<p>I know this it is tough to get an internship at the NIH and I'm not thinking about trying to get a position this summer (of course), but rather next summer, but my question is: for those who have been successful at obtaining an internship with the NIH, what can I do to increase my chances? I will be an incoming college freshman and have researched past projects conducted at the NIH, but what is the next step? For those projects I have found interest in, should I contact the principal investigator way before the NIH application comes out? I don't have any contacts or inside resources but I do have pretty good medical experience and being an incoming freshman, I believe I will be doing more community service/volunteering. Hopefully it will help my resume and such. Anyways, any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>one of my friends got in last summer (we are incoming college freshman) and he felt that he only got in because of his connection to his aunt. When he got there he realised that nearly half the kids who got in there was due to one type of familial connection or another...good luck.</p>
<p>You don't know have to contact investigators "way before" the applications go up (which is what, November?). But contacting them is a huge part of getting a position. Remember, the NIH summer internships are not your normal programs. There's no central staff screening applications. Essentially, you're submitting to a database and hoping an investigator is both looking for a student and is looking for one with your interests. Since that's very unlikely, contacting them is very important.</p>
<p>OK, thanks a lot Steeler, that helps a lot. Hopefully giving investigators a notice a few months in advance would be more practical, right? I'm just concerned because I know that most labs only accept a couple of students every summer and there's great competition for these positions among the undergrads and grads. Another question: when I do contact these investigators, how should I present myself? Has anyone done this before? Of course I want to make a good impression, but should I send a "letter (or email) of intent" beforehand and then follow-up with a call or just simply call them up? </p>
<p>Does anyone else have any other helpful advice? Thanks in advance for any help.</p>
<p>Email & send letters to A LOT of people! Be persistent & follow-up. Do Not Give Up either!</p>
<p>NIH is tough unless you know someone. I live right by NIH and almost everyone I know who has an internship there either knew someone or had amazing credentials. All you really can do is email every single PI and hope for the best.</p>
<p>Should I start emailing/sending them letters in September or November?</p>
<p>The application comes out some time around October or November. I'm not sure because I only really completed it the day before it was due (and I wonder why I never got an NIH internship these past two years). After you fill out the applicaiton I would start emailing PIs like none other. Try to do a few a day. Read about the work they are doing to see if you are interested and to give you something to write about in the email. Talk to the faculty and upper classmen at your school and see if they know any people working at NIH. Network network network.</p>