Summer break is more than just a time to relax. It's a golden opportunity for pre-med students to gain invaluable experience and strengthen their medical school applications. By immersing yourself in research, clinical settings, and volunteer work, you can set yourself apart from the competition and pave the way for a successful future in medicine.
2025 TOP SUMMER PRE-MED PROGRAMS:
Click for listing of programs
RESEARCH
Albert Einstein Summer Undergraduate Research Program: https://einsteinmed.edu/education/phd/the-summer-undergrad-research-program.aspx
Boston Children’s Hospital Summer Student Research (rising sophomore, junior, senior): https://dme.childrenshospital.org/undergraduate-medical-education/newborn-medicine-summer-student-research-program/
Brigham and Williams Summer Student Research in Pediatrics (undergraduate or medical student): https://www.brighamandwomens.org/pediatrics/research/summer-student-research
Carle Illinois College of Medicine Summer Research Program: https://medicine.illinois.edu/diversity/pathway-programs-and-partnerships/reach-program
Case Western School of Medicine Undergraduate Research Programs (various opportunities) https://case.edu/medicine/education/undergraduate-education/undergraduate-summer-research
Drexel University College of Medicine: https://drexel.edu/medicine/research/student-research/summer-undergraduate-research-fellowship/
Emory Undergraduate Research Fellowship: https://college.emory.edu/undergraduate-research/summer/index.html
Hofstra North Shore/LIJ School of Medicine (all grades): https://feinstein.northwell.edu/education/summer-student-intern-program
John’s Hopkins School of Medicine Summer Internships (various programs): https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/pathway/sip#BSI
Keck Institute Summer Undergraduate Research (all undergrads): https://www.kgi.edu/academics/summer-programs/summer-undergraduate-research-experience/
Mass General Women in Sports Medicine Summer Internship (one month long): https://www.massgeneral.org/orthopaedics/education-and-training/internships/womens-sports-medicine-internship-program
Mayo Summer Undergraduate Research (sophomore and juniors only): https://college.mayo.edu/academics/biomedical-research-training/summer-undergraduate-research-fellowship-surf/
MD Anderson Summer Research CATALYST Program: https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/research-training/early-career-pathway-programs/summer-research-programs.html
Medical College of Wisconsin Summer Undergrad Research (all undergrads and graduates): https://cancer.mcw.edu/trainees/undergraduate-students-and-postbaccalaureates
Medical University of South Carolina (all undergrads, priority juniors and seniors): https://gradstudies.musc.edu/programs/summer-program/undergraduate
Memorial Sloane Kettering Mechanic Biology Summer Research: https://www.mskcc.org/education-training/summer-scientific-undergraduate-programs/mechanistic-biology-summer-program
National Cancer Institute Summer Internship Program:https://www.cancer.gov/grants-training/training/at-nci/sip
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Summer Internship: https://www.training.nih.gov/research-training/pb/sip/
Northwestern Lurie Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Research (all undergrad grades): https://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/research/education-training/summer-research/cure.html
Northwestern Summer Research Opportunity (sophomores or juniors): https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/diversity/diversity-recruitment/summer-research-opportunity-program/
NYC Blood Center (all undergrads) :https://www.nybce.org/our-research/join-us/summer-internship-for-undergraduates/
NYU Grossman Summer Undergrad Research (sophomores or juniors) https://med.nyu.edu/research/vilcek-institute-graduate-biomedical-sciences/summer-undergraduate-research-program
OSU Department of Molecular Genetics: https://molgen.osu.edu/research-experience-undergraduates
Penn State College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (rising juniors or above): https://med.psu.edu/surip
Stanford Undergraduate Summer Programs (all undergrads): https://graduate.ucsf.edu/srtp#programs
St Jude Pediatric Oncology Summer Research Program: https://www.stjude.org/education-training/predoctoral-training/internships/pediatric-oncology-education-poe-program.html
Thomas Jefferson University Summer Undergraduate Research (juniors or seniors): https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/life-sciences/other-opportunities/summer-program.html
UCLA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (rising juniors or above): https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/diversity/summer-programs-for-undergraduate-research-spur/
UCSF Summer Research Training Programs (Sophomores and Above) https://graduate.ucsf.edu/srtp#programs
UMass Summer Undergraduate Research Program (all undergrads): https://www.umassmed.edu/gsbs/outreach-programs/summer-undergraduate-research-program/
University of Alabama Biomedical Sciences Undergrad Research (sophomore or juniors): https://www.uab.edu/medicine/sibs/
University of Chicago Summer Research Programs (rising juniors or seniors): https://pritzker.uchicago.edu/resources/summer-pathway-programs
University of Cincinnati Summer Undergrad Research Programs (rising juniors or seniors): https://med.uc.edu/education/education-resources/mcat-review-course/summerresearch/home
University of Colorado Gate Research Fellowship: https://gates.cuanschutz.edu/education-and-training/gates-summer-internship-program
University of Kansas Research Experience (all students): https://mb-reu.ku.edu/
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Summer Programs: https://www.umassmed.edu/gsbs/outreach-programs
University of Michigan Cancer Research Summer Internship (rising junior or senior): https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/cancer-biology/cancer-research-summer-internship-program
University of Minnesota Summer Research Programs: https://ugresearch.umn.edu/opportunities/summer
University of Mississippi Summer Undergraduate Research (all undergrads): https://www.umc.edu/graduateschool/SURE/SURE_Application_Process.html
University of Missouri Summer Research: https://undergradresearch.missouri.edu/summer/
University of Oklahoma Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (all undergrads): https://graduate.ouhsc.edu/Faculty-Research/SURP#972485880-research
University of Pittsburgh Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (rising juniors or seniors) https://somgrad.pitt.edu/prospective-students/summer-undergraduate-research-program-surp
University of Rochester Medical School Summer Training (rising seniors or graduates): https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/pediatrics/research/summer-training-program.aspx
University of Texas MD Anderson Summer Cancer Research Program (rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors) https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/research-training/early-career-pathway-programs/summer-research-programs/programs/summer-program-in-cancer-research.html
University of Virginia Summer Research Internship Program (rising juniors and seniors): https://med.virginia.edu/summer-research-internship-program/
University of Wisconsin Cellular and Molecular Biology of Stress Summer Research Program (all undergrads): https://wiscience.wisc.edu/research/srp/
UPenn Undergraduate Clinical Scholarship (open to all): https://www.ucspinfo.org/about.html
Wake Forest School of Medicine Center for Precision Medicine Summer Program (rising juniors or seniors): https://www.wfcenterforprecisionmedicine.org/
WashU ASPIRE(rising sophomore, juniors or seniors): https://crtc.wustl.edu/programs/undergraduate/aspire/
WashU Division of Biology (rising sophomore and above): https://dbbs.wustl.edu/admissions/summer-undergraduate-research-programs/?_ga=2.154475773.439850953.1699995078-1502120477.1699544370
WashU Institute for Public Health (rising sophomores and above): https://publichealth.wustl.edu/programs/summer/
WashU Siteman Cancer (all undergrads and graduates considered): https://siteman.wustl.edu/research/training/opportunities/graduate/programs/summer/?_ga=2.150474995.439850953.1699995078-1502120477.1699544370
Wayne State Summer Undergraduate Research Program (rising juniors or seniors):https://www.genetics.wayne.edu/education/summer-undergraduate-research-program-closer-look
Weill Cornell Medical College Travelers Summer Research Program: https://medicaleducation.weill.cornell.edu/medical-education/premedical-programs/travelers-summer-research-fellowship-program
INTERNSHIPS/CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Americorps Summer of Service: https://americorps.gov/serve/americorps/americorps-nccc/summer-service
Atlantic Health Care System Overlook Summer Premed Internship: https://ahs.atlantichealth.org/professionals-medical-education/internship-programs/overlook-summer-internship-program.html
Hartford Hospital Summer Internship & Clinical Research (rising seniors): https://hartfordhospital.org/health-professionals/education/residencies-fellowships/summer-student-pre-med-research-program
Health Career Connection Internship and Health Equities Scholars (all grades):https://www.healthcareers.org/internship-program/program-registration/ Due December 11
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Clinical Research Internship (all considered but preference given to juniors): https://www.mplsheart.org/clinical-research-internship-program
Northwestern Premed Summer Internship (prefer rising juniors or seniors): https://www.nm.org/for-medical-professionals/i-am-a-student/northwestern-medicine-pre-med-internship-program
NYU Emergency Medicine Project Healthcare Summer Volunteer Program:https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/emergency-medicine/divisions/emergency-medicine-community-outreach-partnerships/volunteer/project-healthcare-summer-volunteer-program
NYU Healthcare Opportunity in Emergency Medicine: https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/emergency-medicine/divisions/emergency-medicine-community-outreach-partnerships/volunteer/health-career-opportunity-program
NYU Emergency Medicine SBIRT Clinical Research Associate (unpaid) Internship:https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/emergency-medicine/divisions/emergency-medicine-community-outreach-partnerships/volunteer/research-associate-internship
University of Vanderbilt Undergraduate Clinical Research Programs: (all undergrads): https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/vssa/clinical-research-programs/
SUMMER VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (clinical & volunteer): https://www.bhchp.org/careers/student-clinical-placement/?fbclid=IwAR0v-LecARgBdp4KmP3kMRPbF8REk6eJfmjC8HkLh6uVGAFG_wA_vpQbbAQ
Flying Horse Farms (Ohio): https://flyinghorsefarms.org/
LifeCare Alliance Camp Hamwi (Ohio Diabetes Camp) https://www.lifecarealliance.org/programs/coda/camp-hamwi/about/#coda-staff
Camp Korelitz (Clarksville, OH ADA Camp): https://diabetes.org/tools-resources/get-connected/camp/find-a-camp/camp-korelitz
Festa (ESL services for families, Ohio): https://www.wearefesta.org/volunteer
Hope Lodge (St. Louis): https://www.cancer.org/involved/volunteer/hope-lodge.html
Gephardt Institute (St. Louis): https://gephardtinstitute.wustl.edu/for-students/st-louis-fellowship-program/
Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock (Arkansas): https://campaldersgate.net/
Remote Area Medical (Nationwide mobile clinics): https://www.ramusa.org/volunteer/
Choosing the Right Program for you:
Align with Your Interests: Select a program that aligns with your specific interests and career goals.
Consider Your Long-Term Goals: Choose a program that will help you build the skills and experience you need to succeed in medical school and beyond.
Network with Mentors: Take advantage of the opportunity to network with mentors and other professionals in the field.
Document Your Experiences: Keep a detailed record of your experiences, including research projects, clinical rotations, and volunteer activities.
How to Apply to Summer Programs:
Research Programs:
Identify Potential Programs: Research programs that align with your interests and career goals.
Prepare Application Materials: This typically includes a personal statement, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a research proposal.
Submit Application: Follow the specific application guidelines and deadlines for each program.
Clinical Programs:
Direct Application: Apply directly to medical schools or hospitals that offer summer programs.
Networking: Reach out to mentors, professors, or healthcare professionals to get recommendations or referrals.
Volunteer Programs:
Online Applications: Apply through online portals or volunteer websites.
Direct Contact: Contact local organizations directly to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
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Contact us today to discuss your individual medical school goals and ways that we can help you achieve them.
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