Accepted Admissions Blog

Often, top medical schools in the U.S. offer predoc and premed summer undergraduate research programs. We’ve compiled an all-you-need-to-know chart that includes school name, deadlines, and links to the specific predoc/premed programs for more information.

Why do these undergraduate research programs exist?

The purpose of these programs is to expose ambitious, talented college students to graduate-level medical or doctoral research, usually over the course of 6-12 weeks over the summer. These programs generally provide generous stipends, as well as free housing and compensation for travel expenses (unless the programs are online due to COVID). Students work closely with faculty members on research, usually resulting in a large, final project that’s presented at the end of the summer term.

Below are some of the top undergraduate premed/predoc research programs in the U.S. But first, a few notes:

1. Most programs provide some financial compensation. (Click through to the program for all of this information.)
2. Each program requires applicants to submit an online application. See the specific applications for details as the number of essays/personal statements differ per program (generally ranging from one to three essays).
3. While none of these programs require students to have a minority or disadvantaged background, nearly all of the programs explain that this background is a plus in the admissions process.

Summer research program highlights

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify application deadlines.***

Want more information about predoc and premed summer research programs, including program eligibility and application requirements? Download our chart to get all the details!

Tips for finding additional research opportunities

Attending a summer research program isn’t your only option when looking to bulk up your research experience. Here are four additional tips on securing the best research opportunity for you.

1. Start early. Ideally, it would be great to have 1-2 years of research experience under your belt before you apply to med school – so the earlier in your undergrad career you identify promising opportunities, the better.
2. Find an area that interests you. For example, if you’re more interested in Psychology or Anthropology than you are in Chemistry, look into the possibility of assisting a professor in one of those fields.
3. See if your professors need research assistants/laboratory volunteers. If your university has a research office or a central list of undergraduate research opportunities, check there first. If the system is less formal, do some research into professors’ current work (through department websites, professors’ CVs, etc.). Then email them and ask if you can speak to them about the possibility of volunteering in their lab. Let them know what background you have in the field (especially any prior research experience). If they don’t need research assistants at the moment, don’t be discouraged- talk to someone else.
4. Think about doing a thesis. Depending on where you’re studying (and what field), this might allow you to design your own experiment.

Bottom line

Gaining research experience – in a summer research program or any of the other options above – won’t just make you a more competitive school applicant; it will also help you sharpen your critical thinking skills and give you training you can draw on as a student and in your future career.

For personalized guidance for your admissions journey, check out our Medical School Consulting Services or Grad School Consulting Services. Whether you were rejected and looking to reapply or you’re still in college and just getting started, we’re here to help. Choose the service that best fits your needs and connect with an advisor who will take you through the admissions process step-by-step.

For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Our expert team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, PhDs, and professional writers who have advised clients to acceptance at top programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD, MIT, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Northwestern. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps to Acceptance, a free guide
• 5 Tips For Aspiring Premed Researchers
• How to Write About Your Research Interests