15 Internships for High School Students in Florida
As a high school student, participating in an internship provides you with an excellent opportunity to supplement classroom learning with practical experience. Through these internships, you can develop valuable skills and gain work experience in your chosen field, and have the chance to work under mentors and learn from industry professionals. Additionally, internships offer the opportunity to build a professional network at an early stage.
In Florida, various reputable colleges and organizations, such as Florida International University and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, offer reputable internships. These internships give you access to professional tools and resources and allow you to explore the state’s professional opportunities. Whether you are interested in gaining practical experience in the medical or legal fields or aiming to develop research skills through mentored research internships, Florida offers a wide range of opportunities.
Here are 15 internships for high school students in Florida that you can check out!
Note: Some of the items in this list are not traditional internships but instead are work-learn programs that help you develop similar professional skills.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Various U.S. states, including Florida
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15 (as per previous year)
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors; More info here
The Bank of America Student Leaders program provides high school students with the opportunity to gain practical work experience by placing them in various non-profit organizations across the country. You will have the ability to observe how nonprofits, governments, and businesses collaborate to address local community needs. The program will end with a week in Washington, D.C., during which you will attend the Student Leaders Summit. Throughout your internship, you will develop important civic, social, and business leadership skills.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
While not a traditional internship, Veritas AI serves as a work-learn program and gives you the chance to gain hands-on experience the way you would in a professional organization. It offers several programs to high school students interested in learning more about AI and data science. As a beginner, you can participate in the AI Scholars program, which is a ten-session bootcamp that introduces you to the fundamentals of AI and data science through hands-on, real-world projects. If you’re looking for a more challenging experience, you can participate in the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase program. There, you will get to work on an individual project while under the guidance of a mentor. The program also gives you the chance to publish your work in high school research journals with the help of the in-house publication team.
3. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies based on site and project
Application Deadline: Varies based on site and project
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+); GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale highly recommended; More info available here
The AFRL Scholars Program gives high school and college students the chance to participate in paid research-driven internships. The program is held in different laboratories throughout the U.S., varying by research topic. As a participant, you will work alongside and learn from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers. You will get to explore the world of cutting-edge research and technology, and may even contribute to ongoing research-based projects. While submitting your application, you may choose to apply to up to three topics at each AFRL site.
4. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a selective internship program during which you will get the opportunity to work with high-growth startups that raise over a million dollars on average. Many of these companies offer internships that span fields like tech/deep tech, AI/ML, marketing, journalism, and more. As a Ladder intern, you will work on practical projects and work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach. By the end of your eight-week internship, you will be expected to present your work to the company. You can apply here.
5. Zoo Miami: Teen Squad Volunteers
Location: Zoo Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions in a year, including spring and fall
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students (14+)
Zoo Miami offers a volunteer program for high school students known as Teen Squad Volunteers. The program is divided into two six-month semesters, during which you will support zoo staff and engage with guests in various guest service roles, such as Safari Cycle Rentals, Animal Feeding Sites, and Education Stations. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to develop your customer service and professional skills. You will collaborate with zoo staff and fellow volunteers to foster an eco-conscious community that supports local and global conservation efforts. You’ll also have the chance to build a professional network and improve your problem-solving and teamwork skills.
6. ArtWorks: Internships in the Arts
Location: MDC's Koubek Theater, Miami, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 6 weeks from June to July
Application Deadline: Opens in the spring
Eligibility: Florida high school students (14+) who meet I-9 work eligibility requirements
As a participant in the ArtWorks internship, you will have the chance to work across several art sectors, improving your creative and essential career skills. You can choose to apply to one of the following areas: animation, film, creative writing, music production, dance and theatre, and more. As an intern, you will work under the guidance and mentorship of a professional artist as well as an Arts for Learning staff member. Aside from gaining hands-on work experience, you will also get to network with professionals and your peers.
7. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program
Location: Various labs across the country, including many in Florida
Stipend: $4,000 – $4,500
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: U.S. rising 10th graders to graduating 12th graders (16+)
During the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), you will have the opportunity to work in Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories, actively contributing to ongoing Naval research projects. Throughout the program, you will be guided and mentored by leading scientists and engineers, gaining insights into the Department of the Navy’s science, technology, research, and development initiatives. You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and work on meaningful STEM research. You’ll also get to explore the different science and engineering career options available to you.
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S. (including Florida), Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 8 weeks
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders (16+)
Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program seeks to promote interest in fisheries, aquatic, and environmental science studies, and careers. As a participant, you will have the chance to gain hands-on experience, working alongside fisheries professionals. You may have the chance to work outdoors in the field, on a boat, in a laboratory, or in an office setting. This is a mentored internship opportunity with mentors based across the country. Some of your responsibilities may involve water quality testing, conducting fish population surveys, examining specimens under a microscope, data analysis, and related tasks.
9. FIU: Summer Research Internship
Location: Florida International University, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 12 – August 7
Application Deadline: Opens in the spring
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, or graduated seniors (16+) with an unweighted 3.0 GPA and a strong interest in cardiovascular-related research
During FIU’s Summer Research Internship program, you will learn more about cardiovascular health research. Before the internship starts, you will be matched with an FIU faculty research mentor and will be expected to complete at least five online safety courses. During the program, you will have to split your time between a curriculum component and a research component. In the curriculum component, you will participate in workshops and journal clubs and learn from case studies. During the research component, you will work on a cardiovascular-related research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The internship gives you the chance to improve your critical thinking abilities and gain a deeper understanding of experimental design and research methodologies.
10. FIU-CTS: High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Florida International University, Center for Translational Science, St. Lucie, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: Around 20
Dates: June 9 – July 10 (as per previous year)
Application Deadline: April 8 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in St. Lucie County
The Florida International University Center for Translational Science (FIU-CTS) offers a High School Summer Internship Program during which you will spend five weeks experiencing biomedical science research. Some of the fields you will explore include neuroscience, brain injury and spinal cord injury, drug discovery and delivery, heart and pulmonary physiology, and pathology, and more. As an intern, you will work in state-of-the-art labs, alongside top scientists, and learn how to investigate hypotheses and apply the scientific method, and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. At the end of the program, you will get to present what you learned at the CTS High School Summer Internship Luncheon. You will also receive a participation certificate and a letter signed by the program director.
11. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship
Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 16 – August 8 (as per previous year)
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 31 (as per previous year)
Eligibility: Miami and Broward-area high school juniors who are academically strong
The JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship is for high school students looking to explore the fields of biological and computational sciences. As a participant, you will take part in an eight-week research course, during which you will get to collaborate with faculty and post-doctoral fellows. You’ll also attend seminars and workshops focused on genomics and gene-related disease mechanisms. By the end of the program, you will be expected to deliver a short presentation based on your work and research.
12. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Honors Academic Internship Program
Location: Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 5 hours per week during the academic year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Miami-Dade County Public School juniors or seniors with an unweighted GPA of 2.5; More details here
During the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Honors Academic Internship Program, you will intern with a circuit court or county court judge during the school year. You will be expected to commit at least five hours a week to the internship, but you won’t have to work outside regular court hours. Some of your responsibilities will include carrying out clerical and/or administrative duties and delivering messages for the judge’s office. You will also be expected to make frequent contact with judges and various other personnel.
13. MPFI: Summer Research High School Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 6 weeks
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) in Palm Beach or Martin Counties
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience offers a Summer Research Internship for high school students interested in neuroscience. As a participant, you will get to work alongside MPFI researchers and gain insights into the brain’s structure, function, and development, as well as the advanced imaging techniques and technologies commonly employed in the field. The program offers three tracks: Mechanical Engineering, Neuroscience, and Scientific Programming. In the Neuroscience track, you conduct lab research and gain experience in lab techniques like microscopy and genetics. The Scientific Programming track focuses on developing software programs to analyze brain data. Finally, the Mechanical Engineering track will let you explore mechanical engineering and design, and work with a CAD program called SolidWorks. By the end of the internship, you will be expected to have a written scientific abstract based on your research project and deliver a presentation on it.
14. Miami-Dade County: Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)
Location: Various organizations in Miami-Dade County, Miami, FL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th gradersv(15-18) in Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County offers a Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) where high school students have the chance to gain practical work experience. As an intern, you will work with one of several organizations in Miami-Dade County. You will get to build and improve your professional skills, explore various career paths in different industries, and even work under mentors in your preferred fields. You’ll also get to network with industry professionals and your peers. To learn more about the program’s details, reach out to your school counselor or designated “School Champion.”
15. Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK)
Location: Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 2 – December 3
Application Deadline: November 1 – December 31
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders in Duval County or St. Johns County, Florida; Must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 unweighted
The Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK) offers the chance to work in Mayo Clinic's state-of-the-art facilities alongside top scientists and researchers. As a participant, you will get hands-on experience working on mentored research projects in areas like neuroscience, cancer biology, epidemiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology, and more. You’ll also have the chance to enter these projects in science fairs. Each week, you’ll participate in the “Lunch and Learn” series, during which you will learn about special research areas and hear from guest speakers on planning for college and your career. While not technically an internship, this program gives you the chance to work with industry professionals and gain hands-on experience in research. The program ends with a poster session, where you will present your research.
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