2 questions

[72531]

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1. Does it look bad to be doing research in a lab for a year full-time and have no publication? I feel like lots of people have multiple publications on here...
2. I haven't seen that many people with volunteering experience in nursing homes on here, mostly hospitals. Does it make a difference?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

1) crap...Ive been doing research for 2.5 years and still dont have a pub...so dont worry as long as you can talk about it intelligently
2)...no not really.

 

[Mobius1985]

Most people don't have publications when they apply.

A nursing home is another great place to have clinical experience and do community service. (I did a lot of mine in one.)

 

[135892]

1. Does it look bad to be doing research in a lab for a year full-time and have no publication? I feel like lots of people have multiple publications on here...
2. I haven't seen that many people with volunteering experience in nursing homes on here, mostly hospitals. Does it make a difference?

1) NO

2) NO... although variety is certainly a good thing

 

[TexasPhysician]

1. Does it look bad to be doing research in a lab for a year full-time and have no publication? I feel like lots of people have multiple publications on here...
2. I haven't seen that many people with volunteering experience in nursing homes on here, mostly hospitals. Does it make a difference?

I volunteered in a nursing home. It started off as general socializing and helping with games and stuff. Then I found this guy would loved to play checkers, and I switched to playing checkers every week against this guy.

It took me 2 months of at least 3 games/week to finally beat this guy. I wanted to stand up, do a victory dance in his face, and scream at the top of my lungs.

 

[Myuu]

1) I've worked in one for a year and haven't done anything publication-worthy. Necessary, sure. Productive and beneficial for the group, absolutely. Pub-worthy? No way!👍

2) No, but it might give you something different to talk about.👍

 

[BlueElmo]

I worked in a lab for over a year too, and I don't have pubs either.

 

[Appless]

Just because a lot of people on SDN have something doesnt mean all pre meds have something...remmeber sdn isnt representative of the people applying. If it was med school averages would be through the roof😉

 

[chiz2kul]

1. Does it look bad to be doing research in a lab for a year full-time and have no publication? I feel like lots of people have multiple publications on here...
2. I haven't seen that many people with volunteering experience in nursing homes on here, mostly hospitals. Does it make a difference?

1) I did 'research' for ~3months. Cldn't stand it much longer. Of course, no pubs.
2) No.

 

[dr zaius]

Sometimes you're lucky and get a project that can be completed in a year and submitted to a journal. Often times this isn't the case! Research is a fickle b*tch.

 

[PremedIowa]

Some of my faculty interviewers specifically said they were not concerned with publications because they often represent luck (getting into the right lab with a project ready to rock) rather than skill (developing your own idea and carrying it through).

I would probably think that nursing homes and hospice centers provide better exposure to patient care than hospitals do. If you can, I would try to shadow the medical director of the nursing home for a closer look at what physicians do as well.

Good luck!

 

[BlueElmo]

Sometimes you're lucky and get a project that can be completed in a year and submitted to a journal. Often times this isn't the case! Research is a fickle b*tch.

I agree. If medical schools didin't want it, I would NEVER EVER do research.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Some of my faculty interviewers specifically said they were not concerned with publications because they often represent luck (getting into the right lab with a project ready to rock) rather than skill (developing your own idea and carrying it through).

I would probably think that nursing homes and hospice centers provide better exposure to patient care than hospitals do. If you can, I would try to shadow the medical director of the nursing home for a closer look at what physicians do as well.

Good luck!

Wow! I wouldn't work with that faculty member ever! While publications aren't necessary for pre-meds, they are vital for PhD's to often keep their jobs. To get an academic position as an MD, you often need multiple publications. When you become a medical student, I would advise you to not begin doing research unless your PI assumes the project has a good chance of publishing and that you will get your name on it.

 

[235009]

If medical schools didin't want it, I would NEVER EVER do research.

👎

 

[BlueElmo]

👎

I give myself a 👍. Thank you very much.

 

[WannaBeMD89]

1. Research is great on your application and pretty much a must have, but publications, no.

2. No, it will actually give you a different approach to medicine and you'll most likely get better patient contact there, and it's something different you could talk about if it came up in interviews.

 

[witness23]

the OP did research full time people. there is a big difference between being in a lab 40 - 60 hours a week (if you control your research and its basic science you are probably in 50 hours a week +) to 2 days a week during the semester.

try to get more involved. if you are a technician it will be hard. but if you are hired on a student scale by a mentor (paid like sh%t too) you should be able to knock out some pubs, and probably a 1st author.

a little bit of luck and putting yourself in the right place. you really have to want it though. which you probably do, because you most likely took a pay cut working at a lab

 

[72531]

the OP did research full time people. there is a big difference between being in a lab 40 - 60 hours a week (if you control your research and its basic science you are probably in 50 hours a week +) to 2 days a week during the semester.

try to get more involved. if you are a technician it will be hard. but if you are hired on a student scale by a mentor (paid like sh%t too) you should be able to knock out some pubs, and probably a 1st author.

a little bit of luck and putting yourself in the right place. you really have to want it though. which you probably do, because you most likely took a pay cut working at a lab

I was a Masters student. Including my rotation I will have been there 11 months by the time I leave. I'm not getting paid. Other students I know aren't getting publications either (with the exception of one) I think it's all about luck and getting in a really good lab. I was misled because my PI has lots of work and publications but the actual lab hasn't had any in awhile. You make it sound so easy. I know PhDs who would LOVE to get some publications let alone 1st author and this at at Hopkins!

 

[Myuu]

the OP did research full time people. there is a big difference between being in a lab 40 - 60 hours a week (if you control your research and its basic science you are probably in 50 hours a week +) to 2 days a week during the semester.

try to get more involved. if you are a technician it will be hard. but if you are hired on a student scale by a mentor (paid like sh%t too) you should be able to knock out some pubs, and probably a 1st author.

If you work at an academic lab, maybe. Government/industrial R&D? Not very likely.


Edit: I say this only so that others seeking publications will consider their options seriously.

 

[72531]

Oh and I volunteered at a couple nursing homes and felt my experiences there were more fulfilling. When I was in a hospital or a health center I worked partially at a concierge desk or in medical records. I don't think that is really helping me get the patient contact I'm looking for.

 

[chiz2kul]

I agree. If medical schools didin't want it, I would NEVER EVER do research.

I'll give you one too 👍

 

[Conky]

I agree. If medical schools didin't want it, I would NEVER EVER do research.

👍

 

[Bryson17]

This thread is a little more reassuring. I've been in my lab (Master's student) for 1.5 yrs and no pubs. Working on it though! Hopefully finish up experiments this summer and publish in the fall.

 

[BlueElmo]

Thanks chiz and Conky!
Let's give ourselves a big 👍.

 

[witness23]

tenured track faculty will be less inclined to put out pubs (sometimes) and also when you meet your PI for the first time to discuss intentions, tell them you are applying to md/phd or phd. you will be more likely to get a better indy project.

again, you dont need pubs tho

 

[235009]

I agree. If medical schools didin't want it, I would NEVER EVER do research.

👎

I give myself a 👍. Thank you very much.

I'll give you one too 👍

👍

Thanks chiz and Conky!
Let's give ourselves a big 👍.

i gave you a 👎 because you shouldn't be doing something you don't want to do because you think med schools want to see it. i think wet lab research sucks too and didn't do any in undergrad. sure, it might put u at a bit of a disadvantage at big research-intensive schools but if you don't like research then y would you care about going to one of those schools anyway??

 

[BlueElmo]

i gave you a 👎 because you shouldn't be doing something you don't want to do because you think med schools want to see it. i think wet lab research sucks too and didn't do any in undergrad. sure, it might put u at a bit of a disadvantage at big research-intensive schools but if you don't like research then y would you care about going to one of those schools anyway??

I don't want to do it, but I'm going to do it anyways because it's almost a de facto requirement. Sometimes, you have to do things you don't like to do if you want to get ahead in life.