<p>By best time, I mean which grade. Currently, I'm a sophomore, but I'm wondering if it is too early to think about internships? Although I have not figured out what I want to major in, I'm pretty much open to anything (from science to business to humanities).</p>
<p>I've read a few threads on how to seek out an internship, but with no proposal I feel that I would come off as unprofessional and unfocused if I email a professor. Should I wait until junior summer or start planning now? </p>
<p>Do you have an internship experience? If so, any advice you'd like to shed on this worrisome sophomore? Thank you so much in advance, and taking the time to read this :)</p>
<p>If you’re just a sophomore in High School then I wouldn’t even worry about getting an internship right now. I don’t even think companies would hire someone that young. The BEST thing you can do right now so it will be easier for you down the road is to concentrate on your grades. Volunteer wherever you can and join clubs that interest you. You will be helping yourself so much. This will open a lot of doors for you and allow you to get into a prestigious college. I’m already in a great college but I kick myself times thinking about what if I had a higher GPA, where would I be.</p>
<p>If anything, just get a summer job working retail or something like every other high school kid.</p>
<p>As bjunior92 indicated, the term “internship” usually applies to working for a business or a government agency or politician. So normally professors aren’t the contacts for those. Do you really mean something like an opportunity to work in a lab? You could research online for professors at local universities and email them to ask if they need any unpaid help in their labs. If you can show a specific interest in their research, they might let you. But you have to be able to get there (transportation), and have time after school for it (activities can cut into this). Or you can offer to volunteer for the summer.</p>
<p>Instead of an internship, you might want to consider what summer activities will help you get more focused on an area of study. It is a good time to try out camps or programs in different areas. There is a summer programs thread out here on CC to help with this.</p>
<p>It depends on the internship. I’m only familiar with politics, but when I was an intern for the Obama campaign, there were several sophomores. If you want to do an internship, it can’t hurt to apply. Many places have minimum ages, but not all. If you gain experience now, you will be more competitive for other internships later.</p>
<p>In terms of the best time, I think junior year or any summer is a great time for internships. If you’re going to do it during the school year, senior year, especially during the fall, is problematic because you’re so busy with college apps. I think spring of senior year is a good time to do a local internship to gain experience and get a good internship that summer, but by then of course it won’t help with college admissions.</p>
<p>I think an internship is an amazing opportunity at any age. You have to make the most of it and give 100% to stand out, but it is definitely worth it. Being an intern was one of the best experiences of my life (I liked it so much, I hung around for a year!)</p>