Finding the best remote internships for high school students

December 27, 2021

While juniors and seniors are putting the finishing touches on college applications, two questions keep coming up: (1) What do I put in the Common App additional information section, and (2) How important are internships for high school students?

These important questions are directly related to each other!

Laurie Genevish is founder and president of My Ideal College. She encourages students to think about their work interests before sending out college applications. Choosing a degree before figuring out what you like is one of the most common and devastating mistakes made by students. 

Remote internships for high school students

Remote internships are becoming more common, and not just during college. More teens are getting a jump on their career prospects. Remote is great when it comes to work flexibility, but not so great when it comes to finding a role that fits your interests. 

Try reaching out to someone who’s working in the field you’re thinking about. Maybe that’s a firefighter, a programmer, a mechanic, or a musician. Adults love to help young people explore career possibilities. Offer to buy a cup of coffee for 30 minutes of their time. 

After interviewing some adults, maybe you’re interested in some form of communications career. The next step in exploring options should be to find either a paid or unpaid work opportunity. We have a whole section for marketing internships for high school students on the spikeview platform. (And it’s 100% free to use!)

Common App additional information section

Now let’s circle back to the Common App. First, keep in mind the big picture. Universities of all sizes and types need to figure out if you are a good fit for their programs. 

George Apostol is an advisor who spent years interviewing applicants on behalf of the prestigious MIT. As you’re thinking about the content of your personal essay and other background information, keep in mind George’s advice:

Students have the option of providing additional information under the Additional Information Section of the Common App. This section is optional and allows students to provide us with any additional information they feel is relevant to their application during the review process.

People struggle with this section because it’s not very clear. But remember what George said? “Who are you” is the question schools want answered.

Add your spikeview to your college application

Whether you use the Common App or another method, be sure to include your spikeview link in the additional or extra information section. Otherwise, your college application will blend in with the rest.

The admissions office will have your full story in just a single link, giving them a terrific first impression of you. 

Remember, your college and career decisions are linked!

Each informs the other. Many high schoolers discover paths to success that don’t require any college degrees at all. Others go all the way through postdoctoral work.

Choosing a high school internship is an excellent first step. The risks are low and the rewards are high. Even if you find your first internship idea is the wrong fit for you, you’ll have figured that out before spending years in college. If you make decisions based on the knowledge that your college and career are linked, you’ll be way ahead of other students.

p.s. We’re hiring!

The spikeview team is looking for a content creator, community leader, and social media marketer.

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