Disclaimer: I know that I should start early, email a bunch of professors, and make the emails personalized, but I just want to know if this is true.
I heard from a friend that Wharton at UPenn doesn’t accept any interns from outside Wharton because of something (a scandal, someone got hurt, I forgot sry). Does anyone know if this is true? Is it still possible for a highschooler to be a research assistant… also someone could answer whether it even would be possible because even Wharton students have trouble landing a research position.
For official recognition of the “Research Assistant” or “Intern” titles by the school, no, HS students aren’t eligible. However, you can have a informal relationship of that type with a Wharton prof and get a recommendation. I had an informal HS intern summer before last. He did some very useful work. He was admitted to SAS, and this summer, is trying to transfer to Wharton. Haven’t heard yet if he made it.
BTW, it isn’t hard for Wharton students to land some research position … the Wharton Behavioral Lab, for one, is always looking for warm bodies to run surveys.
Hi MorningSider, could you tell me what professors I should try contacting. I know that not all Professors do research at the University (some go oversees) and some only look for the very experienced. Should I contact young professors, and are they usually going to be doing research at Wharton?
It really depends on the professors at Wharton. I suggest you send a bunch of emails to many professors introducing yourself and stating that you are looking for a research opportunity (non-paid I assume). Just remember that many professors may be out for the summer or may have other responsibilities which make them unable to take you in.
@Morningsider Sorry I didn’t @ you in my last post. Do you mind reading it?
Hi OP,
You haven’t mentioned what subject you’re interested in researching. I suspect you want a research internship mainly because it would look good on your college applications. However, the question is what could you do for the professor, not what they could do for you. So, pursuing a research internship as a long shot, you’ll need to describe in some detail what area you want to research, what involvement you already have with it, and then contact the professor(s) who specialize in that area. Finding out which professors they are will be part of your familiarization with the subject.
The high school intern I had in Summer 2017 had started a club about an area I needed research on, and he was already very knowledgeable about it. So all I had to do was point him in the general direction of the work I wanted from him, and he knew how to do it. This, I think, is the only way you’ll motivate a professor to give you a research opportunity. Good luck!
If Whatron or other tippy tops are on your college list, one of the traits you need is this ability to just get up and contact them. Interest is one thing, action is superior. And don’t lean on your friends’ hearsay.
Most kids that get internships as children as the result of a leveraged parental relationships or position. Look around you.
@Sybylla Ha ha the guy that told me its not possible to get an internship has a dad who is a professor at Wharton. Instead, he did the KWHS 2-week program.