I'm trying to decide if I should do a research year after my second year of school. I already have an ophtho project going on which I should get at least a poster out of and probably a paper, and I plan to do a summer stint so if all goes well I will have two papers or one paper and one poster. Is there really any substantial added value to taking an entire year off to do research if I already have some under my belt? I'm 26 already as a m1, so i dont really want to waste time.

If research is your cup of tea, then do it. If not, then you'll have someone like me tease it out of you during the admissions process.

I met many applicants who listed research after research project. When I asked them how their gene worked... uhhhh... no clue. Did they enjoy it? Did they devote 100% into it?