Summer after Senior Year in High School

[gammaknife1]

Hey everyone,

I know most people choose to just relax the summer after their senior year in high school but I don't want to be like most people. I've realized that I didn't take enough initiative during my high school years and pretty much just wasted my summers away.

So, I want to start my college life on the right foot by doing something productive this summer. Since I want to be a doctor, I've been looking for medical related research internships.

So far I've only found the NIH summer internship. I've been searching a lot on google and I've also called Yale, Columbia, and Brown to ask if they have any openings but to no avail. Part of the problem is most of the internships I find are either for high school students (juniors and sophomores) or for college students (juniors and sophomores) but since I sort of fall in the middle (I'm currently a senior in high school, I'll be an undergraduate next fall) I am not eligible for any of them.

So if you happen to know of any medical research internships which I could apply to I would be greatly in your debt.

Thanks so much.

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[alexlex143]

Well. I think you shouldn't be worried about internships right now. If anything, I would look into volunteering at a hospital or something. Internships are intense and have lots of requirements, even for college sophomores and juniors. You're still young and you probably should try to lay low, because pursuing med school will be intense. Volunteering at a hospital will give you an idea of how the medical environment really is. And if you don't like it, maybe it'll give you some perspective on what you want to do in life.

 

[Antibodies]

Don't do anything aside from relaxing!

Way to early to start on any of that.

 

[steelblue89]

Take a break and get mentally prepared for college. Make sure you convince yourself to work hard from the start to the finish each semester of college, including your first year.

In high school you can get by and get good grades but not putting forth maximal effort, but that ends in college.

The harder you work, the more succesful you will be.

Just make sure you realize this and are convinced of it in your head and thats all you need to be successful.

If you insist on doing something over the summer still, a little clinically related volunteering wouldn't hurt.

 

[BigRedDeal]

You could take and summer EMT-B course and become an EMT. For me it was a good investment because it gave me an opportunity to have quality hands on volunteer medical experience while in college, make a lot of friends, and have a ton of fun.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

You could take and summer EMT-B course and become an EMT. For me it was a good investment because it gave me an opportunity to have quality hands on volunteer medical experience while in college, make a lot of friends, and have a ton of fun.

This would be a fantastic idea. Spend the summer doing this, or volunteering somewhere. That would give you a much better leg up. I don't think you're going to find many internships for college students that will hire someone before they've started college. Particularly for research, they'll want you to have some exposure to college science courses beforehand.

You know why so many people are telling you to spend the summer relaxing? Because they're right! 😉 Have fun. Those are the experiences you'll remember years from now.

 

[krispy]

Hey everyone,

I know most people choose to just relax the summer after their senior year in high school but I don't want to be like most people. I've realized that I didn't take enough initiative during my high school years and pretty much just wasted my summers away.

So, I want to start my college life on the right foot by doing something productive this summer. Since I want to be a doctor, I've been looking for medical related research internships.

So far I've only found the NIH summer internship. I've been searching a lot on google and I've also called Yale, Columbia, and Brown to ask if they have any openings but to no avail. Part of the problem is most of the internships I find are either for high school students (juniors and sophomores) or for college students (juniors and sophomores) but since I sort of fall in the middle (I'm currently a senior in high school, I'll be an undergraduate next fall) I am not eligible for any of them.

So if you happen to know of any medical research internships which I could apply to I would be greatly in your debt.

Thanks so much.

So, if you're really interested in doing something productive, your best bet may be emailing a local college bio department asking if you can help with some basic research (I just did the same thing, and the person I emailed seemed really thrilled that I was interested in helping--so you never know who may need research assistants over the summer).

Also, it may be a good idea to shadow a dr over the summer, then you would still have some time for yourself before starting college.
Volunteering is also a great way to spend free time, without doing something that takes up every second of your day.

But, I have to agree with the people above me...relaxing before starting college is so important...you may have to take summer classes while youre in college, you may find an internship that will take up your entire summer, you may have a job during your college summers...

Good luck to you with whatever you decide =)

 

[tommy55]

You could take and summer EMT-B course and become an EMT. For me it was a good investment because it gave me an opportunity to have quality hands on volunteer medical experience while in college, make a lot of friends, and have a ton of fun.

Do the above or get your CNA so you can get some real medical experience and make money. As far as research, instead of looking at specific programs, try emailing/ calling local research centers or the med center affiliated with your college to inquire about volunteer or research assistant positions.

 

[tommy55]

Do the above or get your CNA so you can get some real medical experience and make money. As far as research, instead of looking at specific programs, try emailing/ calling local research centers or the med center affiliated with your college to inquire about volunteer or research assistant positions.

 

[Grand]

Soon people will be posting, "The summer after my 4th grade..."

 

[SparkleMotion]

I wouldn't do anything.

If you're serious about being pre-med this may be the last summer you ever have to just relax and do nothing.

 

[McPoyle]

Doing something "productive" over this summer would be one of the greatest wastes of time ever. Do something fun, travel if you can, hang with friends you won't see for a while, work and save money, get crunk and sleep around...

Basically do anything other than what you were suggesting.

 

[metallica81788]

Travel, hang out with your friends you'll never see again, sleep, play video games.

If you don't want to be a kid anymore 🙂thumbdown), I would suggest using the summer to take some licensing course (EMT-B or CNA) so that you can have at least 3 years of certified patient contact and money or volunteer at a hospital. This was something I wished I could have done if I wouldn't have had to work.

Don't look at research just yet, no one wants a high school grad and you'll have plenty of opportunities in college.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

just relax and get excited (at the same time get mentally prepared) for college....

there is no use getting involved in all these ec's, if your college grades are bad.... if you absolutely want to do something, buy the chem textbook you will be using your freshman year and start reading it...

but my advice to you, is to not even do that but spend time with family and friends

 

[Cleveland]

I actually shadowed a bit and worked a job, partied a ton, and enjoyed myself. Find a doc that will let you shadow around a summer job schedule and that can help you make some contacts and potentially get you a lab job later. Don't work too hard though...you have 4 (or more) years of that coming up.

 

[derek320]

I'm in a similar position, I'm graduating high school in June 2010. My plans for the summer is to work a lot and try to save up as much money as possible. I think that is the best possible way to prepare for college since the first thing that hits you in college is your tuition bill. I am trying to get a job at my local hospital, hopefully I can work 40 hours per week over the summer and my local hospital will pay $1500 per year towards my tuition.

So my summer will basically be spent working, a few parties, and maybe some camping with friends if I get time off.

 

[SparkleMotion]

work 40 hours per week ......if I get time off.

Only working 40 hours per week you should have plenty of time to do whatever you want and then some.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Have some fun with your friends, spend some quality time with someone of the opposite/same sex, and try not to get caught doing anything illegal.

The same applies in college, but you'll have to study/do research/volunteer/make friends.

 

[FloatOn]

I traveled, hung out with friends, gathered stuff for college, did unproductive things, and read for fun. If you're already used to working in the summer, then do that. But at most, I would recommend shadowing doctors. It allows for a more flexible schedule than volunteer programs, where you are often required to do a certain amount of hours within a certain number of weeks.

 

[derek320]

Only working 40 hours per week you should have plenty of time to do whatever you want and then some.

I meant that I will probably go camping for like a week or so if I can get some time off.

Also, I'm considering doing 3rd shift over the summer, so that will probably make it harder to get out and do stuff, at least for the first few weeks while I get used to being up all night.