MITRE High School Student Internship Programs: Launching Your Career

Are you a high school student eager to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the safety and stability of our communities and our nation? MITRE's internship programs offer a unique opportunity to apply your creativity and technical aptitude to real-world problems. MITRE, a not-for-profit company, tackles complex challenges for the public good. It encourages students to bring-and gain-knowledge here.

Why Choose a MITRE Internship?

MITRE internships provide a platform to explore your interests, work in world-class labs, gain hands-on experience, and connect with mentors and peers. Every day at MITRE will be a new adventure. You'll meet people filled with passion for their work, you'll encounter the latest advances in research and technology, and you'll discover career opportunities you may not have known about.

Real-World Impact

Don't expect a slow start to your career at MITRE. Here you'll find a dizzying array of projects that will immediately test your skills. Whether you're curious or passionate about National Security, looking for opportunities to learn and contribute to the safety of the nation, or want to do impactful work from one of our many mission-focused locations across the US, MITRE offers a diverse range of projects. These projects allow interns to make tangible contributions to critical areas such as:

Countering cyber threats
Advancing robotics capabilities
Making healthcare more equitable

Networking and Social Opportunities

MITRE internships aren't just about work; they're also about building connections. Compare notes and swap stories with your fellow interns and co-ops at MITRE-sponsored social events, networking functions, and project expos. And you'll make new friends!

A Pathway to Full-Time Employment

Since intern and co-op assignments can lead to full-time positions following graduation, MITRE will give you the chance to prove what you can do. Students scheduled to graduate within 12 months after their internship may receive an offer for full-time employment. MITRE converts over half of our interns to full-time employees.

Read also: Solving Problems with MITRE

What to Expect During Your Internship

Each summer, in addition to a meaningful work experience, our 500+ new and returning interns have the opportunity to build new skills by participating in our premier Learning Track Program. Students will also attend technical talks, network with each other, participate in mentorship programs with MITRE staff, and make connections that last.

Hands-on Experience

Whether you're an intern pursuing a summer work experience or a cooperative education student pursuing work related to your major or career goal, you'll work side by side with senior staff on crucial sponsor programs.

Skill Development

Beyond project work, MITRE prioritizes the development of its interns through the Learning Track Program, technical talks, and mentorship opportunities. These resources allow students to:

Build new skills
Network with peers and MITRE staff
Make lasting connections

Who Should Apply?

MITRE seeks students with sustained academic excellence who demonstrate that they're curious, constant learners and who have a demonstrated interest in serving the public.

Desired Majors and Fields of Study

While MITRE hires a lot of computer science-related majors and electrical and computer engineers, the company also values diversity in academic backgrounds. There is an increasing need for cybersecurity student experts and those with an analytics and data science education and/or experience. MITRE is also starting to complement our intern population with critical thinkers studying the behavioral sciences and humanities-individuals who bring a different perspective for the challenges ahead. MITRE also value students with an interdisciplinary education or experience.

Read also: Job Skills for Students

Eligibility

Most of our interns are rising college juniors or seniors, but we hire exceptional students at every level, even in high school. Many work for MITRE for multiple years. Graduate students make up about 15% of our population; many of them help mentor our more junior students.

Internship Locations and Duration

Many intern and new grad positions are located in either Bedford, MA or McLean, VA. But we have an increasing presence at our newly developed Innovation Hubs. These are regionally based hubs designed to expand MITRE’s reach, enable us to engage with new talent, create new strategic partnerships, leverage new markets and contribute to the socio-economic strength of the surrounding communities. We also have over 50 other sites across the nation. We will try to find the best location for you. View all of MITRE's locations.

Our internships last 10-12 weeks. You will work with your manager to identify one of three starting dates in late May or early June (high school students may start later) and one of three end dates in late July or early August.

Application Process and Timeline

When you sign up, you’ll have first access to new positions that fit your experience and interests.

Clearance Requirements

Most internships don't require a clearance. either now or in the future.

What if You Don't Receive an Offer?

If you will not be considered for an internship this year, we will let you know by early November. If you do not hear back from us by November, please know that we continue hiring through spring. So those students under consideration will remain in the pool for hiring managers to review until then. MITRE has a very competitive program--If you don’t make it into the program this summer, keep learning and gaining skills and apply again.

MITRE High School Student Program

At MITRE, we empower our student researchers to discover, create, and lead in the science, engineering, technology, and mathematics fields. As part of our student programs, it is presently planned that The MITRE High School Student Program will be offering to high school students paid positions in these technical areas during summer 2024. As a student researcher, you will join and collaborate with our team of expert mentors who are motivated to help you realize your maximum potential.

To qualify for these paid, 8-week summer 2024 research positions, students will need to be current freshmen through current seniors in high school during the 2023-24 academic year.

Benefits of Internships for High School Students

Internships are a great opportunity for high schoolers to network, explore different fields, and gain real-world experience. Internships also look great on college applications-they demonstrate determination, motivation, and an active pursuit of areas of interest.

Examples of Other High School Internship Programs

While MITRE offers a distinctive internship experience, numerous other programs cater to high school students seeking professional exposure:

Kaiser Permanente’s KP LAUNCH program: Designed to bring underrepresented and low-income high school and undergraduate students into health careers, offers paid internships in Oakland and across Northern California. Interns will learn professional and community leadership skills as well as the hands-on expertise necessary for employment in healthcare fields.
The Johns Hopkins University summer programs: Offers several summer programs for underrepresented high school students to encourage them to pursue careers in science, public health, and medicine, targeting several STEM and health-related disciplines. This internship enables students to visit university departments and interact with professionals in their respective fields, and is perfect for students interested in medicine. Applications, timelines, and compensation vary depending on the program, but all are held over the summer.
The Bank of America Student Leaders program: Prepares a diverse group of community-minded young people for success in the workforce through leadership training. Participants leave the program with a firsthand look at how non-profits, governments, and businesses collaborate to meet local needs and the skills needed to bring about positive change. The program includes a one-week in-person summit in Washington, D.C., where students will congregate and continue to develop their skills.
The AFRL Scholars program: Offers stipend-paid opportunities to upper-level high school students (as well as undergraduate and graduate students).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship: This fantastic opportunity for rising juniors and seniors who attend school in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut allows students to observe, assist, and be mentored by a staff member at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, connecting them to the arts and creative professionals while gaining work experience and building a professional network.
The Hutton Program: A paid summer internship and mentoring program for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing natural resource and environmental management. Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS), this internship aims to foster interest in fisheries science and management among groups underrepresented in the field. This paid internship program also provides mentoring and has paired more than 700 high schoolers with mentors since 2001.
The Science and Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP): This eight-week internship researching for the Department of the Navy (DoN) pays a bi-weekly stipend and offers the chance to participate in research and receive mentoring from laboratory personnel.
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Teen Arts Council: Allows high schoolers to learn about museum professionals and build valuable leadership skills, all while earning a respectable hourly wage.
The Smithsonian internships: Offers a wide variety of internship opportunities, ranging from centrally funded opportunities that place interns throughout the Smithsonian to specific opportunities available at each of the Smithsonian’s various museums, research centers, and other units.
The Chicago Architecture + Design STEAM Summer Program: This eye-opening internship allows Chicago high schoolers to engage with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) fields while preparing for a variety of careers. Participants are given space for personal growth and scientific experimentation while connecting with peers from around the city.
The Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) at Fred Hutch: Aimed at students from underrepresented groups in biomedical science, the SHIP is an eight-week, full-time, paid internship for rising twelfth graders. Students will receive an orientation covering laboratory safety, technique, and skills, then proceed to participate in immersive mentored activities in a Fred Hutch research group in Seattle. Additional activities for interns include social events, workshops, and presentations.
Texas Tech Anson L. Clark Scholars Program: Delivers an incredible variety of paid internships for high school students in fields ranging from Accounting to Theatre Arts. This prestigious and intensive seven-week program is extremely competitive; just 12 exceptional high school juniors/seniors are chosen from a global pool of applicants to undertake hands-on, faculty-supervised research.
Indiana University Summer Research Program: This internship for students with an interest or background in the performing arts helps participants build professional skills and gain an understanding of arts management.

Conclusion

MITRE's high school student internship programs offer an unparalleled opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop valuable skills, and contribute to projects that make a difference. With a focus on mentorship, hands-on learning, and a supportive environment, MITRE provides a launchpad for future leaders in STEM and other critical fields.

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