BE BRAVE. TAKE RISKS. NOTHING CAN SUBSTITUTE EXPERIENCE.

 

What are the goals of an Internship? 

A student internship is a paid or unpaid career-focused experience during which a young person becomes directly involved in a variety of professional fields such as business, government, industry, research, social service, technology, and more.

This experience is an opportunity for the student to:

• EXPERIENCE first-hand knowledge about a career or field of study
• COMPLEMENT academic knowledge with real work experiences  
• EXPLORE career options otherwise not considered 
• EVALUATE choices to continue secondary education and/or pursue full-time work  
• ACQUIRE a professional network  
• IMPROVE interpersonal skills and talents to fit in a professional environment  
• PROVIDE a competitive edge when applying for jobs and/or future academic studies  
• OBTAIN structured learning goals with supervision and add an experiential learning component to their education

 

 

“My internship provided me not only with professional work experience, 

it gave me a competitive edge  when applying for other internships, 

college applications, and jobs.”

 

“I changed my career because of my internship. I decided it was NOT 

something I wanted to pursue.  I can now re-evaluate my college major, 

this will save time and a lot of money.”

“After High School, I realized no one asked me about my SAT score, 

my experience is what mattered in the hiring process.”

 

"Nothing compares to experience!"

 

How can students apply?

• Attend the Internship Information Seminar or contact NWHS Internship Coordinator, Mr. Conor Prachar in room 306 and/or via email: conor_prachar@mcpsmd.org. 
• Students will complete an NWHS Internship Application Packet which includes, essay, cover letter and resume, two teacher recommendations, and counselor recommendation. 
• Minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5 is required.
• Upon acceptance, students must attend three workshops during the Spring semester to continue with the program. 

 

When can students apply for the Internship Program?

• Students apply for the internship program in the Spring Semester of their Junior year of High School. 
• To satisfy MCPS requirements and receive course credit for an internship, the student must commit to scheduled weekly hours during the school day throughout the semester. 
• For each period registered for internship, the student must complete a minimum of 75 hours per semester at the work site.
• Attendance is recorded at school and at the work site.
• Interns are also responsible for submitting a weekly time sheet signed by their supervisor. 

 

What should students consider when contemplating an Internship?

• How many periods can I devote to an internship?  
• Can I maintain an excellent attendance record at school and the workplace?  
• Am I ready to work hard and demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills?  
• Am I self-disciplined enough to meet project deadlines, complete paperwork, follow procedures, communicate with the internship coordinator, and attend scheduled meetings?  
• Can I provide my own transportation or use public transportation to commute to my internship?  
• Most internship positions are not paid. Interns must assume the expense of commuting.  
• What extracurricular activities might conflict with my internship schedule?  

 

What is expected of an Intern?

• Interns are expected to find their own internship. Leads may be provided by the Internship Coordinator to students who have demonstrated responsibility by looking for an internship and attending workshops. However, internship leads should not be expected from the Internship Coordinator. 
• Interns will be working in a professional setting and are expected to act professionally. 
• The intern is expected to be punctual, work hard, act responsibly, maintain confidentiality, and dress appropriately throughout the internship experience. 
• When considering an internship program, a prospective intern needs to evaluate his/her strengths and talents, interests and goals that can be offered to a prospective mentor through a professional resume. 
• Interns are ambassadors of Northwest High School and are expected to work at or above expectations. 
• Every internship must have final approval from the Internship Coordinator. 

 

What are the Internship course requirements?

Interns will be evaluated by the school internship coordinator using a variety of instruments. The course grade is based on the following:

•  coordinator site visit  
•  completed intern assignments  
•  the number of hours completed at the workplace (required minimum must be met to receive credit)  
•  evaluation by mentor/site supervisor  
•  intern produced reports  
•  portfolios  
•  oral presentations  
•  attendance at orientation seminars at the beginning of each semester and periodically throughout the semester 

 

What must be considered about an Internship site? 

The following must be considered when searching for an appropriate internship site:

• Work permits are required for interns under 18 years old.  
• Some sites require interns to be American citizens and/or over 18 years old. 
• The intern must be supervised by an adult at all times.  
• The site must have at least two adult employees.  
• The site cannot be located in a private home and must be a safe work environment.  
• Interns may NOT routinely drive as part of the job, open/or close the business without adult supervision, transport money, perform work that requires strenuous lifting, or work in or around motor vehicles or with heavy equipment.  
• Internships may NOT be primarily clerical type duties.  
• Students may not intern in the same office as parents and/or immediate family. Exceptions may be given based on special circumstances, but must be pre-approved by the Internship Coordinator. 

 

What if I have more questions? 

Contact NWHS Internship Coordinator, Mr. Conor Prachar, in room 306 and/or via email: conor_prachar@mcpsmd.org. 

 

 

APPLY TODAY!