Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: To learn how to network in high school, start with three groups: your peers, your teachers, and your friends’ parents or other adults who work in fields you want to explore. Build relationships through genuine conversations, ask thoughtful questions, send thank-you notes, and stay in touch. These connections can lead to mentorships, internships, and recommendations.
Why You Should Start Networking in High School
At the end of the day, learning how to network in high school – and actually put those skills into practice – can pay dividends for years to come. Generally speaking, there are three groups of people to network with while you are in high school: your peers, your teachers, and your peers’ parents. This latter group is probably the most important, so we’ll save them for last. So, let’s get started with some high school networking basics. [2]
How to Network in High School: Three Groups to Start With
1. Your Peers
How many people at your high school would be happy to see you at a reunion? How many would genuinely want to know what you’re up to, and how you’ve been? 5? 10? 20? If so, you need to get those numbers up – those are rookie numbers.
Ultimately, whether someone is “in your network” can be boiled down to whether, in 5-10 years time, you would feel comfortable calling them up and asking them for a favor. Perhaps equally as important: if you asked them for a favor, would they demand something in return? You can imagine the layers of your network working roughly as such:
Picks up your call → Does favor in exchange for something → Does favor in exchange for nothing → BFF status.
The more people you have in your network – and in these higher “layers” – the better.
If you are part of the popular crowd, I have some tough news for you: some day, you and your friends will probably be working for the nerds. Maybe not the nerds in your school, but the nerds from some school. In short: being a popularity snob in high school does not pay off. If the movie Mean Girls taught us anything, it’s that there is value in being well-liked among all social groups, not just the popular kids. The nerdy kids from my high school (myself included) ended up being some of the most interesting people I know. So, get out there, nerd it up.
If you are part of the nerdy crowd, I also have some tough news for you: learning how to network in high school and how to communicate and be friends with average people is a crucial part of networking, and life generally. [1] In my case, as much as I enjoyed my weekly Magic: The Gathering card tournaments, it eventually dawned on me that only associating with people who wore elven capes to public events might inhibit my social skills. So, I joined the football team. Was I great at football? No. Was I ok? Also, no. But I was there, on the sidelines, rubbing shoulders with some people I would never have otherwise met. As I have gotten older, one of my greatest abilities has been my ability to communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and interests.
So to sum it up: you don’t need to be popular, but you should endeavor to be well-liked among a diverse set of social groups. If you are popular, be nice to the nerds – they will run the world some day. If you are a nerd, try to branch out as much as possible.
2. Your Teachers
One of the most effective ways to boost your academic performance in high school is to establish good relationships with your teachers. The reality is that teachers are far more willing to assist a student they like personally than one they do not. I would not have made it through high school in one piece were it not for the small cadre of teachers who had my back every time I got into trouble. I also wouldn’t have learned how to network in high school without these amazing people.
Weirdly, most high school students forget that their teachers are actual, real-life humans. Don’t believe me? When’s the last time you saw one of your teachers outside of school and didn’t think to yourself something along the lines of: “Well that’s strange, Mrs. Smith goes grocery shopping just like a regular person”?
So: treat your teachers like normal people. Don’t be afraid to be friendly with them. As long as you are respectful, you’ll be fine.
3. Your Peers’ Parents
As it turns out, your friends’ parents are also humans, and often well-connected ones. They have careers – many of them successful – and are an invaluable source of advice and opportunities. Are you interested in applying to medical school? Great – I’d be willing to bet that one of your friends has a parent in the medical field. Ask them if they have any suggestions for summer internships or other activities that you can participate in during summer. Want to be a lawyer? Splendid. I’ll bet one of your friend’s parents works at a law firm.
Make sure you aren’t just approaching these people and blurting out, “I want an internship”. You need to actually listen to their advice. Most people are really interested to share their career experiences and lessons, so if you let them speak and listen actively, you’ll find that you not only gain access to additional opportunities, but also establish a mentor-mentee relationship. Mentors with more experience than you can offer support, guidance, and opportunities that help you reach your goals. [3] Especially when figuring out how to network in high school, you’ll usually take on the role of a mentee, whether that’s with your teachers, friends’ parents, or some other adult. Be respectful while building those relationships. Who knows, maybe one of these people will give you a job one day?
How to Reach Out and Follow Up
Knowing who to talk to is only half of networking. The other half is how you start the conversation and keep it going. A few simple habits make a big difference.
- Prepare a short introduction: Practice a two or three sentence summary of who you are, what you are curious about, and what you hope to learn. Keep it natural so it sounds like a conversation, not a speech.
- Ask thoughtful questions: Most people enjoy talking about their work. Ask how they chose their field, what a typical day looks like, and what they wish they had known in high school.
- Write a clear, polite email: When you reach out to an adult you do not know well, keep your message brief, explain how you found them, and make one specific request, such as a 15-minute phone call. These tips on how to write an email to a professor apply to almost any professional you contact.
- Send a thank-you note: Within a day or two of any conversation, send a short note thanking the person for their time and mentioning one thing you learned.
- Stay in touch: Every few months, share a quick update, such as a project you finished or a class you enjoyed because of their advice. Relationships grow through small, consistent contact.
Networking should always feel like a two-way relationship. Look for ways to help others too, whether that means sharing an article, introducing two friends with similar interests, or volunteering your time.
Where to Find Networking Opportunities in High School
You do not need a formal event to build your network. Some of the best connections come from activities you already enjoy.
- Clubs and teams: Leadership roles let you work closely with advisors, coaches, and students from other grades. If your school has no club for your interest, consider starting a club of your own.
- Research and academic programs: Summer programs, science fairs, and research opportunities for high school students connect you with professors, graduate students, and peers who share your interests.
- Volunteering and part-time jobs: Community organizations and workplaces introduce you to adults from many backgrounds, and supervisors can become valuable references.
- Informational interviews: Ask an adult in a field that interests you for a short conversation about their career. Come prepared with questions, and follow up afterward.
As you meet new people, keep a simple list of names, how you met, and what you talked about. This makes it easier to follow up, and it helps you notice which relationships are growing into mentorships.
How Networking Supports Your College Applications
The relationships you build in high school often show up in your college applications. Teachers who know you well can write detailed recommendation letters, and mentors can point you toward internships, research, and summer programs that deepen your interests. Conversations with professionals can also help you choose a major and explain your goals in your essays. Most importantly, learning how to network in high school teaches you to communicate with confidence, a skill you will use in college interviews, on campus, and throughout your career.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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