Finance Internships for High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide

Internships offer invaluable experiences that can shape future professionals, providing a glimpse into potential career paths, impressing college admissions committees, and even providing financial compensation. While securing finance-specific internships during high school can be challenging, numerous opportunities in related fields can provide relevant experience.

Why Pursue Finance Internships in High School?

Engaging in internships before the college application process demonstrates a commitment to developing a pre-professional path through tangible experience, making your application stand out to admission officers. PRISM consultancy revealed that 70% of students attending a US News top 50 University have completed at least one internship while in high school. Furthermore, high school internships set students up for future success in college club and job recruiting, particularly in competitive fields like law, medicine, and finance. Early exposure to finance can be particularly advantageous, as investment banking and consulting firms often begin recruiting as early as sophomore year of college.

How to Find Finance Internships

The most effective methods for discovering finance internships for high school students involve online search tools and specialized databases. The StandOutSearch database is the largest free resource that lists almost every internship program for the high school age group and allows you to search by interest area. MIT Admissions also provides a helpful list of High School Internships. Given the competitive nature of these programs, a proactive cold outreach strategy is also recommended to maximize your chances of success. Networking is crucial in the finance world, especially for high school students.

Cold Outreach Strategy

If established programs don't yield results, a cold outreach strategy can be effective. Smaller companies that need more hands on deck will be the most likely to hire high-school-aged students. Express your genuine interest in finance, highlighting specific areas like investment banking, consulting, private equity, marketing, or real estate. Stay informed about current events and trends in the finance world to demonstrate your knowledge. Look for personal connections with professionals, such as shared hometowns or hobbies.

How to Find Professors for Research Positions

University staff directories can be used to find professors to reach out to for research positions. Be aware that remote research positions tend to be harder to come by. The exception is if you are doing computational research, which generally requires introductory knowledge of Python or R to parse large datasets.

Template for Cold Outreach

Subject: Student Reaching Out

Dear [Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a rising [Grade] at [Your School]. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience]. I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here.

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Template for Finding a Research Position

Subject: Student Reaching Out

Dear Professor/Dr. ____,

I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field]. I have included my resume here.

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Featured Finance Internship Programs for High School Students

Here are some notable finance-related internship opportunities for high school students:

Ladder Internship Program - Finance Track
- Location: Remote
- Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
- Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter).
- Description: This selective startup internship program matches ambitious students with high-growth startups across various industries, including tech, AI, health tech, marketing, and consulting. Interns work on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
J.P. Morgan’s Smart Start Program (Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Program)
- Location: New York City, NY
- Eligibility: High-achieving graduating seniors in New York City.
- Description: This four-year internship combines part-time work during the academic year with full-time summer roles, alongside a full four-year scholarship to an approved college or university. Participants gain experience across various J.P. Morgan business areas through a rotational structure.
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors.
- Program Dates: 8 weeks (June - August)
- Description: This program focuses on community engagement and leadership skills development. Students work on projects related to budgeting, financial analysis, and planning, while connecting with banking and financial industry professionals.
Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors residing in Chicago with a B or 3.0 average and family income below $80,000/year.
- Program Dates: June - August (6 weeks)
- Description: CSBI offers paid internships in the financial services sector, providing practical experience and classroom learning through workshops, seminars, and projects. The program emphasizes inclusivity by offering opportunities to students from low-income backgrounds.
Empower High School Experience at KPMG
- Description: A 3-week program that introduces key accounting principles, auditing methods, tax concepts, and advisory services through workshops and case studies. Extensive networking and mentorship opportunities are also provided.
Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Intern
- Location: Boston, MA
- Program Dates: 5 weeks from July - August
- Eligibility: High school students
- Description: A comprehensive experience in accounting and finance with a focus on asset management. You will gain experience with investment strategies, financial analysis, risk management, and portfolio management.
Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program
- Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, MA
- Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year in any Boston public school.
- Program Dates: July - August
- Description: This internship offers underrepresented students the chance to develop essential skills and gain experience in finance and accounting. You will attend skill-building workshops covering key accounting principles, financial analysis, tax preparation, and audit procedures.
KP Launch High School Internship at Kaiser Permanente
- Location: Various Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers or business offices.
- Eligibility: Students aged 16-19 by June 1 who are current high school students and/or graduating seniors.
- Program Dates: June 17 - August 2
- Description: Kaiser Permanente offers summer internships for high school students with a focus on professional development. The program offers tracks in various fields, such as finance, accounting, sales and marketing, communications, product development, and more.
CLA High School Internship Program
- Location: Various locations across the US.
- Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 years.
- Program Dates: 8 weeks, typically from mid-June to August.
- Description: This program offers students an introduction to accounting. Interns gain experience in key areas such as tax preparation, financial analysis, and audit procedures.
KPMG Future Leaders Program
- Eligibility: High school seniors.
- Description: This work-learn initiative encourages young women to pursue careers in business and STEM fields. As a KPMG scholar, you will be paired with an executive mentor, who is a senior business leader and a past attendee of the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit. Scholars benefit from annual college scholarships and support throughout their academic journey.

Additional Internship and Program Options

BALI (Bella Abzug Leadership Institute): This program focuses on developing leadership skills and confidence in young women and gender-expansive youth in the NYC metropolitan area.
DOROT: This nonprofit offers internships for high school and college students interested in nonprofit management, providing opportunities to work with older adults.
Youthbridge: A two-year fellowship program in New York for high school juniors and seniors focused on leadership and diversity training.
Jimerson Birr High School Summer Internship Program: A Florida-based business law firm offering internships for seniors to gain real-world experience.
Ladders for Leaders: A program placing high school and college students in paid summer internships with corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies in New York City.
Bank of America Student Leaders program: Provides opportunities for high school juniors and seniors to develop leadership and job-related skills through paid internships with nonprofits.
Interns4Good: Offers a range of positions for high school students looking to intern at nonprofit organizations, including marketing and outreach roles.
Forage: Provides high school students with bite-sized virtual work experiences at top companies.
The Department of Education: Offers internships across fields like Human Resources Management, Project Management, and Training and Development.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: Provides internships to students interested in business careers, with a half-day commitment during the academic year.
Meta Summer Academy: Offers sophomores from specific California locations firsthand experience with social media operations.
The Port of Seattle: Provides paid internships on real projects at locations like the SEA Airport.
YEP (Youth Entrepreneurs Program): A Kansas City-based internship focused on entrepreneurship, pairing high school students with local businesses.
T. Howard Foundation Internship Program: For students interested in media, entertainment, and tech.
LaunchX: Provides an internship opportunity focused on finance or venture capital.
Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI): Offers paid summer internships for Chicago high school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Allied Minds Challenge: Challenges students to use their computer science, engineering, and technology skills to create smart city solutions.
Business Basics Workshop (Kansas University): A free program for students interested in studying business in college.
Business Week (Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business): A one-day program for high school juniors and seniors to learn about college and career opportunities in business.
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition: A competition where students gain firsthand experience with the stock market by managing a virtual investment portfolio.

Alternatives to Traditional Internships

Lumiere Research Scholar Program: For students interested in pursuing independent research, this selective online program connects students with researchers at Harvard and Oxford.

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