NIH Summer Internship 2016

Hello all,

So I recently completed my application to the NIH SIP and started emailing PIs like crazy. I must have emailed at least 150 PIs by now, but pretty much all the responses have been “Thank you for your interest, but…full/not taking high school students”. Are there really no spots or are they just trying to reject me nicely? Any suggestions for finding a position? Like I said before, I’ve emailed so many people but I’m having no luck. By now I thought I’d have found several acceptances. I’ve tailored my emails to each professor and have pretty strong stats for a high schooler but still no acceptances. I’d really appreciate your thoughts.

UPDATE: A PI contacted me today asking to meet me! It looks like all this emailing finally paid off!

Did you have any previous research experience? I’m thinking about applying for next year but I don’t know if that will really hurt me…