<p>Does anyone know what to do as a college freshman for winter and summer vacation? What did you do for your breaks as a premed freshman? Are there any specific premed summer programs or do you need to volunteer at a hospital? Would it look okay if I volunteered abroad? How long do I need to stay abroad for it to be significant?</p>
<p>Do what YOU want to do. There is no guideline for anything. Welcome to life, find something you want to do yourself.</p>
<p>Wow, life is really easy then.</p>
<p>Except that solid premeds will want to do really cool things...</p>
<p>I advise you to get some clinical experience, probably for 6 months+. While your focus doesn't have to be on clinical volunteering, you should definitely commit to something for 1 year+. For example, my biggest activity is a tutoring program for elementary school kids in which we teach them science through fun experiments; I have done this for a year already and am co-president this year.</p>
<p>I realize I'm talking about long-term type things... I didn't do anything my last winter break, but over the summer I volunteered at a children's science museum and was the head woodwind instructor at my former high school's marching band. One summer I volunteered at a hospital, but it was very boring...</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice =]. Anyone else want to tell me what they did over the breaks?</p>
<p>This summer I worked part time at a very well known medical school/research campus in their DMICE department (Med. Informatics)...very interesting experience in evidence-based medicine that most students wouldn't even think about until they take a course in med school.</p>