I’ve noticed that some high schoolers have been able to research/co-author/assist in research at labs. I’m not a genius or even close, but I’m not too dumb either. I’m not sure if that qualifies me, but I sure hope so. How were you able to do this? Who did you reach out to? Thanks.
EDIT:
So far, I’ve made a list of doctors in the field I’m interested in at my local universities. It’s a very long list, thirty or forty individuals. I gathered their emails and phone numbers, too. I’d like to call them in March-ish and say:
“Hi, my name is Apple Juice 007, and I’m interested in obstetrics and gynecology. I am in ninth grade at Choate Rosemary Hall. I was wondering if your lab is in any need of assistance this summer. I would love to help out and gain understanding of the field. Thank you and have a great day.”
I think that’s alright. I hope it is. Any thoughts? I mean, there are kids doing actual research out there and I would love to do that, but I don’t think I’m smart enough yet. I’d like to know how they did it, though. Was their research piggybacked off a science fair project, or after years of work with a lab? Anyways, thanks in advance.
I’m a parent and relatively new to this, so I’d be interested to hear what other parents/students say as well. But IMO, if I think a lot of places will be hesitant to have someone who is under the age of 16. I would think about various college summer programs that would give you some actual experience in a lab (U Chicago has one), so you would be more desirable candidate for the following year. My D is a rising senior and has a good internship this summer, which she got through her science teacher, who used to teach at the college level. I also know that some teaching hospitals allow HS students to shadow, and often have a specific program in place for that so it’s perfectly acceptable to send out the kind of email you’re talking about. Good luck!
The way my kid did this was by participating in a science fair and catching the eye of a volunteer mentor/judge who is a scientist.
I think MDs don’t take on those types of assistants. Too much liability. Profs of biology at colleges near your house might take you on for free. I’d communicate in the February time for the next summer. NIH has a program for HS students, too, but it is pretty competitive.
It also helps if you have some background knowledge in these fields. You should spend a month or two doing research about new developments in these fields. Also, I know that this might be hijacking the forum, but I just wanted to ask if driving one hour every two weeks to a research university is too far?
Thanks, everybody. I actually don’t turn 16 until right before the start of my junior year, so I’ll have to wait a bit. I think that I’ll still probably email them, just in case. And @Mahindra, that isn’t too far at all. I lived an hour away from my school this year. It was 2 hours in the car, daily.
@applejuice007 thx.