Freshman Year Internships: How to Get One in High School

Updated July 1, 2026

Yes, you can get an internship as a freshman in high school. The approach is the same at every grade: email companies directly, give one specific reason you're interested, and ask if they'd take a summer intern. As a freshman, focus on curiosity over credentials — a local business, a lab, or a startup will often take a keen younger student for the summer.

Getting an internship as a freshman

As a freshman, focus on curiosity over credentials — a local business, a lab, or a startup will often take a keen younger student for the summer. Most high school internships aren't posted, so direct outreach is how you find them at any grade level.

Related: high school internships · no experience · email templates · how to cold email.

FirstInternships gives you 16,000+ company recruiting inboxes and writes a personal cold email for each from your background. Free to start — great for students reaching out for the first time.

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Frequently asked questions

Is freshman year too early for an internship?

No. Motivated students get internships at every high school grade by reaching out directly to companies.

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