Exploring Medical Fields Through Travel: Summer Programs That Combine Learning and Adventure
6 minute read
Do you dream of saving lives? Making ground-breaking medical discoveries? Or improving public health infrastructure? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you’ve been looking into different medical summer research opportunities for high school students.
Summer research programs are a great way to orient yourself to a prospective career path, while simultaneously bolstering your college applications. Pre-med students also need plenty of extracurricular and STEM enrichment opportunities beyond academic courses, so overall, participating in a summer research program is a great idea. But what if you could take it a step further? With Polygence and WorldStride, you can! Explore medical schools, and health-related fields, and the valuable roles physicians and engineers play in shaping the future of healthcare and technology.
Overview of the Travel and Research Summer Program by Envision and Polygence
Polygence has partnered with Envision to offer students an innovative Travel and Research Summer Program that goes above and beyond. This program is particularly enticing for high school juniors interested in pursuing a medical career. Students have the opportunity to travel to top-tier medical research facilities and work alongside medical professionals in a clinical setting. This hands-on experience offers a glimpse into the real world of healthcare.
After a week of immersive exploration, students transition into a Polygence-guided independent research phase, where they collaborate with a PhD-level mentor to create a professional research project inspired by their summer experience. This dual-phase program provides a meaningful pathway from inspiration to achievement, helping students strengthen their college applications and resumes.
Why Choose the Polygence-Envision Program?
There are lots of reasons why the Summer Travel and Research Program by Envision and Polygence could be the perfect program for you!
Firstly, nothing compares to learning in a real-world context. With immersive travel experiences, cutting-edge medical or engineering simulations, and interactive lessons led by professionals, the Envision portion of the program sets the stage for in-depth exploration. Whether you’re shadowing doctors, participating in clinical rotations, or designing sustainable engineering solutions, each program provides experiential learning opportunities at elite universities.
Then, Polygence builds on the skills, knowledge, and inspiration from their summer research trip to help students design and create their own professional medical research project. Students are free to pursue whatever topic they’d like, including these top 10 medical research project ideas for high school students, curated by our expert research mentors.
Through the Polygence portion of the program, you’ll have a total of 10-hour sessions with your mentor, during which you’ll have the opportunity to expand on the skills you’ve acquired over the summer to create your own professional research project. And that’s not even the best part. Polygence offers students a flexible timeline to accommodate students’ busy schedules. That means that you won’t need to pick and choose when it comes to your extracurricular activities; you’ll be able to do it all!
Not only is Polygence known for our personalized curriculum, but we are also known for challenging our students to find real-life opportunities to apply their research. This can take on several forms, including submitting research papers to various medical journals with a history of publishing work written by high school students.
Overall, from start to finish, the Polygence-Envision program offers expert guidance and unmatched resources.
List of Medical Research Programs
If you’re interested in working with Polygence-Envision to explore a medical career, check out these summer Envision Experiences listed below:
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Location: University of Michigan
Dates: June 22-29 (Residential Only)
Tuition: $4,395 (Residential)
Atlanta, Georgia
Location: Emory University
Dates: July 5-12 (Residential) | July 6-11 (Commuter)
July 14-21 (Residential) | July 15-20 (Commuter)
Tuition: $4,395 (Residential) | $3,795 (Commuter)
Berkeley, California
Location: University of California, Berkeley, Clark Kerr Campus
Dates: July 15-22 (Residential) | July 16-21 (Commuter)
July 24-31 (Residential) | July 25-30 (Commuter)
Tuition: $4,445 (Residential) | $3,845 (Commuter)
Houston, Texas
Location: Rice University
Dates: June 22-29 (Residential) | June 23-28 (Commuter)
July 5-12 (Residential) | July 6-11 (Commuter)
Tuition: $4,395 (Residential) | $3,795 (Commuter)
Los Angeles, California
Location: University of California, Los Angeles
Dates: June 22-29 (Residential) | June 23-28 (Commuter)
July 5-12 (Residential) | July 6-11 (Commuter)
July 15-22 (Residential) | July 16- 21 (Commuter)
Tuition: $4,445 (Residential) | $3,845 (Commuter)
New Haven, Connecticut
Location: Yale University
Dates: July 24- 31 (Residential Only)
Tuition: $4,445 (Residential Only)
Unique Opportunities Available
In addition to shadowing healthcare professionals, touring top medical schools, and attending thoughtful, interactive courses, students will have the opportunity to engage in several cutting-edge simulations. Throughout the course of these programs, students will:
Respond to a disaster scenario as a medical professional. Assess victims and prioritize care based on severity. Practice applying medical knowledge within a high-pressure environment.
Learn how to care for wounds and stop bleeding. Practice using splints and slings within a realistic simulation.
Receive hands-on clinical training.
Preparing for Your Summer Medical Journey
There are plenty of travel options to choose from when it comes to our Polygence-World Stride Program. The key is to select the program most suited to your interests and career goals. For example, if you dream of living in California someday, you might want to check out our two California-based programs. Alternatively, if you’re keen on making Ivy League connections, you may want to prioritize the program held at Yale. Or maybe the closest program is the most practical program for you — plain and simple.
Now, after you’ve selected the right program for you, it’s time to start thinking about what to pack and how to prepare mentally and physically for your program. If your program is located far away from home, you’ll need to pack efficiently and only bring what you need. If you’re driving, as opposed to flying, you’ll have a little more wiggle room in your suitcases. Now, keep in mind that most programs are only about a week-long, so you won't need to bring much. And try not to worry too much about entertainment. After all, there’ll be plenty of social events! So there's no need to bring your whole video game console.
Now, let’s take a look at a basic packing list to help you get started with your preparations:
A week’s worth of clothes
Pajamas
Sweatshirt/lightweight coat
Raincoat
Extra socks and underwear
Swimsuit
Comfortable walking shoes (closed-toe)
Sandals
Sunglasses
Water bottle
Hand sanitizer
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Shampoo and conditioner
Soap
Hairbrush and/or comb
Body lotion
Deodorant
Sunscreen
Other toiletries
Prescription medications
Basic first aid items
Extra pair of glasses and/or contact lenses
Phone and phone charger
Wallet and ID
Notebooks and pens
Laptop and laptop charger (optional)
Getting the Most Out of the Experience
The key to making the most out of your academic enrichment experience is to come prepared. After all, if you’re not sure what to expect, you may end up spending too much time adjusting to basic expectations. This is why having a thorough packing list and knowing what your daily routine is going to look like is ultimately so helpful.
Next, set clear goals for yourself. Do you aim to get exposure to various fields like cancer research or general healthcare? Are you interested in acquiring basic research skills or exploring a specific type of medicine? Are you looking forward to networking with your peers and advisors? Regardless of your specific goals, it’s important to take the initiative by actively engaging in your projects, asking questions, and taking full advantage of the resources available to you.
Additionally, staying organized will enrich your experience by helping you manage tasks effectively, while engaging fully in lectures, workshops, and other events. Focus on developing essential research skills such as methodologies, data analysis, and critical thinking, and don’t hesitate to seek feedback.
Lastly, consider keeping a journal to document your experience. Reflect on the challenges you encounter and the insights you gain from them. Not only will this help you make the most of your experiences in the short term, but these journal entries will continue to be useful in the future, especially as you prepare to write your college application essays.
How This Program Prepares You for College
College admissions officers value students who show initiative, curiosity, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to their campus community. By participating in programs that emphasize real-world applications of knowledge, students demonstrate their proactive learning approach and adaptability.
Additionally, by immersing themselves in specialized topics, students not only gain valuable knowledge and skills, but also showcase their ability to tackle challenging subjects outside the conventional classroom setting. Overall, this level of engagement can set them apart from peers during the college admissions process. After all, how many students get the chance to learn from medical professionals at the best medical schools in the country and create their own professional research project start-to-finish?
It’s also worth mentioning that the networking opportunities available during this program can lead to compelling personal statements and strong letters of recommendation. Overall, the Travel and Research Summer Program equips students with unique experiences that not only enrich their education but also provide a competitive edge in the college admissions process.
Next Steps: How to Apply
Are you ready for even more good news? Applying to the Polygence-Envision program is easy! To get started, simply submit an interest form. Then, a member of our admissions team will be in touch to provide more details and answer any questions you may have. Keep in mind that tuition varies by location, but typically ranges from $6,700 to $8,000 (flights not included). There are also payment plans and scholarships available to help offset the costs.
Applications to these programs are streamlined and straightforward, but don’t wait! The sooner you express interest in the program, the more likely you are to secure a spot. In the meantime, check out our database of completed Polygence passion projects by other high school scholars. You can also peruse our list of Research Program Mentors to get a better idea of who you may be working with.