Undergraduate pre-meds often search for research opportunities to strengthen their medical school applications. Research is a great learning opportunity as well as an opportunity to network with professors and get some letters of recommendation. A summer research program at your particular medical school of interest is even better, providing a chance to connect with the med school faculty and really make an impression.
For students interested in applying for MD/PhD programs, research experience is critical. Below are some options to gain summer pre-med research experience.
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50 Summer Research Programs for Pre-Meds
If a student is interested in summer research, pre-med advisors usually have lots of information on local opportunities. But students do not have to limit themselves to programs at their own university. Here are national opportunities open to students from any American university:
Final Thoughts
Research is not for every pre-med student and is not required for a medical school application. Generally, clinical experience is far more important to medical school admissions boards. But for pre-meds interested in MD/PhD programs, research experience is essential. Whether students need the research experience or not, pre-med summer research programs are a valuable opportunity to gain new skills, obtain authorship on scientific publications, and network with professors (who are often more than willing to provide letters of recommendation).
Students should research a variety of departments and faculty to find research areas that fit their personal interests. Schools of medicine, public health, biomedical sciences, and even engineering can be great places to start. If a student has a particular medical school of interest, they should start their search there. This is an excellent way for that particular school to get to know you before you apply.
