While cold emailing and self-directed internship searches can be effective, they require significant time, persistence, and often result in frustration for busy families. This is where Dewey Smart's Internship Match Program transforms the summer planning process, providing students with curated opportunities that align with their college admissions goals and career interests.
For families investing in high school students college prep and serious about Ivy League admissions or competitive UC application tips, our systematic approach eliminates the guesswork and maximizes the impact of summer experiences.
📘 Before you dive in, watch our "How High School Students Can Find Summer Internships and Stand Out on College Applications" webinar, hosted by Dewey Smart founder and CEO, Michael Gao. In just 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to land high-impact opportunities that strengthen your college application—even if it’s already summer:
✅ The real reason most internship searches fail—and how to fix it
✅ How to stand out when you don’t have prior experience
✅ Where to find hidden roles (no job board required)
✅ What worked for students just like you in past summers
Finding a quality internship through cold outreach requires sending 100+ emails to generate meaningful responses. For busy high school students already managing rigorous coursework, extracurriculars, and test preparation, this time investment can be overwhelming.
High school students often face the classic catch-22: internships require experience, but you need internships to gain experience. Breaking through this barrier requires strategic positioning and professional connections that most families don't have access to.
Not all internship opportunities are created equal. Many students end up in experiences that provide minimal learning value or fail to contribute meaningfully to their college application process. Without professional guidance, it's difficult to distinguish between resume-building experiences and genuine learning opportunities.
Our process begins with a detailed review of each student's background, interests, and college goals. This isn't just about listing activities—we strategically analyze:
This analysis ensures that internship recommendations align with broader college admissions counseling strategies and enhance overall application narratives.
Rather than starting from scratch, students access our extensive database of vetted internship opportunities across multiple industries:
Technology & Innovation
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Business & Entrepreneurship
Research & Academia
Our team doesn't just present random opportunities—we strategically match students based on:
Once we identify suitable matches, we facilitate introductions and provide interview preparation support. This includes:
Our team has invested years building relationships with:
These established relationships mean our students access opportunities that aren't available through traditional job boards or cold outreach.
Understanding that high school students have varying schedules and commitments, our internship opportunities typically offer:
This flexibility allows students to balance internships with other summer priorities like standardized test preparation, college visits, or family commitments.
Every internship in our program includes:
Consider Tiago, who came to Dewey Smart as a high-achieving junior with excellent grades and test scores but a scattered extracurricular profile. He participated in multiple clubs—philosophy, math, psychology, Science Olympiad, and debate—without clear focus or direction.
Through our Internship Match Program, we connected Tiago with Super Better, a mental health technology company. This experience proved transformative:
Before: Well-rounded student with unclear directionAfter: Focused applicant with clear passion for psychology and mental health
The internship helped Tiago:
This focused narrative contributed to successful college admissions outcomes at top-tier universities where Tiago's application stood out for its clarity and demonstrated commitment.
Our Internship Match Program fee reflects the comprehensive support provided:
Consider the alternative costs:
For families serious about college admissions counseling and maximizing summer impact, the program provides exceptional value and peace of mind.
Students entering their final year need summer experiences that clearly support their college application narratives and provide strong recommendation letters.
Students uncertain about college majors benefit from real-world exposure to different fields and professional environments.
Students with strong academic profiles who need distinctive experiences to stand out in competitive Ivy League admissions or top-tier university applications.
Parents and students who want professional internship placement without the time investment of independent searching and networking.
Our Internship Match Program operates year-round, though summer remains the most popular season. We recommend starting the process at least 4-6 weeks before desired start dates to allow for:
The investment in professional internship placement pays dividends not just in college admissions, but in professional development, career clarity, and network building that serves students throughout their academic and professional journeys.
Ready to secure a meaningful internship that advances your college goals? Dewey Smart's Internship Match Program combines professional networking, strategic placement, and ongoing support to ensure your summer experience contributes meaningfully to your college application and career development. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive college admissions counseling services.
Want your summer to actually move the needle for college admissions?
Explore your next moves:
Dewey Smart’s comprehensive college admissions counseling helps students like you turn summer into a strategic asset—through personalized internship matching, cold email support, and 1-on-1 professional development coaching. Let’s turn your summer into a standout story.
