Georgia Tech High School Internship Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide

High school internships have become increasingly popular as students become more career-focused and seek to enhance their chances of admission to top universities. Internships offer students the chance to expand their networks and connect with mentors who can guide them in their future careers. For Georgia high school students, Georgia Tech and its affiliated organizations offer a variety of internship opportunities. This article explores several options, from research-oriented programs to those focused on specific industries like law, construction, and the arts.

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) High School Summer Internships

Georgia high school students who are at least 16 years old may be eligible to apply for five-week summer internships hosted in GTRI labs. Interns work on projects in GTRI laboratories and the Warner Robins field office, with the goal of providing students with real-world experiences in science and engineering research. 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.

Other Georgia Tech Programs

REAL (Research, Experiment, Analyze, Learn)

The REAL program is composed of high school student researchers and has served as an initiative of the GIFT Summer Program since 2004. These students are from underrepresented populations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

STEAM Workshops

STEAM Workshops encourage 6th through 12th grade students to study and pursue a career in the STEAM fields by exposing them to many different topics of science and engineering along with technology.

Summer P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEAM)

Summer P.E.A.K.S. are one to two-week long experiences designed to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) knowledge through various educational activities.

STEAM Whistle Workshops

STEAM Whistle Workshops are online programs to engage elementary, middle, and high school students in their love for (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) from the comfort of their homes. These specialty programs will allow your student to participate in exciting STEAM projects and learning.

Your Voice is Power (YVIP)

Your Voice is Power provides both students and teachers an introduction to computer science through a real-world exploration of how music, computer science, and entrepreneurship can be tools to advance racial justice.

Additional Internship Opportunities in Georgia

Beyond Georgia Tech, numerous other organizations in Georgia offer internships for high school students, catering to a wide range of interests.

University of Georgia (UGA) Youth Science Program (YSP)

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.

Atlanta Bar Association

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.

Read also: The Dynasty of Excellence

Ladder 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.

Atlanta Botanical Garden Internship

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.

DPR Construction

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.

C.W. Matthews Contracting Company

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.

Georgia Power

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.

Read also: Choosing Your UGA Major

Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University

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.

The Carter Center

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.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) VolunTEEN Program

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.

Emory Healthcare Volunteer Program

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.

Microsoft Discovery Program

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.

ACLU of Georgia

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

High Museum Teen Team

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.

Atlanta Film Society

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.

Georgia Aquarium Volunteer Program

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.

TAG-Ed

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 Importance of Extracurricular Activities and Internships 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. The four tiers of extracurricular activities provide a good example of the lens admissions officers view your activities outside of the classroom. Tiers 1 and 2 hold the most influence on college admissions and are reserved for the most outstanding and uncommon activities. Generally, an internship will fall under Tier 2 or 3, depending on the internship’s selectivity and prestige, as well as the responsibilities interns have to take on. CollegeVine’s free chancing calculator can help you better understand your odds of getting into college.

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