The closer to I/O you can get, the better, but it’s not really necessary to be I/O specifically. Cornell does have an Organizational Behavior program (http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/academics/ob.html), which is closely related to I/O, so I’d recommend contacting some folks over there and say you want to get some research experience with the intent of pursuing a Ph.D. One of them might have openings for research assistants, although most will expect you continue in the academic year (which is good). If none of them do, then any research experience in the psychology department is still a good idea.

I am a sophomore psychology major at Cornell University who is seriously considering going on to a PhD in I/O. I stumbled on your blog yesterday and have already spent hours digging through everything. It has been a wonderful resource for a student at a school which, however great, lacks any I/O or applied psychology courses/faculty in its undergrad program. Thank you so much, and please keep it coming!

In addition to praising you, however, I also wanted to ask a question/request a future addition to this blog series: what do you recommend undergrads interested in I/O do with their summers? Research? HR internships? Are there any specific opportunities you would recommend? Once again, thank you