summer internships for college students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine hasn’t started college yet but this really sucks.

Let them know to start applications early.

DC is a math/CS major, and they started applying at the end of summer 2025 for summer 2026 internships.

Ugh, wish I knew this. Thought most internships opened up in Oct!

My DC is a junior, CS major, still looking for an internship. I told him to treat the internship search/application process like it's a job.

[Anonymous]

Kid has gone where the money is: military research

[Anonymous]

Wolf Trap just posted their internships if you’re interested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your kid maxing out with the career services office and asking each professor for help?

OP here. Yes, my kid is in the career office frequently (and did so virtually over winter break), and has asked multiple professors (including 2 for whom he does research) for help. I’d assess the career center as minimum help/competency (if DC were consulting, finance or stem focused, I think the career center would be a lot more helpful - I follow the career center and see the postings) and the professors were nice but useless (advice along the lines of: “I could extend your research into this summer,”or “check the department website for opportunities”). DC has also reached out to several alums for informational interviews and has gotten polite responses but only one seems to be following through. DC is applying to orgs like think tanks, govt affairs divisions of various companies, policy type jobs, etc. Internships looking for writing / research / analysis type roles.

Meanwhile in my opinion, it would he so much better for DC as a person and future contributing member of a work organization to be spending this large chunk time (meeting with career center, scouring websites for job ops, putting together “fresh” cover letters and working up writing samples, talking to me and friends for advice, trying to set up informational interviews) focusing on their classes, their sport and extracurriculars!

Well, they will keep on keeping on and hopefully get at least an interview to boost their spirits. I like a PPs advice to focus on smaller orgs - I will suggest that DC try to start focusing efforts there since they’ve already done a large number of “bigger orgs” apps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine hasn’t started college yet but this really sucks.

Let them know to start applications early.

DC is a math/CS major, and they started applying at the end of summer 2025 for summer 2026 internships.

Ugh, wish I knew this. Thought most internships opened up in Oct!

My DC is a junior, CS major, still looking for an internship. I told him to treat the internship search/application process like it's a job.

I have a CS major too. Your student is probably already aware, but this seems to be a very popular compilation of CS-related internships.
https://github.com/vanshb03/Summer2026-Internships

[Anonymous]

Can I ask what field they want?

I work in education, a field where a summer job related to education, perhaps combined with research in an academic discipline (which is sounds like he has been offered?) would be better than an internship, so I am curious what fields are like mine, and where it’s the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine hasn’t started college yet but this really sucks.

Let them know to start applications early.

DC is a math/CS major, and they started applying at the end of summer 2025 for summer 2026 internships.

Ugh, wish I knew this. Thought most internships opened up in Oct!

My DC is a junior, CS major, still looking for an internship. I told him to treat the internship search/application process like it's a job.

I have a CS major too. Your student is probably already aware, but this seems to be a very popular compilation of CS-related internships.
https://github.com/vanshb03/Summer2026-Internships

Thank you! I will let my student know, just in case! Has your student found an internship yet?

[Anonymous]

Why not cut lawns, work at a restaurant, caddy at a golf course or apppy at Walmart.

[Anonymous]

Are these internships looking for humanities majors? He/she needs to apply to interships aligned with the work they are targeting. For internships they are weeding out non-target majors.

[Anonymous]

^ simple answer most if these posters are probably full pay and never did manual labor. Doubt if any know how to start a lawnmower or turn on a snowblower.

[Anonymous]

Yikes humanities majors.

[Anonymous]

Just get a summer job perhaps one that shows work ethic, responsibility. Or volunteer in an intensive way that is related to chosen major. Library. Tutoring. Community summer programs.

[Anonymous]

Kid is a sophomore at a T20 school and got first interview this week. They said they got hundreds and hundreds of apps (app open for one day) and will take 4 kids— interviewed 16.

So my kid still has a 25% chance (only) of getting it.

[Anonymous]

Agree what’s wrong with getting a minimum wage honest summer job. Mom can let the kid borrow the Tesla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree what’s wrong with getting a minimum wage honest summer job. Mom can let the kid borrow the Tesla.

Fine, but, especially before senior year, an internship is a big advantage toward post-grad job hunting. DS graduated this year and said his only friends with jobs were those who'd had good internships after junior year (including him). He did camp counselor, retail, and a very PT career-related gig in the prior summers. All of those, plus on-campus experiences, helped get that rising-senior internship.