Explore questions about Firsthand below. If you can't find what you're looking for, please contact us! If you'd like more information, share your email here:
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Aid requests are included as part of our online application. Just complete the application and we'll consider your aid request ASAP!
We have rolling admissions, so there is no application deadline. That said, many of our locations will fill up by early April so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Firsthand is a competitive program and we are looking for serious, mature pre-med students with strong grades, a good teacher reference, and a real interest in medicine. Our minimum GPA is 3.0.
If you schedule your video interview quickly, we can often give you an Admission decision within 7-10 days of submitting your application.
Yes! In your online application you can select a preferred location. During your video meeting you can also let us know if you are open to additional locations.
Firsthand is for pre-med students currently enrolled at a US university.
We sometimes ask for a transcript, but not often.
At this time, you must be a US citizen to qualify for a Firsthand program. We hope to open for international applicants in summer 2026.
Our program and housing fee is $3995-$5995 depending on your location. Apply by April 30 for a $1000 flight credit. Our fee includes your housing, some meals, 24/7 staff, all shadowing or simulation activities, weekend excursions, travel insurance and any in-country required transport. Flights and other transport to/from your host location is not included.
Schedules vary by location. Wake-up and breakfast often start around 8:00am each day and then you will head to your hospital partner or medical school for shadowing or simulation activities depending on your program. Healthcare activities last from 9am to about 3 or 4pm from Monday to Thursday, and then Fridays are typically an excursion day. You will have free time throughout the week in evenings and on weekends, except for the Nairobi program, which is highly structured.
Firsthand partners with leading hospitals, medical schools, and simulation centers in our global locations to coordinate simulation and shadowing opportunities.
Accommodation varies by location but will usually be shared dorm, hotel, or airbnb housing where you share a room with another Firsthand student of the same gender. Bathrooms may be shared as well. For more information, ask our Admissions team.
Yes. While our staff do not live in the housing with students, they are nearby and available 24/7 for emergencies and heavily involved in the weekly schedule. All students will be required to have local phone plans and their staff numbers in their phone to contact anytime. All our staff have background checks, speak English and the local language fluently and are trained by Firsthand in our policies and safety procedures.
We know that making summer program decisions can be complicated. If you have questions, want to set up a call, or want our brochure please click below.
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Our primary goal, after safety, is to ensure that every Firsthand student leaves with real, practical guidance on the pre-med path and the journey into a healthcare career. We want your student to look back on Firsthand as one of your most impactful pre-health experiences.
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