Ladder Internships
Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world. The startups range across a variety of industries. Every intern will work on a real-world project that’s of genuine need to the startup they are working with.
NSHSS handpicks its partners carefully, searching for nonprofits, organizations, and companies that directly align with our mission to provide the best resources for our members and their families. We may receive compensation from our partners, at no cost to you.
Why Ladder Internships?
Explore a career
Work with the world’s best founders and find out what a career looks like. Learn what a real work environment is like.
Build a real-world project
Create something that matters in the world. Whether it’s a market report, an app, or a strategy.
Enhance your college applications
Showcase a unique experience that few high school students have. Show tangible outcomes (such as a product) that reflect your interests.
Build a professional network, now
Work with the very best from Harvard Business School, to Y Combinator, to-McKinsey founders.
Work experience at a top start-up
A letter of completion by the company
(Optional) A letter of recommendation from the host company mentor
Ladders companies and mentors
Funded by 
Studied at 
Worked at 
Ladder’s impact
6,000+
Applications
1,200
Interns selected
50+
Host companies
$50,000+
In financial aid
Types of programs offered
- # of sessions with host company = 8
- # of sessions with company leadership = 4+
- # of hours per week expected of the student = 5-10
- Program oversight from ladder program manager ✔
- Goal output = Professional-level work project presentation
- # of 1-1 sessions with research mentor = 15
- # of 1-1 sessions with writing coach = 4
- # of 1-1 sessions with publication specialist = 4
- # of hours per week expected of the student = 10-15
- # of weeks = 12-16 for research and 4-16 for publication
- Program oversight from Ladder program manager ✔
- Goal output = Undergraduate-level research paper
- Combines the offerings of both programs
Available areas of research
- Tech & Deep Tech
- Machine Learning & AI
- Software Engineering
- Media & Journalism
- Finance
- Nonprofit
- Consulting
- Environmental Science
- Health Teach & Mental Health
