Anyone NOT do any research??

[i77ac]

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Just wondering...

I've done plenty of volunteering and health-related work experience, and currently am an executive director of a nonprofit organization in Cali. But I have no research experience. I'm fairly confident of my background, but I see almost everyone doing research of some sort... Anyone else doing something else besides research??

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Sure, we all do stuff besides research, but lots of us do research too. I doubt anyone just does research only, because its a bad idea to be monotonous. But plenty of people get in without any research. Some say its harder to get into the top ranked research schools without research experience, but this boggles my mind, as those top schools just feed radiology, dermatology residencies and do not create too many research grant recieving scientists.

 

[krebse]

Not a day of research in my life and I couldn't care less...it's not what I want to do, I see the value in it, but I want to work with patients, why sell out and do it just to appease an adcom?

 

[i77ac]

Not a day of research in my life and I couldn't care less...it's not what I want to do, I see the value in it, but I want to work with patients, why sell out and do it just to appease an adcom?

agreed 👍

 

[mamaMD]

I have no plans to do any research either.

MamaMD

 

[missbonnie]

I didn't do anything extensive, just 2 summers worth.

I'm not a big fan of research either, but it IS valuable, not just for you getting accepted into med school. It has you appreciate where all the facts/data that you are learning and will be learning came from. It has you question things and not just take anything cuz someone said it was true. You learn to distinguish between scientific method proven facts vs fluff. This will become especially important when you are reach your clinical yrs and ultimately practicing as you need to figure out what is right and what is wrong.

I would do some, at least a summer. All top medical schools basically require it, I think. An unspoken req. Remember, a HUGE part of medicine is the research behind it and a lot of doctors participate in it.

b

 

[hapkidochic]

I would do some, at least a summer. All top medical schools basically require it, I think. An unspoken req. Remember, a HUGE part of medicine is the research behind it and a lot of doctors participate in it.

b

i'm going to have to disagree with the opinion that all top schools basically require research. I'll be attending Pitt next year, which is a top research institution and i've never done a day of research in my life. My opinion is do research if you want to do it, but if you have no interest in it, don't feel obligated to do it.

 

[bigdan]

i77-
Hmmm...I'd love to hear more about what you're doing...we may have similar paths. I am an OT by trade, and am now Director of Clinical Services/Acting ED at a not-for-profit medical rehab organization.
I have done no research whatsoever. I did get a few publications under my belt, and I'd think you may have some experiences to draw from that would allow you to do the same, if you're looking for more to do. I like to think that I have an intimate knowledge of patient care, but also the "other things" that exist in healthcare, like reimbursement and business influence on care. That will be, IMHO, beneficial in the future when we are physicians.
Best of luck.

dc

 

[willthatsall]

No research at all here. I kind of have a reason in that I play a varsity sport so I don't have much time for continuous research, but that's more of an excuse than a reason.

 

[wends]

I have no research experience either, although I am thinking of doing a 4th year project just to have some experience. I have plenty of EC's, but nothing extraordinary like director of anything or volunteer in Botswana, so I think i just might do some research to cover all the bases.

 

[Anka]

I did a lot of research, but when I went to interviews they seemed more interested in deliverables (papers, abstracts) than "the experience". It sounds like you have some great deliverables from your non-prof experience -- I wouldn't worry too much about the research. My own lack of volunteer experience was never mentioned, except to make sure that I had enough clinical time to ensure I was making an educated decision.

Best of luck,

Anka

 

[Termwean]

No research for me either.

 

[8744]

I would say that the greater majority of my class have done no research whatsoever. Would I be wrong to say that most medical school applicants don't?

 

[i77ac]

i77-
Hmmm...I'd love to hear more about what you're doing...we may have similar paths. I am an OT by trade, and am now Director of Clinical Services/Acting ED at a not-for-profit medical rehab organization.
I have done no research whatsoever. I did get a few publications under my belt, and I'd think you may have some experiences to draw from that would allow you to do the same, if you're looking for more to do. I like to think that I have an intimate knowledge of patient care, but also the "other things" that exist in healthcare, like reimbursement and business influence on care. That will be, IMHO, beneficial in the future when we are physicians.
Best of luck.

dc

bigdan,

Good to hear that you are actively involved in your community! I think our work definitely provides us a better, more personal patient care experience.

I actually have more than one job. I am the board of director of the Medical Division of the Tujunga-Sunland CERT; Also am executive director of Youth and Nation--a nonprofit that serves at-risk and disabled children and teens; And on the safety committee of the Tujunga Saftety Committee; And lastly, am the Chief Program Coordinator for Shalom Center T.R.E.E in Los Angeles.

 

[mikedc813]

I did no research whatsoever. Doesn't seem to have hurt me very much. Lots of med schools think it's great if you do it, but won't think it's horrible if you didn't.

 

[kaikai128]

NO research for me. I had a job doing Laboratory Inspections evaluating laboratories for University/EPA/OSHA violations...but have not spent a day researching. I eventually quit that job because I loathed the 15hrs/week that I was required to spend in labs. I don't know if it will hurt me, that is yet to be seen. 🙂

 

[calcrew14]

I like this thread so I'll say it again that Harvard and UCSF did offer interview to an applicant who had never spent a second in research. Science fair in intermediate school doesn't count, right?

A lot of adcoms like diversification. The interview offer, if academically sincere and legit, means that both schools are are willing to give a chance to a newbie. Stanford rejected him post secondary though. So the school prefers ready-made-ready-to-go applicant.

And some good school does accept a mediocre applicant without any research experience at all. But don't bet your car on it though.

 

[i77ac]

calcrew14,

I am not sure if you mean that I am a newbie. I hope you don't think just because I lack a science research experience is equivalent to being a amateur in the field. Personally, I have good enough of academic, science excellence from my undergrad years. I went to a top university with solid GPA and MCAT... but again, who cares... grades are great, but they are just numbers. Not that research is worthless. I think they are great for some. But I believe not all. I happen to value in-person, interactive working atmosphere.

And even though I do not have "scientific" research experience, my job entails plenty of identifying, studying, and proposing of solutions to urgent problems of the communities whom we serve.

 

[Cerbernator]

I have no research, I despise research and would rather drink bleach

 

[calcrew14]

calcrew14,

I am not sure if you mean that I am a newbie. I hope you don't think just because I lack a science research experience is equivalent to being a amateur in the field.

No, not at all. "Newbie" refers to any first year medical student who is involved in scientific research for the first time. I know that you are toning it down when you say that you are (fairly) confident in your backgroud.

I agree with you and everyone that research is essential in medicine. Although the incidences in my post suggest that it is not so for medical school applicant, its value can not be denied. Research experience does make stronger application. Good luck.

 

[BubbleBobble]

Research...blah.

I started it as part of an honors requirement this year, but dropped it after I got sick of my professor and grad student being extremely unhelpful. Basically, I wasn't given a budget, and had to pay for everything (experimental supplies, equipment, books, *copies*) out of my own pocket. My professor was gone for half the time I worked there, and my grad student basically told me that he was going to be too busy to help me out midway through.

So yeah, I don't know how you people can do it. Blah...spent half of my time trying to figure out what I was going to do and the other half trying to find a way to do it as cheaply as possible.

 

[hamhamfan]

Research...blah.

I started it as part of an honors requirement this year, but dropped it after I got sick of my professor and grad student being extremely unhelpful. Basically, I wasn't given a budget, and had to pay for everything (experimental supplies, equipment, books, *copies*) out of my own pocket. My professor was gone for half the time I worked there, and my grad student basically told me that he was going to be too busy to help me out midway through.

So yeah, I don't know how you people can do it. Blah...spent half of my time trying to figure out what I was going to do and the other half trying to find a way to do it as cheaply as possible.

OMG that must have been so expensive doing that. Couldn't you find a professor/program that would provide the supplies?

 

[BubbleBobble]

OMG that must have been so expensive doing that. Couldn't you find a professor/program that would provide the supplies?

Probably. I didn't end up paying for more than the copies, because I planned it out ahead of time, thinking that I would get a budget. When I found out that that wasn't going to be the case, I got pretty depressed about the whole research thing and just dropped it. I figure that if I wasn't going to get any help financially or academically, it just wasn't worth it.

Having said all this, I'm required to do research to graduate from med school, so we'll see if it's any better.

 

[calcrew14]

Research...blah.

I started it as part of an honors requirement this year, ...... QUOTE]

Hey, thanks. That's something I'd like to hear, anything beyond the whether- or-not-we-need/do-it. I always think that it is only another round of dice rolling. Many of those who get in are just lucky. No matter how much others want to do it, nothing is availble. What do these students have to do to get accepted for the first time?

 

[BubbleBobble]

Research...blah.

I started it as part of an honors requirement this year, ...... QUOTE]

Hey, thanks. That's something I'd like to hear, anything beyond the whether- or-not-we-need/do-it. I always think that it is only another round of dice rolling. Many of those who get in are just lucky. No matter how much others want to do it, nothing is availble. What do these students have to do to get accepted for the first time?

There's no magic formula. We certainly would have found it out by now if there was one.

You need to show that you're smart (through MCATs), hard-working (through grades), compassionate (through extra-curriculars), and dedicated (through extra-curriculars/interview). You have to know why you want to be a doctor and not something else, and you have to be able to show what you've done so far to help you learn about your chosen career path.

Does it help to do research? Only if you like it, and will be able to discuss it.