You've probably seen the TikToks of interns riding colorful bikes around Mountain View or eating free sushi in a New York office. It looks like a dream, right? But for most teenagers, the idea of landing a google internship high school students can actually apply for feels about as realistic as winning the lottery while being struck by lightning.
It isn't.
Honestly, the biggest hurdle isn't even the coding. It is the fact that Google changes the names of these programs constantly, and if you're looking for something simply called "The High School Internship," you are going to miss the deadline because it doesn't technically exist under that name. You have to know what you're looking for, which is usually the Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) or, more accurately for 2026, the Step Internship (Student Training in Engineering Program) for graduating seniors.
The Reality of the Google Step Internship
Let's get one thing straight. Google doesn't just hire 16-year-olds to go play with Gemini or fix search algorithms. Most "high school" opportunities are actually bridge programs. They target students who are in their final year of high school and are heading into their first year of college.
The Step Internship is the big one. It's a developmental program specifically for first and second-year undergraduate students, but here is the kicker: they often open applications for graduating high school seniors who have a passion for computer science. It is a 10 to 12-week paid gig. You aren't just getting a gold star on your resume; you're getting a paycheck and a massive head start on a career at one of the "Big Five" tech companies.
Why does Google do this? They want to diversify the pipeline. They’re looking for people who haven't had every advantage since birth. If you come from a group that is historically underrepresented in tech—Black, Hispanic, Native American, or perhaps you're the first in your family to go to college—Google wants to see your application. They want to train you before you've even had your first "Intro to Java" class in university.
What They Actually Look for in Your Application
It is easy to think you need to be a child prodigy who built a decentralized social media platform at age twelve. You don't. While having a high GPA (think 3.5 or higher) is basically a prerequisite, Google cares more about your "Googleyness."
Yes, they actually call it that.
It's a mix of humility, a bias toward action, and a genuine love for problem-solving. When you write your essays or do your interviews for a google internship high school track, don't just talk about what you know. Talk about what you did when you didn't know the answer. Did you spend three days debugging a Python script for a local non-profit? That is what they want. They want to see that you can fail, get frustrated, and then keep going anyway.
The Technical Bar
You do need to know how to code. You don't need to be an expert in C++, but you should be comfortable with at least one language like Python, Java, or C. Most high schoolers who get in have taken AP Computer Science A or have participated in competitive coding like USACO.
But here is a secret: the technical interview for the Step program is way more about your thought process than the final answer. If you get the "right" answer but you're a jerk to the interviewer, you're out. If you struggle with the logic but talk through your thinking and remain coachable, you've got a shot.
Surviving the Application Timeline
If you're reading this in June for a summer internship, you're already too late. Google moves fast.
The application windows usually open in the fall—late September or October—for the following summer. By January, most of the spots are gone. If you're a senior in high school, you need to be refreshing the Google Careers page while you're filling out your Common App.
It's stressful. You're trying to graduate, go to prom, and figure out where you're living next year, all while trying to prep for a technical interview. But the payoff is worth it.
What about the CSSI?
There used to be a program called the Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI). It was legendary. It was a three-week intro to CS for graduating seniors. Recently, Google has been folding these experiences into larger initiatives or making them virtual. In 2026, many of these "intro" experiences are tied directly to the Step program or localized "CodeU" initiatives.
Always check the current year’s specific landing page. Don't rely on a blog post from 2019. Tech moves at the speed of light, and their HR departments move even faster.
The "Non-Coding" Path
Is there a google internship high school students can get if they hate math?
Sort of.
While the vast majority of Google's early-career programs are engineering-heavy, they do have business internships (B-STEP). However, these are almost exclusively for college students. If you're a high schooler who loves marketing or design, your best bet is actually looking at local "AdCamp" opportunities or Google’s "Generation Google Scholarship."
The scholarship is often the "in." If you win the scholarship, you are much more likely to be fast-tracked for an internship. It is like a secret side door into the Googleplex.
Tips from People Who Actually Got In
I’ve talked to several former interns, and they all say the same thing: the resume is just the ticket to enter the building. The interview is where you win.
- Practice LeetCode: Even for the Step level, you need to know your basic data structures. Know your arrays. Know your strings.
- The Resume "X-Y-Z" Formula: Google loves this. Don't say "I led the robotics club." Say "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]." For example: "Increased robot mobility by 20% as measured by obstacle course times, by rewriting the sensor-calibration logic in C++."
- Projects over Certificates: A Coursera certificate is nice, but a GitHub repository with a messy, working project you built yourself is ten times more valuable.
The competition is fierce. Thousands of students apply for a handful of spots. If you don't get in, it's not a reflection of your worth as a human or even as a coder. It is just a numbers game. Many people who get rejected for the high school bridge programs end up getting the internship during their junior year of college and eventually land a full-time job.
Actionable Next Steps to Start Now
If you are serious about landing a spot at Google before you even turn 20, you need a plan that starts today.
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First, go to the Google Careers website and set up an alert for "Student Training in Engineering Program" and "Step." Don't wait for a news article to tell you they are open.
Second, if you haven't already, start a project on GitHub. It doesn't have to be the next Google. It can be a bot that tells you if the local surf is good or a simple app that tracks your gym progress. The goal is to show that you can move from "learning" to "doing."
Third, clean up your LinkedIn. Yes, even as a high schooler. Connect with recruiters, follow Google's official pages, and see if any alumni from your high school have gone on to work there. A quick message asking for a 15-minute "informational interview" can sometimes lead to a referral, which is the holy grail of tech hiring.
Finally, keep your grades up. While Google famously doesn't care about degrees for some senior roles, for their student programs, they use GPA as a primary filter to manage the sheer volume of applicants. Stay focused, keep coding, and don't be afraid to click "apply" even if you feel underqualified. Most of the people working there felt that way too.