is it better to intern at an university lab or a real biotech company?

<p>which would teach more about research in the science field and would be more fulfilling for a high school student?</p>

<p>I don’t think it’s which one is better, but it’s about the experience. I don’t think it matters which one you choose, it’s about getting exposed to a research environment and whether a research career is something for you.</p>

<p>I don’t think it matters, though I wouldn’t be surprised if schools favored traditional university research. However, I think interning at a real biotech company will be more rewarding (in general) than interning in a traditional research position.</p>

<p>I don’t think schools would favor either type of research. Why would they?</p>

<p>Anyway, what’s really going to matter is the quality of mentoring, not whether it is a university or biotech company. And frankly, as a high school student, you aren’t in a position to be picky about lab positions.</p>

<p>FWIW I have done lab work at a university and worked at a biotech company. Both were great learning experiences, neither is/was better than the other. If you have the choice, pick whichever more closely aligns with your research experience.</p>

<p>How do you get an internship at a biotech company as a high school student? Don’t you have to have relevant experience to get an internship like that?</p>

<p>I did have relevant experience. Summer after sophomore year I applied for a research program and did that over the summer. When I returned, I applied for a position at the biotech company. I do mostly tech stuff at the biotech company, which can be trained fairly quickly. Of course it’s a bit lucky to find biotech positions. I had higher quality of mentoring during the two summers I spent doing research (did another after junior year), but that speaks more about the individual mentors than their place of employment.</p>

<p>Btw, upthread I meant to say “closely aligns with your research interests” not experience. lulz.</p>