How Apple Launched My College Education
My mom is a teacher in Prince William County, which means Apple has been my family bank for as long as I can remember. When I turned 12, opening my own eXtras Student Checking wasn’t just a financial milestone; it was a continuation of something we already deeply trusted.
That connection grew even stronger when my older brother was named an Apple Scholar. The scholarship gave him so much confidence as he stepped into college. The money definitely helped, but I think knowing he had so many people behind him, wanting him to succeed, helped him too. So when the time came for me to think about college and scholarships, my mom encouraged me to apply to Apple Scholars as well.
Receiving the Apple Scholar scholarship meant more to me than I expected. Of course, it helped ease the financial pressure of starting college, but it also showed me something deeper: Apple genuinely cares about their members’ futures. I felt it in the letter I got, when the scholarship was presented to me, and in all the celebratory posts that were made for my fellow scholars and me. This encouragement has stayed with me, even when I was staring down all the uncertainty that comes with my first year of college.
From Apple Scholar to Apple Intern
Last winter, I began combing through internships to figure out what I’d be doing this summer. I looked at opportunities across every industry but didn't really vibe with anything. I knew I wanted something meaningful that aligned with my interests and values, something that would let me do exciting work—not just doing a team’s coffee runs.
During one of these search sessions, I randomly thought, “I wonder if Apple has any internships?”
The idea excited me, and I got even more excited after learning how highly rated their internship program was. It gave me the confidence to reach out to the only connection I had: Katie, who had contacted me when I won my Apple Scholar scholarship. I was so nervous to send the email, worried about rejection or being ignored. But it changed everything for the better.
Katie responded almost immediately and was so excited I had reached out. After hearing about the work I was interested in doing, she connected me with the Member Experience Team and Patrice, my current manager. We stayed in touch as Apple’s internship opportunities developed over the next few months, and when it opened, I applied, interviewed and eventually received my offer. It truly could not have fallen into place any better!
What I’ve Accomplished During My Internship
My favorite project that I’ve worked on this summer has been analyzing Apple’s internal email data. With guidance from my team, I took raw data from our email platform and transformed it into a dashboard that told a clear story about how Apple employees engage with the different types of messages they receive. Through that experience, I learned how to use Power BI, a tool I had been eager to get my hands on since learning about it in an Applied Statistics class.
In addition to these technical skills, the professional growth has been just as meaningful. I’ve learned how to navigate meetings, collaborate with different teams and ask good questions to help me understand my tasks and role. I also value feedback way more now. Every conversation, whether in a meeting or in passing in the hall, shows me a new perspective. Being part of a team that truly listens and supports one another has shown me what a strong workplace culture can look like.
While I was building my dashboard and having these great conversations with my team, I had a really exciting thought: this is what I want to do. I want a job that will let me dig deep into data and help organizations make thoughtful, informed decisions, and keep having these great discussions with my team. My “dream job” had been fuzzy up until that point, which I think is common for lots of college students. It was thanks to this internship that I learned a role like this even existed, and how much fun I could have while doing it.
My Advice to Young Professionals
Even though I’m still finishing college and shaping my career, I’ve already learned so much that I want others to know.
First, apply for scholarships. As many as you can. It can feel so overwhelming when you’re in the middle of it, juggling applications with school and extracurriculars and more, but the impact is worth it. You’ll feel so good walking onto campus with that financial safety net beneath you.
Secondly, network. It’s been a lot easier than I expected, and it’s paid off in huge ways. I barely knew Katie when I reached out to her asking about internship opportunities at Apple, and now I sit two workstations down from her. I learned that people want to help me succeed—especially at Apple.
Finally, remember that the effort you put in now will pay off later. It’s easy to see applications and networking as just another task to check off a list. But when you take the time to build relationships and pursue opportunities that align with your goals, it makes the journey more rewarding.
What’s Next for Me
As I continue college, I’m excited to keep building on what I’ve learned this summer. Graduation will be here before I know it, and when it comes, I’m planning to come back home to Northern Virginia to continue my career in data analysis. I’d love to work for a company that truly uplifts its people and the community.
If I had my choice of anywhere to start this next chapter, Apple would be at the top of my list. It’d be a dream come true to come back and keep growing with a team that has already given me so much. I’ve loved my summer here at Apple, and I really hope it isn’t the last!
