If you are a high school student looking at applying to the top universities, we hope that you’ve also looked at pursuing an internship (apart from other academic projects and extracurriculars). Internships are a great opportunity for you to develop real-world tangible and soft skills. They also show your ability to supplement your classroom knowledge with practical application – a skill which every admission officer would value!
There are multiple methods of finding an internship, however, the best way to go about this is a structured internship program. In this blog, we cover one such program – Ladder Internships, a selective virtual internship program open to high school students.
What is Ladder Internships?
Ladder Internships is a selective program for high school students to work with startups. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project and present their work at the end of their internship.
Throughout the duration of the program, you will receive guidance and support from your managers who will either work with you 1-on-1 or in a group (depending on a project). They’ll help you navigate the ins and outs of your internship!
Who is eligible to participate in Ladder Internships?
The program is open to high school students, undergraduates and gap year students! However, you must make sure that you can commit 5-10 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
Where are Ladder Internships conducted?
Ladder internships are offered in an online format for high school students. This is beneficial as you will save on travel costs and save time spent commuting. However, you might miss out on the benefits that come along with doing an in-person internship. Before applying, you should create a list of what you hope to get out of an internship before committing anywhere.
What is the application process at Ladder Internships?
1. The application process involves a written application where you’re asked what areas you’re interested in or would like to get a professional glimpse into! You can expect questions like “why are you a good candidate”, “what areas for the internship are you interested in”, and “why are you interested in these areas”.
2. Following this, you will be shortlisted for an interview. After this, your admission decision is finalized and you will be asked to pay a deposit.
3. Once this is completed, you will receive a company match based on your interest areas and you will have access to the details of the company and your project for the next 8 weeks. If you’re interested, then you can continue, however, if you’ve decided not to do the program, you’ll get your full deposit back!
Note: Your company match is determined by the interest areas you’ve mentioned in your application. You will also be questioned on these areas during your interview, after which you will be matched with a company that best fits your areas of interest!
Is Ladder Internships prestigious?
The Ladder team has indicated that the acceptance rate for the 2023 spring cohort was 20%, however, there may be a higher acceptance rate in later cohorts as they grow the program! Note that we do not have much more information outside of the spring cohort since it is not shared publicly.
In terms of impact on college admissions, previous Ladder interns have mentioned their experience and projects on their resume and college applications, and have received acceptances from universities like Princeton, UPenn, Stanford, Cambridge, and UC Berkeley!
Deadline: Aug 4, 2024
Application Link: https://airtable.com/appx1OFdMpDfxtEkR/shrNdEykWdhc4yeSv