<p>My D goes to Cornell (just completed freshman year, Bio major) and she is looking for some opportunity to volunteer/intern(unpaid/paid) doing research or working in a lab related to healthcare/medicine. I was told that Cornell has a strong alumni network, but not sure how effective that really is for her to contact them- she has contacted them but has got no response-quite possible that they are busy people, so no issues. If any parents can provide some advice on how to approach finding such opportunities, or have some leads, we will be very thankful.</p>
<p>Many organizations prefer sophomores and juniors for internships as they have more course behind them and perhaps some work experience.</p>
<p>It is also very, very late in the cycle for landing an internship. Organizations start looking in the fall and then through the spring but the oppportunities drop as you get closer to the summer.</p>
<p>I do know freshman that have picked up internships though. I also have a friend with a son at Cornell that picked up a research internship in bio for this summer with a professor at Cornell. He started looking at the beginning of May. This student is not even majoring I’m a bio-area but it looks like he was hired for his math skills. This sort of thing is a lot easier to do when you are on campus.</p>
<p>I would go the usual route of looking at online job sites and the career canter at her school for now. </p>
<p>You might consider having your kid browse the walls outside professor’s offices. Professors often post internship brochures. But like the golden Eagle stated, application should be made early. I think in many cases the internship programs that give hard cash close by March, so fall is when things are best initiated.</p>
<p>For late arrivees there is another option that is more time consuming which involves calling directly into a facility and talking to the director and stating one’s interests. Our place takes a few like this every now and then.</p>