Where to volunteer to help get into Grad program when not a student.

[Merlin Coryell]

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I am hoping to gain some research experience and perhaps letters of recommendation for grad programs, and figure that one easy way is to volunteer to assist researchers. However, I figure that academic researchers are pretty much full of helpful volunteers by way of their grad student slaves.

So how does a person with an UG degree who is not currently a student find way to get into some meaningful servitude with the people who can help make the difference on applications? Should I look into working for a practitioner, a comm. college, or private hospital researchers, or will they all be just as overcrowded as the local University Dept?

Also, am I totally overlooking an opportunity to find actual work in research somewhere, where a bachelors can be enough for entry?

Thanks.

 

[erg923]

academic medical centers and VAs are your best bet. However, unless you have some good research experience already, landing a paid RA position might be tough, as thry are often competitive. But some PP practioners do research too and they might need someone to maintain databases or help with a small project. Just take alot of initiative and look around, send emails, etc.

 

[summerallwinter]

Mental health technician at a psychiatric hospital or psych ward of a hospital. Whether you want to work with adults and children, there is no other position you will spend more time with patients.

 

[erg923]

I think the OP was asking about research

 

[capricia]

A paid position will be nearly impossible to find, as those go to either those with more experience/education or work-study undergrads.

 

[summerallwinter]

Well, the only advice I can offer then is to contact the HR departments of various psychiatric hospitals or hospitals containing a psychiatric units and see what type of positions they offer, and if they have any research roles.

I formerly worked at a psychiatric/CD hospital and we had a couple grad students who started off techs and then moved on to various positions in the hospital. Some hospitals (at least in Texas) have research units. I know UTSW conducts research here for a great measure of patients including MDD and schizophrenic, and that would not be a terribly hard place to land a job at as a grad student, as most hospitals tend to have positions geared towards both students and higher level students, at least from my experience.

Best of luck to you whatever you choose to do.