Who says you can't boost your resume at school?

Lectures. Class. Assignments. Tutorials. Some students claim that university is “so much work!” What these students may be surprised to find out is that this “work” can have significant positive applications in their communities, growth, and employment, and even grant them funding equivalent to a part time job.

Some people suggest that there is an ever-growing need for research in our society. They claim we lack drugs, knowledge on risk factors for disease, and understandings of how concepts work or are applicable to our society. This is where a student can be of great help. By completing a literature review, a student can help improve knowledge or applications of a concept. One can apply for funding from an organization that relates to their topic of interest, (such as the Canadian Cancer Society for a review on dietary fiber as a risk factor for colon cancer, for instance), get together with a group of peers, pick a publication journal of interest, and design the review for this journal. Many grants and journals specify what they are looking for in a review, to help a student stay on the right track to complete their project.

The benefits for the organization? Students already have experience with literature reviews. Many of their textbook readings are literature reviews themselves and so we already understand the structure and wording of an effective review from recalling the types of course readings.

Organizations such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Canadian Institutes for Health Information, and Canadian Public Health Association, and Canadian Cancer Society, among others, are happy to help support students in this area. Contact their research or student departments for more information.