<p>I don't think I will have an internship for this summer (im a rising soph.) and was wondering if this will hurt me greatly. I am definetly going to get one for next summer. I am currently doing scientific research for a professor at my college once a week (for the whole day). Would I be screwed if I dont have an internship for this summer when I apply to med school or would volunteering for this summer at my local hospital be sufficient (in addition to the research I am doing)?</p>
<p>BTW: Is it possible to still get an internship in a medicine-related field? How would I search for one? Monstertrak? Thank you for your advice/suggestions!</p>
<p>If you are already out of school, you should be doing way more research than just 8 hours/week.</p>
<p>Well right now, that's all I have to work with, thats the schedule they gave me. What would you suggest?</p>
<p>I am pretty sure I can get a spot at a hospital, hopefully shadowing a physician or something, in addition to doing the research on the side. Since all of the deadlines for internships passed, I will have to get one next year. What do you think?</p>
<p>Ask for more hours. You should express how interested you are in the work you're doing, and ask if you can come in more often. In my experience, 8 hours/week is useless for accomplishing much.</p>
<p>OK, but besides the research thing, is there any other options for me? Should I go the hospital route?</p>
<p>The thing about the research is, is that it is not exactly related to medicine and disease, its about the illuminessence of nanoparticles in Cadmium and Sulfur compounds. I am not sure just how mcuh this will help in my application to med school, so putting in more hours may not be the BEST idea..</p>
<p>Basically, what I need to know, is what is the MOST beneficial thing for me to do right now given my situation (eg. rising sophomore, doing some research, need more opportunities, missed deadlines for the major internships, possible opportunity for hospital work, or put more hours into research)</p>
<p>It's not what you research but how you research that is applicable to medicine.</p>
<p>Thanks. But I want to do something else in addition to the research. Would hospital work be the best option for my particular situation? Do they ask for the number of hours you researched or what you 'accomplished' on the application for med school>?</p>
<p>Yes and yes. </p>
<p>Most "internships" that premeds get are research internships. I don't know what an internship at a hospital would entail since you can learn a lot just by shadowing and volunteering at a hospital.</p>
<p>If you are a biochem major, why are you doing research on the luminessence of nanoparticles?</p>
<p>I got offered to help and I accepted, it was the only thing I had at the time. Why? Should I be doing something else?</p>
<p>And I wasn't asking for an internship at a hospital, I was asking if shadowing/volunteering would be good in addition to research</p>
<p>BTW, when you said, you are "a rising sophomore", what does that exactly mean? Comments like that always knock me out.</p>
<p>It means he's going to be a sophomore in the fall. :|</p>
<p>Would like to see more input on this topic, as I'm in a similar situation. (I was planning to see if I can start research in the fall but was wondering what I should do for the summer meanwhile.)</p>
<p>The research topic does not matter as much as the quality of work you do. Working hard in a lab can evidence initiative, critical thinking, and the stamina to grind away -- all important qualities in a potential med student or doctor.</p>
<p>Many apparently useless or theoretical research areas have led to fruitful applications in engineering and medicine (e.g, group theory provided the foundation for MRI).</p>
<p>Well looks like I may have another opportunity to work on a second research project on phytohormone genetics with a professor at my college. Should I take this up in addition to my other project?</p>