Is it possible for a high school senior to secure an internship on Wall Street? I’m not concerned about the salary, I’m more interested in gaining experience.
Jonathan Jones, who holds an MA in Physics from the University of Oxford, provides some insight. He notes that Wall Street firms offer very few structured internship programs for high school students. The few that do exist primarily aim to increase awareness and outreach to students from demographics that have traditionally been underrepresented in the finance sector.
He suggests leveraging personal networks, such as friends or family, to connect with someone in the industry and arrange a visit. The duration of the visit is not as important at this stage. Unless you’re extremely fortunate or well-connected, it’s unlikely that you’ll secure an internship lasting more than a few days at the high school level. However, even a one-day visit or job shadowing can be beneficial. As long as you accurately represent the experience,
it’s something you can include on your CV or resume. While this may not significantly impact your college admissions process, it could be advantageous once you’re in college and exploring early access programs that investment banks offer as part of their recruitment strategy.
So, what else can you do?
Apart from these interactions, you can spend your time engaging in self-guided activities to enhance your understanding of investments and markets. This knowledge will be invaluable when you enter the prime recruitment window for investment banking in a year or two.
These activities could include reading various investment-related books and experimenting with your own personal investment account, whether with real or virtual money.
By doing this, you not only establish yourself as a potential candidate for investment banks in the future, but you also get to determine if you genuinely enjoy the subject matter. Both aspects are crucial.
Patience is key. There are likely numerous exciting opportunities awaiting you. By starting to consider your career plans early and planning accordingly, you’re positioning yourself in the best possible way for success.
There are several Wall Street internships available for high school students. Here are a few options:
- Wall Street Oasis: This platform provides resources and forums for individuals interested in finance careers1. High school students can find advice on how to secure internships and improve their resumes1.
- Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience: This program is a collaboration between the New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) and Westcoast Connection Teen Summer Programs. It offers a unique financial educational experience for high school students, where they can learn about markets and investments from NYIF’s world-class faculty. The program includes live in-person classroom training delivered by senior Wall Street financial experts and practitioners2.
- Internship Programs at Wall Street Firms: Many Wall Street firms offer different kinds of internships like the Summer Internship Program (SIP), Career Internship Program (CIP), and Financial Analyst Program (FAP). Some of these programs may require previous work experience, while others are open to fresh graduates without any prior work experience3.