20 High School Internships in Boston in 2025
What’s Covered:
Internships provide a host of benefits to high school students. For example, they grant students a glimpse into future career paths, help build job skills, and provide real-world experience. Another benefit of internships is that they look great on a college resume—they show admissions officers maturity, responsibility, and a willingness to pursue a field of interest. As an added bonus, many internships are paid, which demonstrates financial responsibility and can help pay for college.
Boston is home to a multitude of renowned colleges, universities, organizations, and businesses; consequently, there is no shortage of great internship opportunities for local students.
20 Best High School Internships in Boston
1. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Application deadline: Placements are rolling throughout the year
Duration: Six weeks
More than 150 internship opportunities are available to underrepresented, low-income students at small life science and research institutions across Massachusetts. Students must be at least 16 years old at the start of the internship and from a high school that fits into one of a few descriptive criteria.
Both full-time and part-time six-week internships are available and interns are paid $17 an hour. Some interns also receive pre-internship lab training in biotechnology/biomedical and professional skills development.
2. BU RISE Internship
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Six weeks
The BU RISE Internship is primarily a six-week residential program for high school juniors, although some students commute. Interns work 40 hours a week on a research project under the mentorship of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. In addition to hands-on research experience, students also participate in workshops designed to build academic and professional skills.
Research opportunities are available in a variety of fields, including:
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Biomedical engineering
- Chemistry
- Computer science
- Electrical and computer engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Medical laboratory research
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Psychology
- Public health
Applicants are required to submit three essays and a letter of recommendation.
3. GROW (Greater Boston Research Opportunities for Young Women)
Application deadline: April 28
Duration: Six weeks
Rising high school seniors who have an interest in performing science research will love this six week internship that runs from June 30 to August 8. Participants will conduct research at Boston University labs in a collaborative group setting. In addition to getting hands-on experience in the lab five days a week, participants will also get to set goals for their research and themselves with Program Managers, attend lectures from guest speakers in the field, and present their research at the end of the internship in a summer symposium. Upon completion of the internship, students will receive a stipend of $1,500.
While you must live within a 30 mile radius of the greater Boston area, this program does prioritize students who live within the immediate metropolitan area.
4. Mass General Hospital (MGH) Youth Scholars Program
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
This program for high schoolers in grades 9-12 from Boston, Chelsea, and Revere seeks to increase student awareness of careers in science and healthcare along with providing academic support through high school and college. Participants in the program have gone on to achieve success on every level. Of the 186 participants between 2012 and 2019, 100% have graduated from high school, 87% have entered post-secondary education, 53 have graduated from college, and seven have earned graduate degrees.
5. Museum of Science Academic Year/Summer Youth Internship Program
Application deadline: Varies by program
Duration: Varies by program
The Museum of Science offers both paid and unpaid internship opportunities to high schoolers between the ages of 14 and 19. Interns work either during the academic year or in the summer on a multitude of projects and tasks, gaining a behind-the-scenes view of how the museum operates. Interns are also provided with weekly workshops covering a variety of useful topics, such as financial literacy and resume writing, plus field trips to important cultural sites and local colleges.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Science Institute (RSI)
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Six weeks
This prestigious cost-free program only accepts 100 of the world’s most accomplished high school student juniors and provides them with the chance to experience the research cycle from start to finish. The first week of the program is spent taking intensive STEM classes. Students spend the following five weeks conducting an individual research project under the mentorship of experienced scientists and researchers.
It’s recommended that applicants have a minimum 740 SAT Math Score and a minimum Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score of 700, or a minimum 33 ACT math score and 34 verbal score. Applicants are also required to submit an essay detailing their STEM goals and provide two letters of recommendation.
7. Paul Revere House One-Week Internship
Application deadline: April 30
Duration: One week (July 21 – 25)
Budding historians, this one’s for you! Students entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grade are eligible to apply for this internship that allows you to work directly with the museum staff at Paul Revere House to gain an understanding of how history museums function and create content. Participants will do both independent and group work with their fellow interns under the guidance of experienced staff. No prior expertise of Paul Revere, the American Revolution, or museum logistics is required to apply.
8. Northeastern Young Scholars Program (YSP)
Application deadline: Application closed for 2025
Duration: Six weeks
Massachusetts residents who are rising juniors and dream of a career in science or engineering will want to check out the YSP. This free program enables participants to gain firsthand research experience working in Northeastern University’s laboratories. YSP also provides participants with education and career counseling, seminars exploring career paths, and field trips to see engineers in action. Students also gain familiarity with what life is like at college.
An even number of male and female participants are chosen to participate in the program and an attempt is made to select students from a diverse range of demographic backgrounds. That said, priority is given to students with low access to similar programs who live within commuting distance of Northeastern.
9. Tufts University Biomedical Engineering Research Scholars (TUBERS)
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Six weeks
TUBERS is a free program for talented high schoolers over the age of 16. The beginning of the program is spent at Tufts’ biomedical engineering labs learning about general research techniques while the final weeks are devoted to focusing on a project in a particular field. Participants are encouraged to use their projects to participate in local and national science competitions. Applicants are required to submit a reference letter detailing their interest in science from a science teacher.
10. Museum of Fine Arts Boston Teen Programs
Application deadline: Rolling until May
Duration: 12 months
This 12-month paid program is an awesome opportunity for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with an interest in the arts—the program is open to Boston residents and attendees of Boston public schools. Participants are able to get a firsthand look at the inner workings of the museum, enjoy its collections, and engage in studio art classes as well as workshops with artists, leaders, and innovators.
11. Artists for Humanity Teen Jobs
Application deadline: Rolling
Duration: Varies by program
Artists for Humanity—an organization dedicated to providing under-resourced teens the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in art and design—recruits high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to work in its creative studios. To qualify, students must be at least 14 and must be a Boston resident or attend a Boston public school.
Participants work with professional artists in a variety of fine art and design mediums while working in seven creative studios—3D Design, Animation, Creative Tech, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, and Video.
Participants must complete a 36-hour unpaid apprenticeship (which doubles as community service hours) before becoming paid employees.
12. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Boston public school students with an interest in finance and banking will want to check out the TIP program. This program provides income-eligible students who’ve completed their sophomore year with work experience in a bank along with job coaching and skills workshops on topics like workplace success and personal financial stability.
13. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeship
Application deadline: Rolling
Duration: Varies by program
The AEOP has internship opportunities at sites in both Cambridge and Boston. The program provides students with the chance to immerse themselves in research—working with high-tech equipment and employing cutting-edge techniques under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers. Participants are also provided with workshops focused on college readiness and professional skills.
Interns are given an educational stipend, which varies depending on the location and length of the internship.
14. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Office of Workforce Development Student Training Academic-year Internship Program
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Eight months (8-15 hours weekly from October to June)
Dana-Farber’s Office of Workforce Development Student Training Academic-year Internship Program is an eight-month program that enables students to intern in a hospital department aligned with their interests. Through the program, students build professional and personal skills via mentorship, student retreats, and college tours.
The program is open to rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are Boston residents and are affiliated with one of the following:
- Fenway High School
- John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics & Science
- Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
- Sociedad Latina
- Youth Enrichment Services
Eligible applicants need to possess a minimum 2.0 GPA. Furthermore, they must be able to commit to working 8 to 15 hours a week for the duration of the program, and to enroll in the following summer program.
15. Ragon Institute Summer Experience (RISE)
Application deadline: February 28
Duration: Seven weeks (from June to August)
RISE aims to increase the interest of students from groups underrepresented in medical research and immunology, and inspire them to consider careers in the field. This paid, 25-hour/week internship pairs students with mentors and assigns them to lab projects. Students also participate in a variety of activities such as coursework in immunology, lectures, and workshops.
Participants are chosen from schools within commuting distance of Cambridge and priority is given to gateway communities like Cambridge, Boston, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Brockton, and Chelsea. The program is open to rising seniors with an interest in STEM. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement of interest and letters of recommendation.
16. LEAH Knox Scholars Program
Application deadline: Applications are typically open from January to March; closed for 2025
Duration: Two years (Across summers and academic years)
This research experience is aimed at rising high school juniors and seniors within commuting distance of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Participants will conduct research and learn quantitative methods, data analysis, coding, and molecular biology techniques while also building college readiness skills. Students conclude the program by presenting their research findings at a symposium.
In their first summer, Knox Scholars participate in an intensive lab experience at MIT. During the school year, they have access to a paid STEM Teaching Internship, mentorship, monthly STEM events, and college visits. In their second summer, Knox Scholars have access to support with college applications and possible placements in an external university or industry lab. Participants can earn up to $2,250 over the course of the summer and $2,500 during the academic year!
Students of color and from low-income backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply for this internship. Applicants are required to respond to four short-answer questions and submit a letter of recommendation and resume.
17. Boston Public Library Teen Volunteer Program
Application deadline: Rolling
Duration: Varies by cohort
High schoolers in grades 9-12 are invited to volunteer at the Boston Public Library. Students build career and customer service skills and participate in career-readiness workshops on topics such as resume writing and interview skills.
This program is available at a host of sites throughout the city—Brighton, Central Library (Teen Central and Children’s Library), Codman Square, Connolly, Grove Hall, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury Branch, and West Roxbury.
Volunteers assist in a variety of library tasks, such as creating book lists, shelving books, building displays, and locating missing books.
18. New England Aquarium Teen Internships
Application deadline: Application closed for 2025
Duration: Seven weeks
The New England Aquarium offers two internship tracks for high school students interested in marine sciences and protecting our world’s oceans. Visitor Services Assistants will focus on customer service and making sure visitors have a positive experience at the aquarium. Interpretation and Engagement Aquarium Guides will help teach visitors about animals and ocean conservation. The internship is listed as a paid position and most internships are open to residents of Boston and Cambridge.
19. Boston Society for Architecture Arch/Design High School Internship
Application deadline: N/A
Duration: Six weeks (July 7 – August 15, 2025)
The Architecture/Design High School Internship allows high school students to explore the field of architecture during an immersive six-week program at local architecture firms. Participating firms range in size, approach, and focus, allowing new and returning interns to experience a fresh new perspective on the field every summer! Across the six weeks, students will engage with architecture in the city through hands-on neighborhood tours, and will connect with firms and other interns.
20. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Judicial Youth Corps Program
Application deadline: Rolling
Duration: 6.5 weeks
The Judicial Youth Corps is a summer job program where students learn about the Massachusetts court system and rule of law. Students work four days a week for 6.5 weeks in one of the Suffolk County courts and also participate in educational sessions, where they learn about the law and the legal field.
During the program, students are mentored by and interact with real judges, lawyers, clerks, probation officers, and other court officials. In August, participants can choose to partake in a mock trial in federal court.
Participants earn $15 an hour and work 25 hours a week. To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of Boston or a Boston Public School student in grades 10, 11, or 12. They must also be in good academic standing and must have a social security number to work in the court system.
How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Participating in internships can influence your chances at college admission, but this depends on many factors, including the scope of the internship, its prestige, your role and performance, the institution’s connections to or sponsorships by certain colleges, and even how much weight a college places on extracurricular activities in general.
There are four tiers of extracurricular activities that colleges think about when reviewing applicants’ activities. Selective, competitive, and prestigious activities are often found in the top tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2. Tier 1 includes things such as being a highly recruited basketball player or an award-winning national science fair competitor. Tier 2 is similar, but is usually reserved for activities that are more common than those in Tier 1. Tiers 3 and 4 are reserved for more common extracurricular achievements, such as holding school leadership positions or being a member of a debate team.
Do you want to get a sense of how the internship you participated in might change your admissions chances at your dream college? CollegeVine has created a free chancing calculator to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of different colleges and universities! It uses a multitude of factors such as your high school grades, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities, while also providing feedback on how you can improve your odds.
