volunteer as research assistant, impossible without ssn!!

so, i found this out the hard way, if this does not belong in this section, please move it.
in order to improve my medical school application, i contacted a professor for a research position. i got the position easily, but application process was difficult.
after running for months to get the correct vaccination, i was stuck with the background check and drug test. the result is, i can't volunteer/
i volunteered at alta bates hospital and that was fine, they did not require so much info, but i guess most hospitals require detailed application/
just makes me really mad that i wasted a whole month trying to fulfill their requirment, and end up with something i can't provide. had i known the outcome, i would not have tried
but at least i learned now.
thought it might be useful to some people.

Hey ilubse7en! I hear you, same thing happened to me. My old professor wanted me to continue our research after I graduated (since he knew I couldn't work due to my status, he thought it would be a good idea to keep doing it so I wouldn't turn into a bum), but we found out they required a SSN or at least a legal status (like student visa) to do a background check for security reasons. The school I went to was in a medical center so it's pretty much a hospital. Anyway, I was really upset about it. Apparently you can't volunteer to do any research for security reasons...

Cant you use a DL number to get a background check?

hey i'm in the same boat as you. what does a background check require? if you dont have a social security or isnt legal status (like student visa) you cant do background check at all? i thought all they do was run your name through system and see if there is a criminal history match.

Well my school did a background check with a private company, I had to give them a call and provide them my passport number (from when I entered the country) and my DL, and that was enough for them. After I graduated, I had to go through the Volunteer and Trainee services part of the hospital and they just told me that without a status (i.e. student, refugee, etc.) I wasn't allowed to volunteer there for security purposes. It didn't matter to them that I could get a background check and pass it. That's all they told me and sent me away...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww man this sucks balls....

crap wtf I need research if I want to get into med-school this is gonna be a killer.....

Hmmmm I'm going to have to find other things or something. Thanks for sharing though.

Check with your school about being a RA for course credit

Hi everyone,

the best way to get research experience is to do it while you are still an enrolled student. After graduation, you can no longer do research in the lab because you don't have status in the US and cannot be paid. Schools cannot accept volunteers due to insurance reasons.

Good luck!

This is funny. I am an undergrad and will interview for a research assistant position tomorrow at my school. It is in the school itself for the econimics department. I doubt it is a paying position, but I will let you guys know how it goes and whether they check for social.

I think this more problematic for people in the sciences, especially those who would be conducting research that requires some security measures and those in medical settings since there are some liability issues.

My ex studied biochem and interned with a lab, he had keys that only those who worked in the building had and had been given special codes for various rooms and buildings.

For those in other fields, just look for unpaid internships. If they are paid, say you want to do it for free and see what happens.