Resources

High School Internship Directory

Ready to build your skills and connections? As we learn of internships with great companies and Get a Financial Life NYC partners, we'll post them here. See what's available and apply!

Category: career, general

Upward Bound

Upward Bound is a federally funded college access program that provides low-income and first-generation high school students with academic support, tutoring, test prep, and college advising. Students also attend summer programs at partner colleges.

Open to high school students who are low-income and/or first-generation college-bound; must attend a partner school and meet TRIO eligibility guidelines.

Category: nature

Wave Hill Forest Project

A paid summer internship immersing high school students in urban ecological restoration and field-based coursework, with advanced interns eligible for a 14-month mentorship including college-level classes and in-depth research.

High school students (usually grades 10–12, age 16+) from NYC with a strong interest in ecology, able to work in outdoor environments, and—if in the mentorship—commit to an extended academic and field schedule.

Category: arts

Whitney Museum – YA Artists & Youth Insights Leaders Internship

Free and paid programs for NYC high school students to engage in museum education and art-making at the Whitney. YI Leaders assist events, lead teen engagement, support family/community programs, and earn hourly pay for museum educational work.

NYC high schoolers (grades 10–12 for YA Artists; 11–12 for YI Leaders); YI Leaders require completion of a prior YA Artists or YI program.

Category: career, general, nonprofit

WPP (NYC)

A paid internship initiative placing NYC youth ages 16–24 (especially those not in school or work) into nonprofit-sector roles (15–20 hrs/week for ~12 weeks) to gain workplace experience.

Open to low-income NYC residents aged 16–24, with preference for those out-of-school/-work or at risk, requiring commitment to the full internship duration and any provider-specific criteria.

Category: community, politics

Youth Action Institute

Paid year-long civic fellowship that empowers NYC youth to research and advocate for policy solutions. Fellows receive training in anti-oppression, qualitative research, and policy analysis.

NYC residents, ages 16–21, with lived experience around public safety or justice issues

Category: writing

Youth Communication – Teen Writer Fellowship

Paid storytelling internship for NYC high school students contributing to Youth Communication’s publications. Write personal/social-issue stories under editor mentorship.

High school students ages 15–20.

Category: writing

Youth Community Writing Workshop

Free-to-low-cost writing workshops & community events for teens across NYC; offers workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and small-group peer feedback.

Varies by program—typically youth ages 12–18; open to NYC teens with an interest in creative writing.

Category: community, politics

Youth Food Advocates Internship (NYC DOE)

A school-year youth leadership program where high school interns advocate for food justice and school nutrition policy—conducting research, public presentations, and organizing events—earning a stipend up to $550, advocating for better school food.

Open to NYC high school students interested in food policy and social justice, available from August through June, and ready to engage in advocacy, research, and public outreach activities.