A survey conducted with over 11,000 students showed that the majority of respondents are planning to embark on a career in STEM. This is not surprising, considering workers in STEM occupations experience lower rates of unemployment and higher salaries than those in non-STEM occupations.
There are many reasons why you should consider pursuing an internship in a STEM field while you’re still in high school.
Firstly, internships provide valuable work experience that can help you to stand out when applying for jobs or further education programs later on. Secondly, internships can also help you to confirm or explore their interest in a particular field of study or career. And finally, many internships offer great networking opportunities that can lead to additional opportunities down the line.
So how can you find STEM internships as a high school student? In this article, we cover this important topic step-by-step and outline tips to help you research and apply along the way.
What are STEM internships for high school students?
STEM internships for high school students are opportunities to gain work experience in a field related to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). They offer students the chance to learn new skills, explore their interests and develop their professional networks. Many internships also provide an opportunity to earn college credit.
6 Benefits of Taking on a STEM internship
There are many benefits for pursuing a STEM internship as a high school student. Here are just a few for you to consider:
1. Gain work experience: An internship can provide you the chance to learn new skills and gain work experience in a chosen field. This can help you stand out when applying for jobs or further education programs later on.
2. Confirm or explore your interest in a field: An internship can help to confirm or explore your interest in a particular field of study or career. It can be a great way to test out whether a certain area is the right fit for you before making any long-term commitments.
3. Develop your professional network: Many internships offer great networking opportunities. This can be valuable in terms of finding a job or furthering your career opportunities down the line.
4. Learn new skills: An internship provides an opportunity to learn new skills that will be useful in your future career.
5. Earn college credit: As we mentioned above, some internships offer the opportunity to earn college credit, which can be helpful in meeting degree requirements.
6. Get paid: Many internships offer a salary or stipend, which can help to offset the costs of living and studying.
10 of the Best STEM Internships for High School Students
There are a number of excellent STEM internships that you can apply for as a high school student. Here are just a few of the best programs out there:
1. Google Summer of Code
2. The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
3. Microsoft Imagine Cup
4. Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX)
5. National Security Agency's Cybersecurity Internship Program
6. American Association for the Advancement of Science Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program
7. Department of Energy's Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Pathways Internships
9. Environmental Protection Agency's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (EPA-CESER) Internship Program
10. The National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
These are just a few of the many great STEM internships available for high school students.
STEM Internship Websites
If you are interested in pursuing a STEM internship, then you need to start by researching to see what types of internships are out there. Here are a few websites to check out:
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great resource for finding internships. You can use the site's search function to filter internships by location, field, and other criteria.
- Indeed: Indeed is another great website for finding internships. You can search for internships by keyword, location, and other criteria.
- Glassdoor: Glassdoor is a website where you can search for internships and read reviews from current and former interns. This can be a great way to get an inside look at a company or organization before applying for an internship.
- Sphero: Sphero offers a variety of internships in STEM fields, from engineering to product design to marketing. Sphero is committed to transforming the way students in PK-12 learn with hands-on, interactive lessons and programmable robots.
- Careeronestop: Careeronestop is a website that offers a variety of resources for job seekers, including information on internships.
5 Tips for Selecting the Right STEM Internship
Once you have found a few potential internships, it's time to start narrowing down your options. Here are a few tips to help you select the right STEM internship for you:
1. Consider your goals: What are you hoping to get out of your internship experience? Make sure that the program you choose aligns with your goals.
2. Do your research: Be sure to research the company or organization you are interning for. Read reviews from current and former interns, and talk to people who have worked there in the past.
3. Consider the location: Where do you want to intern? Do you prefer an in-person or remote internship? When looking at an in-person company, make sure to consider both the location of the company or organization, as well as the city or town where it is located.
4. Consider the duration: How long do you want to intern? Most internships last between two and three months, but some may be shorter or longer.
5. Consider the compensation: Will you be paid for your internship? If so, how much? If not, is there a stipend or other form of compensation available?
Get Started in STEM with Sphero
Did you know that Sphero robots are trusted in more than 40,000 schools around the world? With Sphero, you’ll gain valuable computational thinking and problem-solving skills, no matter if you are a beginner or an advanced learner, all while having fun. Sphero coding robots, in-depth curriculum, design-and-build kits, and engaging activities and lessons present pathways to jump-start your career in STEM.
If you're interested in getting started in STEM or want to advance your skills in computer science or robotics, visit sphero.com for more information.
