Emory University Summer Internship Programs for High School Students

Summer programs and internships offer high school students invaluable opportunities to explore potential career paths, enhance their skills, and gain a competitive edge for college admissions. Emory University and its surrounding areas in Atlanta, Georgia, provide a diverse range of summer programs and internships specifically designed for high school students. These programs cater to various interests, from medicine and science to law, arts, and technology. This article explores several summer internship and program opportunities available to high school students interested in gaining experience and exploring potential career paths.

Emory Pre-College Program: A Taste of College Life

The Emory Pre-College Program is a summer academic program designed for high school students, particularly current sophomores and juniors. It offers an exciting glimpse into academic and residential life at a top-ranked private university. Participants can experience college-level courses taught by Emory instructors, receive written assessments, earn a certificate of completion, create global friendships, explore Emory's vibrant campus, and discover Atlanta through Emory Excursions. The program offers both non-credit and credit-bearing options, allowing students to tailor their experience to their academic goals.

Program Structure and Options

The Pre-College Program offers a variety of courses across different subjects, allowing students to explore their interests and potentially earn college credit. The program is divided into two main tracks:

Non-Credit Program: These sessions offer a taste of college life without the pressure of earning credit. Session A runs from June 14 to June 27, Session B from June 28 to July 11, and Session C from July 12 to July 25. The deadline for these sessions is May 1.
Summer College (Credit-Bearing): These sessions allow students to earn college credit while still in high school. Session 1 runs from May 15 to June 26, and Session 2 runs from June 29 to August 7. The deadlines for these sessions are April 24 and June 5, respectively.

Experiential Learning and Professional Growth

Internships provide great experiential learning and professional growth, but many students do not have the financial security to take unpaid internships and incur internship-related expenses. Emory University offers several programs and funds to support students in pursuing these opportunities.

Emory University Summer Internship Program: Gifts to this fund support the Emory Civic Scholars Program. Full-time Emory students who demonstrate financial hardship may be able to accept an impactful but unpaid internship by applying for a $1,500 scholarship through the Civic Scholars Program.
BBA GoBeyond Fund: Gifts to this fund help Goizueta Business School BBA students with expenses for educational and professional experiences not covered by tuition, such as travel for career treks and clothing for interviews.
Oxford Experiential Education/Internship: Gifts to this fund help Oxford College of Emory University students participate in experiential learning opportunities and internships that support their professional and educational development.
Sustainability Initiatives Fund: Supports the Office of Sustainability Initiatives' experiential, paid internship programs for undergraduate and graduate students, a Fellowship program for post-graduate leaders passionate about climate solutions, social justice, and sustainability programming, and the annual Sustainability & Social Justice Incentives program which provides financial support for anyone at Emory to lead their own sustainability research and programs.
Emory Edge: ECAS makes it possible for Emory College of Arts and Sciences students to integrate what they learn in the classroom with hands-on, high-impact experiential learning like internships, study abroad, research, job shadowing, and more.

Health and Science Programs

For high school students curious about careers in health, science, and medicine, Emory University and its affiliates offer several valuable programs.

Read also: Emory University Tuition

Summer Science Academy Day Program

The Summer Science Academy Day Program is a hands-on, in-person experience for rising 9th and 10th-grade students interested in science, healthcare, medicine, or related STEM fields. Participants explore topics such as natural science, biotechnology, engineering, math, medical research, and health science careers.

NextGen High School Internship Program

The Department of Human Genetics at Emory University established the NextGen High School Internship Program to inspire students from all backgrounds to pursue STEM fields. This paid summer internship provides hands-on lab and clinical experiences, lectures, and exposure to various programs and businesses near Emory, helping students advance their STEM education and career interests. The program also offers ongoing activities throughout the school year.

Emory Pipeline Collaborative (EPiC)

The Emory Pipeline Collaborative (EPiC) is a three-year program designed to prepare high school students for health careers through learning, mentoring, college preparation, and health career exposure. This federally-funded program includes after-school sessions and a summer program, focusing on academic achievement, college readiness, social support, and health career awareness.

Winship Cancer Institute Summer Scholars Program

The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University invests in educating the next generation of researchers, physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals by offering a unique immersion experience that exposes high school seniors to real-world cancer research.

Other Internship Opportunities in the Atlanta Area

Beyond Emory's direct offerings, numerous organizations in the Atlanta area provide internships for high school students, spanning diverse fields.

Read also: Finding a Job at Emory

Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences

The University of Georgia YSP provides five-week, paid internships to students interested in agriculture, food, and environmental sciences. Participants engage in research under the guidance of a faculty mentor at UGA’s Athens, Griffin, or Tifton campuses. The program is open to students 16 years of age or older who’ve completed their sophomore year of high school.

Science and Engineering Research

This five-week, paid internship enables high schoolers to engage in real-world science and engineering research at one of Georgia Tech Research Institute’s (GTRI) laboratories or its Warner Robins field office. Interns work under the mentorship of GTRI researchers on projects focusing on topics ranging from piezoelectric systems to rapid prototyping, and from robots and drones to the physics of radar emissions. The program is open to Georgia residents attending high school in the state. Students must be in their sophomore, junior, or senior year and at least 16 years old. Participants are expected to work 24 hours per week over the program’s five weeks.

Legal Internships

For three decades, the Atlanta Bar Association has offered six-week, paid internships to Atlanta-area high schoolers. Participants are placed with local law firms, government agencies, and corporations where they learn about potential careers in law. Interns also receive educational and professional support, such as financial assistance for LSAT preparation or Bar Review classes, at the end of the internship.

Start-up Internships

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students. In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. This highly flexible program is designed to be accessible to a wide range of students. You will complete your internship remotely, from anywhere in the world, and there are internships available throughout the year, so you can easily plan around your other commitments-you can expect to work for 5-10 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks.

Plant and Science-Related Careers

For students interested in science and plant-related careers, the Atlanta Botanical Garden hosts a 7-week internship opportunity. Interns work alongside Garden staff to cultivate, conserve, and teach others about the plant collections in the heart of Atlanta. Tasks available to interns include working in a plant conservation research lab, cultivating rare plants in conservation greenhouses, or maintaining outdoor spaces in the garden. Students are paid an hourly wage of $11 per hour and will also receive MARTA cards or parking passes depending on their desired mode of transportation. Applicants must be 16 years or older by June 3, 2025, and a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in a Metro Atlanta Title I school.

Read also: Emory's Chemistry Department

Construction Management

This program, provided by DPR Construction, introduces high school students to careers in construction management. This paid opportunity is available to rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates from eligible communities, including Atlanta. Interns must come from families with an income below the HUD Median Family Income (MFI) in their county.

Heavy Highway Construction

C.W. Matthews Contracting Company, a leading heavy highway construction contractor that operates throughout Georgia, offers paid internships to high schoolers. Students are encouraged to follow the path they find most interesting. You should be aware that C. W. Matthews also offers work-based learning internships for high schoolers, which last for either a semester or a full year.

Lineworker Apprenticeship

This eight-week, paid internship shows high schoolers what it’s like to work as an apprentice lineworker. Interns gain job experience by working alongside Georgia Power line crews and performing basic work, learning about power line construction standards, and exploring potential career paths, such as being a lineworker or meter tech. Interns also spend time developing soft skills and doing CAST (Construction and Skills Trade Test) preparation. To qualify for this program, interns must possess a driver’s license and a clean driving record, be able to perform physically demanding activities, and be capable of working outside in all conditions. You also must be either 18 or turning 18 by September 1st.

Cancer Research

This prestigious paid internship invites just 10-12 students to participate annually and provides an immersive experience in the world of cancer research. Participants listen to lectures and go on field trips aimed at deepening their knowledge of cancer research and potential careers in the field. The program is open to rising and graduating high school seniors who will be at least 16 years old by the start of the program.

Human Rights and Global Health

The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering. The summer and fall internship programs offer a few tracks, including: peace programs, health programs, and operations. Carter Center internships are a paid opportunity, with Fall and Spring interns receiving a $5,100 stipend and summer interns receiving a $3,400 stipend.

Healthcare Volunteer Opportunities

Students with an interest in healthcare will want to check out the VolunTEEN program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. VolunTEENs support hospital staff, play games with patients, and provide a valuable service to their community while gaining firsthand healthcare experience. The program is open to high schoolers between the ages of 15 and 18.

This program allows high schoolers to explore potential healthcare careers while gaining real-world experience at a world-class medical center. Volunteer opportunities are open to high schoolers between the ages of 16 and 18. Volunteers assist in a variety of areas, including customer service, clinical and non-clinical departments, patient transport, and wayfinding.

Technology

The Microsoft Discovery Program is a 4-week internship where graduating high school seniors will gain hands-on experience and mentorship from Microsoft employees. Students will develop professional skills and will learn how they can transform their passions into a career in tech at Microsoft. The projects interns may encounter during the Discovery Program are from various disciplines and do not require any previous technical experience.

Civil Liberties

The ACLU of Georgia provides internships to high schoolers, undergraduates, and graduate students.

Arts and Culture

The High Museum’s Teen Team is composed of creative high school students interested in art and community engagement. Participants become familiar with the inner workings of the museum, help plan Teen Nights and public programming, and learn about the museum’s collections and exhibits. The internship runs for the course of an entire year; it begins with an 8-week intensive over the summer and is followed by regular meetings during the school year.

This internship with the Atlanta Film Society-an organization that presents film screenings, hosts an annual screenplay competition, and operates the Atlanta Film Festival-is sure to catch the eye of film buffs. Interns assist with administrative duties, membership, and event planning while gaining real-world experience working for a non-profit. Interns will also gain an understanding of what goes into producing a film festival, although do be aware that this internship does not involve learning about film production itself. Interns must be at least 18, and high school seniors are considered on a case-by-case basis, so do be aware that competition will likely be steep if you are still in high school. However, it’s worth applying if you feel you are a good fit for the role. Interns are asked to work 10 hours a week for a minimum of four months.

Through this program, students ages 15-17 can volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium on any day during the summer, and on weekends during the school year. Volunteers also have the opportunity to apply what they learn to a collaborative project in the broader Atlanta community. If you are interested in volunteering, the application process starts by registering for a mandatory, virtual information session.

Technology and STEM

TAG-Ed pairs STEM-oriented, high-achieving high schoolers with Georgia companies interested in investing in STEM talent and the future workforce of the technology industry. Internships are open to high school juniors, and seniors who are 17 years of age or older.

The Role of Extracurriculars in College Admissions

Extracurricular activities, like internships, play an important role in college admissions. This is particularly true at selective schools where an attention-grabbing extracurricular can help you stand out from a crowded field of academically excellent candidates. Internships generally fall under Tier 2 or 3, depending on the internship’s selectivity and prestige, as well as the responsibilities interns have to take on.

Additional Emory Summer Programs

Emory University offers a variety of other summer programs for high school students, catering to different interests and academic pursuits.

Young Writers Workshop: A program for high school students passionate about writing, offering workshops, critique sessions, and opportunities for publication.
Pre-Health Scholars Program: An introduction to the healthcare field, including clinical shadowing, medical simulations, and discussions on healthcare ethics.
Pre-Law Scholars Program: An exploration of legal principles, mock trials, and interactions with legal professionals.
Global Epidemiology and Biostatistics Institute: A hands-on introduction to public health, focusing on disease prevention, epidemiological methods, and global health challenges.
Youth Theological Initiative: A program for students interested in theology, religious studies, and ethical discourse.
STEM Research Experience: An opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research projects in various STEM fields.
Sustainability and Social Justice Academy: A program focused on sustainability, environmental ethics, and social justice topics.
Summer Academy at Emory: A diverse array of college-level courses in various subjects, allowing students to earn college credit.

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