HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS

MTC High School Internship Program

Each year MTC sponsors a High School Internship Program. The purpose of the program is to introduce high school students (in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade) to career opportunities in the field of transportation, and to provide MTC’s transportation partners (such as traffic engineers at city and county public works departments or planners at transit agencies) with assistance.

The program was conceived of by MTC's Minority Citizens Advisory Committee to encourage young people who might not otherwise consider a career in transportation to do so. Students of all races and ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Each year, 25 internships are available. Students are paid and may work full-time or part-time, for up to 8 weeks, between the months of June and August.

STUDENT QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Intern assignments cover a wide range of tasks including assisting in surveys, participating in train ride observation checks, compiling and analyzing field data collected for pedestrian plans, assist with work related to bicycle planning, pavement markings and signage counts. There are opportunities to use specialized software, such as Geographic Information System GIS/AutoCAD/ Adobe Illustrator. Clerical work and general office duties that relate to transit and transportation work environments are also available.

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age,
have completed the 10th grade, and
have an unweighted grade point average of 2.8 or higher (students with a lower GPA will be considered if they submit two letters of recommendation).
If offered an internship and under 18 years of age and will not be graduating prior to the start of the program, you will be required to obtain a work permit from your school.
Graduating seniors are eligible to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, students must submit the following documents:

A completed application and self-identification form. (These forms will be available to download from this page when the 2009 program is active.)
A one-page cover letter briefly describing your interest in your community or any area of transportation and explaining why you are interested in this program.
A letter of recommendation from a teacher, principal, counselor, church representative, or employer (two letters of recommendation are required if GPA is lower than 2.8)

Complete application packets with all required documents can be mailed to:

Attn: High School Internship Coordinator
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
101 8th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

Or fax to 510-817-5848

For more information, you may contact the High School Internship Coordinator at (510) 817-5807 or highschool@mtc.ca.gov.