Research and Summer Opportunities
What are you doing this summer?
What interests you most?
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Research
Study Abroad
Taking Classes
Nothing (Not recommended)
Research
I don’t think I want to do research,
what’s the point of it?
Here are some potential benefits:
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Exposure to the scientific process
Mentors
Longer term projects during the school year
Networking
$$ Stipends $$
so
But what if I HATE pipetting?
• Not every research project has to involve running gels (bench
research).
Here are some other types:
 Epidemiology
 Clinical research
 Health policy
 Anthropology
 Health disparities
 Global health
 Bioinformatics
• Not sure what you’re interested in?
 Glance through a prominent medical journal to see the vast array
of interests and “kinds” of research represented
(i.e. New England Journal of Medicine)
How to find Research Opportunities
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Professors
College Resources
Internet (Google)
Network, Network, Network
Be Proactive!
Helpful Websites
Co-op/Internship Opportunities for Pre-Medical Studies
-Dozens of programs at different universities across the country
o http://people.rit.edu./gtsbi/Symp/premed/htm
Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research Training (MHIRT)
Program
-Funded research in other countries: Mexico, Uganda, Ghana, Australia, Peru,
Spain and South Africa
o http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov/our_programs/mhirt.asp
Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program
-Funded summer research at Cornell University
o http://www.med.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra.sum_res.html
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates
-Funded research opportunities across the country
o http://www.med.cornell.edu/education/programs/tra_sum_res.html
More resources…
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates
o http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.cfm?unitid=5047
National Institutes of Health
o http://www.training.nih.gov/student/index.asp\
National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities
o http://www.ncmhd.nih.gov
UNCF Merck Science Initiative
o http://umsi.uncf.org/
AAMC, Tomorrow’s Doctors, Enrichment Programs on the Web
o http://www.aamc.org/members/great/summerlinks.htm
A few more websites…
AAMC Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (11 sites)
o http://www.smdep.org/
Summer Programs Web Database
o http://services.aamc.org/summerprograms/getprogs.cfm
Health Management and Policy Summer Enrichment Program
o http://www.sph.umich.edu/sep/
Summer Research with NIDA
o http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/SPOSummer.pdf
Health Career Connection
o http://www.healthcareers.org/main/index.htm
Service Organizational or Church – sponsored mission trips
A few last suggestions about research…
• Investigate potential summer programs but…
• Plan ahead in the fall semester to explore possibilities
for your summer!
• Be productive and apply to a variety of programs in
which you might like to participate
Study Abroad
Why study abroad?
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Clinical Exposure
Development of Language Skills
Enhancement of Medical School Application
It’s fun!
But…it’s so expensive!
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Use all of your resources!
Apply for grants/ funding from your university
Fundraise in your community
Apply for scholarships
Start looking early!
Helpful Websites
Study Abroad, Pre-Med
o http://www.studyabroad.com/programs/pre-med/default.aspx
Health and Pre-Med Programs Abroad
o http://www.middlebury.edu/international/sa/programs/health
Global Links Learning Abroad
o http://www.globalinksabroad.org/search/StudySpecializationID9___/
Taking Classes
• Why study over the summer?
• Which ones to consider?
• Where to enroll?
Why study? Summer is for relaxing
• Good time for difficult classes
• Focus on one course or two
• Shorter class length
• Potential to fit in one year of material in a few months
• Get through undesirable classes quickly
• Take interesting classes that don’t fit into your regular
schedule
• Boost your GPA
• Potential to fit up to four course (of which one or two might
be difficult) in one summer, can go far towards improving
your GPA
The Flip Side
• Know Yourself!
• Summer is best suited for people who can focus, because
potentially you can get behind quickly
• Less time to absorb difficult information, so if you need
down time to let it sink in, it may be tough over the
summer
• Taking fewer classes means higher expectations. Doing
poorly with one or two courses doesn’t look good even if
they’re difficult.
Which classes you might consider…
Consider…
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Organic Chemistry or
Biochemistry or
Physics or
Advanced Courses or
Whatever is most difficult for you
Where to enroll?
• Your current undergraduate college because
• Familiar
• No transfer of credit concerns
OR
• Your in-state institution (if you don’t already attend),
because potentially
• Less $$$$$
• Tuition
• Living expenses
• Take-home message: Do well no matter where you choose
to go
In Conclusion:
• Know Yourself!
• Consider all aspects of the class
• Difficulty
• Professor
• “Reputation”—if it’s been terrible for others over the
summer maybe skip it; if it’s been much better take it!
• Location – enroll at the best place for YOU
• Study hard and do well!
Questions?
Contact us.
2011 Presenters:
Josiah Petersen – josiahp@mail.med.upenn.edu
Danielle Brewington - dbrew@mail.med.upenn.edu
Nicole Oakman – noakman@mail.med.upenn.edu