Pathways to Psych Careers

The summer program will last 9 weeks, from June 2nd, 2025 through August 9th, 2025. The internship will begin with an orientation session, including a Mental Health Careers Panel on June 2nd, 2025, that will introduce students to various paths that psychiatry and psychology faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine have taken in shaping their careers. The internship will conclude with participation and presentation in an academic conference on the final day of the summer program, August 9th, 2025.

Please also note: The summer program requires participation Monday through Friday, from 9am until 5pm every day.

Following completion of the summer internship, all students will participate in ongoing mentorship over the course of one additional year, geared toward preparing each student to enroll in a graduate program in mental health (described further below under “Career Development.”)

Students will be assigned to a primary research mentor either at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center on Manhattan’s Upper East Side or NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health (WBH) in White Plains. The program will be mostly in person, though some elements can be done remotely. The specific schedule of in-person vs. remote days will be determined by each student’s research mentor. In addition to their primary research experience, students will have opportunities to shadow in clinical settings on one or both campuses.

A stipend of $4,000 will be provided to each student, along with an additional stipend to cover travel expenses between campuses.  

Students will have rotations in clinical research and basic science laboratories at Weill Cornell Medicine under the supervision of an experienced faculty member.  They will have an opportunity to engage in activities in support of research including data collection (i.e. distributing surveys), data entry and quality reviews, research participant recruitment, and scientific manuscript preparation. Examples of potential areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Exploring efficacy of digital therapeutics in psychotherapy
• The development of psychosocial interventions for middle-aged and older adults with depression, suicidal ideation, chronic pain, or cognitive impairment
• Exploring strategies for addressing the psychological barriers and stigma that deter adults from utilizing mental health care

Students’ research activities will culminate in the production of a poster presentation, which will be presented at an academic conference hosted by Weill Cornell Medicine during the final week of the program.

Students will have an opportunity to observe clinical work by shadowing in selected clinical environments across the inpatient and outpatient settings.

At the conclusion of the internship, students will prepare and present a scientific poster summarizing the work they have contributed to at a Pathways Program academic conference. Students will serve as first author on the poster, with their primary mentor as the final author. 

Students will have the opportunity to attend lectures and didactic seminars, focusing on different areas of mental health treatment, such as various applications of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Additionally, a library of web-based educational opportunities and videos will be provided covering a range of relevant mental health topics to supplement students’ learning during any “down-time” in the program. 

Students will engage in structured career mentorship during the summer program, and ongoing mentorship for one year following completion of the summer program. All students selected for this program will participate in mentorship with faculty members at Weill Cornell Medicine for the duration of that year. Mentorship will center around strengthening readiness and competitiveness for a higher education program in mental health – i.e., enrolling in a doctoral program in Psychology, or enrolling in medical school to pursue a specialization in psychiatry. Specifically, students will receive guidance with preparing for entrance exams, drafting personal statements, strengthening one’s application, networking, and other relevant topics.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the application. Individuals must also belong to one or more of the groups designated by the National Institutes of Heatlh as underrepresented in health-related sciences as follows: 

• Black or African American
• Hispanic or Latino
• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Native Hawaiian
• Other Pacific Islander

• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
  • Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
  • Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families.
  • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years.
  • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants.
  • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child.
    
• Grew up in one of the U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.

Please submit all application materials through our application form. If you have any questions, please contact us at pathways-to-psych@med.cornell.edu. Do not respond to any emails that are sent from an email address not including "@med.cornell.edu." 

Personal Statement

Include a personal statement indicating why you would like to participate in the program and describe your interests related to a career in mental health. Please include any relevant previous research or professional experiences. Essays should be limited to 1500 words.

Transcript/Academic Record

Please upload an unofficial transcript(s) as part of your application. Transcripts for every college or university you have attended must be submitted.

Letter of Recommendation

Please upload 1-2 letters of recommendation as part of this application.

It is recommended that at least one letter of recommendation be from:  1) A research faculty member from a lab you have worked in or who is familiar with your research work. 2) A science faculty instructor with whom you have engaged in coursework, or 3) A program director such as one from any of the following programs: MARC, RISE, McNair, etc.

Your letter(s) of recommendation should comment on your motivation and readiness to begin your pursuit of a career in mental health.

Please note: Letter of recommendation’s should have a proper heading and signature from those who write your letters of recommendation.

Resume/CV

Please upload the most up to date version of your resume or CV. You can also find a resume template here. 

Proof of Citizenship

Please upload one of the following as proof of US Citizenship or permanent resident visa status:

          1) U.S. Citizenship: A copy of your birth certificate or US Passport

OR

          2) Permanent Resident Visa: A copy of your Permanent Resident Visa card.

Vaccination Records

All applicants must have vaccination and health records to share upon selection for the program. While we do not require submission of your vaccination records with your application to our program, please note that any accepted student who does not have up-to-date vaccination and health records will not be allowed to participate in the Pathways to Psych Careers Program.

Privacy Notice: As part of this application, we recognize that you are disclosing private and personal information. Please note that all application materials will only be viewed by leadership of this program to determine acceptance into the program, and that no private information will be shared elsewhere.