<p>This is my summer before my first year at college and I need some help deciding what would be the most beneficial choice. Last summer I conducted research with a research program and I have been volunteering here and there at the hospital and the red cross throughout the year. Now I want to decide what I should do for my last summer of highschool. I had planned on applying to another research program back in December, but thought that I should stay closer to home. Now I totally regret it and need some help on some last minute possibilities. I was planning on auditing an orgo class at a local university to get a head start for freshman organic, but then realized that the class starts mid-May and it will be too late by the time I graduate. So now my other choices are to either volunteer at the hospital, conduct research with one of the professors at the same local uni (if possible), or shadow a doctor. I have had previous experience with all three and love them all equally. But I really want other pre-med or medical student input on what would be the best option, or what you would do in this case. Oh and I will also probably be joining a local rowing team to train during the summer since I will be a part of the crew in college. But the hours for training are flexible so there shouldn't be any issue there. </p>
<p>Also- Please don't tell me to relax and enjoy my last summer, because these things are what I enjoy.</p>
<p>Join the rowing team, and shadow / volunteer every so often. Sounds pretty reasonable post-graduation (although I just slept and hung out with friends myself).</p>
<p>The one that sounds most feasible would be just volunteer at the hospital and shadow physicians. I would think it be difficult for you to get a prof to let you do research at this moment, since most students have asked PIs during spring if they can do research for summer.</p>
<p>While you don’t want to hear it, I’m still going to advise you to make sure you get in plenty of time with friends and family. The summer after graduation is a unique time and despite all the promises that happen at the end of that summer, and despite the power of Facebook, there will be some people you never see again (I’m still wondering what happened to my friend Lee…no one seems to know). The summers of college come with own their own challenges and it’s difficult to recapture the summer before college milieu…you’ll be amazed at how you change and grow as a person from now til this time next year.</p>
<p>EDIT: OOPS …i seem to have crossed some wires and posted my response to another thread before this one</p>
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<p>relax, take a long vacation, chill out, see your friends</p>
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<p>if these are the things you actually enjoy then you shouldn’t have to be asking anyone for advice …just do whatever it is you would find most enjoyable</p>
<p>Thank you all for your supportive responses! I actually think volunteering/shadowing would be the best option because I already have plans to do research next summer. :)</p>