NIH Summer Positions - How Competitive?

[patrickd223]

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I was wondering if anyone knew how competitive it is to get a summer position with the NIH. I know they state that only 20% of people get in, and I was wondering if it was worth applying with my dismal 3.42 GPA.

 

[ssquared]

Your GPA will not keep you out of the program, but a lack of research experience and/or motivation will. You need to apply early and contact PIs who run labs that do research that interest you. Talk to them, convey how much you would like to be a part of their team and how hard you're willing to work. A high GPA alone will not get a person a position at NIH-PIs know that just because you've got high grades doesn't mean you have a lick of common sense (quite necessary in a lab).

And for pete's sake, don't lie to make yourself look better (not saying you would do this, but for everyone out there...). I have a friend who works in a lab there, and their summer student "enhanced" his resume to get a position there. The PI was not pleased when he found how just how inept the student was.

 

[SB100]

Yeah 20% sounds right. My supervisor this past summer said they received a few over 5000 applicants and had 800 or so interns in all their institutes combined.

 

[shevie]

Im doing a postbac fellowship @ NIH and 20% is abt right, according to my PI, for summer intern acceptance. We had 3 summer interns and were a medium-sized lab. Your GPA DEFINITELY will not keep you out. Its not medical school, its an internship, and your grades are not necessarily the best indicator of how youll perform in a lab. Good interpersonal skills are essential (for interviews), and take a look at the websites of various PI's, find some whose research truly is interesting to you, and email them EARLY (like NOW even, for next summer), informing them of your interest.
PM me if you have any other questions.