Internships Abroad for High School Students Interested in Medicine

If you’re in high school and already considering a career in medicine, you’re ahead of the curve. Most pre-med students don’t get clinical exposure until college, but gaining relevant experience early can help you clarify your interests, boost your resume, and stand out in future college and scholarship applications.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best types of internships and healthcare experiences for high school students interested in medicine — and show how programs like Go Elective’s high school internships abroad offer a safe, structured way to get ahead.

> Explore Go-Elective Camps & Volunteer Internships in Africa

Why pursue a medical internship in high school?

Explore career paths before committing to years of study
Build early clinical confidence and communication skills
Improve your chances of being accepted into selective pre-med or STEM college programs
Gain valuable content for essays, interviews, and portfolios
Meet healthcare professionals and mentors who can guide your journey

Even if you’re not 100% sure about becoming a doctor, nurse, or surgeon, getting early experience helps you make informed choices.

What kind of medical internships can high school students do?

Shadowing experiences

What is expected:

Observe doctors, nurses, or specialists during their daily work
No hands-on interaction, but excellent for learning how healthcare systems work
Some hospitals offer teen volunteer or shadowing programs during school breaks

Hospital-based youth programs

Many hospitals in the U.S. and abroad offer structured internships or summer academies for high school students.

Examples:

Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (California)
NIH Summer Internship Program
New York Presbyterian Summer Junior Volunteer Program
Go Elective High School Internships in Kenya and Tanzania

These programs offer a mix of hospital exposure, medical seminars, skills workshops, and cultural or community service opportunities.

Global health internships abroad

For mature, motivated high school students (typically 16+), international internships offer immersive exposure in hospital settings under supervision.

Go Elective offers safe, educational internships for high schoolers that include:

Shadowing doctors and nurses in departments like pediatrics, emergency medicine, and maternity
Learning basic clinical skills like vitals monitoring (when appropriate)
Engaging in public health and community education
Living and learning alongside a small group of like-minded students
Cultural experiences like Swahili lessons, cooking classes, and wildlife safaris

Ideal for those looking to explore global health, develop independence, and grow their worldview.

What to look for in a high school medical internship

Not all programs are created equal. Look for:

Supervision and safety protocols (especially abroad)
Clear educational goals and daily schedules
Mentorship opportunities from licensed healthcare professionals
Age-appropriate exposure (no student should perform medical procedures)
Cultural or service-learning elements, especially in international settings
Flexible durations (1–4 weeks) to fit into summer or school breaks
A structured environment that values learning over labor

How old do you need to be?

Most internships and shadowing programs start at age 15, though we will require parental permission/ guardian consent or limit certain hospital areas to 18+ due to policy. Go Elective accepts students aged 15 and above into our high school internships, with full supervision, orientation, and mentorship built in.

Can a high school internship help with college admissions?

Absolutely. Colleges love to see students who are:

Curious and proactive about their career goals
Engaged in meaningful, educational summer activities
Willing to explore environments outside their comfort zone
Able to reflect on real-world experiences in essays and interviews

Internships abroad, in particular, help you stand out. They show maturity, global awareness, and a genuine interest in service and healthcare.

Combine your internship with journaling, blogging, or a final project (like a presentation or photo essay) to create content you can later include in applications and scholarship interviews.

Real stories: How high school internships shape future doctors

Many Go Elective alumni start their journey with us while still in high school. Testimonials:

“I thought I wanted to study medicine, but I wasn’t sure. After shadowing in a maternity ward and learning about health equity in Kenya, I was completely sure. It also gave me something powerful to write about in my university applications.”

Another U.S. high school student shared:

“I didn’t even know what ward rounds were until this internship. Now I understand what real-life medicine looks like, and I can’t wait to pursue it.”

Final thoughts: Start early, start smart

You don’t have to wait for college to begin exploring your future in medicine. With the right program, mentorship, and mindset, a high school internship can ignite your passion for healthcare and help you build a confident, informed path toward becoming a future doctor, nurse, or global health leader.

Whether you’re exploring careers or already committed to medicine, a structured global internship with Go Elective gives you a head start — and memories that last a lifetime.

>Inquire Here or contact us via hello@goelective.com