<p>Hi there,
I realize it's a bit late for me to be asking to apply to any form of summer program, considering most due dates have long since passed, but I was wondering if anyone is aware of any programs in or around Massachusetts that involve health, science, chemistry, or anything of the sort? I'm applying to an "internship" or "apprenticeship", whatever, at Harvard School of Public Health, but only 7 students are accepted, so I don't want to just assume I'll be accepted. The due date is April 10, and I have two science teachers writing me recommendations. Therefore, I was hoping I could apply to a few more just to ensure that I'm not going to end up doing nothing productive or worthwhile this summer. If anyone has any suggestions or programs whose due dates are around April 10th, that'd be great. Thanks!</p>
<p>[The</a> Forsyth Institute: Scientific Scholars Program](<a href=“http://www.forsyth.org/community/eossp.html]The”>http://www.forsyth.org/community/eossp.html) - April 10 deadline. Eight-week commuter-only program, you get paid if you’re a Boston Public School student, although other students may apply.</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College Summer Science and Engineering Program for High School Girls](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/summerprograms/ssep/index.php]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/summerprograms/ssep/index.php) - May 1 deadline.</p>
<p>[Roxbury</a> Latin Advanced Biotechnology Institute (ABI)](<a href=“http://www.biotech-institute.org/index.html]Roxbury”>http://www.biotech-institute.org/index.html) - I would probably call/email to see if they’re still accepting apps. Web site says “Rolling admission will admit a maximum of 20 students per session starting in early April”</p>
<p>A lot of other programs had deadlines in March, unfortunately. On the bright side, if you can commute to Boston via car/commuter rail, you might be able to arrange an informal internship with a professor conducting research at one of our top-notch hospitals or universities. Contact professors or departments directly and ask if they have any unpaid volunteer/intern opportunities for HS students. Keep it short, include your resume, and mention that you can send recommendations from science teachers. Here’s some links to college faculty pages and research centers/institutes:</p>
<p>Boston College: [Research</a> - Biology Department](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/biology/research.html]Research”>http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/biology/research.html) ; [Chemistry</a> Department Faculty & Research](<a href=“http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/chemistry/faculty/faculty1.html]Chemistry”>http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/chemistry/faculty/faculty1.html)</p>
<p>Boston University - [Sargent</a> College Research Centers](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/sargent/centers/research/]Sargent”>http://www.bu.edu/sargent/centers/research/)</p>
<p>BU Med Center: [Research</a> - Boston University Medical Campus](<a href=“http://www.bumc.bu.edu/ResearchIndex.html#CentersAndInstitutes]Research”>http://www.bumc.bu.edu/ResearchIndex.html#CentersAndInstitutes)</p>
<p>Brandeis (Waltham): [Brandeis</a> University Biochemistry Faculty List](<a href=“http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty01/fac.biochem.html]Brandeis”>http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty01/fac.biochem.html) ; [Heath:</a> Science, Society and Policy Faculty List](<a href=“http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/hssp/faculty.html]Heath:”>http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/hssp/faculty.html)</p>
<p>Northeastern: [Biology</a> & Biotechnology Research](<a href=“http://www.research.neu.edu/centers_institutes/biology/]Biology”>http://www.research.neu.edu/centers_institutes/biology/) ; [url=<a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/research/centers.html]Bouv”>http://www.northeastern.edu/bouve/research/centers.html]Bouv</a></p>
<p>Thanks so much for the program list! I just had a question about emailing professors/departements. Is it customary for high school students to do this? I’d love to do this, but I’m just not quite sure how to go about it. Is it really as simple as asking if they have any openings for high schools students and that’s it? If they do, would it be rude to turn it down (in the case that I’m accepted at some other program)? I’m assuming I would be doing some little jobs and errands here and there, so I don’t know if I should take this route or opt for something that would allow for a bit more education. Do you think it’s possible to do these sorts of internships not just during the summer, but during the course of the school year as well? Thanks, by the way; this helps a lot!</p>
<p>OK, arranging an independent internship is probably not quite as easy as I made it sound. First, it would be kind of unprofessional to back out of an internship to attend another summer program, so I would be sure you can make a full-time commitment before you contact anyone (and if you can continue to work in the lab part-time during the school year, that’s a plus). You probably need to be a rising junior or senior who’s already taken high-level (AP or equivalent) science courses and completed some previous research projects. Instead of just emailing a bunch of professors asking if they have openings, try to focus your search on professors doing research on specific topics you find interesting. You should read up on their past and current projects, usually available on the school’s web sites (or just google their names, a lot of the papers and findings are published online). It helps if you can show documented experience in that field through previous projects, and you’ll probably have to go in for an interview before you’re accepted as an intern.</p>
<p>If you’re younger or don’t have much research experience, you might want to try a formal summer program first, or maybe enroll in a college-level science course at Harvard’s Secondary School Program or another local university. But for the right student, an independent internship under a professor can be a more rewarding experience than even the most prestigious formal summer program.</p>
<p>Yeah, I was thinking of doing a program this summer (I’m a current sophomore) as a precursor to trying to become an intern first. I’m applying to this: [RAP</a> Program - Employment - HSPH Human Resources - Harvard School of Public Health](<a href=“http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/administrative-offices/human-resources/employment/rap-program/index.html]RAP”>http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/administrative-offices/human-resources/employment/rap-program/index.html)</p>
<p>Do you think that’s relatively “prestigious” enough? I could apply to Harvard’s Summer Program if this RAP program isn’t as good. It’s obviously a bit too late to apply to any really prestigious programs, so I’m taking what I can get at this point.</p>
<p>That looks like an amazing program, actually. Definitely better than an expensive summer course. It’s been going for 25 years, and they keep it small and limited to Boston students (which is why it’s probably not as well-known as some of the other research programs that attract students from around the country, but that doesn’t make it any less “prestigious”). I like the emphasis on mentoring, and it’s the perfect experience to have on your resume if you’re trying to arrange an internship after junior year – you might even be able to set something up with one of the HSPH researchers to continue through the school year or next summer.</p>
<p>Or get a summer job and attend mit esp programs in the evening.</p>