Discovery Internships is a summer internship program for high school students with locations in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The Musiker Family has directed award-winning, educational summer programs for high school students for 46 years. We are still a family-owned and operated organization featuring the most experienced and talented leadership in the pre-college field.
Every summer, more high school students choose a Discovery program than any other program of its kind. This summer, explore your future with Discovery Internships and you will...
Our programs are limited to students age 15-18. We look for students with exceptional maturity and motivation relative to their peers. Students must be at least 15 years of age prior to the start of the program. Please view complete eligibility requirements here. Note: We are unable to accept students younger than 16 into our NYC or London programs due to the age requirements of our housing providers.
We do not currently offer a defined financial aid program. Regrettably, we do not have the necessary personnel to properly assess student financial need and administer scholarship funds. However, we work with a number of non-profits, such as the Jack Kent Cook Foundation and Summer Search, to fulfill our philanthropic objectives. Please see our Scholarships page for more information. We suggest that you check with local community organizations or search the internet for scholarship opportunities as many institutions do offer financial support for students to pursue programs such as Discovery Internships. FastWeb is a great place to start your search.
Information on our refund policy is available here.
The Musiker Family has directed award winning educational summer programs for high school students for 46 years. Bob Musiker, Jimmy Musiker and our staff have vast experience working with and mentoring middle school and high school students. Our administrative staff has worked with Discovery Internships for many years and include:
Most are teachers, guidance counselors or school administrators. Our Resident Counselors are teachers, graduate students, and college seniors that are at least 21 years old (25 years old for International Programs). Resident Counselors are great people to hang out with, talk to, learn from, help you with your classes, and get you involved in activities. The Resident Counselors live on your floor.
With the tremendous diversity of programs, courses, activities and recreation on all campuses, it is difficult to describe A Typical Weekday at Summer Discovery...but we'll try.
Please note: times are approximate and vary slightly from location to location.
Yes! In addition to learning about and participating in an industry of your choice, Discovery Internships also offers daily evening activities and weekend excursions for you. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet and live with students from all over the world.
UCLA: Every weekend there's a ton of optional and scheduled activities, trips and events. There are trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hurricane Harbor,concerts, baseball games, the Mercedes LA Open Tennis Championship (6 week only)San Diego,Santa Barbara and much more. There is an optional trips to Las Vegas. You will be informed of the options during the week by reading the Daily and the activities board. An opportunity to create your individual schedule is offered, however, some activities are "all group" where the entire group is together.
Emerson University, Boston: Every weekend there are tons of optional and scheduled activities, trips and events. There are trips to Six Flags New England Amusement Park, Basketball Hall of Fame, Boston Red Sox games at the Legendary Fenway Park, Boston Amphibious Duck Tours, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, major league sporting events, movies, music festivals, shopping malls and other local outings. Weekend trips include Cape Cod, Hampton Beach in New Hampshire and Newport, Rhode Island. You will be informed of the options during the week through the Summer Discovery staff and the activities board. An opportunity to create your individual schedule is offered, however, some activities are "all group" where the entire group is together.
Chicago: Every weekend there's a ton of optional and scheduled activities, trips and events. There are trips to Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Cubs or White Sox, Chicago Sportz Improv Comedy, Field Museum and more! You will be informed of the options during the week through the Summer Discovery staff and the activities board. An opportunity to create your individual schedule is offered, however, some activities are "all group" where the entire group is together.
New York University: Every weekend there's a ton of optional and scheduled activities, trips and events. There are trips to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Empre State Building or Rockefeller Center, Broadway or Off-Broadway shows, MEts or Yankees baseball game, Bronx Zoo, MoMA, Guggenheim and more! You will be informed of the options during the week through the Summer Discovery staff and the activities board. An opportunity to create your individual schedule is offered, however, some activities are "all group" where the entire group is together.
London: Every weekend there's a ton of optional and scheduled activities, trips and events. There are trips to Tower of London, Hyde Park, Big Ben and Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and more! You will be informed of the options during the week through the Summer Discovery staff and the activities board. An opportunity to create your individual schedule is offered, however, some activities are "all group" where the entire group is together.
UCLA: You will live with all other Summer Discovery students in the brand new Hedrick Summit Residence Hall located on the UCLA campus. Hedrick is located near the beginning of the famed Bruin Walk and adjacent to the UCLA Sycamore Tennis Center. Rooms are singles and doubles in newly designed suites, with semi-private bathrooms and air conditioning. Each room features beds, ample closet space, desks and chairs, a phone, Internet access and wall-to-wall carpeting (refrigerator rentals are avilable). Televisions, VCR, DVD, ping-pong, pool tables are in the games room; a multi-station computer center with laser printers in our computer lab; laundry rooms on each floor and lounges for students to hang out.
Emerson University: You will live with all other Summer Discovery students in the fully air-conditioned Little Building in double rooms off a corridor, as well as single and double rooms within four-six person suites that share a living area and bathroom. The rooms feature study desks, and ample drawer and closet space. In-house facilities include laundry rooms, television/DVD lounges and SUMMER DISCOVERY offices.
Chicago: Our home in Chicago is the Bauhmart Residence Hall and Terry Student Center, the three-year old, $51 million, air-conditioned high-rise on Loyola's Water Tower Campus. The Terry Student Center occupies the first three floors. All program participants will be living in a two-room suite of two double rooms. Each suite features air-conditioning, private bathroom, and a full kitchen, including refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and microwave. The residence also features student lounges and a beautiful outdoor terrace.
New York University: Our home in New York City is the new NYU university Hall, one of the most poular dorms on campus. It is located between the Washington Square Campus in Greenwich Village and Union Square. University Hall offers two bedroom apartment-style suites with bath, kitchen and dining area in each unit. Each air-conditioned suite houses two double rooms completely furnished with desks, closet space, dressers, and high-speed internet. In-house facilities include a laundry room, TV/DVD lounge, study lounges, music rehearsal rooms and a Discovery Internships o9ffice. With floor to ceiling windows in the hallways, University Hall provides excellent panoramic views of the famous New York City skyline.
London: We stay in the heart of London's newest trendy neighborhood at Nido Spitalfields, the most modern student residence in Europe. Students are housed in two-bedroom studio suites, each with a private bathroom, fully-equipped kitchen, and high-speed internet. On the first floor, you will come home to a large lounge space, where you can hang out with your friends. There are flat-screen TVs, movies, sporting events, and many more activities. Laundry facilities are also available in the building. Outside, you will find two large courtyards with access from the ground floor so that you can make the most of your summer evenings.
You can pick your own or we will assign you 1 or 2 roommates. Most students attend alone. Meeting people and making friends at Discovery Internships is easy. You will submit a Personal Profile form. This form helps us learn about your likes and dislikes, personality traits, interests and sleeping habits. We use this information to match you with roommate(s) with similar interests, and age. Mutual roommate requests are honored, if possible.
UCLA: Your safety, security and health are our primary concerns. Hedrick Hall has electronically controlled key card access. All visitors must check-in at the front desk and at the Summer Discovery office. The Hedrick Hall front desk and the Summer Discovery office are open 24 hours a day. Summer Discovery Resident Counselors live in the dorm and on the floors with the students. On campus, you are permitted to walk in small groups in the designated home area communities.
Emerson University: Your safety, security and health are our primary concerns. The Little Building has electronically controlled key card access. Campus Security and Summer Discovery staff are on duty 24 hours a day. Summer Discovery Resident Counselors live in Little Building Residence Hall and on the floors with the students. All visitors must check-in at the Summer Discovery office. On campus, you are permitted to walk in small groups in the designated home area community.
New York University: Your safety, security and health are our primary concern. Entry to our residence hall at NYU is restricted to residents and authorized guests only. Discovery Internship resident counselors live in the same secure residence hall as the students. For additional safety, there are daily/nightly sign-ins and room checks. In keeping with a collegiate atmosphere, students are permitted to walk on campus and in our “home area” around Union Square and Greenwich Village, but are required to be in small groups.
Chicago (Loyola): Your safety, security and health are our primary concern. Entry to our residence in Loyola University's Baumhart Hall is restricted to residents and authorized guests only. Discovery Internship resident counselors live in the same secure residence hall as the students. For additional safety, there are daily/nightly sign-ins and room checks. In keeping with a collegiate atmosphere, students are permitted to walk on campus and in our “home area” of Chicago, but are required to be in small groups.
London: Your safety, security, and health are our primary concern. Entry to our residence hall, Nido Spitalfields, is restricted to residents and authorized guests only. Discovery Internship resident counselors live in the same secure residence hall as the students. For additional safety, there are daily/nightly sign-ins and room checks. In keeping with a collegiate atmosphere, students are permitted to walk on campus and in our “home area” of London, but are required to be in small groups.
UCLA: They certainly are. You can use the John Wooden Recreation Center, Bruin Brawn, L.A. Olympic Tennis Center, Sunset Canyon Pool, Hedrick Basketball Courts, Drake Track Stadium, and the UCLA Aquatic Center at Marina Del Ray facilities located on and off campus. There is no extra fee to play and practice at these facilities. The Summer Discovery Athletic Director will also coordinate intramurals, tournaments, and sporting events throughout the summer.
Emerson College: They certainly are. Emerson offers recreational and fitness opportunities. All Discovery Internship students may enjoy a membership to the on-campus Fitness Center, which offers state-of-the-art training equipment. In the event that the Fitness Center, Brown and Plofker Gyms, and Rotch Field are not available, alternative gym membership will be offered to all students.
Chicago: They certainly are. Baumhart Hall offers recreational and fitness opportunities. All Discovery Internship students may enjoy a membership to the Baumhart Hall Fitness center.
New York University: They certainly are. All Discovery Internship students will have access to the University's athletic facility known as the Palladium. You will have access to the Cardio room, auxiliary gym, Spinning and Weight rooms.
London: They certainly are. Students will enjoy access to the Nido Spitalifields Fitness Center
A grade report and transcript-request form will be sent to all Summer Discovery students who have completed college credit courses. Students make transcript requests directly to the university. It is up to the university that you attend if they will accept the credits earned. Over 90% do accept the credit.
For students in our NYC program, classes will be held in-person with an NYU faculty member and Discovery Internships staff. For students in our other programs, a distance learning platform will be used. NYU is one of the pioneers of online learning. Online classes will take full advantage of cutting edge technology to make classroom time engaging, interactive, and personalized. (You can download a full course description and explanation of NYU's online learning platform here for more information on this topic.) Students will also interact with their faculty advisor on a individual basis to develop a professional resume and to receive feedback on self-reflection journals.
All students are required to bring a computer to campus. Most rooms are wired for Internet access. (There may be a small charge for hook-up) If you do not have a laptop you will have access to a multi-station computer center with laser printers and email access.
Absolutely. You will be able to receive mail and packages as long as your name and room number are indicated on the mail or package. Instructions for sending mail and other packages will be sent to you in the Spring.
UCLA: We'll help you feel better. We can take you to the doctor. Your family and your doctor complete a Medical Form before you come to campus that will inform us of any health related issues, allergies, and special food needs. For daily appointments you will be taken to a private physician, who has been seeing our students for many years. . For any emergency situations you will be taken to the UCLA Medical Center on campus. Our staff will schedule any necessary medical appointments, take you to the appointments, and help fill any prescriptions. Parents are always notified about medical visits.
Emerson College: We will help you feel better. We can take you to the doctor. Your family and your doctor complete a Medical Form before you come to campus that will inform us of any health related issues, allergies, and special food needs. For daily appointments you will be taken to the University Student Health Service Center on-campus. For any emergency situations you will be taken to the nearby Beth Israel or New England Baptist Hospitals. Our staff will schedule any necessary medical appointments, take you to the appointments, and help fill any prescriptions. Parents are always notified about medical visits.
Discovery Internships is pleased to offer assistance in facilitating transportation via, car, bus, train or plane. Staff meet all incoming flights at baggage claim and assist with all departures. We will provide escorted transfers to and from the airport for a fee each way. All plane arrangements are made through Musiker Travel, our own travel agency, at the lowest available fares. If you are being driven to campus, driving directions will be provided one month prior to the program.
Discovery Internships staff will be wearing BLUE Discovery Internships t-shirts and holding Discovery Internships signs. We will identify you by your colorful luggage tags, which you will receive a month prior to the program.
This will depend upon your individual spending habits. We suggest between $60-$90 a week for snacks and souvenirs like college t-shirts, boxers and sweats, late night pizza, books, clothes and stuff. Most Summer Discovery students bring an ATM card. These can be used at cash machines on campus. We suggest traveler's checks instead of cash, and an optional credit card for emergencies.
Yes you can. We can provide names of students who took part on a specific Discovery Internships campus.
To learn more about the Discovery intenships application process, please review the application FAQ