Are There Pre-College Physics Internships Available?

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Baslim
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the availability of pre-college physics internships, particularly for high school students transitioning to college. Participants share insights on existing programs, application timelines, and the nature of these opportunities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for physics-related internship opportunities for high school students, seeking advice and program recommendations.
  • Another participant notes the scarcity of such internships, citing challenges related to the limited capacity of programs and liability issues concerning underage students in laboratory settings.
  • A different participant mentions specific programs at MIT and NASA that cater to high school students, although they caution that application deadlines may have already passed and suggest contacting the intended college for potential options.
  • One participant distinguishes between traditional internships and the mentioned programs, suggesting that while they are valuable experiences, they do not fit the typical definition of internships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the limited availability of internships for high school students, but there is disagreement regarding the classification of certain programs as internships.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the unclear definitions of what constitutes an internship versus a summer program, as well as the potential impact of application deadlines on availability.

Baslim
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Hi, I'm going to be attending college in fall, majoring in physics. I was looking for physics-related internship opportunities over the summer. If anybody knows any good programs out there, or can give me some advice on this topic I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!
 
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There are very, very few of them.

First, these programs can't take all of the undergraduates who apply, so why make the problem worse by opening them up to high school students? Second, the liability issues of having an under-18 year old in the lab make this very, very difficult to do.
 
MIT has a great program for high school students (as does NASA), but I'm sure the deadlines have passed; most internships require applying in the fall, or by Feb at the latest. Have you tried contacting the school you'll be attending to ask if they have any options for you?
 
Those programs, though, aren't really internships. (Although they are great ways to spend a few weeks in the summer)
 

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