<p>Hey guys so recently i've been thinking what i want to do in the summer of '10.
These are my options:
NIH SIP:
Think this would be really interested to do, but I would have to live on my own... not sure if my parents are cool with that one yet haha. </p>
<p>Jeff Lab:
Sounds pretty interesting, I think it could be cool</p>
<p>Research at local college:
the college is macalester college in mn. I've been volunteering there since august '09, and over the summer i could start researching by myself, which would be pretty cool. plus its nearby so i wouldn't have to go fly off somewhere. </p>
<p>I'm really considering all of these programs, but at some point or another im going to have to decide. so i have a couple questions for you guys:</p>
<p>which would be the most prestigious?
which would look the best on my application?
which one would you do and why?</p>
<p>if you could answer one, two or maybe even all three of these questions it would be great! thanks.</p>
<p>I had the opportunity to do the NIH SIP internship last summer, and it truly was the most memorable experience ever. I would recommend it anyday. </p>
<p>Ok, so for prestige, I know that NIH is definitely extremely prestigious. It looks really good on college apps because it’s generally pretty difficult to get in, just because you are applying alongside college students, who normally have more experience. Like when I was working, I had 2 other high school students, one a rising freshmen going to Caltech, and since I was a sophomore, I was pretty much the youngest there. But, if you get in to NIH, I would do that, because it gives you a lot of opportunities within the research you do at the institute, but also after the internship, with ISEF, patents, publications etc. Also, it looks good not only on college apps now but later, when you are applying to internships as an undergrad, it looks great. </p>
<p>Not really sure about the other ones, but lab internships generally look good on apps. </p>
<p>yup, any other questions feel free to ask :)</p>
<p>^
How did you get an internship at NIH? We know a lady who works at NIH and she told as that there’s a 1% chance of high schoolers obtaining an internship at NIH mainly because most people prefer college students when it comes to a paid internship. She stressed this fact to the extent where she said that only high schoolers with connections could make it into NIH; any high school student who applies normally doesn’t even have a chance. </p>
<p>Maybe she was exaggerating but it seriously made me reconsider applying for NIH SIP this year. </p>
<p>But to the OP yes, NIH is a prestigious program that will look good on college apps. I don’t know much about Jeff Lab but researching at your local college will also look good on apps. Especially if you are able to write and publish your own paper.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ve heard that statistic before… Idk how accurate it is but I know it’s pretty difficult to get into. I didn’t have any connections actually, so I was just a regular applicant. You have to start contacting mentors and if they’re interested in you, they ask you to join them.</p>
<p>norcal, where did you stay, did you have family near there? I was considering applying (i really wanted to), but I don’t know how to handle the living situation.</p>
<p>My science research teacher told me that 20% of NIH applicants get in. I don’t know how many of them are high schoolers though. A relative of mine got in, and she didn’t have any connections.</p>
<p>@nith
I stayed with one of my friends who was doing the same internship. I was lucky. The whole living situation was a big hassle because I was 16 at the time, and in Maryland, they don’t allow anyone under 17 to stay by themselves. I think there’s an apartment complex right across from the institute, but I’m not sure if they take people in high school. I stayed in an apartment about 3 miles away and my friend and I drove there.</p>
<p>oh, alright. thanks for the answer.
I don’t think I should bother applying then. I’ll be 17, but I doubt my parents will let me stay alone. The thing is, one of their centers is closer to our house, but it says there are “limited spots” available…
maybe I should just apply there, and see what happens.</p>
<p>uh oh… yeah i live in minnesota and i was planning on flying to maryland and staying on campus. I’ll be 17 in august… but that doesn’t help.
what do you think i should do guys?</p>