If your student is interested in technology, computer science, or engineering, Google offers some of the most competitive and rewarding programs available to high school students in the country. These are not coffee-fetching internships. They are structured, mentored experiences that can reshape a student’s college application and career trajectory.

At College Planning Centers, we regularly help students in Myrtle Beach, Mount Pleasant, and Charleston build the kind of profiles that make them competitive for programs like these. Here is what you need to know about Google’s current offerings for high school students and how to position your student for success.

Google Programs Open to High School Students

Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)

CSSI is Google’s flagship program for high school seniors. It is a three-week intensive introduction to computer science hosted at Google offices, designed for students who have some interest in technology but may not have had access to formal CS education.

Key details for 2026:

• Eligibility: Current high school seniors (Class of 2026) heading to college in the fall
• Duration: Three weeks during the summer
• Cost: Free — Google covers program costs, and travel stipends are available
• Focus: Web development fundamentals, collaborative coding projects, and exposure to Google’s engineering culture
• Application window: Typically opens in January and closes in March or April — check Google’s careers page for exact 2026 dates

What makes a strong applicant:

• Demonstrated curiosity about technology (does not require formal CS coursework)
• Commitment to community involvement or leadership
• First-generation college students, students from underrepresented backgrounds, and students from areas without strong CS programs are especially encouraged to apply
• A compelling personal statement explaining why technology matters to them

Code Next

Code Next is a multi-year program for Black and Latinx high school students interested in computer science. It operates through labs in select cities and through a virtual program that is open to students nationally.

Key details:

• Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students who identify as Black or Latinx
• Format: In-person labs (Oakland, New York, and other locations) plus a virtual program accessible from anywhere — including South Carolina
• Duration: Year-round with summer intensives
• Cost: Free
• Focus: Coding fundamentals, app development, entrepreneurship, and tech career exposure

For students in Horry, Georgetown, or Charleston counties who may not have access to advanced CS coursework at their high school, Code Next’s virtual program is an outstanding option.

Google Explore CSR and Other Pipeline Programs

Google periodically offers additional programs that feed into their internship pipeline:

• Explore CSR — A one-week virtual program for underrepresented students interested in CS research
• Tech Exchange — A semester-long program in partnership with HBCUs (relevant for students heading to SC State, Benedict, or Claflin)
• Google Summer of Code (GSoC) — While technically open to anyone 18+, advanced high school students who are already enrolled in college courses may qualify

Programs That Are NOT Open to High School Students

It is important to clarify this because we see confusion about it every year:

• STEP Internship — This is for current first-year and second-year college students, not high schoolers. However, CSSI alumni are well-positioned to apply for STEP once they start college.
• Google Software Engineering Internship — Requires at least sophomore standing in a CS or related program.
• Business Internships — Require current enrollment in an undergraduate or MBA program.

If your student is a junior hoping to intern at Google this summer, the realistic path is to apply for CSSI between their senior year and college, then pursue STEP during their freshman or sophomore year.

How South Carolina Students Can Compete

Here is the honest reality: programs like CSSI receive thousands of applications. Students from Silicon Valley or New York have certain advantages — proximity to tech culture, access to CS coursework, and often prior coding experience.

But Google is specifically looking for students from underserved areas who have not had those advantages. A student from Conway, SC who taught themselves Python through YouTube and built a small project is exactly the kind of applicant these programs are designed to reach.

Here is how to build a competitive profile:

Start with accessible resources:

• Complete CS courses on Khan Academy, Codecademy, or freeCodeCamp
• Take AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A if your school offers them
• If your school does not offer AP CS, enroll through SC Virtual School or a dual-enrollment program at Coastal Carolina University or the College of Charleston

Build something real:

• Create a simple website, app, or tool that solves a problem you care about
• Contribute to an open-source project on GitHub
• Volunteer to build or maintain a website for a local nonprofit or school organization

Document your journey:

• Keep a portfolio of projects, even small ones
• Write about what you learned and why you built what you built
• This documentation becomes material for your application essay and your college applications

Seek out mentorship:

• Reach out to CS teachers, college students, or professionals in the Charleston tech community
• Attend local meetups or virtual events — Charleston’s growing tech scene includes several organizations welcoming young developers

How These Programs Strengthen College Applications

Beyond the experience itself, a Google program on a student’s resume communicates several things to college admissions officers:

• Initiative. The student sought out and was selected for a nationally competitive program.
• Technical aptitude. Even without a formal CS transcript, the student demonstrated real skills.
• Diversity of experience. For students whose high school activities lean heavily toward sports or arts, a tech program adds dimension.
• Essay material. Some of the strongest college essays we have seen at College Planning Centers came from students reflecting on what they learned during a summer tech program.

We help students integrate these experiences into their broader college narrative. A Google program is impressive on its own, but it becomes powerful when it connects to a student’s larger story — their goals, their community, and what they want to study.

What to Do Right Now

If your student is interested in Google programs or any competitive summer opportunity, here is the immediate action plan:

• Check current application windows. Visit google.com/edu and search for CSSI, Code Next, and current high school programs. Deadlines move year to year.
• Build a project. Even a small one. Having something tangible to reference in an application makes a significant difference.
• Start the college planning conversation. Programs like these are one piece of a larger strategy. What your student does with the experience — how it connects to their courses, their activities, and their goals — matters as much as the program itself.