Why do a summer program or internship?

    A summer program in research or some other health-related field is a wonderful opportunity for you to gain a better understanding of a certain field, or to explore what you might see as some career options.

What options are out there?

    Whatever options you want to create for yourself. There are a large number of established research internships for undergraduate students. There are also a handful of more medically-oriented programs for undergrads, but I want to emphasize that tey are few and far between. There are also programs for those interested in health policy, medical ethics, etc. However, if you are very interested and dedicated, you can break out on your own and create possibilities where none previously existed. This route will require a greater amount of initiative on your part, however.

What do i do?

    I would recommend that you begin with the following pages. Use the websites as a starting point. You should find some programs that look interseting, hopefully even some that are exactly what you have wanted. Download applications, request applications, call for more information. Also, use this as a spring-board for your reasearch. Find other websites, other programs. Talk to people and ask lots of questions.

What is the key?

    START NOW!!! And be assertive. I don't mean that you should be rude, or inconsiderate, but simply that you should be persistant. Don't get discouraged. Take the time now to make sure you are set up for the summer. Oh, and in case I forgot to say it earlier...START NOW!!! TODAY!!!

Tips on Looking for Internships:

    Be creative. I have tried to look for national programs and Vanderbilt programs., but if you are looking for something in your area, you will have a better idea of where to start. Try educational institutions, universities, large companies in your area. It all depends on your individual location and your goals and interests.

• Talk to your advisor for your major, or go to the office for your department here at Vanderbilt. There more people you talk to, the more information you will get.
• START NOW!!!
• Use the internet and a phone book.
• Think about your goals, interests, and skills. How do they fit together into a summer project?

Tips on Creating Something New:

    Talk to professors you are interested in working with. Often, professors have grant money that they can use to fund a summer project in their lab. Write letters, make phone calls, and send e-mails to people you might be interested in working with. Remember, a phone call will get the most attention, but e-mail is a fast way to get in touch with a large number of people. If you are going to use e-mail, make sure that you send an individual e-mail to each person, addressing him/her by name, even though the body may be the same for everyone. However, the more personalized it is, the more likely it is to get their attention. In an e-mail/letter/phone call, it is important to discuss your goals, your interests, and your qualifications.

    If you are interested in, for example, shadowing a doctor, start with your own and your family's doctors. Talk to friends and parents and parents' friends and friends' parents. Use your contacts to get the names of doctors who might be willing to have you shadow or work for them. Make phone calls - follow them up, if necessary. Be persistent. Also, be clear from the start what you are interested in. If you don't want to file papers or clean bedpans, be clear about it. If you want patient contact, be clear about it. It may limit your options, but it will also keep you from being unhappy in your position. If a doctor says no, ask for recommendations of other doctors who might be willing to help you out. In a position like this, pay is a luxury, but you might be albe to work it out. That will take persistence, But keep trying!

    There may be some experiences for which you will have to incur some expenses. As is the case for everything, that will requare an evaluation on your part. However, if you find that it will be a very valuable experience, in which you learn a great deal, the cost may be worth it.

Don't Limit Yourself:

    Remember, you don't want to get stuck with nothing. It is best to always be pursuing multiple possibilities. START NOW!!! Commit a certain amout of time each day to your summer internship search. It will pay off later.

What's entailed in applying?

  Typically, there's an application to fill out along with 1 to 3 letters of reference and a statement. A transcript is almost always required. I've never heard of a program requiring an interview. The deadlines for most of them span from about mid January to mid March.

How do I secure letters of reference?

  Ask your science professors or faculty advisor. If you're not a science major, you should try to get one from a science professor you had recently. You'll be surprised how willing most professors are to give good letters of support - it reflects well upon the institution when their undergraduates are well represented at various summer research programs. If you've already worked in a lab, then secure one from your lab mentor.

What are the typical requrements to be accepted?

  As far as academic requirements, you will be competitive with a GPA of about 3.0. After my freshman year, I applied to about 15 programs and was accepted to 5 of them. I ended up going to one out of state. They also vary as to the kinds of students they prefer. For instance, some want juniors and seniors, some want sophomores and freshmen, and some are aimed towards minorities. I spent a lot of time on the personal statement which typically asks you to write about your past lab experiences, how you will benefit from such a program, your career goals, etc.

How much do they pay? Is travel covered? Meals? Housing?

  Typically, the stipends range from about $2000 to $4000 with the most common amount being about $2500. Travel expenses as well as housing are usually covered. Few programs cover meals.

What is the experience like? How long does it last?

Usually, you work in a lab on your own project, depending on how experienced you are. At my first summer program, I was farily inexperienced - I couldn't pipette and speak at the same time; I'd lose track or stutter! So, accordingly, my project was guided by a research technician employed by the lab. Often, there are optional lectures and most programs end with either a poster or an oral presentation of the work you did. Most programs are 10 weeks but they range from 8 to 10 weeks and span from early June to early or mid August.

Any pointers?

  Yes, four:

• Ask for letters of reference now!
• Type the applications
• Apply to several programs, don't limit yourself
• Get your transcript requests in early - they take a week or two

Go to the top

:: Home :: Members: Members' Area - Caduceus - Volunteering - Minutes ::
:: Board: Meet the Board - Contact Us - Office Hours ::
:: Summer: At Vanderbilt - For Minorities - Internships - Funding - Q & A - Other ::