Summer after your freshman year - research programs??

[shindotp]

I'm applying to several summer undergraduate research programs, but with my lack of research experience and since I'm just a freshman, I think I'll be lucky to get into any of them.

Well, actually I have had some research experience but that was when I was a sophomore and I think the PI wouldn't remember me well enough to write a letter of rec...

Anyway, what did you do during the summer after your freshman year?

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[Thrombomodulin]

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[AdmiralChz]

So many people I know got so uptight during their summers and felt they just had to do research or take class to be competitive for medical school. You are in college - ENJOY your summers, relax, and take a break from school. I was a swim coach for all 3 summers of college, and loved every moment of it.

 

[beachblonde]

So many people I know got so uptight during their summers and felt they just had to do research or take class to be competitive for medical school. You are in college - ENJOY your summers, relax, and take a break from school. I was a swim coach for all 3 summers of college, and loved every moment of it. I've gotten into 3 schools, so I must have done something right!

Don't listen to this guy....mister 36 MCAT, 3.9 GPA could have put down "dumpster diving" and "taking candy from small children" and his hobbies and still would have gotten into med school.

OP, have you looked for some research programs that are targeted specifically at freshman/rising sophomores? I think there are a few out there. If you don't do research, you could always volunteer, shadow, or just get a j-o-b. Do what you want to do, but if it's something clinically related, it won't hurt.

(oh, and AdmiralChz, I'm not hating on you, just a wee bit jealous! congrats on the acceptances.)

 

[silverhorse84]

I sat around all summer after my freshman year...😛 I couldn't find a job, so I ended up just hanging out with friends and traveling up and down the state.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. My second summer I took summer school, third: traveled, fourth: research. Just do what you want to do, not what you think you should do. And most importantly, have fun! 🙂

 

[shindotp]

Hahah thanks guys.

Beachblonde - I will look for those rising sophomore oriented programs! So far I only found 7-8 programs that even take apps from freshmen...

 

[GoSpursGo]

I did research all three summers, and I loved it. If you're a freshman with no lab experience, you're going to have trouble getting an "in" with a med school, so I suggest trying to hook up with a professor at your home university, maybe to start research in the spring and continue into the summer, and beyond. Research isn't a requirement to get into med school, but it's definitely a very strong EC that I feel really makes you an attractive applicant. If you could make it into something that you've got 2.5 years of experience in by the time you apply, you'll be a very attractive applicant indeed.

Furthermore, I don't know if you're just shooting for your state med school or if you've got your eyes set at trying to tackle an Ivy med school, but at the top 20 or so schools in the country it's kind of an unwritten expectation that they expect you to have SOME research experience, since most of those schools are so research-oriented.

 

[beachblonde]

I'll add on that if you're willing to work in a lab for free, be sure to potential PIs know that. They're typically limited by funding when it comes to taking on new student, but if you don't need a stipend they'll be far more willing to take a chance on a new kid.

I would suggest starting out with the profs at your home institution, and see if you can get a summer gig that way. Then you'll have more experience for future applications to some of the bigger summer research programs out there (REU, NIH, etc).

 

[AdmiralChz]

Furthermore, I don't know if you're just shooting for your state med school or if you've got your eyes set at trying to tackle an Ivy med school, but at the top 20 or so schools in the country it's kind of an unwritten expectation that they expect you to have SOME research experience, since most of those schools are so research-oriented.

I wouldn't agree with this... do research if you are interested, but don't do it just to check a box - your time would be better spent doing something you are passionate about and enjoy. Med schools are much more interested in the activities that you yourself highlight, not in activities you weren't really into in the first place.

 

[shindotp]

Any suggestions as to specific summer programs I should apply to if I want to get research experience?

And AdmiralChz - I wouldn't be applying MD/PhD if I weren't passionate about research.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I didn't know you were applying to MD/PhD. In that case then yeah you will have to have significant research. Just seems tough to make that sort of commitment/decision this early in your undergraduate career, without significant research experience (2+ years of intense work) already under your belt.

 

[Docere]

I spent my summer in China volunteering for Sichuan earthquake relief as well as shadowing various doctors in rural hospitals, learning about the healthcare policies of China. It was a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, but it won't really help me too much when I apply for other research opportunities.

And don't worry about not having any experience. A lot of summer research opportunities are specifically geared toward students who don't have any experience. They're trying to reel you into wanting to do research as a career 🙂

I'd suggest you apply to SMDEP as something to start with. Everyone I know who applied got in.

http://www.smdep.org/

 

[shindotp]

I spent my summer in China volunteering for Sichuan earthquake relief as well as shadowing various doctors in rural hospitals, learning about the healthcare policies of China. It was a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, but it won't really help me too much when I apply for other research opportunities.

And don't worry about not having any experience. A lot of summer research opportunities are specifically geared toward students who don't have any experience. They're trying to reel you into wanting to do research as a career 🙂

I'd suggest you apply to SMDEP as something to start with. Everyone I know who applied got in.

http://www.smdep.org/

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PROGRAM. That looks awesome! And one of the sites is UCLA, which is very close to home.

 

[Docere]

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PROGRAM. That looks awesome!

You are more than welcome 🙂

SMDEP only takes freshman/sophomore applicants, and a lot of very well-known medical colleges and universities are involved, like Duke and Yale.

You pretty much learn about everyday laboratory procedures, like PCR or bacterial transformation. The fun part, most people have told me, is meeting a whole bunch of people from all over the nation.

And on top of it all, you get a nice stipend just for going 🙂

Send me a message if you need some more programs, especially if you have a specific place/city in mind.

 

[shindotp]

I spent my summer in China volunteering for Sichuan earthquake relief as well as shadowing various doctors in rural hospitals, learning about the healthcare policies of China. It was a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, but it won't really help me too much when I apply for other research opportunities.

And don't worry about not having any experience. A lot of summer research opportunities are specifically geared toward students who don't have any experience. They're trying to reel you into wanting to do research as a career 🙂

I'd suggest you apply to SMDEP as something to start with. Everyone I know who applied got in.

http://www.smdep.org/

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PROGRAM. That looks awesome!

Edit: It says they tell you if you're admitted to the program 10 days after you submit your app, and they require you to respond within 5 days after that? Hmm I'm going to have to think about this...