Summer Programs 2010

[snoopy123]

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Hey, this is my first post so please don't anybody bite my head off if I do something stupid.

Coming off summer 2009 I find myself disappointed with how it turned out. That aside, I am already trying to begin planning for summer 2010. As I am new the the whole PreMed thing (I've only finished one year of undergrad) I would greatly appreciate any help in trying to figure out what to do for next summer. Ideally, I would like to get into some sort of SURP or the like. So here are some questions to get started:

1. First and foremost, which programs? (Some I've heard of: MSKCC SURP, Columbia Amgen, Emory SURE.) Any suggestions?

2. Next, what sort of academic background would be necessary to be competitive for these programs?

3. Also, what sort of extracurricular background would be necessary to be competitive for these programs?

4. Finally, on a more specific note, some program's websites seem to imply that they are for "MD/PHD" interested students. How seriously should I take that? Although for the moment I am not sure whether I'm interested in MD/PHD, if I'm only going for an MD would this be a problem?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

what situation are you in? ugrad? nontrad?

 

[yoz]

i would recommend Summer Medical Dental Education Program its completely free (they provide housing and food) Plus they give you a stipend. The competitiveness depends on the site (i think 12 total). Some sites are really competitive like duke columbia washington while the other one are less competitve. You can find more info on their site
You dont need to be a URM to be accepted.

 

[snoopy123]

I'm regular undergrad and I'm pretty sure I don't want to do anything dental. Also, as far as I've seen, all the programs are free, provide housing, and pay a stipend.

 

[sully677]

Hey, this is my first post so please don't anybody bite my head off if I do something stupid.

Coming off summer 2009 I find myself disappointed with how it turned out. That aside, I am already trying to begin planning for summer 2010. As I am new the the whole PreMed thing (I've only finished one year of undergrad) I would greatly appreciate any help in trying to figure out what to do for next summer. Ideally, I would like to get into some sort of SURP or the like. So here are some questions to get started:

1. First and foremost, which programs? (Some I've heard of: MSKCC SURP, Columbia Amgen, Emory SURE.) Any suggestions?

2. Next, what sort of academic background would be necessary to be competitive for these programs?

3. Also, what sort of extracurricular background would be necessary to be competitive for these programs?

4. Finally, on a more specific note, some program's websites seem to imply that they are for "MD/PHD" interested students. How seriously should I take that? Although for the moment I am not sure whether I'm interested in MD/PHD, if I'm only going for an MD would this be a problem?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Maybe first off you should get your hands wet in a lab at your university right now. This will give you some good background experience when you apply for the programs in the winter. Do some google searches for programs such as SURF or SURP. Some examples are Caltech's SURF, Vanderbilt SSA, Mayo has one, UCSF...Just do some searching and apply to them when it comes time. For these programs, a lot of them are directed to minority applicants.

 

[snoopy123]

So I guess part of my question is how competitive would i be with/without any lab experience. I'm just not sure if I can get any, aside for very minimal, between now and next summer. Also, that gets back to the MD/PHD question. Are these programs specifically geared towards those kinds of students or are they for just MD-heading students as well?

 

[yoz]

SMDEP is mostly for pre-med and few pre-dents, you dont need any research.

 

[snoopy123]

What sort of program is SMDEP and how does it compare to SURPs or SURFs? Also, assuming I'm not "a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in medicine and dentistry" (their website) what are my chances of getting in?

 

[redlight]

smdep is not research btw

 

[yoz]

yeah its not research, you shadow doctors, work with cadavers, take summer enrichment courses in orgo, chem, biology, and clinical experience. There's more info on the homepage. I just listed it because the other programs like SURP and SURF are hard to get in without lab experience or research. If you're into research tho i would look into NIH too. If you can do some research and lab work during the school year at your university, you would be more competitive for those programs.

you don't have to be a minority, im asian and i got in. There were plenty of people who were Caucasian too.There is an essay prompt on whether you help underserved populations. If you can answer that prompt, you dont have to be a URM.

 

[snoopy123]

SMDEP sounds interesting, thanks for the idea yoz. In terms of research programs, (SURP, SURF, NIH) even with a year of lab work at my university, will I be competitive with people who've spent summers or more in research? Also, what other factors are there for getting into these programs?

 

[nwilkes]

This link had a lot of them:
http://people.rit.edu/~gtfsbi/Symp/premed.htm

As to the types of programs: some are basic research, which really are geared more for people intending to do research as a PhD (either MD/PhD or straight PhD). Some (often associated with a hospital) are clinical research, generally meant for someone interested in being a physician. Some are a combination.....there's a lot out there! A few suggestions:

1. Apply early. Applications are often rolling, and open in the fall (often around November). Most deadlines are February 1st or 15th.
2. Have someone read over your PS.
3. Apply to a lot.
4. Don't overlook the smaller, more unknown ones - they can be great! Just because it isn't UCSF, Amgen, Mayo, or JHU doesn't mean it's not quality...smaller programs can still have fascinating research!
5. Once in, give it your all.

As far as requirements: a good sGPA (and cGPA). LORs are extremely important (it's how I got my SURF). The importance of research experience depends on the program - some programs are specifically for people with no previous experience, others really are a summer internship for people with plenty of experience; so you can find what suits your needs. But u-grad research whenever you can get it never hurts! Also, having a good PS is helpful. (As is being disadvantaged or a URM, but that's kinda out of your hands. 🙄)

 

[snoopy123]

Wow! Thanks nwilkes. Now I don't mean to sound dumb but you used a lot of acronyms that I'm not familiar with: PS (personal statement?), LOR (?),URM, etc...(remember, I'm only one year in).

So what would be considered good GPA? Additionally, can you give me a few specific programs that are geared towards students with little to no research experience. Or, for that matter, some of the smaller programs and even some of the bigger ones. Actually, it would be helpful for someone to make a list of the major ones. Then I could look up some of the information myself.

 

[sully677]

Caltech SURF
Mayo Summer program
Vanderbilt SSA
Stanford summer program
Northwestern summer program
Dartmouth
Papperdine SURB

 

[Abdullaah]

Now I don't mean to sound dumb but you used a lot of acronyms that I'm not familiar with: PS (personal statement?), LOR (?),URM, etc...(remember, I'm only one year in).

I totally know what you mean with the abbrevs! I've been here for a bit now and I'm still getting stumped once in a while. Nothing to do with being a new pre-med, this is SDN (student doctor network) talk.

PS - personal statement
LOR - letter of recommendation
URM - under-represented minority

..And there's a glossary somewhere on this forum if you ever get stuck again 👍

 

[nwilkes]

Good GPA: as high as you can get. No excuses. 🙂

In general, I think 3.8 is expected to get into the better known ones....3.6 for smaller ones, perhaps? I have a 3.9+, very little experience, applied late, had great LORs, and got into 3 programs out of 20.

Some for people w/o research:

Case Western has some (both clinical and basic)
UCincinnati
UToledo?
Princeton mol bio (basic only - for PhD applicants)
UIowa
CCHF?
UKentucky
Nebraska (has several!)

 

[snoopy123]

nwilkes, if you don't mind my asking, what sort of programs were you applying to—level as well as orientation (research or otherwise). Also, if you had little experience how did you have great letters of recommendation?

Hopefully, after next year I'll have around 3.8+ but still limited experience. What would helping a doctor with a study and volunteering at a hospital be considered? Would that be helpful?

PS (postscript) Thanks for the info Abdullaah 🙂

 

[nwilkes]

I applied all over....about 1/2 were "top tier" (St. Jude's POE, JHU, Mayo, Tufts, etc.) that there was no way I was getting in...but it was free! Actually, the program I did was one I never thought would accept me - so, you never know. Also got into an MD/PhD one, and another basic research with clinical applications.

I applied more to basic research ones, because I didn't know about any clinical ones until too late, among other reasons. Also keep in mind I applied the two weeks before the deadlines, so that makes a difference.

I got great LORs from my profs bc they know me well (small school, great profs). And I do have some research experience, just not a lot. Well, a lot for my school, little for the likes of UCSF!

Helping a dr with a study? Depends on the study as to the amount of help to your app. I mean, it won't hurt! If you can keep your grades up, it will only help!

For summer research programs, volunteering at a hospital isn't generally considered - except for possibly a few clinical. You want hospital volunteering for AMCAS. The summer program applications basically ask: 1. What are your plans/goals (a personal statement). 2. What research experience do you have? 3. Why this program.

 

[mihan]

So I'm going to be a freshman this fall, and obviously I will have minimal research experience and basically only one semester worth of grades when I will be applying (I did contact a few professors who agreed to let me in work in their labs).

Any recommendations?

 

[snoopy123]

Hey mihan. It sounds like you and I are pretty much in the same boat. I'm a little bit ahead in school but similar with regard to research experience. Basically, I am trying to find out which programs I have any shot of getting into as well as how to go about getting into them. Anyone have anymore ideas?

 

[TraderDoc]

In terms of Summer Programs, Just go for a program that seems exciting to you in a city that you would like to be in. Your numbers are your numbers, but Personal statement and LORs are just as important. Some programs that haven't been mention are:

Yale's Biostep
Washington U in St. Louis Bio-Med Rap (for URMS)
Cornell's Travelers
U Penn Gene Therapy Program
NYU SURP

In terms of difficulty, Yale's biostep, U Penn Gene therapy, and Wash U are definitely elite and prestigious and are extremely difficult to get into.

 

[redlight]

i'd posit that just about any summer research program is tough to get into just because of the # of spots versus # of applicants.

 

[snoopy123]

I noticed the thread hasn't been updated for a while. I had a thought: This could be a thread for all who are applying to research programs this summer. It might be helpful to discuss the experiences of applying and the whole whole process involved. (Applications for some programs start now, in September, for those who weren't aware.) Also, for people who have already been on some of the programs to give advice about everything relating.

Any takers?