Opening Doors To Opportunity: Prep For Prep’s Student Internship Program

1/13/2026

Prep for Prep’s Student Internship Program offers paid, hands-on experiences that help students explore careers, build skills, and grow through mentorship.

Each summer, Prep for Prep students trade classrooms for boardrooms, labs, and studios, bringing their curiosity and drive into spaces where learning meets real-world impact. Through the Student Internship Program (SIP), they are able to connect their academic success and intellectual drive with meaningful professional experiences. Designed for both high school and college students, SIP offers paid internships that help students explore career interests, build transferable skills, and form relationships with mentors and peers who shape their growth.

“SIP directly supports Prep for Prep’s mission to develop ethical and effective leaders who will make a positive difference in the world,” says Ginalysse Ingles (P9 XIV/Hotchkiss, Amherst), Prep for Prep’s Director of Professional Advancement. “Through internships, students learn to navigate professional spaces, manage projects, build relationships with mentors, and practice leadership.”

Preparing Students For Professional Success

Before stepping into their internships, Prep for Prep students take part in a comprehensive preparation process. A series of professional-readiness workshops and coaching sessions cover everything from workplace etiquette and time management to communication and goal-setting. Students also participate in mock interviews and receive one-on-one feedback to help them refine their professional presence.

“By the time summer arrives, our students are ready to contribute from the very first day,” says Ginalysse. “They’re prepared not only to learn, but also to add value. Their training ensures they understand the expectations of a professional environment and how to navigate it with poise and purpose.”

For many students, SIP marks their first professional experience. Adjusting to a new environment, collaborating with adults, and managing self-doubt can be challenging. Throughout the summer, the Professional Advancement team provides ongoing support through regular check-ins, mentorship, and peer connections, helping interns develop confidence and resilience as they adapt to professional life.

Partnerships That Power Opportunity

The strength of SIP lies in its partnerships. Prep for Prep works closely with companies and institutions that believe in education as a lever for equity and leadership development. Partners such as IAC, Colgate-Palmolive, and NYU Langone Health not only host interns, but also provide structured, high-quality experiences that open doors to industries where diverse perspectives are essential.

Each organization offers something unique. Colgate-Palmolive provides corporate placements for high school students, giving them an early look at business operations in areas like marketing, data analytics, information technology, legal, and finance. The Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health immerses students in the fast-paced world of medicine, where they observe surgeries, assist in patient care, and attend academic lectures. And IAC, a global media and technology company, offers multiyear fellowship opportunities that combine work experience, mentorship, and financial support. Together, these partnerships exemplify what SIP does best: connect rigorous preparation with real-world opportunity.

The Lasting Impact Of Prep For Prep Internships

At its heart, SIP is about discovery—the discovery of what’s possible, of how far preparation and courage can carry a young person once the door opens. Each student’s experience is different, but all share a common thread: a shift in perspective. The unfamiliar becomes familiar. What once seemed out of reach becomes attainable.

For some students, the change is quiet but unmistakable—the first time they introduce themselves in a meeting without hesitation, or the first time a manager asks for their opinion and really listens. For others, it’s the sense of momentum that builds when they start to see their own potential reflected back through meaningful work. They learn to see themselves not only as participants in the workplace, but also as contributors whose ideas and energy can move things forward.

The ripple effect of that confidence travels beyond the summer. Students bring it back to their classrooms, their communities, and their future pursuits. They become role models for younger peers, showing by example that excellence and opportunity are not reserved for a few—they are built, earned, and shared. SIP helps students internalize that truth.

The program doesn’t just expose students to careers; it also gives them a deeper understanding of leadership, rooted not in titles or authority, but in responsibility, empathy, and the ability to uplift others.

“We hope every student completes their internship with strengthened communication skills, adaptability, and confidence,” says Ginalysse, who participated in SIP herself, interning at companies including Penguin Random House. “Many learn to advocate for themselves, manage competing priorities, and take ownership of their work. Ultimately, we also want them to gain stronger clarity about what excites them and the confidence to pursue it.”

Over the next three weeks, we are shining a spotlight on partner companies that host Prep for Prep interns and help turn preparation into opportunity. Stay tuned for an inside look at the workplaces shaping our students’ futures.

This article is part of the piece about Prep for Prep's Student Internship Program that appears in our 2025 Annual Report. To read the full article and the rest of the Annual report, visit prepforprep.org/2025-Annual-Report.

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