Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

Gaining Experience

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community while exploring your intended career. It is also an essential part of your application to health professional school.

Pre-health students should plan to volunteer for a couple hours each week for several years, during breaks from school, and during summer months. As a future applicant to health professional school you should be able to demonstrate the following based on your volunteer experiences:

• You understand the profession and the role of health care professionals
• You understand what is required to work with patients on a daily basis, and are professional
• You thrive in a dynamic health centered environment
• You have had multiple experiences in various settings to test your fit for your intended career
• You have qualities and skills that are well suited for the profession
• You can work in teams, possess leadership skills when needed, communicate effectively, are pro-active, and professional at all times
• You are invested in bettering the lives of others
• You have made connections with people who work in a health care setting who are able to endorse your application through writing you a strong letter of recommendation.

While all volunteering is encouraged, make sure that some of your work gives you clinical experience (direct patient contact). This experience teaches you what patients experience, what challenges exist, how to interact with sick people, and who does what in the realm of healthcare delivery.

Additionally, some of your volunteer work should be specific to your intended profession (i.e. a pre-dental student should work with a dentist and so forth).

Volunteer Opportunities

• Dental
• Premed
• Veterinary
• Summer

Funding Summer Opportunities

Each campus’s Career Services Office coordinates a process to apply for summer funding. Inquire with your campus’s Career Services Office regarding deadlines and requirements. Usually, proposals are due very early in the spring semester so plan ahead!

Getting Around

If you don’t have a car on campus there are other options for transportation. Keck Science does not have funds available to reimburse students for transportation. See below for resources:

• Get 24/7 access to Zipcars parked right on the campuses! Simply reserve online at https://www.zipcar.com/pomona, let yourself in with your Zipcar and drive. Their low hourly and daily rates always include gas and insurance.
• You only need to be 18+ to join. Members age 18-20 can use a dedicated group of Zipcars that live on campus. Members age 21+ also have access to thousands of Zipcars all around the world. Find cars on or around the Pomona College campus.
• Local Transportation Companies
• Dial-A-Ride (909) 623-0183 https://www.ci.claremont.ca.us
• Foothill Transit (800) 743-3463 www.foothilltransit.org
• First Student Bus (800) 844-5588 www.firststudentinc.com
• Metrolink Trains (800) 371-5465 www.metrolinktrains.com
• Shalimar Tours (909) 923-1100 www.shalimartours.com

You can also become an approved driver on your campus which would allow you to reserve a campus vehicle and carpool with other students to a volunteer location. You need to have a valid driver’s license and register to be approved:
Scripps: Fill out the form at the SARLO office. It can take 4-6 weeks to become an approved driver. You are then able to reserve campus vehicles once you are an approved driver to coordinate carpooling.
Pitzer: Visit the Pitzer College Transportation page for information.
Claremont McKenna: Go to the Dean of Students Office to start the process of becoming an approved driver. It can take up to 2 weeks. You are then able to reserve campus vehicles from the DOS office once you are an approved driver to coordinate carpooling.