25 High School Internships in San Jose in 2024
What’s Covered:
High school internships provide students with the chance to explore potential career paths, build job skills, develop leadership qualities, and grow their network of peers and professionals. Other benefits of internships are that they also often offer high schoolers a chance to earn community service hours and money that they can put toward college. Speaking of college, the right internship on a student’s resume can have a huge influence on college admissions.
The San Jose area has no shortage of awesome internship opportunities for high schoolers, from positions at industry-leading companies to world-class healthcare companies, as well as at prestigious schools and organizations dedicated to protecting the region’s natural beauty.
25 High School Internships in San Jose
1. Stanford STaRS Internship Program
Application Deadline: November 3
Duration: Seven weeks (June 17 – August 2)
The STaRS internship program aims to introduce exceptional young people to potential career paths in medicine and biomedical research. Interns in this seven-week program work with experienced mentors on research projects in labs.
The STaRS internship program is free and open to students 16 years of age and older who have an interest in biomedical science, biological science, and healthcare careers. Students from low-income families or under-resourced environments who will be first-generation college students, or who are from underrepresented minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
2. Pediatrics Internship Program (PIP) at Stanford
Application Deadline: February 26
Duration: Six weeks (June 17 – July 26)
This six-week summer program brings together a diverse group of high school students to learn about science, medicine, and research. With the guidance of experienced mentors, PIP participants learn how scientific research is conducted and perform their own research projects.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Application Deadline: February 24
Duration: Eight weeks (June 10 – August 1)
Participants in the SIMR program conduct basic research on medically oriented projects under the guidance of Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and researchers. The aim of SIMR is to introduce students to careers in the biological sciences and medicine. The program culminates in a student presentation of the students’ research projects to family, teachers, and Stanford community members.
The program is open to high school juniors and seniors who are 16 years old or older. Admission to the program is selective—only about 50 students are accepted. All participants are awarded a minimum $500 stipend.
4. Stanford Compression Forum SHTEM Internship
Application Deadline: February 23
Duration: Eight weeks (June 17 – August 9)
The Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SHTEM) internship is open to current 11th and 12th graders along with community college students. This virtual internship introduces students to research transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries and covers far-ranging topics including engineering, the arts, psychology, philosophy, computer science, and design.
The SHTEM internship provides participants with a fantastic opportunity to gain personal experience with cutting-edge research in an academic environment.
5. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Application Deadline: March 31
Duration: Two weeks (June 17 – 28)
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) offers this virtual internship to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12. Students will participate in a variety of activities, including lectures on AI in healthcare, hands-on research projects, and networking events. The aim of this internship is to inspire the next generation of AI pioneers in medicine.
6. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS)
Application Deadline: February 28
Duration: Eight weeks (June 17 – August 8)
Students in this eight-week internship program gain real-life lab experience conducting genomic research under the guidance of a mentor. Students also take part in professional development programs, listen to seminars and panels, explore career paths, and participate in community-building events.
Interns must commit to working 20 hours a week—four hours a day, five days a week—for the duration of the program.
7. The Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center’s Stanford Summer Internship
Application Deadline: March 8
Duration: Two weeks
- Session 1: June 24 – July 5
- Session 2: July 15 – July 26
This summer program is aimed at students with an interest in science and medicine. Interns are introduced to cardiothoracic surgical anatomy and physiology and exposed to surgical techniques, such as dissection, suturing, artery bypass graft, and cardiac valve replacement. Students leave the program with hands-on experience with surgical techniques, a deeper understanding of the principles of cardiac and thoracic disease and surgery, and insight into life as a pre-med and med school student.
Unlike many other internships, there is a fee ($4,500) to participate in this program.
8. Stanford Young Investigators Summer Internship Program
Application Deadline: March 15
Duration: Minimum seven weeks (June – August)
High schoolers interested in sustainability, climate change, earth systems, energy, and environmental science will want to check out this competitive program—between six and 30 scholars are chosen annually from anywhere from 175 to 275 applicants. Interns work in research labs, gaining real-world experience with the scientific process, take lab tours, listen to talks, and take field trips while learning about the broad field of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The program is free and open to all Bay Area high schoolers, however, most scholars have completed two to three years of high school.
9. Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Program
Application Deadline: January 2
Duration: Seven weeks (June 17 – August 2)
Kaiser Permanente offers a variety of internship opportunities at its Oakland headquarters as well as its medical offices across northern California. The intent of the program is to build a pipeline of talent to healthcare careers. KP LAUNCH interns will gain hands-on experience in a variety of non-medical healthcare-related fields, ranging from accounting to communications to human resources to sales and marketing.
This is a paid opportunity and interns can expect to earn between $15.50 and $18 an hour depending on their experience. Interns are also offered the chance to attend skill-building workshops, networking events, and social events.
10. UC Santa Cruz Science Internship Program (SIP)
Application Deadline: March 31
Duration: Nine weeks (June 10 – August 10)
The SIP program allows high schoolers to immerse themselves in scientific research under the mentorship of real scientists. Participants learn valuable skills like how to read professional journal articles, write code for scientific computing, and present scientific concepts orally and in writing. Participants also gain practical experience and skills in a lab and learn how to work collaboratively with other scientists. At the end of the program, participants present their research to their peers, their specific mentor, and other mentors.
If there is a downside to SIP, it’s that it’s a paid program—that is, students must pay to participate. The program costs $4,000, but partial and full need-based scholarships are available.
11. Meta Summer Academy
Application Deadline: March 1
Duration: Six weeks (June 17 – July 26)
Meta Summer Academy allows Bay Area high school sophomores to get a close-up look at the inner workings of one of the world’s leading social media companies—while gaining work experience and building valuable skills. The program is open to sophomores from East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City who have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Students are expected to work 30 hours a week and receive a stipend at the conclusion of the program.
12. Bank of America Student Leaders
Application Deadline: January 17
Duration: Eight weeks
The Bank of America Student Leaders program operates in over 100 communities across the U.S.—including San Jose—pairing students with paid internships at local nonprofits. Through the program, students gain work experience and earn money for college while serving their local communities. The program culminates in an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the weeklong Student Leaders Summit.
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is open to high school juniors and seniors who reside in eligible communities.
13. 3Below Internships
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
The San Jose Playhouse offers unpaid internships to college-aged students; however, it will consider exceptional high school seniors preparing to enter college. Interns gain hands-on experience working alongside professionals in a variety of fields within the performing arts, such as:
- Casting and company management
- Marketing and social media
- Box office and registration
- Development and fundraising
- Education
- Costumes
- Sound
- Electrics and lighting
- Special events
Enrichment activities are available to interns, as are roundtable discussions with members of the playhouse’s artistic and administrative staff. While interns are not paid, they do receive complimentary tickets to productions during their residency.
14. San Jose Stage Company Internships
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
The San Jose Stage Company provides internships to high schoolers interested in careers in theatre. Interns are paid an hourly wage and opportunities are available in a variety of areas, including:
- Sound and lighting
- Backstage support
- Management
- Development
- Marketing and communications
- Audience services
15. Valley Water Youth Commission
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Two years (5-hour commitment per month with quarterly meetings)
The Valley Water Youth Commission is an official board advisory committee that assists the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors with public policy, education, outreach, and all matters that impact the community’s youth.
The commission is made up of 21 high school students (between the ages of 13 and 18) who are residents of Santa Clara County—three youth commissioners are chosen to represent each of the county’s seven districts. Youth commissioners serve a two-year term and are asked to commit five hours a month to the organization.
16. DPR Construction Build Up High School Internship
Application Deadline: April 12
Duration: Eight weeks
No tool belts are needed for this internship in construction management provided by DPS Construction. Interns will work in the job trailer, getting a close-up look at what goes into managing a multi-million dollar building project and gaining experience with the technology used to plan, schedule, and design projects. They will also work hand in hand with project teams to learn about the numerous professionals required to complete large construction projects.
Internships are available in cities across the U.S., including San Jose. Positions are open to rising high school juniors and seniors from families with incomes below the HUD median family income. Interns should expect to work between 35 and 40 hours a week over the internship’s eight weeks. Interns are paid an hourly wage and transportation stipends are available.
17. Education Internships at Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Minimum Six months
Guadalupe River Park and Gardens is a three-mile ribbon of parkland running along the Guadalupe River and through downtown San Jose. It’s also home to a variety of interesting educational internship opportunities for high schoolers in the following fields like animal care and their Community Homeschool Investigators of the River Park (CHIRP) Support Program.
Interns must be at least 16 years old and are asked to commit to at least six months of service.
18. Monterey Bay Aquarium Teen Conservation Leaders
Application Deadline: March 22
Duration: Varies
This internship program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium provides high schoolers with the chance to develop important job and life skills while advocating for the ocean. Program participants will learn the basics of marine biology and ocean conservation while earning community service hours. Opportunities are offered in three tracks—a guest track, an animal care technician track, and a social media track.
The program is open to high schoolers entering their sophomore, junior, and senior years who are at least 14 years old. Teen conservation leaders are asked to complete a weeklong training session and volunteer for approximately eight-hour days as assigned throughout June and July.
19. The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Four weeks
This program, provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission—the agency responsible for coordinating transportation for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area—introduces students to careers in metropolitan planning and government service. Participants will learn how regional agencies operate as well as the skills needed for a career in the public sector. They will also learn the answers to questions like: How long is a bridge supposed to last? Why is housing so expensive? Why are there so many potholes?
The program is open to high schoolers who live in the Bay Area and are at least 16 years old.
20. San José Fire Explorers Post 888
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
This exciting program introduces students to possible careers in fire service. Participants work with members of the San José Fire Department to learn firefighting techniques and build leadership skills while earning community service hours. They also leave the program CPR certified.
The program is open to high schoolers between the ages of 16 and 18 who have an interest in fire service or law enforcement. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to participate.
21. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Volunteer
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is committed to ending hunger in its local community and has a number of volunteer positions open to high schoolers. Volunteer opportunities include sorting food in the warehouse, distributing food at a Second Harvest of Silicon Valley location, or delivering food to the homes of seniors and other homebound people in need.
Students aged 16 and 17 can work independently; however, students between the ages of 12 and 15 require a chaperone. In addition to providing an important service to the community, volunteers can use their hours to fulfill their school’s service requirements.
22. County of Santa Clara Student Internship Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: Varies
The Student Internship Program pairs students with a variety of positions at the County of Santa Clara—the tasks and length of the internships vary depending on the agency or department hosting the internship. No matter where interns are assigned, the program’s mission remains the same: to nurture the educational and professional development of future job candidates.
The program is open to high school students with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
23. Linking Individuals to their Natural Community (LINC) Summer Program
Application Deadline: March 10
Duration: Six weeks (June 18 – August 2)
This summer program provides high school students with service learning and community-building opportunities in the Bay Area. Participants will engage in outdoor activities like camping and kayaking while also working on service projects such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and community cleanups.
Students will also take part in professional development courses aimed at resume building and interviewing, as well as build valuable soft skills like public speaking, teamwork, and communication.
This is a paid opportunity. Students can earn up to a $2,400 stipend for completing the program.
24. Dance Academy USA Office Interns
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
This internship is aimed at high schoolers interested in learning about working in a small family business. Interns work with customers, answer phones, and assist with projects in fields like accounting and advertising. This is a paid opportunity.
25. Port of Oakland Summer Internship
Application Deadline: February 23
Duration: Eight weeks (June 10 – August 2)
Recent high school graduates with an interest in business or multimodal shipping will want to explore this opportunity at the Port of Oakland. Opportunities are available in a number of departments and fields, including:
- Aviation
- Communications
- Contract Compliance
- Engineering
- Environmental Programs & Planning
- Governmental Affairs
- Information Technology
- Maritime
- Planning & Development
- Social Responsibility
Interns gain a variety of real-world experiences, working both in general operations and on projects, gain insight into careers in the public sector, and build skills such as decision making, communication, and analysis.
How Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Extracurricular activities like internships can play a considerable role in college admissions. This is particularly true at selective schools, where they can help differentiate an applicant in a crowded field of candidates who all have outstanding academic records. That said, the influence internships have over your chances of admission varies depending on the internship.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities provide a good guideline for understanding how colleges view your activities outside of the classroom. Tier 1 and Tier 2 extracurriculars are reserved for the most outstanding and rare achievements and can provide a significant boost to your college application. Conversely, Tier 3 and Tier 4 extracurriculars are less prestigious, more common, and hold limited weight with admissions officers.
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—like internships—stack up, and add clarity to your odds of college admission. Our admissions calculator considers a variety of factors, including academic performance, extracurriculars, and demographics to estimate your odds of admission at hundreds of schools across the country.
