Another Way to Spend Your Summer: Summer Research Programs
If you're considering a graduate program, consider applying for a summer research program. These programs can give you a different perspective on what research looks like in your field.
By Norrell Edwards — October 28, 2022
Instead of a summer internship, consider applying to summer research programs at other colleges and universities. What for? These programs can give you insight into what research looks like in your field. Not only will a summer research program look great on your resume or cv if you're considering any graduate program, but these opportunities are often funded. Summer research programs allow you to experience a different college environment and faculty. If there's a school or program you've been eyeing for graduate school, I highly recommend you see if they have any summer research programs where you can work with a faculty member from that program.
Personally, I participated in the Leadership Alliance Consortium; I spent the summer after my sophomore and junior year at Stanford and Princeton, respectively. When I applied to these programs—I wasn't certain that I wanted to go to graduate school at all (let alone get a Ph.D. immediately after completing my bachelor's degree), but these experiences prepared me for the next stage of my education. The very first time I visited California, it was funded by this opportunity. I had never ventured to the west coast before; I am still grateful for that exposure. Through the program, I received: faculty mentorship in literary studies, a stipend for my eight weeks, free GRE tutoring, and I completed a research project. A bonus: I made lifelong friends from other schools—who I otherwise would not have met
Summer research programs sometimes exist within a consortium of universities or just individually. For instance, Leadership Alliance is a consortium of private universities like Yale and Brown, while the Big Ten is a consortium for the Big Ten conference of public universities, think University of Maryland and Penn State University. It might be nice to experience a large public school if you're currently at a private university. I attended a public college based in New York City, so it was very exciting for me to be away at large private universities with on-campus housing.
Usually, you can research in just about any academic field of study, but programs will only participate if specific labs or faculty agree to host an undergraduate student researcher. This likely goes without saying, but don't try to apply to a summer research program to work in sociology if that school does not have a sociology department or any sociology professors.
Truth be told, I learned about Leadership Alliance after my close high school friend spent the summer after freshmen year doing a preparatory medical program at Columbia University. She would later go on to get a master's degree from Columbia too. After hearing about her experience, I was determined to find a parallel program for humanities research. I did not just find one but many. It turns out there are a number of medical research programs as well. There are also programs in the arts & sciences at several other schools. Here's an extensive list to check out.
Even if you don't find what you're looking for in one of these lists, keep looking. These lists are by no means the definitive lists of all existing programs. If there is a program or faculty member you'd like to work with, but they don't seem to be involved in a program, don't be afraid to reach out to that faculty member/department and ask. Sometimes without demand, there is no supply.
The faculty member or department might consider working with you and your school to create a research/internship opportunity. This is, of course, not guaranteed. It never hurts to ask!
But you don't have to research away from your home campus if you don't want to. Be sure to check out your institution's office of student research for opportunities and programs right where you're at. You never know where life will take you—so take a leap and shoot your shot as often as possible.
Norrell Edwards
Norrell Edwards is a scholar, educator, and communications consultant for non-profit organizations. Her employment experience and research interests place her work at the nexus of global Black identity, cultural memory, and social justice. Norrell graduated with a BA in English Literature from Hunter’s College followed by a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park in 20th and 21st Century Black Diaspora Literature.
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