For most college students, summer is a time to decompress after a hectic academic year. However, as a premed, this is far from the case. Summer is your chance to gain the kind of meaningful experiences that will ultimately increase your chances of acceptance when it comes time to apply to medical school.
In this article, we’ll explore several ideal summer jobs for premed students that will help you stand out among your peers, develop the kinds of skills you’ll need throughout medical school and beyond, and build connections that could last a lifetime.
Why Premed Summer Jobs Are Important
Your premed summers are unique, especially from what summers will be like during medical school. You’re not only trying to earn some extra cash to pay off your soon-to-be staggering tuition fees; you also need to find something that will boost your medical qualifications and make you a compelling applicant to admissions committees.
How could the position highlight your particular interests in medicine? How could it teach you valuable patient care techniques? Will it allow you to foster professional relationships to one day ask for strong letters of recommendation?
Your primary application doesn’t start in May of your application year—it starts as soon as you enter college. Your goal is to create experiences you find personally fulfilling and enjoyable but also experiences that improve your chances of being admitted to medical school. Summer premed jobs are a way to do both.
5 Best Summer Jobs for Premed Students
The ideal premed summer job will look different for everyone, so take the time to consider what you want out of this experience. There is no wrong or right answer—the only wrong thing is doing nothing with your valuable summer time.
1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Although becoming an EMT can require extensive training depending on where you live, if you already have the qualifications ready before the summer starts, becoming an EMT offers you a wealth of medical experience. If you don’t have this training yet, your summer could be an ideal opportunity to acquire the necessary qualifications.
You’ll learn how to manage acute medical crises, as well as the stress that comes with it, and develop a rapport with patients—all of which will be invaluable skills in medical school and your future career. Many of the applicants you’ll be up against will not have these skills before they apply to medical school, so you’ll have a major leg up on your peers.
As an EMT, your responsibilities will include:
- Responding to emergency calls for accidents, illnesses, and injuries
- Evaluating patients’ conditions by taking vital signs and performing basic medical assessments
- Providing basic life support, like reducing blood loss, managing shock, and preventing the patient from deteriorating
- Comforting patients and their families during a stressful moment
Plus, EMTs are in high demand, the job tends to pay better than other classic premed summer jobs, and it’s flexible. If you enjoy being an EMT over the summer, you will likely be able to continue gaining this valuable medical experience during college and potentially during any gap years you decide to take.
Learn more: How to Become an Emergency Medical Technician.
2. Medical Assistant (MA)
If you want to learn what outpatient medicine looks like, consider becoming a medical assistant (MA). A medical assistant works alongside physicians, nurses, and other medical staff to ensure the smooth operation of facilities and patient care.
As an MA, your responsibilities include:
- Interviewing patients to gather medical history, such as their symptoms and any medications they currently take
- Measuring vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and weight
- Educating patients about their conditions, medications, and treatment plans
- Assisting physicians by preparing instruments, sterilizing equipment, and taking medical notes
There is also a strong demand for MAs across the country, and there are often minimal requirements. Although some states do require licensing or coursework, most do not, meaning there is a low barrier of entry for this role.
Lastly, MAs work in every outcare patient setting. If you are interested in surgery, you can be hired as a medical assistant for your local surgeon’s practice on the days they are in-clinic. If you are interested in psychiatry, there are many opportunities for you to work with psychiatrists. Your options are limitless.
By being able to pursue this role in any setting, you can build a more cohesive personal narrative for your med school application and demonstrate a varied and rich clinical experience.
3. Medical Scribe
Medical scribes, often simply called “scribes,” focus on documenting the physician-patient interaction by creating medical notes. This allows the physician to dedicate more attention to their patient while giving you the opportunity to see physicians interact with hundreds of patients first-hand.
As a scribe, your responsibilities will include:
- Documenting the entire patient encounter, including medical history, physical examinations, diagnoses, current medications, and treatment plans
- Ensuring all documents adhere to appropriate medical terminology, formating, and HIPAA compliance
- Assisting physicians by preparing exam rooms and gathering medical supplies
- Answering basic patient questions or concerns
Scribes are unique because they go where the physician goes, which is a huge opportunity for an aspiring physician. For example, if you want to experience the chaotic workflow in emergency departments, there are opportunities for you to become a scribe in the ED. If you want to work in a primary care or specialized medical clinic, you can find plenty of these opportunities as well.
Uniquely, there are several companies that will pay to train you to become a scribe, as they are often contracted by large health systems to provide their physicians with a group of scribes. However, you can also choose to work directly with a physician if you prefer this route.
Learn more from our guide: How to Become a Medical Scribe.
4. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are the epitome of patient care. A CNA typically works in hospitals or nursing homes to provide direct patient care, such as administering medications and maintaining the patients’ daily activities. CNAs play a vital role in ensuring patient safety, wellbeing, and comfort.
As a CNA, your responsibilities will include:
- Taking and monitoring vitals signs like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and weight
- Providing emotional support and companionship to patients
- Communicating with patients and their families to ensure clear understanding of the patient’s condition
- Assisting with collecting laboratory specimens under the supervision of nurses
Your ability to become a CNA will greatly depend on which state you live in. Some states allow CNAs to practice after a simple exam, whereas others require an intensive multi-month long course. (If the latter is the case, consider becoming an EMT in the same amount of time).
Regardless, if your dream is becoming a doctor, you’re sure to find this role personally fulfilling, as patients and their families are immensely grateful for the work you do. This premed summer job is one of the absolute best ways to get a wealth of patient stories that you can one day use to enhance your medical school application.
5. Research Assistant (RA)
If you have a yearning for research and have not been able to find enough time during the academic year, becoming a research assistant might be for you. As a research assistant (RA), you will spend your summer in a lab running experiments and processing data. And unlike the other premed jobs on this list, this is the only one where you have a great chance of earning a publication.
Your exact responsibilities as an RA will greatly depend on the lab you are in. However, typically, duties will likely:
- Contributing to the development of research methods and protocols
- Assisting with data collection through conducting experiments, surveys, or interviews
- Summarizing, organize, and collect information for your Principal Investigator
- Presenting validated data at conferences
- Preparing manuscripts for publication
It’s impossible to predict what your summer would look like as an RA, as it greatly depends on the culture of the lab, how far along the project you are working on is, and even the field you are conducting research in. However, it’s extremely common for former RAs to appreciate the valuable experience—experience admissions committees are looking for.
Lastly, while looking for a job as an RA, look at neighboring schools or medical schools you would love to attend. By working as an RA there, you can build connections that could potentially help you when it comes time to apply to that medical school.
Learn more with our Extracurricular Research Guide—How to Crush Research as a Premed.
How to Find Summer Jobs as a Premed
Before you apply to any roles, you need to make sure your resume or curriculum vitae is top-notch. Without a stand out resume, your application will more than likely fall in the trash or into a dusty drawer full of ignored resumes.
Applying for a job can be labor intensive, so ensure it’s not a futile effort by taking a few hours to craft these professional documents properly before you start applying.
Oftentimes, finding a summer job is easier said than done. Many employers are looking for a long-term commitment from premeds, or it’s possible you may not have the proper qualifications for the role. The simple way to overcome these hurdles is by casting a wide net in terms of the number of jobs you apply for.
The best place to start is by leveraging your mentors and personal connections. If you are already working on a research project with a physician, ask if they are hiring students for the summer or if they know of any upcoming opportunities. This can truly streamline the process for you, as you might land these positions without needing to apply or interview.
You can also use hiring services like Indeed.com or Monster.com. These websites allow companies to post what roles they are looking for and simplify the application process. Additionally, search the career pages of local clinics and hospitals to learn about the roles they are actively hiring for.
How to Succeed at Your Premed Summer Job
Here are some tips for how to make the most of the experience.
1 | Take Advantage of Learning Opportunities
Pay attention to how the physician you’re working with interacts with their patients and how they handle certain situations. Doing this repeatedly will provide valuable insight into the broader medical field and what will be expected of you one day.
Additionally, do not be afraid to ask questions or seek out opportunities to learn new skills. For example, if you are working as a Certified Nursing Assistant, ask if you can shadow the physicians in your free time. You likely won’t have the same amount of time to shadow a physician during school, so make the most of the time you have in the summer.
2 | Be Proactive and Take Initiative
Depending on how comfortable you are in your new role, aim to demonstrate your eagerness to learn and contribute. For example, once you have experience working as a medical assistant, don’t wait for others to tell you how to do your job. Rather, begin by taking vitals and collecting the patient’s history before the physician is ready to enter the room.
If you do decide to ask the physician for a letter of recommendation down the road, they are more likely to write a glowing letter, highlighting your “go-getter” attitude and their trust in you. Of course, this can be a double-edged sword, as it’s imperative you do exceptional work if you plan to ask for a letter of recommendation.
3 | Develop Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills
First and foremost, these premed jobs are just that—jobs. Use this as a chance to develop strong communication, practice arriving to work on time, and dress professionally. These are skills you should absolutely master before your first day of medical school.
4 | Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance
While demonstrating dedication is important, it’s vital to realize it is still your summer. To avoid burnout, be mindful of setting healthy boundaries between work and your personal life by scheduling time for rest and relaxation.
This is advice we always give premeds: “You are only in your twenties once. If you do it right, that is all you need.” Take as much time off as you can to travel around the world, the country, or even your home state. Often, these moments will be the ones you will remember the most, not the time you spend working an extra shift in the ED to make a bit more money.
It’s all about finding a healthy balance.
5 | Document Your Experiences
Reflect on your experiences and consider how they relate to your future goals in medicine. Take 10 to 15 minutes at the end of each week to highlight what you learned and what you struggled with.
Creating this record will put you a step ahead when it comes time to fill out the Work and Activities section of your medical school application. You will already have a wealth of experiences to use as a starting point, which will ultimately save you time throughout the application process, enhance your application, and give you plenty to discuss during interviews.
You can do this in a physical journal or online. Choose whatever you are more likely to use consistently. Learn more: How Students Can Harness the Powerful Benefits of Journaling.
Your Ideal Premed Roadmap
The bottom line is you must be doing something to enhance your application every summer. Each summer is an opportunity for you to gain hundreds of clinical or research hours, which will be needed once it comes time to apply to medical school.
Remember to look for a premed job that fills any gap in your application. If you don’t have any paid clinical hours, become an EMT or an MA. If you lack research experience, work in a lab. If you want to see what it’s like to work on a hospital floor, become a scribe or a CNA. Do all that you can to make your application as compelling as possible.
Not sure what summer jobs will make the most impact on your application? Med School Insiders offers one-on-one advising with physicians who have already walked in your shoes. We’ll help you choose the ideal path for you, and we’ll help you craft a stand out medical school application that will get you noticed by your top choice medical schools.
For those of you preparing to take the MCAT, check out our all-new MCAT Course. At Med School Insiders, we’ve scored in the elusive 99.9th percentile on the MCAT, and it was no fluke—we’ve since helped countless premeds surpass even their own expectations and score in the top percentiles as well. No more second guessing. No more confusion. No more frustration or regrets. Learn more here.
