Anyone applying without any research?

[initialize]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm wondering if it's possible to get away with applying to med school without doing any research.

However, I'll have plenty of job shadowing and volunteer experience, as well as a 4.0gpa for my application (MCAT TBD)

Thanks in advance


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Luka75]

Zero research experience and I have 3 acceptances so far! However, don't go apply to research focused schools... MSAR, Can tell you what percentage of the applicant pool has research experience (that's one of the ways I used to make up my school list)

 

[Lawpy]

Applicants perceived research experience as far more important in admissions decisions than actual data indicates

In a 2013 AAMC survey* where 127 medical admissions offices responded, found research experience is only of medium importance at private schools and of low importance to public schools as an experiential factor in offering both interview invitations and acceptance. Healthcare experience, community service/volunteer experience, experience with underserved populations, navigated through cultural barriers or challenges, leadership experience were considered of higher importance in factors for interview invites and offers of acceptances.

*https://www.aamc.org/download/434596/data/usingmcatdata2016.pdf
see page 3 (pdf p7) Table 1. Mean Importance Ratings of Academic, Experiential, and Demographic Application Data Used by Admissions Committees for Making Decisions about Which Applicants to Receive an Interview Invitation and Offer Acceptance (N=127)

yeah research importance is unfortunately exaggerated on SDN for some reason. it's as if Top 20 + MSTP requirements were extrapolated to be applicable for all medical schools (because SDN)

people like to throw in MSAR % to emphasize that every medical school "requires" research but i'm pretty sure those statistics are gathered from applicant data, and applicants themselves miscategorize research to include trivial things such as lab maintenance and dishwashing. independent and productive research is something that's rare and valued.

i like to think of the following:

strong application + strong research + no clinical exposure = lethal
strong application + no research + solid clinical exposure = perfectly fine

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

I didn't do ANY research. No one ever mentioned it.

 

[DrDarce]

I did do research and it mainly helped to solidify that I would never want to do bench research ever again for the rest of my life if I could help it. So I learned something.

 

[BeddingfieldMD]

Research experience never hurts, but it is not "required" to get interviews or acceptances from med schools--even those with heavy research focuses. Where it will come into play more is when applying to residency, especially for competitive residencies or when applying to programs with heavy research interests. So you can work on that while in med school.