Your thoughts on high school internships

Hi, I was wondering what your thoughts were regarding high schoolers doing a different, unrelated internship each year. I keep reading about how colleges like to see continuity and ECs that kind of tie in together. However, I think it’s important that teens experiment and try as many things as they can. In terms of internships, does it look flaky to do one at a museum, then the next year do one with a assemblyman and the next year do one with a hospital, for example? Thanks in advance:) FYI, there will be other activities that my child will do consistently throughout HS

It may be more valuable for high schoolers to start their own ventures, than be followers. Working to support the family seems to be valuable to URMs in the game that is college apps. And stay away from academic summer programs at the ivies. That seems to be a wast of money, time and effort, unless you just want the chance to spend time at an ivy. It won’t help with admissions.

In D’s case, she wants to try out differnent things and thinks internships would be exciting. She’s at that age where she wants to do things that make her feel grown up, like working in an office, answering phones, dressing up in professional clothes lol. So while it might be something that can impress colleges, it’s something she has asked to do for the fun of it. She said her dream internship would be at Teen Vogue or Seventeen, but I have no idea how a high schooler can get in the door unless they have a connection

Probably more impressive, if she gets a few friends together and they start their own fashion magazine, go to the mall ,snap some photos, do some of their own modeling and publish a few editions or youtube it or start a blog.

Getting a proper “internship” will be almost impossible as a high schooler. And if the only reason your daughter wants an internship is because she likes the idea of it, she’s going to have an even harder time finding one.

@redbluegoldgreen I have to completely disagree with you on your suggestions for what would be impressive. They sound like make-work type things that a high school student would dream up. There is no harm in doing them if you can’t get a real job, but I think a real job would be more impressive. What is your experience in college admissions that causes you to suggest such things?

I think the word “internship” is overused when applied to desired high school activities. Students seem to be overly interested in “internships” when they really just seem to mean employment opportunities or volunteer opportunities. Like delivering campaign signs to town residents is a useful way to contribute to a political campaign, but I wouldn’t call it an internship.

they work

@Philpsych We live in a huge city with a many opportunities. She has already found a couple internships to do in the fall, but thanks anyway. I didn’t articulate what motivates her very well, but there’s more to it than “the idea of it”.

@CheddarcheeseMN I agree with you about the work aspect. In our city it seems that there are far more opportunities for internships than for interesting jobs. At my D’s age, she can only work at Brandy Melville.

If anyone can answer my original question I would be very appreciative. Thanks.

Do you mean an unpaid internship @citymama9?

I think its important to experiment in high school and its a great idea, if you D has the opportunity, to do it!

@suzyQ7 Yes. At this point it would be an unpaid internship. I think the following year, there might be opportunities for paid internships. Thank you so much for answering the original question lol:))

@citymama9, I’m a big believer in letting kids follow their own path. I think it’s sad when they give up doing what they really want or do something that they don’t particularly like because they hope it will impress some college staff. I’d much rather help my children develop into whoever they want to be and find a college that fits their needs than allow them to try to mold themselves into whatever they think colleges might want. If your daughter’s lined up something she’s excited about, I’d encourage her to do it.

I think it is good at this point for her to explore what is interesting to her. At some point one would hope she finds what she wants to major in and start focusing.

I also agree it’s good to get a range of experiences. I don’t think it would necessarily be looked down upon in terms of admissions automatically. Even if each internship is in a different field, it might show that your daughter is career oriented and responsible enough to hold internships. And, like you said, it won’t look flaky considering she’ll have other consistent activities. Finally, it’s not like she has to list every single activity she does on her college apps. She can pick and choose the activities she thinks best represent her to put on her apps.

I agree with other posters that “internships” for high schoolers carry little weight in college admissions. A high schooler has very limited skills that can help a business. But exploring what she is interested in is a useful activity in itself.

@me <<they sound="" like="" make-work="" type="" things="" that="" a="" high="" school="" student="" would="" dream="" up;="">> agree with redblue
that’s the point. Internships at Vogue or anywhere else smack of parents help getting something… What redblue suggests is something a high schooler would dream up and can do on their own without parental involvement.

@preppedparent I wish I had amazing connections at places like Teen Vogue

well some adult does But the point is most kids don’t. Kids doing things in their power resonate as true with adcoms.