Students who plan on going to medical school or beginning graduate work in another health profession right after they graduate should not rule out participating in special opportunities offered by the University of Michigan's Undergraduate program or by various other institutions across the country.

Depending on their personal academic interests, students can participate in spring or summer programs such as the New England Literature Program; the UM Biological Station; the Camp Davis Rocky Mountain Field Station courses in Jackson, Wyoming; Summer Biomedical Research, and the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Research Programs. Students considering research during the school year can consider the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Such programs offer great opportunities for intense study between students and faculty.

With careful planning, pre-health professions students can opt to study abroad for a semester or year. It is highly recommended that students not take required pre-med science courses while abroad, but rather take advantage of the multitude of courses offered to learn about the country's history and culture. The experience gained from living in another country and improving one's fluency in a foreign language is invaluable.

Opportunities for Spring-Summer Study

University of Michigan Opportunities

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program UROP

(734) 647-2768
UROP.Info@umich.edu

UROP creates research partnerships in most academic disciplines between undergraduates and faculty researchers. Program features include: academic support services such as peer advising and career planning workshops; Annual Research Symposia and guest lectures; learning skills workshops, and access to the exclusive Summer Research Internship Database. A student can earn academic credits for participating in the program or opt for Work Study (if granted as part of the student's financial aid).

The Summer Biomedical Research Program

Office of Student Biomedical Research Programs
Brian Zink, M.D. - Director
Sue Duncan - Program Coordinator
(734) 763-1296
osbrp@umich.edu

The Office of Student Biomedical Research Programs facilitates student-faculty mentorships for students across the U of M campus who wish to do summer research projects in the research laboratories of the Medical School. Many of the research experiences are supported by the individual faculty advisor's own research or training grants. If the faculty research advisor does not have funds available for student research, the student may apply for a pre-medical student research fellowship. An informational meeting for all interested students is held in the Fall. Contact the Student Biomedical Research Programs office for more details.

National Opportunities

Summer Medical and Dental Education Program

National Science Foundation - Research Experience for Undergraduates Program

Summer research opportunities at colleges and universities across the country.

National Institutes of Health - College Intramural Programs

Summer research opportunities at NIH's main research campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIH encompasses 20 research institutes including: the National Cancer Institute, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

National Institutes of Health - College Extramural Programs

Summer research opportunities, primarily for underrepresented minority students, at universities and NIH research facilities across the country.

Study abroad: Things to Think About

Study Abroad

Although there are many science prerequisites, students can consult with a health professions academic advisor to lay out an academic plan that includes a semester or year abroad.

Very often students wonder how they can both go overseas and take their MCAT in April of their Junior year. One fact to keep in mind is that students can arrange to take the MCAT while living abroad. The MCAT is offered in various cities around the world:

AUSTRALIA - Sydney
ENGLAND - London
FRANCE - St. Cloud
GERMANY - Munich
ISRAEL - Tel Aviv
JAPAN - Tokyo
LEBANON - Beirut
SINGAPORE - Singapore

Health professions students may want to look into programs that offer a pre-medical curriculum, such as King's College, University of London, (School of Medicine and Dentistry and School of Life, Basic Medical, and Health Sciences or Lancester University.

For more information call: Office of International Programs, 734-764-4311.