From March to April, many students apply for jobs through the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), which connects students to notable organizations and positions of interest for summer work.
For over 46 years, PIC has been partnering with various businesses to allow Boston youth to get involved in organizations they otherwise would not have access to. PIC partners with the City of Boston and Boston Public Schools to provide students with a glance into different fields of employment through internship opportunities at over 60 private sector companies. As of 2026, major companies that PIC partners with include Bank of America, Dana Farber and Eversource.
“I think PIC does provide a wide array of fields for us to choose from, but it really does depend on the companies that choose to offer opportunities,” says Shuyin Chen (II), an applicant for this year’s internship program.
The application features a rolling admissions process, meaning that applications are constantly reviewed and individuals are notified within the application window. The process allows students to get results back quickly instead of waiting for a fixed date.
Boston Latin School PIC coordinator Ms. Dalela Andrade explains, “We can’t always promise a placement, but we try our best to [give students] the option to [suggest] a specific company.”
According to the National Society of High School Scholars, 30 percent of college students change their major during their studies. Internships provide students with valuable experience and opportunities regarding specific fields of study, making them an accessible way for students to help decide upon their career path before going off to college.
During the summer of 2025, 635 BPS students were able to attain paid internships through PIC, 411 of which worked in community-based organizations. PIC also allows students to interact with job opportunities and specialization on a larger scale, holding workshops for field exploration and providing job specialists to help students find their best fit.
Head of Communications at PIC Elizabeth McGinn notes the importance of career specialists in the process of organizing applications: “Career specialists are instrumental in preparing students for meaningful summer employment and long-term career success.”
Not only has PIC played a role in employment opportunities by interacting with organizations to provide jobs, but it has also taken steps towards decreasing the amount of students dropping out of school by providing them with better fitting education or employment systems. In partnership with BPS, PIC has created the Re-Engagement Center, which helps struggling students receive accessible forms of education, with the company hoping to lower dropout rates that have risen since the pandemic.