A college is a place that bridges the gap between school education and life in the industry. Students are required to get themselves industry ready in a matter of a few years. Therefore, to make this transition easier, students must acquire as much experience as possible in their respective fields. Internships serve as the best way of doing just that.
Here is a list of tech opportunities for first and second-year college students:
- Google Student Training in Engineering Program (STEP)
- Summer Technology Careers Readiness Program (STAR)
- Google Summer of Code(GSoC)
- Major League Hacking Fellowship Program
- Twitter University
- A.O Putnam Memorial Scholarship
- MIT Access Program
- Facebook University
- Codepath Tech Fellow
- GirlScript Summer of Code (GSSoC)
- Microsoft Explore
- Code2040 Fellows Program
- AMS Freshman Undergraduate Program
- AMS Minority Scholarships
- Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence
- BlackRock FastTrack to FinTech program
- Outreachy
1. Google Student Training in Engineering Program (STEP)
About: It is an internship program for first and second-year undergraduate students who are passionate about computer science. Formerly called the Engineering Practicum, it focuses on providing opportunities to students who belong to groups that are less represented in the field of technology technical training and professional development.
Duration: 12 weeks
Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a first or a second-year student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a related field in a North American university.
- Applicants must be experienced in any of the programming languages like Java, C, C++, JavaScript, or Python.
- Applicants who are first-year students must have taken at least one college-level Computer Science course by the end of their first semester. (AP and IB are also valid)
- Applicants must be available for a full-time 12-week program between May and August or June and September.
How to apply: The application form is available on the official website.
Application date: Opened on September 21, 2020.
2. Summer Technology careers Readiness Program (STAR)
About: It is a 12-week program offered by Uber to undergraduate freshmen and sophomores interested in technical internships at Uber.
Duration: 12 weeks.
Location: USA
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field.
- Applicants must have finished an introductory course in computer science.
- Applicants must be undergraduate freshmen or sophomores.
How to Apply: Fill in the application form here.
Application date: Applications open.
3. Google Summer of Code(GSoC)
About: Google Summer of Code is a global initiative that focuses on getting more student developers into the development of open-source software. During their break from school, students collaborate with an open-source organization on a three-month programming project.
Duration: 3 months
Location: Held online.
Eligibility:
- Applicants who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to participate.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled at an accredited university.
- Applicants must not be previous GSoC students.
- Eligible to work in the country that you reside in during the program.
Benefits: Students who finish the program will be awarded a stipend anywhere between 3000 USD to 6600 USD.
How to Apply:
- Applicants are required to provide proof of enrolment at an accredited university.
- The application form is available on the official website.
Application date: Opened on September 21, 2020.
4. Major League Hacking Fellowship Program
About: It is a remote 12-week hands-on program for aspiring software engineers. Under this program, students will collaborate on projects under the guidance of mentors with a stipend of up to $5000.
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: It is a remote program.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older, or above 13 with parents’ permission.
- Applicants must have good knowledge of at least one programming language.
- Applicants must be available for the entirety of the program.
How to apply: The application form is available here.
Application date: The application deadline is January 4, 2021.
5. Twitter University
About: Twitter University is a paid internship program for second-year students in computer science belonging to minority groups in the tech industry. It provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the tech industry.
Duration: 12 weeks.
Location: US
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. degree.
- Applicants must be available full time for 12 weeks.
How to apply: The application form is available on the official website.
Application date: Opens October 1, 2020.
6. A.O Putnam Memorial Scholarship
About: A scholarship offered by the Institution of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), it aims to recognize undergraduate and graduate students in the field of industrial engineering for their academic excellence and campus leadership. Awards up to $1000 are rewarded to the chosen students.
Location: USA, Canada, Mexico
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be undergraduate students in the field of industrial engineering enrolled in a university in the US, Canada, or Mexico.
- The university’s industrial engineering program must be accredited by an agency recognized by the IISE.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
How to apply: Application is via the online application available here.
Application date: The application deadline is November 15, 2020.
7. MIT Access Program
About: MIT ACCESS program is an event designed to educate sophomores, juniors, and seniors on the benefits of pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry, material science, or chemical engineering. It aims to diversify the people who pursue Ph.D. programs in the US.
Duration: 2 days
Location: Virtual for 2021 batch.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be US citizens
- Students who are in their sophomore, junior, or senior year of college
How to Apply:
- Fill the online registration form.
- Submit a CV or resume.
- Submit a letter of recommendation from one of your academic staff.
Application date: The application deadline is October 2, 2020.
8. Facebook University
About: Facebook University is an interactive internship program that allows students from underrepresented backgrounds to learn about the people, products, and services of Facebook. It provides interns the opportunity to make a significant difference and help redefine how the world communicates through positions in innovation, analytics, product design, logistics, and sales and advertising.
Duration: 8 weeks.
Location: US
Eligibility:
- Applicants must currently be in their first or second year of undergraduate study at a 4-year university in the US.
- Applicants must be 18 years old by June 2021.
- Applicants must be available to work in the US during the internship.
- Applicants must know any one programming language like Java, C, C++, etc.
How to Apply:
- Applicants must submit their resumes, high school and college documents and finish a 70-minute coding challenge.
- The application form is available on the official website.
Application date: Application is open from August 24, 2020, to October 7, 2020.
9. Codepath Tech Fellow
About: Codepath Tech Fellows are student leaders who are trained by Codepath to deliver Codepath courses to their peers. They manage the program at their university and provide technical assistance when needed while being fully supported by Codepath.
Duration: Training spans 8 weeks.
Location: Training is done remotely.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time at a university as a student or staff member.
- Applicants must be CS majors or work in that field.
How to Apply: The application is through the online application form available here.
Application date: The application deadline is on October 4, 2020.
10. GirlScript Summer of Code (GSSoC)
About: GirlScript Summer of Code is an open-source development program conducted by the GirlScript Foundation initiated in 2018 intending to help people get started with open source and also to encourage diversity in the field. During the program, participants work on different projects under the guidance of their mentors.
Duration: 3 months
Location: India
Eligibility: Applicants of all genders with an interest in open source are eligible.
How to apply: The application is through the application form available here.
Application date: The application is closed for 2020.
11. Microsoft Explore
About: Explore Microsoft is a summer internship rotational program which is designed to give more hands-on experience with certain tools and programming languages in the field of software development.
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: Redmond, Washington, USA.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be in their 1st or 2nd year of a Bachelor’s program in computer science or a related field.
- Candidates must be from the US, Mexico, or Canada.
How to apply:
- The application is available on the official website.
- Resume must include email address, permanent address, phone number, the major you are pursuing, and expected graduation date. It should also include a list of courses you are currently taking.
Application date: Applications are closed for 2020.
12. Code2040 Fellows Program
About: It is a program for black or Latinx students who are doing their undergraduate or graduate degrees in computer science. Participants will intern at top tech companies and advocate for racial equity. They will engage in a series of learning experiences designed to provide them with the tools and resources they require to work in the tech industry, develop a lasting career, and advocate for yourself and your community.
Duration: 9 weeks
Location: Virtual for 2021 batch.
Eligibility:
- Applicants who are enrolled in a university or college in the US who identify as black or Latinx.
- Applicants who have some experience coding.
- Applicants who have not participated before.
How to apply: The application form is available here.
Application date: The application is closed for the 2021 batch.
13. AMS Freshman Undergraduate Program
About: Offered by the American Meteorological Society, it aims to encourage students to go into the field of atmospheric and related sciences and is open to all high school students with a stipend of $5000 awarded in the first 2 years of college.
Duration: 2 years.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be US citizens or hold permanent resident status.
- Applicants must be joining the college as a freshman in the year 2020 and pursuing a degree in atmospheric and related sciences. Marine biology is not applicable.
- Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply:
- Fill in the application form here.
- High school transcripts with grades from the previous 3 years.
- A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher.
- A copy of SAT scores or any other national college entrance exam.
Application date: Applications are closed for 2020.
14. AMS Minority Scholarships
About: Offered by the American Meteorological Society, it aims to encourage students who belong to minority groups to pursue higher studies in atmospheric and related sciences. A stipend of $6000 is awarded to selected students over 2 years.
Duration: 2 years.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be US citizens or hold permanent resident status.
- Applicants must be joining a college as a freshman in the year 2020 and pursuing a degree in atmospheric and related sciences. Marine biology is not applicable.
- Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
How to Apply:
- Fill in the application form here.
- High school transcripts with grades from the previous 3 years.
- A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher.
- A copy of SAT scores or any other national college entrance exam.
Application date: Applications are closed for 2020.
15. Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence
About: Offered by Goldman Sachs, it is awarded to students who uphold their business principles. It is open to all college juniors who are pursuing summer internships at Goldman Sachs irrespective of their area of study. Selected students will be awarded a stipend of $15000.
Location: Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Irving, Jersey City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, West Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be undergraduate juniors pursuing a summer internship.
- Applicants who identify as Hispanic, African American, or Native American.
How to apply: The application form is available here.
Application date: Applications are closed for 2020.
16. BlackRock FastTrack to FinTech Program
About: The Fast-Track to FinTech Program is a two-day immersive workshop and interview program for female students interested in technology-related summer internship programs.
Duration: 2 days
Location: US
Eligibility: Applicants who identify as female and are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, graduating between August 2021 and July 2022.
How to apply: The application form is available here.
Application date: Applications are closed for the year 2020.
17. Outreachy
About: It is a 3-month long internship with a stipend of up to $5500. Interns work with mentors on projects involving user experience, programming, documentation, illustration, data science, graphic design, project marketing, user advocacy, or community event planning.
Duration: 3 months
Location: Remote.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older.
- Applicants must not be previous interns at Outreachy, part of Outreach Program for Women, or Google Summer of Code.
- Applicants need not be university students.
How to Apply: Applicants are required to fill an application form available here.
Application date: Applications are closed for the year 2020-21.
Even if you are just starting out in college, do not think that you need to wait before getting out there and immersing yourself in work outside the college. The most important things a person can possess are experience and skill, both of which are obtained by participating in various internships and scholarship programs. The knowledge you will gain from participating in such events is invaluable and will only propel you in your journey towards your dream career. What are you waiting for? Apply now!
Scholarship Track 
1 comment