Editor's Note: While we've confirmed information as of the publishing date, summer information for 2022 is changing daily. Please click the links to the individual internships below to confirm details.

Summer Internships For Boston High School Students

Museum of Science – Boston

Ages: Ages 14-19, enrolled in a high school or equivalent program
Application due: TBD; applications open mid-February 2022

The Summer Youth Internship Program at Boston’s Museum of Science (MOS) is a coveted summer internship opportunity for current high school students. For seven weeks in July and August, MOS interns work three days a week in a professional setting to gain unique experiences related to museum operations, educational programs, and behind-the-scenes structural work. This summer internship is a paid opportunity. Additional benefits include weekly professional development trainings, discounts at the museum store and cafe, free admission to the MOS, and more.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Youth Summer Program – Boston

Ages: At least 16 years old by June 1, 2022
Application due: TBD; applications open in March 2022

This paid summer internship allows high school students to expand their knowledge and grow their interest in the field of health care. Working in the months of July and August, interns gain invaluable experience by working in a specified hospital department alongside healthcare professionals. The Brigham and Women’s Hospital works closely with the Boston Private Industry Council, as well as community programs, to select students at specific schools through an application process. Please note that to be eligible for this program, a student must be a resident of Boston.

Project TEACH – Boston

Ages: Rising 10th graders
Application due: TBD

Another paid summer internship through the Brigham and Women’s Hospital is the Project Teach program, which stands for Teen Education About Careers in Health. Through this age-specific program, rising high school sophomores learn about healthcare careers through workshop opportunities, research projects, life skills seminars, and much more. There is also a heavy focus on strengthening math and science knowledge for participants as they continue through their high school careers.

The Research Science Institute gives teens amazing opportunities at MIT. Photo courtesy of Research Science Institute

Research Science Institute – Cambridge

Ages: Current high school juniors (not applicable for seniors); US/International students
Application due: February 11, 2022

The Center for Educational Excellence hosts this program each summer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. This unpaid, tuition-free internship is a very competitive one, with specific recommendations for applicants to have scored a certain threshold on their PSATs. 80 students from the US and around the world are invited to attend the Research Science Institute (RSI) to dive into science and engineering coursework, as well as research in science and technology. Teens prepare an entire research project, with the support of mentors and professors, and present their findings in a final presentation during the last week of the internship. 

Boston Children’s Hospital Summer Teen Program – Boston

Ages: At least 17 years old by March 1, 2022, ages 17 and 18
Application due: TBD; check the website in February

Have a teen interested in the inner workings of pediatric care and children’s hospitals? Look no further than the Summer Teen volunteer program at the Boston Children’s Hospital. This unpaid volunteer program is an opportunity for older teens to train and work at outpatient clinics and in roles related to customer services. The commitment includes specific shifts and times for six weeks during the summer. Teens submit an application and attend an in-person interview as part of the initial process.

  
Former high school intern Fatima Sidibe, photo courtesy of the New England Aquarium

New England Aquarium Summer Teen Internship – Boston

Ages: High school students, Boston and Cambridge residents only
Application due: TBD; check website for updates

Ready to make a splash? At the New England Aquarium, teens can dive headfirst into marine and climate science, as well as learn valuable communication and management skills during seven weeks as an intern. This is a paid summer internship that includes one week of training and six weeks of work at the aquarium. Workshops and educational sessions are included. 

UMass High School Health Career Program – Worcester

Ages: Sophomores & juniors enrolled in a Massachusetts high school, MA residents only
Application due: March 1, 2022

The UMass High School Health Career Program (HSHCP) is designed for current high school students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. For four weeks, participants stay in residence halls at Worcester State University, provided with daily lunch meal tickets. There are job shadow opportunities, classes with academic assignments, seminars, and many more academically geared opportunities for students to further their skills. Students also complete a research project. Upon successful completion of the program, each participant receives a certificate and stipend. 

Photo courtesy of Smith College.

Smith College Summer Pre-College Programs – Northampton

Ages: Young women, gender-nonconforming, female-identified high school students entering grades 9-12 in fall 2022
Application due: March 1, 2022 (priority deadline), accepted on a rolling basis until filled

We wanted to include a couple of pre-college programs as robust, intensive options for high school students to explore. To be clear, these are not internships; they are residential academic programs for high school students. Most require an application fee, a tuition payment, and a deposit before the program starts. There are financial aid opportunities for which students can apply. Depending on the program, the programs occur in July and/or August, and topics include a Creative Writing Workshop, Summer Science and Engineering Program, College Readiness Workshop, Women–Gender and Representation, and Sustainable Futures.

RISE Internship/Practicum at Boston University – Boston

Ages: Current high school juniors
Application due: February 14, 2022

It’s time to head off to college… well, almost. High school juniors can spend six weeks during the summer at BU, mentored by instructors in laboratory research. The Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) program offers students two tracks: an internship or a practicum. Students conduct research and present the findings of their final project at a concluding symposium. This program does have a hefty tuition price, as well as a $1,000 mandatory deposit (goes towards tuition) to secure a spot if selected during the application process. Limited financial aid is available.

Year-Round Internships For Boston High School Students

 
Photo courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Museum of Fine Arts Teen Programs – Boston

Ages: Email for details
Application due: Currently accepted on a rolling basis

Although not technically labeled as “internships,” the opportunities for teens at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts are definitely worth the application and experience. During the 12-month program, teens are immersed in a plethora of learning and cultural opportunities, including professional development sessions and workshops with community members and artists. Options for internships include the Teen Arts Council, STEAM Team, and Curatorial Study Hall. This is a paid program with teens earning $13.50/hour.

Student Success Jobs Program – Boston

Ages: Sophomores and juniors at specific Boston public high schools
Application due: Email for details 

The Brigham and Women’s Hospital offers opportunities for high school students, in addition to the two summer programs listed above, to engage in a year-round internship program. 90 Boston high schoolers are offered the opportunity to be mentored in the fields of healthcare, medicine, and science. Additionally, students gain support through seminars and learning opportunities related to college applications and tutoring sessions. 

Artists For Humanity Teen Jobs – Boston

Ages: Freshman, sophomores, and juniors at least 14 years old attending a Boston area school
Application due: Accepted on a rolling basis

Calling all artists! Artists For Humanity (AFH) is an organization that offers jobs for teenagers interested in multiple areas of art and design. There are six studio-based areas of work, including creative technology, painting, photography, video production, 3D design, and graphic design. Students work alongside professional artists, initially completing an unpaid apprenticeship (which counts towards community service hours), and then becoming a paid employee. Before applying, everyone interested must attend an AFH Open House tour. Dates and times are listed on the website.

Looking for more information on jobs and career resources for teens? Check out the Boston Public Library’s resource page.

​Some of the photos in this post were taken before the pandemic.