Career exploration offers high school and college undergraduate students exposure to career options at Mayo Clinic through a variety of real-world learning experiences and programs to help students discover a life-changing career.

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DREAM Student Internship provides high school students who come from underserved populations in the 11th and 12th grades the opportunity to learn and work in a professional environment while earning a paid stipend. The student must meet the minimum criteria to qualify for the program. The student spends no more than 20 hours per week working alongside a Mayo Clinic Host (and support staff) as they learn more about that field. Essentially the student would act as an assistant as they learn on the job skills, learn from Mayo staff what drew them to their career, what training they received to pursue their career, what they can do now in school to prepare to pursue that career path.

CRITERIA TO APPLY

To be eligible and apply the student must meet the following criteria:

1. Belong to a group that is underrepresented:

a. Receive any social services (e.g., foster care, food assistance, housing assistance, welfare and financial assistance)?

-OR-

b. Would qualify for free/reduced lunch

2. Must be in good academic standing.

3. Must be enrolled in 11th or 12th grade (rising 11th and 12th graders qualify).

4. Must provide 1 letter of recommendation from a school staff member

(teacher, counselor, etc.) or community member.

STEPS TO APPLY

1. Complete 1-2 page, double-spaced, 12 pt font essay on why this internship is

important to their future and what you hope to gain from this experience.

Please include what medical careers or specialties interests you most.

2. The student completes the application by filling in all required fields, and

attach their signed agreement, confidentiality agreement, personal essay,

letter of recommendation, and W-8 (no SSN) or W-9 (has SSN) form.

3. Once the application has been received, the committee will review the

application before selecting the students for an interview. All students will be notified if they

will proceed to the next step.

4. Once the students have been selected, they will be notified and their application will be uploaded to the

Non-Employee Access System.

5. The students will receive an email letting them know what the next steps will be in order to start.

6. Once the student has completed all steps, they will be cleared in the NEA system. An onboarding email will be sent with additional details and instructions for Orientation Day (you are required to attend).

2026

March 2026 - Application opens

April 2026 - Applications are reviewed, and candidates selected for interviews

May 2026 - Candidates interviewed and cohort is selected.

June 8, 2026 - Start date and orientation

June 8 - August 21, 2026 - Internship

August 21, 2026 - Internship Presentations