Top Psychology Internships for High School Students
by
Indigo Research Team
&
Published:
February 13, 2025
Last Updated:
February 13, 2025
Do you ever wonder why people behave the way they do? Psychology internships for high school students might help you understand how the human brain works. It will give you a deeper insight into human thought processes, emotions, and behavior.
The best part? Some of these internships offer opportunities to collaborate with leading experts while conducting experiments and assisting mental health programs. This article will guide you through the top student psychology internships that take place in hospitals, universities, and research centers. Read on to discover what each program offers and what it takes to enroll successfully.
Here are some of the best psychology internships high school students can participate in:
The American Psychological Association internships empower high school students to investigate psychology outside of their regular academic setting. Participants in this program won't engage in clinical work because it emphasizes research, policy development, educational activities, publishing projects, and communication strategies.
During your internship, you will work at a nonprofit organization where you will implement psychological principles in practical projects. You'll work under the supervision of a mentor while participating in team assignments and educational workshops. Interns gain different learning experiences depending on their placement department. This approach helps them to understand the role of psychology across various fields.
Inspiring Careers in Mental Health is one of the best mental health internships for high school students. It introduces high school students to mental health careers through interactive online sessions. These sessions are conducted by clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and psychiatrists. Before every session, interns study the scientific articles and media materials assigned to them. Mentors discuss what their professional routine looks like and explain their career journeys including education, training requirements, and job responsibilities.
Participants in this program will learn about:
By the end of the program, interns develop a better understanding of mental health roles and the duties required in each specialty. They leave with hands-on experience and deeper knowledge in mental health careers.
If you're looking for paid psychology internships in California, check out the Youth Mental Health Academy. This 14-month program delivers practical learning experiences in mental health science and teaches communication skills. Students begin their journey with the five-week summer academy where students explore mental health topics, develop skills, and learn about career paths. Participants also receive mentorship from professionals in health-related sectors who share their career experiences.
The curriculum includes topics on mental health disorders, health inequities, and information dissemination. Students learn about career opportunities and academic obligations through enrichment activities that prepare them for college. Throughout the experience, interns participate in project-based learning while program staff provide integrated support.
The Psychology Institute at Wake Forest University is one of the most comprehensive psychology high school internships for high school students. The program teaches high school students about psychology by providing hands-on research opportunities. Participants study different areas including emotion, sensation, perception, neuroscience, and addiction. The activities in this program include a guided sheep brain dissection, brain training exercises, and sensory perception laboratory work. Students conduct observational research to analyze human behavior and then share their team research results.
During the internship, you will investigate how illusions, emotions, and biases influence perception and decision-making. You will also learn about the brain structure and function through interactive lessons. In the end, experimentation and real-world behavior analysis will give you deeper insight into key psychological concepts.
If you've searched “psychology internships near me" and didn't find a good option, online internships like CNI-X might help you overcome the distance barrier. Offline programs are also available for students who can attend the Stanford University campus. The two-week program introduces students to neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology, through interactive seminars led by Stanford faculty and researchers.
Participants investigate subject areas such as clinical neuropsychiatry, psychiatric epidemiology, neuroscience research, and behavioral sciences. They also learn about career opportunities in scientific fields and self-care techniques for young adults. In the end, students apply their acquired knowledge to practical neuroscience through a collaborative capstone project.
The Summer Neuroscience Program (SNP) is one of the best psychology internships in NYC. For two weeks, students learn about neuroscience via interactive lessons and practicals. They are led by Rockefeller graduate students on research projects and studies of brain functions. The program offers students the chance to read scientific articles, present their findings, and choose their own neuroscience experiments.
Other exciting parts of this internship are brain dissection sessions, tours of research facilities, and meetings with Rockefeller scientists. The program teaches students about visual information processing and brain interpretation mechanisms. Students learn modern neuroscience techniques through practical experience with experimental design and data analysis. They also learn about recent neuroscience developments through discussions.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) Summer Internship Program is one of the paid internships for psychology enthusiasts in high school. This program offers full-time research positions at the NIH Intramural Research Program. Each intern collaborates in research groups headed by a Principal Investigator (PI) at an NIH Institute or Center. The research opportunities available span biomedical science to social science research and clinical investigations.
Students participate in practical projects across numerous disciplines with psychology being one of them. During their internships, students develop practical skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific research methods. The program is structured to expose students to real-world research environments and offer them opportunities to collaborate with experts. The NIH allocates interns to live research projects but prohibits them from administrative job functions.
The online pre-college program at Johns Hopkins University teaches Psychology and Brain Sciences and the Neuroscience and Human Behavior course. Students work through their assignments following a predetermined timetable because the program operates mainly outside of real-time interactions. However, students can participate in real-time online interactions through optional synchronous sessions organized by instructors.
Students learn basic principles of neuroscience and psychology by studying how brain function influences human behavior. Students analyze research, complete assignments, and engage with course materials independently. They can also reach out to instructors for support whenever they feel stuck. The course format allows students to study at their own pace.
The Psychology Department at Columbia University presents both basic and specialized summer classes about social psychology and developmental and abnormal psychology. It offers various comprehensive courses including The Science of Psychology which introduces the study of human behavior. It covers topics such as:
Another course is Experimental Psychology: Human Behavior. This one focuses on research techniques used to study human behavior. Students design experiments and practice observation and measurement techniques to evaluate behavioral data. Structured coursework and applied learning help students explore various psychology fields.
The Indigo Research Intensive Seasonal (IRIS) Program is one of the best online psychology internships for high school students. Participants get the rare opportunity to work with professors and researchers from top institutions such as Stanford, Columbia, UCLA, Cornell, and Oxford. The Neuroscience course examines memory through the lenses of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Students learn about various memory systems such as episodic and semantic memory and analyze neuroscience methods used to study cognition.
In the end, students perform a literature review about topics related to memory. They submit a research paper and submit it to some of the most prestigious science journals. The curriculum exposes them to advanced research techniques and theoretical neuroscience. This helps them build analytical and critical thinking skills.
It's important to learn how to write a cover letter for an internship as a high school student. Begin your application with an introduction that shows your genuine excitement about the internship position. Make sure to include coursework and volunteer experiences or specific skills that match what the internship requires.
Share your reasons for wanting to study psychology and describe how this internship will help you achieve your professional objectives. Request an interview to conclude your letter. Here's a sample cover letter to model:
[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Internship Coordinator’s Name]
[Internship Program Name]
[Organization Name]
Dear [Internship Coordinator’s Name],
Understanding human psychology feels like solving a puzzle, and I find it fascinating because I want to learn how all the parts connect. I noticed my passion for psychology grew after reading an article on cognitive bias from the Scientific American Mind. It amazed me how cognitive biases and emotions shape our decision making and I was excited to see that it will be extensively covered in the [Internship Program Name] curriculum. I hereby apply for an internship opportunity at [Internship Program Name] to explore cognitive bias in-depth.
My experience in creating my research paper The Bystander Effect has ignited in me more passion for scientific research in psychology. I am eager to learn from experts who apply psychological principles to make an impact. I stand prepared to contribute and develop myself through research efforts and practical activities.
I would be glad to earn a spot on this program. Thank you for your kind consideration.
Best,
[Your Name]
Psychology internships for high school students give you advanced research experience in neuroscience and mental health. They are a great starting point for people who plan to study psychology in college or explore career paths in that field.
If you're looking for a convenient means to advance your study of psychology and neuroscience, the Indigo Research Intensive Seasonal (IRIS) Program might be your best option. It gives you the special opportunity to work alongside leading university researchers and publish a research paper. Begin your journey in neuroscience and psychology now through expert-led training. Learn more about the IRIS program.
The best internship depends on your interests. Students interested in experimental psychological studies should consider research internships at institutions like the NIH or APA while those who want to learn therapy and counseling techniques should seek clinical internships at hospitals or mental health organizations.
High school psychology internships can last anywhere from several weeks to many months. The duration of college psychology programs can extend to hundreds of hours, especially for those pursuing clinical or research placements.
Here's how to get involved in psychology in high school: join psychology clubs, take AP Psychology, volunteer at mental health organizations, participate in research programs, or apply for summer internships in psychology-related fields.
If you're looking for a convenient means to advance your study of psychology and neuroscience, our IRIS Program might be your best option. It gives you the special opportunity to work alongside leading university researchers and publish a research paper. Begin your journey in neuroscience and psychology now through expert-led training.
