10 Public Policy Internships for High School Students
If you’re a high school student looking to pursue a career in public policy, chances are you’re looking at applying for internships. Internships in public policy are a gateway to understanding the mechanisms of policymaking and the impact of legislative decisions on communities.
Additionally, pursuing an internship can enhance your college application by demonstrating your commitment to public policy. This shows initiative and real-world experience, which are key elements that admission officers look for in applicants!
In this blog, we've compiled a list of ten public policy internships for high school students!
Cost: $1990. Financial aid is offered.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Applications for the Summer II cohort close on June 26, 2024.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from public policy, tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. Student Volunteer Trainee Program with the U.S. Department of Education
Cost: No cost.
Location: Washington DC.
Application Deadline:
- Summer Internship Period - Apply by February 15, 2024.
- Fall Internship Period - Apply by June 15, 2024.
Program Dates: The program has two start dates, one in June and one in September. It continues for a duration of 8-10 months
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply.
Through this internship, you work under the U.S. Department of Education and contribute to the current work undertaker at the department’s program offices. Although there are numerous avenues, if you’re interested in public policy, we recommend choosing to work as an education policy analyst.
In this role, you will aid the Policy Planning and Innovation Department in its goal of providing inclusive financial assistance and understanding the roadblocks in providing quality education to students.
Apart from the work, you will also have the brown bag lunch series, which are informal lunchtime sessions with senior officials (a great opportunity to network), and guided tours of significant landmarks and institutions in Washington, D.C.
3. Tucker Center Gender Equity Summer Internship Program
Cost: No cost.
Location: Hybrid blend of in-person and/or virtual.
Note. In-person presence is required only for a 2-3 day retreat at the end of the internship.
Application Deadline: March 15 of the internship year.
Program Dates: Typically runs for seven weeks, starting mid-June through July. 20 hours per week (10 hours per week for high school interns).
Eligibility:
- Students planning to pursue graduate school.
- High school students are eligible.
- Non-US citizens can apply if they are currently located in the US and have a visa that allows them to work.
As an intern with the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women on Sport, you will have the opportunity to conduct extensive reviews of existing academic and non-academic literature related to gender equity. Additionally, you will also participate in the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. Using this data, you will work closely with your mentors to prepare reports covering the research’s findings and insights!
Note that although this program accepts high school students, it is primarily targeted at undergraduate and graduate students. Therefore, your admission into this program is an excellent display of your academic caliber and ability to cope with the rigors of university.
4. U.S. Department of the Treasury Student Internship Programme
Cost: Stipend provided.
Location: Washington DC.
Application Deadline:
- Spring Internship Period (January-May): Apply in October.
- Summer Internship Period (May-August): Apply in December.
- Fall Internship Period (September-December): Apply in June.
Program Dates: It runs three times a year: over spring, summer, and fall.
Eligibility:
- Open to students from all backgrounds pursuing post-secondary degrees.
- Non-U.S. citizens can apply if they are currently located in the U.S. and have a visa that allows them to work.
If you’re interested in interning with a federal agency, opting for the U.S. Department of Treasure internship is a solid choice. Your duties in this internship include collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to support policy priorities, researching and summarizing academic literature, and drafting reports for Treasury leaders and stakeholders.
Apart from that, you will attend and report on relevant Congressional hearings, official meetings, and conferences, interact with Treasury colleagues, and contribute to key elements of the U.S. Treasury, such as budget formulation, human capital planning, and more!
5. Close Up Foundation’s Washington D.C. High School Program
Cost: Not specified.
Location: Washington, DC.
Application Deadline: Not specified.
Program Dates: Not specified (Typical duration is six days and five nights).
Eligibility: Must be under the age of 18 and enrolled in high school.
Although not a traditional internship, The Close Up Foundation’s Washington D.C. High School Program is a unique educational trip that allows you to experience the U.S. political system firsthand. Over six days and five nights, you can engage with various aspects of government, enhancing your understanding of how the U.S. political system operates and the role that you can play within it.
Some of the experiences that you will gain through this program are discussing current issues with members of Congress or policymakers, witnessing a live committee hearing so see how policy is formulated, and also having the chance to interact with ambassadors or diplomats to discuss their work experience and career path!
6. Bank of America Student Leaders
Cost: No cost of attending the program, financial support is provided during the eight-week internship period.
Location: The program operates in over 100 communities across the United States, connecting students with local nonprofits for their internships. Additionally, selected students participate in a national leadership summit held in Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: The application process for the 2025 program will open in fall 2024.
Program Dates: The internship program typically runs for eight weeks during the summer month.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with U.S. work authorization and permanent residence in any eligible location.
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Internship is designed for community-minded high school students. The program annually connects 300 students from over 100 communities to skills development and employment, giving them leadership training and work experience. Selected interns are mainly connected with local non-profits Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.
Through this internship, students learn how nonprofits, businesses, and governments work together to meet local needs. Students will further develop civic, social, and business leadership skills. The Student Leaders Summit will provide additional opportunities to learn from professionals and network with peers.
7. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency High School Scholars Internship
Cost: Stipend provided.
Location: Washington, D.C., or Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Application Deadline: Varies; typically aligned with the respective Summer Youth Employment Program application deadlines.
Program Dates: Six-week duration during the summer.
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school junior or senior.
- Must be nominated by a school counselor or administrator.
- Must be a resident of in Washington, D.C., or Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Established in 2019, this six-week paid summer internship program offers students from public and charter schools a chance to immerse themselves in the world of banking regulation and federal government.
Under the HSSIP, students are placed in small training teams where they develop essential skills such as public speaking and communication. They gain firsthand experience of the OCC's mission and its crucial role in ensuring the safety and fairness of the federal banking system.
8. The Center for Civic Innovation (CCI) Internship Program, University of Notre Dame
Cost: Students will be paid $13 per hour.
Location: Internships are based in South Bend and Elkhart, Indiana.
Application Deadline:
- Early Decision: January 8, 2024.
- Regular Decision: March 18, 2024.
Program Dates: June 10 to August 2, 2024
Eligibility: Open to high school students ages 16 and older from the South Bend-Elkhart region.
The Center for Civic Innovation (CCI) Internship Program provides students with an immersive experience in addressing community issues in South Bend and Elkhart. Interns work on diverse projects such as urban planning, sustainability initiatives, and social impact assessments, collaborating with local governments, educational institutions, and community organizations.
This eight-week program involves full-time work where you'll apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges, developing skills in leadership, project management, and design thinking. You'll regularly meet with community leaders and professionals, gaining valuable insights and networking opportunities. This internship is ideal for students looking to make a tangible impact while gaining practical experience and enhancing their resumes with meaningful community work.
9. USC Center for a Political Future: High School Summer Internship Program
Cost: Not specified.
Location: Virtual.
Application Deadline: End of May (tentatively, based on previous year’s deadlines).
Program Dates: June 1, 2024 - August 4, 2024.
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student (graduating seniors do not qualify).
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
As a high school student, you can participate in the USC Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship Program which is held in partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. Interns engage in tasks such as closely watching the annual "Climate Forward Conference," writing detailed summaries, and crafting essays that evaluate and critique the panelists' viewpoints.
Additionally, interns participate in interactive sessions with CPF and Wrigley staff, which include introductions, mid-internship check-ins, and final wrap-ups!
10. Internship with Congressman Jim Himes
Cost: Named stipend programs available during the summer, including the Kevin J. Sutherland Washington, DC Internship and the Jack Bryant Connecticut Internship, each offering $5,400 stipends for a cumulative three-month summer internship.
Location: Internships available in both district offices (Bridgeport and Stamford) and Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: August 9, 2024
Program Dates: Internships conducted throughout the year on both full- and part-time basis.
Eligibility:
- High school and college-level students, recent graduates.
- Priority is given to applicants from Connecticut's 4th Congressional District.
Through this internship opportunity, you will get to work under Congressman Jim Himes in his Bridgeport and Stamford offices. You will gain first-hand experience into the administrative and legislative functions of the congress. This includes conducting research, assisting with constituent casework, and drafting correspondence. You will also play a role in communicating with constituents, from answering phones to gathering opinions.
An added bonus of this internship is that they offer all students the opportunity to apply for need-based stipends!
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. 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.