrics to surgery. The program emphasizes developing professional skills such as communication, teamwork, and empathy, which are all essential for a successful medical career. Each student will be paired with a mentor who provides guidance and support throughout the program. 

8. USC Center for a Political Future:  High School Summer Internship Program

Location: Virtual.
Cost: Free.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Internship Dates: The program tends to run from June to August. 
Eligibility: Applicants should be high school freshmen through juniors (graduating seniors don’t qualify) and have a minimum GPA of 3.5.

This internship is for high school students interested in politics, government, and civic engagement. You will get to watch one of their annual signature events, the “Climate Forward Conference,” and complete two major writing projects. The purpose of the projects is to familiarise yourself with the concepts discussed during the conference and to form your own conclusions on the topics discussed. Participating in this program will teach you about climate change, the complexities of passing climate legislation, and the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors regarding global issues like climate change.

Once both projects are complete, you will be acknowledged as a ‘Summer Research Intern for the USC Center for the Political Future and the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies’, and your project(s) will be published on the CPF website.

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

Location: Virtual.
Stipend: Unpaid.
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.

10. American Psychological Association (APA)

Location: Virtual.
Stipend: Paid and unpaid (varies based on the specific program you apply to). 
Application Deadline: Varies based on the internship.
Internship Dates: Year-long dates available (spring, summer, fall, winter).
Eligibility: Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. and must reside in one of the states where APA is a registered employer. Applicants under 18 must submit a District of Columbia Work Permit.

The APA Internship Program is a well-regarded opportunity for students and recent graduates interested in pursuing careers in psychology and related fields. This program offers hands-on experience in psychology, public policy, and research beyond what is typically covered in academic settings. As an intern, you will engage in meaningful projects under the mentorship of experienced professionals, gaining exposure to the inner workings of a leading psychological organization. 

The APA Internship Program allows participants to deepen their understanding of psychological practices and policies while developing essential skills such as research, communication, and advocacy. This program fosters a collaborative environment where you can work alongside peers who share your passion for psychology, enhancing your professional networks and preparing you for successful careers.

11. SPARK Summer Internship Program Fields 

Location: Virtual. 
Stipend: Up to $500.
Application Deadline: March – April.
Program Dates: June – August. 
Eligibility: Must be a high school student in grades 9-12 for the current school year and a U.S. citizen.

The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SPARK SIP) connects high school students with mentors, industry professionals, and academics from universities while they work on innovative STEM projects. The program aims to give high school students a taste of a professional work atmosphere. As an intern, you should be able to work between 20 and 40 hours a week. 

Every project in the program has specific requirements. For example, candidates for a previous internship focused on "DNA Sequence Classification based on Electrical Signatures" were required to have some experience with machine learning and scientific computing and be proficient in Python. Be sure to take a look at the eligibility criteria for the programs you apply to! 

12S.E.V.I.E.R. Ready Internship Program

Location: Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, TN.
Stipend: Some internship opportunities offer stipends. 
Application Deadline: This is an all-year-round program. 
Internship Dates: Depends on the internship or job shadowing opportunity you apply to. 
Eligibility: Applicants must be juniors or seniors. However, some positions within the program require students to be 18, but others don’t. 

Sevier County Schools’ S.E.V.I.E.R. Ready Internship Program is designed to bridge the gap between high school and high-demand, high-skill careers. Its purpose is to provide students with learning opportunities that are difficult to come by in the classroom. This program is a work-based learning opportunity that typically offers 14 categories of internship and job shadowing programs. 

As a participant, you will get to experience and prepare for a variety of possible careers, which will ultimately help you find a career path that interests you. You will get hands-on experience and get to work with professionals in the field, developing your knowledge of the industry and your critical thinking skills. 

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. 

Previous
Previous

12 Internships for High School Students in New Mexico

Next
Next

10 Marine Biology Internships for High School Students in California