15 Psychology Internships for High School Students in 2023
Are you a high school student interested in pursuing a career in psychology? If so, psychology internships can be a valuable way for high school students to gain hands-on experience and explore their interests in the field.
Psychology internships can offer high school students opportunities to work with professionals in various settings, from clinical settings to research labs. In this blog post, we've compiled a list of 15 psychology internships and programs that are open to high school students.
Whether you're interested in counseling, neuroscience, or social psychology, there's an internship on this list of 15 psychology internships for high school students that can help you gain insight into your chosen field.
Benefits of Psychology Internships for High School Students
Participating in psychology internships and pre-college programs can have numerous benefits for high school students. Some of these benefits include:
Hands-on experience: Psychology internships and programs provide valuable hands-on experience and exposure to the field of psychology, helping students to explore their interests and passions in a practical way. This can be particularly beneficial for students who are considering pursuing psychology as a major in college or as a career.
Networking and skill-building opportunities: Additionally, these programs offer opportunities to network with professionals in the field, gaining insight into different career paths and building important connections for the future. By working alongside professionals, students participating in psychology internships and pre-college programs will develop important skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, which are highly valued in many fields — even beyond psychology.
Demonstrated interest in the field: Lastly, psychology is not a common subject studied by most pre-college students, since many high schools do not offer psychology courses. Because of this, taking initiative to participate in a psychology program or internship can help students show demonstrated interest when applying to college!
15 Psychology Internships and Programs for High School Students
Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy
The Child Mind Institute Youth Mental Health Academy (YMHA) is a 14-month program focused on career development and community involvement, specifically designed for high school students. During the first summer of the program, students will participate in a paid project-based learning experience and a final group presentation. YMHA also ensures mentorship and ongoing integrated support for participants throughout its entirety. During the second summer, high school students will participate in a paid internship in fields such as brain and mental health research, clinical practice, and mental health media and communications.
Johns Hopkins University Psychology and Brain Sciences Summer Pre-College Programs
Johns Hopkins University offers pre-college psychology programs for high school students to learn from world-renowned instructors and connect with like-minded students from around the world. With a variety of programs in medicine, neuroscience, and psychology, students can broaden their knowledge, enhance their college applications, and even earn academic credits. These programs are designed to provide an immersive learning experience that challenges students and promotes intellectual curiosity. By participating in these programs, students can gain invaluable insights, skills, and experiences that can assist in their academic and professional pursuits. There are online and in-person programs available.
https://summer.jhu.edu/areas-of-study/psychology-brain-sciences/
National Student Leadership Conference on Psychology and Neuroscience
The NSLC on Psychology & Neuroscience invites high school students to explore the science of the mind, focusing on child development, personality types, and the art of motivating others. High school students will engage in clinical psychology simulations and hands-on neurology workshops to gain insight into the link between the brain and human behavior. With an emphasis on practical applications of theory, the program offers opportunities to explore and expand knowledge of psychology and neuroscience.
https://www.nslcleaders.org/youth-leadership-programs/psychology-neuroscience/
Summer@Brown
Summer@Brown is a one- to six-week residential program that allows high school students to choose from over 200 courses in various disciplines, including psychology, art, engineering, and economics. Students will learn how to balance engaging, ungraded academic courses with exciting social activities. Psychology courses available to high school students include: “Psychology of Stress and Trauma,” “Abnormal Psychology,” “Culture and Psychology,” “Critical Thinking about Human Behavior,” and more.
Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University
High school students can gain insight into the workings of the brain, emotions, and senses through a psychologist's perspective at the Psychology Institute at Wake Forest. Students will engage in hands-on dissection to delve into the brain's structure, and explore how illusions, emotions, and biases influence our perception and interaction with the world. Students will also challenge their perception and trustworthiness of what they see and hear by conducting an observational study to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world and the people around them.
https://immersion.summer.wfu.edu/opportunities/institutes/psychology-institute/
Recruitment & Training to Unlock Research Potential (RTURP) in Science at National Institute on Drug Abuse
The Intramural Research Program (IRP) is the National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) in-house research program, situated on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus in Baltimore, Maryland. NIDA has been the foremost source of scientific knowledge on addiction for nearly 60 years, offering a training ground for researchers interested in drug abuse research. The Recruitment & Training to Unlock Research Potential Program, an intramural program, provides paid training opportunities for students keen on understanding the scientific foundation of drug abuse. The program is competitive, with a limited number of positions available each summer.
Introduction to Psychology: The Frontiers of Psychological Inquiry at Cornell University
In this online, 3-credit course, high school students will gain an introduction to psychology alongside undergraduates and other precollege students. Students will explore questions, including the following, which are listed on the program website: “Why are people superstitious? Why do people blush when they are embarrassed? What is intelligence (and are IQ tests a good way to measure it)? Why don’t psychopaths feel guilty when they harm others? How reliable are childhood memories? Why do we laugh? Do violent video games make people act violently? Why do some people seem instantly trustworthy and others seem ‘creepy’? How do we choose whom to sleep with, date, or marry? How does stress affect our body?”
Illinois Institute of Technology - Psychology Summer Program
High school students interested in exploring psychology as a science can enroll in the Psychology Summer Program at the Illinois Institute of Technology. This program offers a collegiate-level experience that provides insight into how psychology contributes to personal growth and understanding. Through the program, participants will gain exposure to the role of a therapist and will explore five themes over the course of a week: introduction day, multicultural psychology day, psychology research and technology day, introduction to psychotherapy day, and careers and admissions day. Each theme provides a unique lens through which students can learn and experience different aspects of psychology. There are residential and day programs available.
https://www.iit.edu/academics/elevate-college-prep/summer/residential/psychology-summer-program
National Institute of Mental Health's Training Opportunities for High School Students
The High School SIP (HS-SIP) summer program offers high school students the opportunity to work alongside world-renowned biomedical scientists at the NIH. The NIH program features the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, a 240-bed facility, and over 1150 laboratories/research projects across various locations, including Bethesda, MD, Baltimore, Frederick, MD, Research Triangle Park, NC, Hamilton, MT, Framingham, MA, and Phoenix, AZ. The program provides a unique environment devoted solely to biomedical research, allowing students to gain valuable experience in the field.
Introduction to Experimental Psychology at University of Pennsylvania
Offered through the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences, high school students have the opportunity to take a course on experimental psychology. In this course, students will be introduced to fundamental topics in psychology in the following areas: the biological basis of behavior, the cognitive basis of behavior, and the individual and group bases of behavior. Students will explore a variety of topics, such as neuropsychology, learning, cognition, development, disorders, personality, and social psychology, among others.
Columbia University Summer Immersion in the Science of Psychology
High school students have the opportunity to participate in a summer immersion program at Columbia University, examining the science of psychology. In this program, students will explore various areas of psychological research, such as the biological basis of behavior, learning and memory, sensation and perception, cognitive development, language acquisition, personality, and the social factors that influence behavior. The course offers an in-depth excursion into these topics, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the science of psychology.
EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience Pre-College Program
The EXPLO Psychology + Neuroscience Pre-College Program guides students in investigating the connections between psychology and neuroscience in order to unravel the enigmas of the human brain. Participants will delve into a variety of disciplines within the realm of psychology and acquire skills in applying various therapeutic theories to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. An overview of behavioral neuroscience will examine the potential biological origins of such conditions, along with the correlation between brain function and individual experiences, the principles that govern neuron activity, and the neurotransmitter systems that influence memory, motivation, and addiction.
AI Scholars
For students who are seeking a fulfilling summer experience taught by graduate students and alumni from top universities, consider Inspirit AI, a live online AI-project building class in which students will learn about the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its ever-growing applications. Previous AI Scholars students have worked on AI + Psychology projects, including creating models for digital phenotyping in mental health or even building AI chatbot projects that connect users to mental health resources. The program’s instructors are alumni from Stanford, MIT, and other top universities who are happy to share guidance about their collegiate experience and about college AI programs. Read more about the AI Scholars program for talented high school students here and check out some of the projects completed by our alumni!
Georgetown Summer College
Georgetown University offers Summer College courses across disciplines, including psychology, that enable students to earn college credits and gain a head start in their academic careers. The program provides a seamless transition into the college learning environment, with a blend of lectures, class discussions, and guest speakers. Students have the opportunity to take courses alongside current undergraduates, learn from distinguished Georgetown faculty, and engage in rigorous coursework that prepares them for college success and beyond. The program offers flexible options, including on-campus courses lasting five weeks, online courses lasting eight weeks, or a combination of both. Upon completion of their course(s), students will receive an official transcript from Georgetown University.
NYU Precollege Programs
NYU Precollege is a six-week program that allows you to earn college credits, interact with NYU professors and peers, and explore your interests. As a Precollege participant, you will be fully integrated into the NYU community, with access to the school's distinctive resources, supportive environment, and global network. Whether you have a clear idea of your intended major or wish to explore a new subject area, such as psychology, NYU Precollege provides an excellent opportunity to develop your abilities and readiness for college.
