Pre-med research

[bkdavis]

Our pre-med advisor has told us that med schools like students who have done research in one field or another. He told me that 100% of those students who did research got into med school from Utah State last year.

I am planning to do some research in agricultural reproduction next semester. Do Osteopathic schools want applicants to have research? How many of you have done research?

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[Atlas]

Research is not a requirement. Up till now, I have no research to my credit. I think other intangibles are more important: good MCAT scores, experience in a medical setting, and a good rapport with people. Medicine is a "people profession" more than it is a scientific one. If you want to go to a hardcore, research-oriented medical school, do the research and have tons of it. If you want primary care and like DO schools, don't sweat it so much. Besides, having research can bite you in the butt during interview time, especially if the med school tries to pull a fast one and pair you up with a specialist in the field you did research work in! Then you're screwed because you'll get drilled with questions about your research until your head spins! Be careful about getting too involved in the research. Although it looks good, it's definately not a requirement. I think volunteer work with Big bros./Big sis. or helping out with habitat for humanity is better in my opinion because you actually make a difference in other people's lives right before your eyes. Just my 2 cents.

 

[melancholy]

Personally, I think research or lab experience helps no matter where you apply, but is by no means necssary at all. It does give you something extra to write and talk about though.. esp. if you are very involved in research. I know that some lab experience slightly helps when lecturers make references to various lab tests or techniques in that you may already be familiar with that scope of labwork or have worked in that field for a number of years. Overall though, I agree with the above poster.. not necessary although it wouldn't hurt.

 

[Dr JPH]

My own personal feeling is that you shouldn't do research unless there is a project that you are INTERESTED in.

Don't do research just for the sake of doing it.

If you can't speak intently about it in an interview, you may look bad.

Good luck.

 

[daveyboy]

I have done paid research in 4 labs over the last several years, and I think that it is a great thing to do. Being involved in lab research shows that you can take the abstract concepts you have learned in your classes and apply them to a work setting. It also shows that you can solve real, unexpected problems as they arise (experiments almost never work exactly as you would like). Adcoms love that, and besides, it beats a "real job" any day. Additionally, summer fellowships at other universities give you an opportunity to live and work in a new city with other interns. Bottom line, research is definitely a worthwhile endeavor.
Rock on!
-daveyboy

 

[Doc Blondie]

I have to agree. If you do not enjoy the research you are doing it is worthless. It WILL come across in an interveiw that you dilike it, even if you try not to show how much you don't like it. I got accepted to medical school with absolutely no research. You should do things you enjoy and be able to really talk about them and why you did what you did. Your enthusiasm will show in an interview and that is a lot more important then research.