Another "freaking about because I have no research experience" thread.

[monkeyhihi]

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Hey guys, I've been doing research on med schools that I'd want to apply to (going to apply for the 2014/2015 cycle,) and I've been busy looking at the MSAR and freaking myself out because of my lack of research experience. I've done a little bit of shadowing and non-medical related volunteering but that's about it-- no research whatsoever. My only real stand-out feature is that I've been heavily involved in my Chinese program at my college. I've studied abroad in China for 3 weeks after my Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years, and I'm currently spending a year abroad in Shanghai taking language courses before I come back and finish my Senior year. I know it's not medically related at all, but it's an enjoyable challenge and I have a lot of fun doing it.

Be honest guys, am I going to be ****ed?

 

[Mr Avante]

Hey guys, I've been doing research on med schools that I'd want to apply to (going to apply for the 2014/2015 cycle,) and I've been busy looking at the MSAR and freaking myself out because of my lack of research experience. I've done a little bit of shadowing and non-medical related volunteering but that's about it-- no research whatsoever. My only real stand-out feature is that I've been heavily involved in my Chinese program at my college. I've studied abroad in China for 3 weeks after my Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years, and I'm currently spending a year abroad in Shanghai taking language courses before I come back and finish my Senior year. I know it's not medically related at all, but it's an enjoyable challenge and I have a lot of fun doing it.

Be honest guys, am I going to be ****ed?

Research experience is optional and doesn't guarantee an acceptance.
Focus on your volunteering and shadowing experiences.

 

[yehhhboiii]

no, research is the icing on the cake. what's important is being able to have a good answer when people ask you "why medicine". this is easiest to do if you have a good anecdote that really demonstrates why you want to be a doctor instead of just saying "i love biology and i want to help people". having valuable patient interactions and being able to describe them to someone is the value of volunteering (as well as the implied humanitarianism)

 

[Mavs88]

Are you applying to top-tier research heavy med schools? If not, you don't need really research. How much medical volunteering an shadowing do you have exactly?

The Chinese EC will help a lot IMO.

 

[NYCNative]

The Chinese EC will help a lot IMO.

+1, and when you return, try to get involved as a medical volunteer with the Chinese immigrant community.

 

[monkeyhihi]

Are you applying to top-tier research heavy med schools? If not, you don't need really research. How much medical volunteering an shadowing do you have exactly?

The Chinese EC will help a lot IMO.

I'm still feeling out the med schools, but it's incredibly disheartening when you look at the MSAR stats and you see that 90% of people who've matriculated had research and medical volunteering. You misread though, (unfortunately for me...) I've done about 40 hours of *non-medical* volunteering and only about 15 hours of shadowing experience. (Not a lot, I know.)

(Begin panicked rationalization) However, I've been interested in medicine for a while and the shadowing for me was just extra confirmation that "YES. This is awesome, and this is what I want to do." My father is also a physician and I've spent way too much time hanging out in his practice and a little bit of time following him around the hospital he works at growing up, so it's not like my shadowing experience has been my only exposure to the medical field. (End panicked rationalization)

 

[monkeyhihi]

+1, and when you return, try to get involved as a medical volunteer with the Chinese immigrant community.

This is very heartening to hear. I'd love to get some volunteering done with the immigrant community in my college's city... who knows how much of a pain that'll be to try and set that up during the school year. Definitely one of those "If you want it, you'll make it happen," sort of deals.

 

[Member67988]

.

 

[Ismet]

Your lack of clinical experience is more concerning than your lack of research.

 

[monkeyhihi]

Your lack of clinical experience is more concerning than your lack of research.

Well at least I know where the issue is.

edit: Question: Is it still worthwhile to continue shadowing even after I've submitted my application over the summer? (The answer is yes... right?)

 

[NYCNative]

Well at least I know where the issue is.

edit: Question: Is it still worthwhile to continue shadowing even after I've submitted my application over the summer? (The answer is yes... right?)

I think you should take a gap year: at this point, in all likelihood, you will be a re-applicant anyways, even possibly with a great score. 15 hours of shadowing (and 4o hours of volunteering) just isn't going to cut it. Move home and work or volunteer for a hospital and some various other medical activities.