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Summer Experiences

Plan Ahead

Summer options can be broad and include paid work, volunteering, and research. Some colleges, professional schools, government and state agencies, as well as non-profit organizations may offer paid or unpaid summer opportunities, across the health professions. As you plan summer opportunities, keep in mind, a typical undergraduate student, graduating in four years, only has three 'college' summers to plan. 

Summer Programs

Applying to structured summer programs can help you focus on expanding your knowledge and experience.  Programs can often inspire or reinforce your mission, vision and values. Summer programs can also be another way to explore your career path.

Before applying to a summer program:

Check the dates of the program. Some summer programs may begin before the Northwestern Spring Quarter ends. Some programs may be flexible with start dates, but it’s best to check before applying.
Check the eligibility requirements. Some summer programs may limit their applicant pool based on particular factors (e.g., state of residence, grade level, disadvantaged educational/economic background). Don’t waste your time applying to a program that isn’t a good match.
Seek out Letter Recommenders. Some of the more competitive programs may require recommendation letters as part of the application process. Be ready to explain to any recommender 'Why?' the program is important to you on your journey.
Proofread all components of your application. You want to make sure all of your materials are polished and professional. Consult with your Health Professions Advisor as needed.

Types of Summer Opportunities

  • Internships: The HPA database can be filtered for summer opportunities. Any internships we share in our weekly newsletter will be posted in the HPA database.
  • Volunteering: Our volunteering map is a wonderful resource for students staying in the Evanston and Chicago area. For students outside of Evanston and Chicago, VolunteerMatch has been a valuable resource for many of our students.
  • Research: Northwestern undergraduates can apply for funded summer research opportunities. Many clinical educational sites may also have summer research opportunities, e.g., Feinberg School of Medicine.
  • Paid Employment Opportunities: It is perfectly fine to participate in paid summer work as it will help build students' experiences in a professional environment.
  • List of Summer Opportunities: This list is a great resource to appreciate the breadth of opportunities across the country. The list includes mostly paid internships and research opportunities that align with the end of Northwestern's spring quarter. The list also includes links to national databases primarily focusing on programs 

Summer Classes

Students may opt to take summer classes to stay on track, get ahead, explore new subjects, or even earn a professional certification, such as a EMT license, CNA, or complete a phlebotomist course. Students will have access to the 

Northwestern Summer Classes: talk with your HPA advisor and School/College advisor if planning to take summer classes at Northwestern.

Northwestern, School of Professional Studies:  depending on your health professions track, courses such as Human Anatomy or Human Physiology may be a summer course option or taken over the academic year.

EMT certification is typically offered at local community colleges, large hospitals, or fire stations. If you are traveling home, beyond Evanston or Chicago for the summer, check locally for these types of training or certification courses.

• CNA certification can be studied online or in a classroom setting and can lead to paid clinical work opportunities.

• Study Abroad: is a popular summer opportunity for all Northwestern students and can be made more affordable with scholarships and funding opportunities.

Popular Summer Resources