As the STEM landscape evolves, future scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians must do the same.

To carve their path at a top university and kickstart their STEM career, your high schooler will need to stand out. Students who plan to major in a STEM field are universally forward-thinking and intelligent to boot. So, how can your kid set themself apart?

It all boils down to one thing: real-world experience. 🌎

This is what separates students from scientists. And there’s no better way to bridge the gap than with a prestigious STEM internship.

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STEM kids need to know how to sell ideas

But… BETA Camp is a business program for teens. Why are we concerned with STEM internships?

Ultimately, we believe that kids who are excited to enter STEM fields can benefit from learning how to start a business. Think about it:

• What use is a life-changing medical device if no one ever learns about it?
• What use is research that no one ever reads?
• How will new AI technology propel humanity forward if no one knows how to use it?
• How can we solve real-world problems if the solutions are too convoluted to understand?

Business education teaches students how to put their ideas out into the world—confidently and clearly. 🗣️

So, although we aren’t a STEM internship, BETA Camp is one of the best programs for STEM kids who want to make a meaningful difference.

Not to mention that after completing BETA Camp, students will have impressive resume experience that helps them land prestigious opportunities.

What’s more impressive: president of the HS science club or CEO of your own business? 🤔

BETA Camp alum Gulbin Alti is an excellent example of this principle in action.

She’s started multiple STEM businesses that have won countless national and international awards. Gulbin didn’t just come up with ideas—she actively created them and put them out into the world.

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Why you should do a science internship in high school

If your kid is determined to rock the STEM world, odds are they’ve got their sights set on top universities. But to get in, they first have to stand out, and prestigious internships can help them in this quest.

Plus, if your teen is itching to launch their STEM career early, an internship will provide them with the: 

• skills,
• experience,
• network,
• and mentorship needed to succeed.

Of course, prestigious science internships for high school students are highly competitive. To demonstrate an interest in STEM, they’ll need to have some experience to point to on their applications.

If your kid doesn’t have much STEM experience, they can:

• Join us at BETA Camp
• Enter a science fair or another local competition
• Reach out to a professor for mentorship
• Create their own research project

We’re a little biased, but the first option is our favorite. 💪 

BETA Camp invites high schoolers to beef up their applications and resumes by becoming the CEOs of their own businesses. And just like Gulbin, they can even build STEM-focused businesses if they choose.

BETA Camp is the secret sauce your kid needs to stand out and get noticed in a sea of internship applications. Real-world business experience is unique—and it’s the missing link between scientists and those who just dream of becoming them.

Business program + science internship = success upon success 🙌

Factors we considered on our list

There are a lot of science internships out there—but not all of them are created equal.

💪 That’s why we did the heavy lifting to curate a list of the five most life-changing programs for your STEM student.

To do this, we considered…

• application deadline,
• internship duration,
• internship location,
• eligibility requirements,
• and what your student will take away from the experience.

Because if your kid is going to pour their time, energy, and resources into this opportunity, they should receive equal (or greater) value in return.

Best STEM internships for high schoolers

Microsoft Discovery Program

Application deadline: TBD in February 2024

Duration: Four weeks

Location: Redmond, WA

Eligibility: Students must be graduating seniors who live within 50 miles of Redmond. They must have completed pre-calculus by the start of the internship and be members/participants of a Microsoft-sponsored organization.

For students interested in pursuing technology, it’s hard to beat Microsoft’s summer internship program.

“Discoverers” spend four weeks exploring the world of computer science and honing their skills in the field. Mentored by Microsoft employees at every turn, high schoolers learn how to transform their interest in STEM into a fulfilling career.

This internship is designed specifically for high school seniors who are available to work full-time for four consecutive weeks. Not only is it a paid opportunity, but it also looks great on a resume.

The only downside? If you’re not within 50 miles of Redmond, you’re not eligible to apply (no matter how great you look on paper). But if your kid is determined to experience life at Microsoft, they might consider applying for the Explore Program in college.

NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)

Application deadline: February 9, 2024

Duration: Eight weeks

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Eligibility: Students must be U.S. citizens and juniors or seniors in high school to apply. They must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA and a desire to conduct scientific research.

Every year, young scientists jump at the opportunity to work in the NIST labs through their SHIP program.

This eight-week, highly competitive internship allows students to participate in research that impacts the nation. Side-by-side with staff scientists and engineers, interns find innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Six labs participate in the SHIP program:

🗣️ Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL)

👨‍🔬 Engineering Laboratory (EL)

📚 Information Technology Laboratory (ITL)

🔬 Material Measurement Laboratory (MML)

🥼 NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR)

💻 Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML)

Prospective interns must select a specific lab to apply for, so it’s vital to read up on each one.

Unlike the Microsoft internship, this opportunity is unpaid, but for many students, the educational benefits are worth the investment.

Stanford’s Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine Summer Internship

Application deadline: January 26, 2024

Duration: Two weeks

Location: Stanford, CA

Eligibility: Students must be in high school or a pre-med undergraduate program.

Is your teen unhappy with sitting on the sidelines, watching medical innovation unfold? Then they’ll find their people at Stanford’s Clinical Science, Technology and Medicine summer internship.

Stanford’s internship goes far beyond theory, tackling everything from obstetric anesthesia to crisis management. If your kid is seeking hands-on clinical practice skills, this is the program for them. 👩⚕️

Over the course of two weeks, students collaborate to create a capstone project that addresses real healthcare challenges facing humanity today.

With mentorship from Stanford faculty and other experts, students work with up-and-coming technologies to become the healthcare leaders we need to thrive as a society.

This opportunity is unpaid—and quite expensive at $5,850 (before housing costs). But on the upside, it looks phenomenal on a resume, and the learned skills are indispensable to future healthcare workers.

NASA Internship Programs

Application deadline: Depends on chosen internship

Duration: Depends on chosen internship

Location: Depends on chosen internship

Eligibility: Students must be U.S. citizens with a minimum 3.0 GPA. They must also be at least 16 years old at the time of application.

When we think of NASA, we usually think of astronauts rocketing into space, but the agency offers a variety of internship opportunities for high schoolers, too.

Each program combines cutting-edge science with mentorship and career development opportunities. There’s even a focus on the business side of innovation, which we love! 😍

Most of NASA’s internships are paid, and participating students contribute to agency projects that have a real impact on humanity.

Areas of interest include:

👓 AR/VR for Science and Engineering

🐧 Antarctic Study with Satellite Observations

🌌 Optics for Space

☀️ Instrument Development for Heliospheric Particles

While students do receive a stipend for their efforts, housing and transportation costs are not covered. On the upside, most internship locations have public transportation available.

Research Science Institute (RSI)

Application deadline: December 13, 2023

Duration: Six weeks

Location: Cambridge, MA

Eligibility: Students must be rising seniors in high school with outstanding academic ability (as demonstrated on standardized tests).

RSI is one of the most competitive science internships in the country. With a single-digit acceptance rate of 5%, this program was designed for rising seniors who are passionate about science and prepared for its demands.

Over the course of six weeks, students experience an entire research cycle, including a preparatory first week of STEM courses and five weeks of individual projects.

Mentored by expert scientists and researchers, interns wrap up their time at RSI with written and oral presentations of their projects. 👨‍🏫

Completing this internship requires discipline, dedication, and intrinsic motivation to create a better world. The hours are long, and the work is anything but easy.

If that doesn’t intimidate your kid, we need them in STEM.

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Any of these internships will look great on a resume. But what then? Does your teen know how to sell their innovative ideas? 🤔

Learning the ropes of business will be an asset to any student considering a STEM career. If they can clearly articulate their ideas, research, and solutions, they’ll be unstoppable.

And while they’re still in high school, real-world business experience will help them stand out on internship applications, including those listed above.

🔭 If your kid is ready to become a STEM CEO, come say hi. We’d love to help them kickstart their research and development.

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