Internships and Programs for Pre-Health Students

An important part of a health professions school application is experience - medically related, community oriented, and research. As a first step, students should be looking for ways to shadow in the health profession they are planning a career in. This is often done by students calling health professionals and requesting the opportunity to shadow. Community service could take the form of club involvement on campus and/or involvement in off campus organizations. There are a variety of ways that you could find Internships. A first place to look is to log into Handshake and see what is available there. There are also some resources listed below.

Vassar 

URSI (Undergraduate Research Summer Institute) – Open to all Vassar students interested in the sciences, Vassar’s Undergraduate Research Summer Institute is an intensive 10-week summer program in which Vassar students explore original hands-on scientific research under faculty direction. The application period is typically in February.

Office of Community Engaged Learning - The Office of Community Engaged Learning (OCEL) has several opportunities for pre-health students, and is open to discussing other options. A Community-Engaged Learning experience is intended to help students learn more about social issues, work alongside community partners, combine their off-campus learning with guided reflection under the mentorship of a faculty sponsor, and participate in critical reflection workshops with the OCEL. There are opportunities in the summer and during the academic year.

Websites listing additional summer programs:

Rochester Institute of Technology – Extensive list of pre-medical opportunities throughout the country

Journal of Young Investigators Summer Internship Listing - Another extensive list of summer opportunities

SACNAS: Advancing Hispanics/ Chicanos and Native Americans in Science - Opportunities for all students, but with an emphasis on helping students from historically under-represented populations in STEM

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and Oak Ridge Associated Universities – Academic fellowships, scholarships, research experiences and internships for undergraduate and graduate students

American Psychological Association - Undergraduate opportunities specifically focused on social and neurosciences

Idealist - Jobs and internships focused on non-profit and social justice organizations

Many summer opportunities have application deadlines before March so undergraduates are advised to carefully browse this list and start applying early! Moreover, undergraduates are encouraged to apply to more than one opportunity because they are highly competitive.

Special Note: If you are considering working abroad, please review these websites please be sure to visit our Overseas Opportunities page