<p>I am currently a sophomore at a boarding school located in Connecticut seeking a small Investment Banking internship during the summer. Yes, I do know that the chances are highly unlikely, but I would like to hear some advice. I am aware that high school interns for these firms usually get in the way, but I am looking for a mentor in the business who I could shadow, learn from, and help. I live near Los Angeles, CA when I am not at school. I also don't mind running copies or starting out with "coffee" while interning because of my age - but I still hope to learn the most in a small period of time from the best in the business.</p>
<p>I am posting this just to see what people think. I have heard "Enjoy your summer, etc, etc; however, this is a part of me enjoying my summer. I am taking Contemporary Economic Perspectives and look forward to taking AP Econ, Statistics, and Gov in my upperclassmen years in high school, so spending a month or two learning and helping out would not be a better way of spending my younger years than other options.</p>
<p>Please excuse my errors in format as this is my first time here.</p>
<p>Internships & shadowing are completely different. There is actually a word for shadowing someone and it is called an “externship.” Use this word when talking to potential externship leads. Do some research regarding externships in your location to generate leads. It is also a good idea to cold-call and email big firms in your area. That’s how I landed my first externship the summer following my high school graduation. But at all costs, avoid using the word “internship.” An internship is a paid position for upcoming Juniors and Seniors in college. </p>
<p>Pretty much a HS/College Freshman can get an internship/shadowing/etc is through a personal contact. As a favor to that persons parents. Most colleges know this and most jobs know this. You won’t really learn, will be a pain and a liability to the organization and kind of sort of pretty much waste your summer. This business is not in the business of mentoring. If you are really set on something like that, get a part time summer job at a local investment office (charles schwab or like). It will also have an added benefit of showing colleges that you could hold a job.</p>