Applying to summer programs can be incredibly daunting. When you first type “summer research programs” into Google, you see millions of results across the country in a variety of different subjects. Thousands of people can apply to one program, so it can be easy to feel like you aren’t worthy of applying or that no one would look at your application. But you shouldn’t give up before you’ve tried. Many students from St. Norbert have participated in summer programs, at SNC and other institutions, and many more will follow in their footsteps. It is important to keep your hopes up, apply to a handful of programs, and keep applying each summer you’re eligible.
The first step in looking at summer programs is to search for a specific subject you’re interested in. My first summer looking for a program, I applied to big-name schools with large programs even though I had little experience in the lab. I was disappointed when I received each rejection letter. However, I was able to receive a grant to do research at St. Norbert through my professor that allowed me to stay and work at school for ten weeks. This experience was integral to my growth as a student and in the research lab, teaching me how to construct and execute an experiment. I continued to work during the school year, analyzing data with my professor, and felt more prepared and was a better candidate when I applied to programs again the next summer.
This time, I had a letter of recommendation that reflected my work as a research assistant and another from a professor I had taken for multiple semesters and had seen me work in the lab for his classes. This time when I looked for programs to apply to, I focused my search on programs in Gene Therapy and Genetics. I rewrote my personal statements with more of a purpose and crossed my fingers for a response.
A couple of months after submitting my applications, I was accepted into the Virology and Gene Therapy SURF program at the Mayo Clinic in the lab of Dr. Richard Vile. I spent the summer killing cancer cells by infecting them with viruses. It was an incredible experience, but I felt even more pressure working at a different institution, with strangers in a new lab. I realized quickly that there was no reason to be uncomfortable or nervous, because my lab was very lenient and patient with new students. I believe most programs will treat their students the same and hope that those who are starting a fellowship are welcomed into the lab and made to feel comfortable like I was.
My first summer doing research taught me how to properly conduct research, but this summer taught me what I wanted to do with my future. Now, knowing that after I graduate I want to pursue a PhD in Cancer Biology, I am looking at a handful of summer programs in this field. It is difficult to keep explanations of previous research concise because of the immense impact they have had on me and how different they were from each other, but I know that a lot of important information needs to be included in personal statements in a small amount of allowed space.
An application for a summer research program should highlight your strengths as a student and researcher, even if you haven’t done research in the past. Curiosity is a common word used in personal statements, but I encourage prospective students to be specific about why you are interested in the program you’re applying to and what your future goals are. Go into the process confidently, talk yourself up in your essay, and make sure the prospective labs know that you will be a great addition to their lab.
