Teamwork turns good ideas into substantial products and solutions, and there's no better place to foster that energy than a computer science internship dedicated to collaborative creation and hands-on work with real-world results. 

Though BETA Camp isn't specifically a computer science program, we've seen our fair share of computer science-oriented students thrive through developing and launching their own startup with a team of other ambitious students (building an app, website, product, etc.) 

These projects — when linked in portfolios and resumes — become proof of their skills when hunting for their next opportunity.

Take BETA Camp alum Rishi Kothari, for example. During his time at BETA Camp in summer 2020, Rishi co-founded HerdSocial, a community startup aimed at productivity recuperation at the height of COVID-19. 

He leveraged what he learned with us to earn a spot as CTO at Otto, a pet-tagging startup with hundreds of users and 1.6 million in funding.   

Steve Jobs didn't build Apple alone — he regularly brainstormed with a collaborative team. He had a network. 

Your kid can benefit from the same strategy.  

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Why you should do a computer science internship in high school 

Colleges are looking at more than grades and test scores — extracurriculars matter, too. According to CollegeVine, they can account for about 25% of an admissions decision. 

Completing a computer science internship shows: 

🏆Dedication 

🎯Follow-through

💡A willingness to learn

If you’re passionate about — or even just interested in — computer science, coding, programming, data, software development, or STEM, a computer science internship is the right place to be. 

What are the best internships for computer science students?

We’ve gathered 10 programs to help you narrow down which one will work best for your kid’s unique goals and plans.

1. Meta Summer Academy

Meta Summer Academy (formerly Facebook Summer Academy) offers high school students the opportunity to see the inner workings of one of the world’s leading social media networks by being part of a dynamic workforce while working with Meta Summer Academy Mentors in their respective capacities. 

Brushing up on Meta history is a good place to start to show up prepared. This application process is highly competitive.

Deadline: Early March

Length: Six weeks (June-July)

Time Commitment: 30 hours per week

Cost: No cost, stipend provided

Location: California

Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores in high school during the relevant academic school year and must be full-year residents of either: East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, alongside a minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA

Topic of Interest: Tech and social media operations

Acceptance Rate: Only 150 finalists make it into the program

Application Requirements: A current transcript with first semester grades from sophomore year and one recommendation from a teacher, counselor, school official, or community leader.

2. MITES Semester

MITES Semester (formerly MOSTEC) is a national program that will take you through engaging, rigorous online courses. But it’s not just classwork — there’s also weekly virtual webinars, social events, workshops, and meetings with peers in the fall, alongside college admissions counseling. 

To stand out in the application process, leverage your passion for science, technology, engineering, and math — show them your enthusiasm in your application essays. 

Deadline: Eligible students can apply online during the fall semester of their junior year in high school

Length: MITES Semester begins the summer before your senior year and extends through December

Time Commitment: Courses are Mon-Thu from 5 to 10pm. Events and webinars are Sundays from 8–10pm. Assignments and meetings with mentors have variable hours

Cost: Students only pay for transportation to and from MIT for the conference

Location: Hybrid (partially in Cambridge, MA and partially virtual)

Eligibility: Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and High school juniors

Topic of Interest: Science, technology, engineering, and math

Acceptance Rate: Holistic and open

Application Requirements: High school course history - unofficial transcript including GPA and completed courses from 9th and 10th grades - 5 short answer questions (300 word limit) - 3 recommendations submitted by the recommenders via their online portal 

3. Boston University’s Research in Science & Engineering Program (RISE)

Boston University offers a hands-on research program for academically-motivated seniors ready to tackle a diverse range of research categories across science and engineering, alongside valuable sessions on college admission strategies and pre-professional health programs built into the experience.

Lean into any relevant extracurriculars in your application essays, and if you’ve built a computer science based project here at BETA Camp, this is the perfect time to leverage it. 🔥  

Deadline: Mid-February, with offers made by late-April

Length: Six weeks (July-August)

Duration: 40 hours per week

Cost: $5,570 for commuter students, $8,558 for residential students

Location: Boston, MA (interns can live on-campus in dorms or commute from home)

Eligibility: Must be entering your senior year of high school and a US citizen or legal permanent resident 

Topic of Interest: Research into a diverse range of topics

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Application Requirements: High school transcript - Standardized test scores - Three prompted essays - Three faculty members you are interested in working with - Two recommendations - Non-refundable application fee

4. The Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship

Amazon Future Engineer students get their foot in the door for a promising future in engineering with the support of college funding, paid internships, and industry mentors. 

Catching up on all things Amazon can help you stand out here. What are their recent breakthroughs? What are their priorities as a company?

Deadline: December 15th at 4:00pm EST

Length: Summer 

Duration: Summer

Cost: Up to a $40,000 scholarship based on individual financial needs (up to $10,000/year)

Location: Virtual

Eligibility: You’re a high school senior in the U.S. - You've taken a computer science, engineering, or robotics class - You’re authorized to work in the US - You demonstrate financial need - You’re planning to attain a bachelor’s degree in computer science or other computer science related field of study - You have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)

Topic of Interest: Computer science, engineering

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Application Requirements: Same as eligibility criteria

5. Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)

Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute is one to keep an eye on for those looking to learn the basic concepts of programming, though they are currently in the midst of evolving the program to better tailor to the regions and communities they serve.

Deadline: Pending

Length: 4 weeks

Duration: N/A

Cost: Pending

Location: Varies

Eligibility: Qualified high school seniors entering their first year of university study

Topic of Interest: Programming

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Application Requirements: Pending

6. Sandia Summer Internships

Interns at Sandia work on real-world, challenging projects to contribute to critical national goals, with access to state-of-the-art equipment and instruments. 

If given the opportunity, demonstrate the hands-on experience you’ve accumulated and connect the dots for why you’d be an asset at these facilities.

Deadline: N/A

Length: 10-12 weeks (May-August)

Duration: 40 hours per week

Cost: Varies

Location: Varies

Eligibility: U.S. citizenship - At least 16 years of age - Full-time enrollment status at an accredited college, university, or high school - 3.0/4.0 for graduate students 2.5/4.0 for high school students applying for clerical or laborer positions

Topic of Interest: Cyber security, energy surety, engineering design, and software development

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Application Requirements: Same as eligibility criteria

7. MITRE’S High School Student Program

MITRE’s program looks for skilled, open-minded innovators to learn from and collaborate in cutting edge research, development, engineering, and analysis projects to help make the world a safer place. 

They empower student researchers to discover, create, and lead in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. 

🗓️Information about the Summer 2024 Program goes live in December 2023 — if this sounds like a good fit, mark your calendar. 

Deadline: Pending

Length: 8 weeks 

Duration: Summer

Cost: N/A

Location: Varies

Eligibility: Students must be a current freshman through senior in the relevant academic year and a minimum of 14 years old

Topic of Interest: Research, development, engineering, and analysis

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Application Requirements: N/A

Estimated Time to Apply: N/A

8. Inspirit AI Scholars Program

AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) artificial intelligence bootcamp that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project.

This program is mentor-led — be sure to emphasize your love of learning and teachable nature to shine a light on why you’re an ideal choice. Showcase your interest in AI and why you’re drawn to the subject.

Deadline: Spring 2024 cohort, December 1, 2023

Length: Varies

Duration: Varies

Cost: $1100 (Payment plans available)

Location: Virtual

Eligibility: High school student

Topic of Interest: AI

Acceptance Rate: Applications are processed on a rolling basis. Limited seats.

Application Requirements: Same as eligibility criteria

9. Ladder Internships

Ladder Internships ensure each student walks away with a real-world project, work experience at a top startup, and a letter of completion by the company. The program was founded by Harvard entrepreneurs and offers mentors alongside the host companies. 

👓Read up on the host companies to give yourself a well-rounded idea of your options and why this program makes sense for your goals. 

Deadline: One cohort per season

Length: 8 weeks

Duration: 5-10 hours per week

Cost: $1990 (Financial aid available)

Location: Varies

Eligibility: High school student

Topic of Interest: Startups, technology, real-world impact

Acceptance Rate: Very selective

Application Requirements: GPA, test scores, two essays

10. SparkSIP Summer Internship Program

SparkSIP serves motivated high school students in the Greater Seattle area through hands-on, in-depth learning by connecting them with industry experts, educators and mentors from various organizations. 

Familiarize yourself with the providers and project sponsors to give yourself an edge in the application process and better understand your options. 

Deadline: Pending for 2024

Length: Varies

Duration: Varies

Cost: Max stipend $500

Location: Varies

Eligibility: Students must either be U.S citizens or permanent residents to apply

Topic of Interest: Technology, real-world impact

Acceptance Rate: Very selective

Application Requirements: Varies

How to apply for an internship in computer science

No matter the internship or program, one common theme remains true — nothing beats genuine enthusiasm and tangible projects.

Don’t be afraid to: 

• Get specific 
• Show your true self
• Research, research, research

Other ways to learn about computer science in high school

Outside of computer science internships, your kid can also explore the topic through courses or classes.

Or your kid could build a CS-focused project to learn as they go. One of the best ways to learn is through problem-solving, and having a project to fuel those efforts can make all the difference. They could use their skills to create an app, a website, or start a business.  

⚒️ Get your hands dirty — show them you mean business.