What’s Covered:
- 20 High School Internships in Houston
- How Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
From building valuable life skills to gaining work experience to exploring potential career paths, there are numerous ways high schoolers benefit from participating in internships. Another reason to consider an internship in high school is that it can improve your college profile and boost your odds of getting accepted into college. Internships show admissions officers that you’re serious about your future and willing to pursue potential career paths.
Students in the Houston area who are interested in an internship will want to check out the opportunities below.
20 High School Internships in Houston
1. Houston Methodist Summer Internship Program for High Schoolers
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: 10 weeks (May 30 – August 4, 2023)
Participants in this program receive training in a translational research lab and build valuable skills as they work on active research projects led by faculty mentors. The program consists of a professional development component that teaches students about college selection, scholarship applications, and scientific writing.
Interns are also provided with networking events, guest speaker presentations, and activities like attending sporting events. The program culminates in a presentation in which students showcase the findings of their research at a symposium in front of some of Houston Methodist’s leading scientists.
2. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Application deadline: February 3, 2023
Duration: 10 weeks (June 5 – August 11, 2023)
This 10-week program for Texas high school seniors provides firsthand experience in a research environment and insight into the numerous career opportunities at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Over the course of the program, participants tackle a research project in a biomedical field under the guidance of full-time faculty and listen to seminars on a wide variety of research topics.
The program is open only to high school seniors in Texas interested in a career in an allied health discipline. At the conclusion of the program, participants receive a $6,000 stipend.
3. Baylor College of Medicine Student Helper
Application deadline: February 3, 2023
Duration:Unspecified duration—summer internships run from June to August
Baylor College of Medicine’s internship programs offer high schoolers the chance to learn about operations, administration, and research while building real-world experience in a professional setting. Student helper positions are available in a variety of fields, including:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Molecular and Human Genetics
- Pathology
Requirements, job duties, and compensation vary depending on the internship.
4. University of Houston Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: 10 weeks
High school students interested in biomedical, bioengineering, and health-oriented professions will want to check out this competitive summer internship. Participants are given instruction in basic lab techniques and undertake a research project led by a scientist or graduate student. At the end of the program, students present their research, some of which may contribute to research publications.
5. NASA STEM Engagement Internships
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: 10 weeks
NASA provides internship opportunities to high schoolers at its Johnson Space Center in Houston. Internships are available in a variety of fields, ranging from engineering and research to administration. Participants are typically expected to work 40 hours a week and receive a stipend at the program’s end.
6. Moran Ecoteen Summer Volunteer Program
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: 2 weeks
High school volunteers play an essential role at the Houston Museum of Science, assisting teachers and working with campers at the Museum’s Summer Science Camp classes. Some volunteers are also trained to give exhibit hall presentations to visitors using Museum specimens and artifacts. Participants leave the program having built resume-improving skills and having grown their network of like-minded peers.
The program is open to rising freshmen through juniors between the ages of 14 and 18.
7. Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land SciTeen Program
Application deadline: March 25, 2023
Duration: Minimum 4 weeks
Participants in the Houston Museum of Science Sugar Land SciTeen Program enhance the experience of visitors by leading them through interactive demonstrations and presentations. Over the course of the program, students meet like-minded peers, bolster their resumes and college profiles, and build skills that will serve them well in future endeavors.
The program is open to high school students in grades 9 through 12. Participants must commit to a minimum of four weeks of service over the summer.
8. Children’s Museum Houston Discovery Squad
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Teens between the ages of 14 and 17 can volunteer to become a member of the Discovery Squad at the Children’s Museum Houston. Discovery Squad members assist with exhibits, activities, and programming both during the summer and throughout the school year. Participants are asked to complete a minimum of 75 service hours.
9. Diverse Works Art Administration Internships
Application deadline: May 8, 2023
Duration:Unspecified duration—summer internships run from June to August
Students interested in careers as curators, artists, or arts administrators will want to check out this excellent opportunity. Diverse Works interns play an important role in the production of the organization’s programs and events, and get hands-on experience in a handful of art-related duties—including assisting artists, marketing, promotion, member management, and events.
Interns should be strong communicators—both written and verbal—with a deep understanding of fields like art history, theatre, dance, studio art, and literature. A small stipend is awarded at the conclusion of the internship.
College students seeking academic credit are given preference; high schoolers will need to spotlight their competence and passion for the arts to earn this opportunity.
10. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Volunteering
Application deadline: February 3, 2023
Duration: N/A
Volunteering at Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts is an excellent opportunity for creative high schoolers. Volunteers work in a variety of positions, including greeting guests, helping in the MFA shop, performing clerical work, facilitating children’s art projects, and leading tours.
In addition to providing valuable service and supporting art appreciation, MFA Houston offers some perks to volunteers, such as free admissions and a discount at the MFA shop—the more you volunteer, the better the benefits become.
11. Communities in Schools of Houston Summer Legal Internship Program
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: 8 weeks
This awesome internship places high school juniors and seniors in positions at Houston-area law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest agencies. The program aims to expose interns to potential careers in the legal field and provide them with the work experience, job readiness, and life skills needed for a successful future. This is a paid opportunity.
12. Lazarus Energy Empowerment Program (LEEP)
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Yearlong
This yearlong internship opportunity prepares students to join the workforce and introduces them to a variety of career paths in the energy sector. Throughout the program, participants work on personal development—sharpening skills like mindset, social awareness, planning, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. Students also receive support for their future undertakings through college guidance and career preparation.
13. Sewa USA – ASPIRE Lead Internship
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Sewa USA’s ASPIRE internships allow young adults to engage with and serve their communities—its Lead internship is a summer program aimed at high school students. Lead interns receive the mentorship of college-level interns and work in activities ranging from assisting with projects to interacting with community members. Lead interns are also invited to take part in networking events and speaker events.
Lead interns typically perform 8-15 hours of service a week over the summer and are expected to complete 50 hours of total service.
14. Hire Houston Youth (HHY)
Application deadline: Varies
Duration: 8 weeks
HHY connects Houston youth between the ages of 16 and 24 to paid eight-week internships and jobs over the summer. Opportunities are available in the private, public, and philanthropic sectors. Since 2016, more than 26,000 youth have taken part in the HHY program.
15. Houston Food Bank Student Heroes
Application deadline: First week of May
Duration:Unspecified duration—summer session runs from June to August
Student Heroes build leadership skills, bolster their resumes and college profiles, and support their communities. Participants will help train volunteers, host a food drive, and learn about food insecurity—they’ll also attend professional development workshops to help build skills. Students are expected to commit to four shifts a month and contribute a total of 50 hours of service.
The program is open to high schoolers in grades nine through 12.
16. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Internship
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee offers a variety of internship opportunities, including internships in her Houston District Office. Interns are asked to assist with a variety of day-to-day office work, such as answering phones, writing letters, and assisting with media clips. Interns may also work on constituent cases or district-based projects.
17. Talbots Retail Internship
Application deadline: February 3, 2023
Duration: N/A
Graduating seniors with an interest in fashion or related businesses will want to take a look at the Talbots Retail Internship—positions are available in 10 cities across the nation, including Houston. Interns gain hands-on experience in specialty retail under the guidance of an assigned mentor, participate in a variety of learning activities, and listen to talks from Talbots’s leaders.
Interns are expected to work at least 20 hours a week, and some nights and weekends may be required. An interest in fashion or a related business will help in securing an internship.
18. DPR Construction’s Build Up High School Internship
Application deadline: March 31, 2023
Duration: 8 weeks
DPR Construction provides Build Up Internships in numerous cities across the U.S., including Houston. Internships are open to rising juniors and seniors from families with incomes below the HUD median family income. Interns work side by side with project teams while learning what it takes to manage multimillion-dollar projects—including the technology used for planning, scheduling, and designing projects, and the wide range of professionals needed to complete large construction projects.
Interns are expected to work between 35 and 40 hours a week over the internship’s eight weeks. Interns are paid an hourly wage and travel stipends are available.
19. BP Bridge Program
Application deadline: June 2023
Duration: N/A
The BP Bridge Program is aimed at rising Houston seniors from groups underrepresented in higher education. The program provides students with development, mentorship, and experience, as well as the skills needed to transition from high school to college.
Students are awarded a scholarship at the completion of the summer program. Continuing mentorship and training are available after the program’s conclusion.
20. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Application deadline: January 12, 2023
Duration: 8 weeks
While not exactly a local internship, the Bank of America Student Leaders program connects community-minded students to local nonprofits to participate in paid internships. The program connects more than 300 students from over 100 communities to internships.
Students gain experience and serve their communities while working 35 hours a week over the program’s eight weeks. The program concludes with a weeklong Student Leaders Summit held in Washington, D.C.—travel, accommodations, meals, and fees are covered by the program.
The program is open to high school juniors and seniors living in eligible markets, like Houston.
How Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Extracurricular activities like internships play a considerable role in college admissions, particularly at selective colleges. At top schools, applicants all generally have stellar academic records and extracurricular activities are one way to separate yourself from the competition.
The influence an internship has on your college admissions odds varies—the 4 tiers of extracurricular activities provide a good guideline for understanding their effect on your chances of acceptance. High-ranking Tier 1 and 2 extracurriculars are quite rare and demonstrate outstanding achievement, so they hold substantial weight with admissions officers, whereas Tier 3 and 4 activities are more common, are less prestigious, and have less sway.
Generally, any given internship will fall under Tier 2 or 3, depending on the internship’s selectivity and prestige, as well as the responsibilities interns have to take on. Internships are less common than typical Tier 4 activities, but are not quite as rare and distinguished as typical Tier 1 activities.
CollegeVine’s free chancing calculator can help you see how your extracurricular activities stack up, adding clarity to your college admissions profile and insight into your chances at admission. It can also illuminate the strengths and weaknesses of your profile, showing you what to highlight and where to improve.