<p>Okay, here's the deal: I'm currently a high school senior, and I'm seeking some practical, hands-on exposure to the consulting industry in the DC metropolitan area. In addition, the IB program at my school requires us to pursue part-time spring internships as individual projects. </p>
<p>Some of my top choices include Booz Allen Hamilton and BearingPoint, both of which are headquartered in McLean, VA--20 minutes from my house and accessible by public transportation. </p>
<p>Now, I realize that obtaining an internship through the conventional route is pretty much impossible because (a) official internship programs are not that flexible in terms of hours/time span, (b) virtually all deadlines have passed already, and (c) I'm in high school--I have no real experience in the field. Other than through family connections, how can I obtain an internship? Most firms don't post e-mail addresses on their websites, so contacting staff is difficult. What would you recommend?</p>
<p>P.S. I'm most interested in strategic or management consulting in pretty much any field (particularly private equity, insurance, and telecommunications).</p>
<p>booz allen offers most of their internships to juniors, VERY few to college sophomores, and they absolutely refuse to take freshmen---so I don't know what they'll think about a high schooler applying...(trust me, I'm talking from experience- I tried applying to one of the top strategy consulting firms and even though they liked me a lot as a candidate, they simply couldn't bring themselves to hire a sophomore...and they told me so in clear plain prose...)</p>
<p>I'll tell you what...go to their headquaters and do what will smith did in "the pursuit of happyness"...stand and wait for a recruiter or partner to walk out and charm your way to an internship...</p>
<p>If you don't have any personal contacts in the firms you are looking at, it's almost impossible to get an internship there...so you might wanna look at less prestigious firms...</p>
<p>Haha, hm.. well, I can't exactly solve a Rubik's cube or anything.</p>
<p>If I use family connections, the public sector is a more feasible option. My dad has connections within the Department of Labor. Still, I'd really like some private sector experience...</p>
<p>Honestly, it's pretty much impossible for you to get anything at this point, no matter how smart or hardworking you can be. These big firms aren't looking to spend money and time training students who will work with them for a little while and then spend four years in college with only summers free--they're looking for students who can join their teams as full-time employees (read: 80 hrs/week) in the relatively near future, which is why they pretty much only hire college juniors for their internship programs. (If you do well, you often get a job offer for after graduation... which most people don't turn down!) It's not about you--it's about them and what they're looking to get out of their interns. </p>
<p>The government, on the other hand, is much more flexible and accomodating for younger students, and is probably your best bet at this point unless you can find a position with a very small private consulting firm (which you probably would need high-up connections to).</p>
<p>Honestly- slim to none without SERIOUS connections. </p>
<p>A summer job in the office helping out, definitely learning, but not being given the same sort of analytical tasks they give their summer interns? Definitely possible-- email recruiters, start talking to them. Let them know how interested you are, your background, that you're willing to start off very very small (because honestly, despite being a Wharton freshman, they're not going to throw you into a summer internship 'class' with rising college seniors -- why would they do that when they can have Wharton seniors??) </p>
<p>These companies basically only give internships to rising college seniors, and right now is peak time for resume drops and on campus recruiting. (AKA why I'm not sleeping and perfecting my resumes and cover letters!) A lot of the consulting firms have pages under careers/recruiting specific by school - I was able to readily get the top contact for my school on some websites (Bain was the easiest to find, but then again, you didn't mention Bain) before heading to information sessions on campus. You might be able to get the email address for the point person for Wharton and start emailing him or her, though it is a hectic time, they could shed some light on the process.</p>
<p>Honestly, instead of trying to achieve the impossible of a summer internship with Booz Allen now or in a summer, start adding to your resume and actually getting some real world professional experience -- consulting or not. You say you're in the DC metro area, I'm sure there's tons of smaller consulting firms that could be willing to hire someone younger with less/little professional experience. That can be a great way to both boost your resume and learn firsthand about the industry -- and then when you are eligible to apply for the real internships at the major firms, you'll have amaaazing credentials and knowledge in the field (and references!) just a consideration, at least.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice. I've contacted a couple of people I know, including a woman on the Board of Directors of the organization I volunteer for. Does anyone know of smaller consulting firms (preferably HR/strategic) that I could contact?</p>
<p>Yo, I just saw this hahaha
I’m doing an finance/accounting internship at the Bank of America Student Leaders program, and im a hs junoir.
I did an internship at the Smithsonian when i was a hs freshman. paid 2500
Washington D.C has a ton of opportunities for hs kids. By the end of this year, I’ll have done 7! And im not even a senoir yet
You really just have to put yourself out there as much as possible adn get some experiance. And being charming definetly helps
But actually, I’ve talked to a few financial advisors in this area (Northern VA), and I think i’ll be able to score an internship with some of them next summer, adn they work at firms like Morgan and Stanly. Find connections. Meet people. Email and call. It never hurts to try :)</p>
<p>Ridiculously old thread here man, why resurrect it? The OP has already graduated Wharton, in 2011. Next time, check the date of the last post. It’s from 5 years ago!</p>
<p>I think resurrecting old threads is great because people can look at all the information that was exchanged and discussed instead of starting the conversation again from zero. Never understood why people give each other such a hard time for resurrecting</p>
<p>I’m going to college as a freshman this fall, do smaller firms take on interns part time during the school year? I already have work experience (not in consulting, but in SCM) from an internship over the summer.</p>
<p>In general, not just consulting, are these kind of part time internships available?</p>
<p>There’s tins of consulting internships at start ups. I’m not even in college yet, and I was offered one at a marketing consulting (which I plan on doing second semester senior year). It’s a start up, but its something. Just look around abd you’ll find something</p>
