7-Ways to Get a Pre-Med Summer Internship

Summer break offers a valuable opportunity for pre-med students to gain hands-on experience, explore different healthcare roles, and strengthen their medical school applications. With many students competing for top placements, it’s important to take a strategic approach to secure a meaningful summer internship.

Whether you're hoping to work in a local hospital, conduct research, or participate in a global health project abroad, these six proven tips will help you find and land the right summer pre-med internship for your goals.

Set Clear, Career-Aligned Goals

Start by defining your goals for the summer. Go beyond the general idea of “getting into med school” and ask yourself:

What specialty or setting am I most curious about?
Do I want to gain clinical experience, research skills, or exposure to global health systems?
Am I open to traveling or working in underserved areas?

By clarifying your interests, you can better target the right programs—whether it’s shadowing in a hospital, contributing to community health outreach, or joining a structured pre-med internship abroad in Kenya or Tanzania.

Know the Types of Pre-Med Internships Available

There are many different internship pathways for pre-med students, each offering a unique set of benefits:

Global Health Internships

Programs like those offered by Go Elective place students in high-volume teaching hospitals abroad. You’ll shadow physicians across departments, participate in community outreach, and gain exposure to diverse medical conditions. These experiences are ideal for students seeking immersive learning and cross-cultural clinical exposure.

Research Internships

If you’re interested in academic medicine or scientific discovery, research internships are a great fit. Many universities offer summer research positions in biology, chemistry, public health, or biomedical sciences—either in-house or through intercollegiate collaborations.

Public Health Internships

Local health departments and NGOs often offer internships focused on health education, policy, and outreach. These placements are ideal if you want to learn about population health or preventive care.

Private Sector Internships

Pharmaceutical companies, health tech startups, and medical device firms occasionally offer internships for students interested in the business and innovation side of healthcare. These are often paid and may focus on analytics, marketing, or compliance.

Start Early and Stay Organized

Top programs often begin accepting applications as early as December or January for summer placements. Begin your search early so you:

Have enough time to research each program
Prepare strong application materials
Meet early deadlines

Use a spreadsheet or tracking tool to organize deadlines, requirements, and submission statuses for each opportunity. Don’t forget to check your school’s career center, faculty bulletin boards, and pre-health advising office for leads.

Leverage Your Network and Mentors

Networking is a powerful (and underused) tool for landing internships. Talk to:

Professors and teaching assistants in your science courses
Family members or friends working in healthcare
Your school’s pre-health advisor
Alumni from your school who are now in med school

You can also reach out to students who previously interned with programs you're interested in. Many are happy to share their experience or refer you to their former supervisors.

Build a Targeted, Tailored Resume and Application

Once you’ve identified programs of interest, craft a strong, customized resume for each role. Avoid the “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead:

Highlight experiences relevant to the internship (e.g., lab work, volunteering, tutoring, leadership)
Tailor your resume and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and goals of the program
Ask mentors or career counselors to review your application for clarity and impact

Be sure to prepare thoughtful reference letters from professors or supervisors who can speak to your work ethic and passion for medicine.

Prepare for the Interview with Confidence

If you land an interview, congratulations—you’ve already stood out. Now it’s time to seal the deal.

Prepare by:

Researching the organization’s mission, programs, and recent projects
Practicing common interview questions with a friend, mentor, or advisor
Reflecting on your “why”: why medicine, why this internship, and what you hope to gain

Dress professionally, be confident, and show curiosity. Demonstrating genuine interest and preparation often matters more than having perfect answers.

Don’t Undermine the Power of Social Media

Social media isn’t just for scrolling—it can be a powerful tool for discovering internship opportunities. Follow hospitals, healthcare organizations, medical schools, and internship programs on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Many organizations post application announcements, deadlines, and tips directly on their feeds or stories.

You can also join pre-med forums and groups on IG, Facebook or Reddit, where students often share leads on open positions or offer insights from their own experiences. Maintaining a professional LinkedIn profile can also help you connect with recruiters and alumni who may open doors to valuable summer opportunities.

Key Takeaways: Get Ahead This Summer

A summer pre-med internship can give you valuable clinical experience, build your resume, and help you clarify your future path in medicine. With early planning, clear goals, and strong preparation, you can position yourself ahead of the competition.

If you’re looking for an immersive global health internship that combines clinical exposure with meaningful community engagement, consider Go Elective’s summer pre-med programs abroad. You’ll work alongside experienced physicians in East Africa, gain real-world insight into healthcare systems, and return with a transformed understanding of what it means to care for patients.