How to find summer opportunities? (M1)

[croissant10947]

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I just learned that some medical schools offer preclinical preceptorships over the summer for their students - is there a way I could set this up on my own or is it pretty much only accessible if the school facilitates it? Same thing goes for research opportunities. The school I attend lacks the infrastructure to support these kinds of opportunities. I have been cold emailing PIs but gotten zero responses so far. Honestly, I am quite discouraged. I do think there's a 95% chance I will spend my 4 weeks off just studying M1 material

Interested in IM & ophtho, but honestly open to exploring other specialties (list of specialties I have r/o'ed: Psych, Neuro)

 

[AJS59]

I just learned that some medical schools offer preclinical preceptorships over the summer for their students - is there a way I could set this up on my own or is it pretty much only accessible if the school facilitates it? Same thing goes for research opportunities. The school I attend lacks the infrastructure to support these kinds of opportunities. I have been cold emailing PIs but gotten zero responses so far. Honestly, I am quite discouraged. I do think there's a 95% chance I will spend my 4 weeks off just studying M1 material

Interested in IM & ophtho, but honestly open to exploring other specialties (list of specialties I have r/o'ed: Psych, Neuro)

Idk about a preclinical preceptorship or the value of its use. If your school does free clinic volunteering, would highly recommend that.

W/ respect to research: For IM, wouldn't even bother with research rn. Ophtho - do you have a home program with folks you could shadow to make connections? I'd also see about shadowing in general - always good to get your feet wet first to find opportunities.

But frankly? My best recommendation esp. for a 4 week break is do as close to nothing as possible. Study some if you want, but don't break your back over it. More importantly, I'd use this time to (assuming you don't have an M2 summer/your M2 "summer" is Step 1 dedicated): 1. Go travel/have fun/visit family and 2. Get your life set for M2 year and beyond (i.e. move apartments if you need to, work on your daily routines, working out), etc.