asterstar

b/c the system is set up so that if a PI doesn't look at your application, you essentially won't be considered and you'll get an automatic rejection. The best way to get a PI to consider you is to contact them and tell them about your interest in their lab. Like I said, many labs have already filled up, sometimes from returning students. Some labs only take college students, which makes it even harder for new high school students to get a position.

If you look in the FAQs or something on the application site, the instructions say something to the extent of "we strongly urge you to contact a PI if you are interested in their lab"....so they're actually pretty explicit about it. There's a list of the institutions as well as links to their websites, and you can probably find directories of PIs on those sites.

fyi- getting internships, no matter what the company/institution, is always like this. you have to make personal contacts, or else you're just another applicant. *steps down from soapbox*

hope that helps

thegreatgatsby

Should I email every PI in sight, or should I do them one at a time?

The first is more convenient, but the second one is probably is more sincere.


(By the way, thank you asterstar for your advice)

hoberto

thegreatgatsby,

I'm excited for you and your interest in this! Most research institutions list the research areas, faculty/staff and contact information on their websites. You should learn a little bit about each PIs interest and pick few that sound interesting to you and send an email to them. Be professional and point out why you like their area of research and why you would be an asset to the lab. I would only send a few at a time and try to tailor your letters to each PI rather than sending a form letter.

If you have large hospital nearby there is probably research going on there. You could use the same approach above with the MDs at the hospital.

You want to be sure to look into places that don't have specific educational programs, too, like a local biotech company.

If you don't hear anything you might have some luck asking some grad students if you could shadow them for a few weeks over the summer. It wouldn't be paid work but you'd get some experience.

Asterstar is definitely correct, if you don't make the contacts personally your application will never make it out of the human resources department.

Please keep us posted on how this works out for you.

asterstar

this is kinda off-topic, but....is anyone on this site currently definitely going to NIH and hasn't yet found housing? Whether it's in a dorm, or with internsdc, I'd like to possibly room with someone who's also doing NIH and near my age level. PM me if you're interested, and let me know your housing plans...

thegreatgatsby

I sent an email to one of the principal investigators a week ago, and he still has not replied. Should I resend my email, or should I email someone else? I haven't sent in my application though, but I guess it doesn't matter until I get one of the PIs to respond. This is so frustrating!

pimpa10

when do they tell us if we got in... i got an email saying that the application was being reviewed and that they answer before may 15 or soemthing...does anyone kno when they let u kno?