I work in a federal research lab and up until this year, we often had paid and unpaid high school interns.
Our students always end up on at least poster presentation and usually get their name on a publication.

For teens interested in STEM, a Raspberry Pi is a good investment. With a case, keyboard, and power supply it costs around $100 at Amazon. Get one with at least 8 GB of RAM memory.

The Mathematica application from Wolfram.com (usually about $495 by itself) is a no-cost download. Search web for how to get it.

The company Elecrow also sells electronics kits with a booklet describing how to make this and that, all based on the Pi. Search for "Crow Pi" at Amazon to find these.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time trying to convince my rising sophomore to just apply to some STEM internships as he has a pretty solid interest in 3D printing.

not OP. The Naval STEM link above is a good resource. Applications normally open in early September. It also lists specific sites that have HS interns.

One can also apply directly to a STEM site (example: Carderock NSWC) for paid summer internships. HS students hired that way are usually hired as a paid GS-3


Have DC put together a resume. Be specific about technical skills. Examples:
Experienced with xyz 3D printer, know Python, know Mathematica, familiar with Linux (or other UNIX), can program Excel, or whatever.

The scientists and engineers usually will prefer hiring someone who has skills that contribute to their project.

This is very helpful info that will be applied, hopefully. Thank you!

Not the job

Anonymous wrote:I am having a hard time trying to convince my rising sophomore to just apply to some STEM internships as he has a pretty solid interest in 3D printing.

not OP. The Naval STEM link above is a good resource. Applications normally open in early September. It also lists specific sites that have HS interns.

One can also apply directly to a STEM site (example: Carderock NSWC) for paid summer internships. HS students hired that way are usually hired as a paid GS-3


Have DC put together a resume. Be specific about technical skills. Examples:
Experienced with xyz 3D printer, know Python, know Mathematica, familiar with Linux (or other UNIX), can program Excel, or whatever.

The scientists and engineers usually will prefer hiring someone who has skills that contribute to their project.

OP kudos to you, I think I need your advice than you needing mine…I am having a hard time trying to convince my rising sophomore to just apply to some STEM internships as he has a pretty solid interest in 3D printing.

Anyhow as for your DS, it all depends on what his goals and interests are (at the present time) and the birds that are in hand. If college or entrepreneurship interest is a factor, that competitive research opp would be golden especially if he is pursing top schools. It will translate really well, because many can go work a random job or pay for a summer camp/internship, but you went the extra mile and applied and were accepted into a competitive research opp. Research is an activity that aligns with ivies and other top schools.

Then the next best would be the internship, which another PP mentioned also allows for experience building (just like a job) and industry exploration into interests he hasn’t discovered yet or further defining his engineering roadmap. Then the job, especially if they can be flexible enough to allow him to come back part time or before/after he attends at least one of those opps. Hopefully the notification/decision making timing works for him to decide the route he wants to take.

All the best to you all! I am going to show my DS your post so he will know I am not a complete whacko for wanting him to prepare himself.

I had a (paid) internship in a particular field of engineering. These do exist, btw, even for HS students. People were nice. They loved doing what they did.

It convinced me, however, that their work would be boring *for me*. I still went into engineering, but chose upper-level electives and such so I could get a job in R&D instead.

A different intern the same place the same summer had the opposite reaction and later went to work at that place.

A possible benefit to internship is learning whether one likes that sort of work. It won't be as crisp a decision for some as it was for me, but it could be helpful in selecting a career path.

Here's the HS intern program I was involved in at the Naval Research Laboratory. (But whenever this topic comes up, DCUM posters say there's no such thing as high school interns).

https://www.navalsteminterns.us/seap/

And adding- mine choose his fun fast food up until summer before senior year and then did a paid job more aligned to what he wanted to do after college. I think it helped he had any work experience and he learned a lot from working fast food!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When does he have to tell the job? He already did it and loved it and it’s manual labor. That would be the first choice in my opinion. It sounds like real work experience.

I, personally, don’t think those internships matter much. Is the competitive research program a college summer program you need to pay thousands for if he gets accepted? If it is, definitely take the real job if you are thinking about college admissions.

He could let the job know in May.

The research would be a paid position. Not at a university.

Then easy decision, let him pick and live with the decision. He’s old enough to decide. It’s one summer at 15 or 16. This isn’t going to make or break college. I have one that just went though the admissions process.

Anonymous wrote:When does he have to tell the job? He already did it and loved it and it’s manual labor. That would be the first choice in my opinion. It sounds like real work experience.

I, personally, don’t think those internships matter much. Is the competitive research program a college summer program you need to pay thousands for if he gets accepted? If it is, definitely take the real job if you are thinking about college admissions.

He could let the job know in May.

The research would be a paid position. Not at a university.

When does he have to tell the job? He already did it and loved it and it’s manual labor. That would be the first choice in my opinion. It sounds like real work experience.

I, personally, don’t think those internships matter much. Is the competitive research program a college summer program you need to pay thousands for if he gets accepted? If it is, definitely take the real job if you are thinking about college admissions.

I think it depends on your/his objectives.

I’ve never heard of legit summer internships for HS students. I’d stick to a summer job. My DH interviews college interns for their summer spots and they usually don’t interview students without any previous work experience.

My sophomore wants to be an engineer. He is looking at a few options for this summer. One is to go back to the manual labor job he did last summer and loved. He also has an offer of an internship, and has applied to a competitive research program but won’t hear for a while.

College won’t be the only factor, but it’s one factor. Any thoughts on the three options?