Being productive over summer break

[DODoc2Be91]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Got a spew of questions in prep for the summer, would appreciate all the advice!

Is the summer between MSI and MSII an actual break or is it a "break"?

Specifically, how important is it for me to do research if I am possibly interested in one of these fields: FM/IM/EM?

I realize having research can never hurt, but would it but me at a disadvantage if I just utilize my last summer break for myself?

If research is important would it be more advantageous to find clinical research over a basic science or does it not matter as long as I have research experience?

Thanks!

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

Got a spew of questions in prep for the summer, would appreciate all the advice!

Is the summer between MSI and MSII an actual break or is it a "break"?

Specifically, how important is it for me to do research if I am possibly interested in one of these fields: FM/IM/EM?

I realize having research can never hurt, but would it but me at a disadvantage if I just utilize my last summer break for myself?

If research is important would it be more advantageous to find clinical research over a basic science or does it not matter as long as I have research experience?

Thanks!

Depends on the programs you are shooting for. Academic programs (moreso IM/EM) are going to want to see some research. Rural, previously AOA programs won't care as much.
If you are going to do research, do clinical research. It's quicker to pump out a publication.

It is hard to find time in medical school to work on research. Once you get onto rotations you are still busy and people I know are finding it hard to find time, or flat out find research opportunities as a DO. Just my opinion, and some may disagree with me, but if I could go back I would have used that summer to do something research related.

 

[sab3156]

Got a spew of questions in prep for the summer, would appreciate all the advice!

Is the summer between MSI and MSII an actual break or is it a "break"?

Specifically, how important is it for me to do research if I am possibly interested in one of these fields: FM/IM/EM?

I realize having research can never hurt, but would it but me at a disadvantage if I just utilize my last summer break for myself?

If research is important would it be more advantageous to find clinical research over a basic science or does it not matter as long as I have research experience?

Thanks!

Are you an M1 right now? It's getting pretty late, so you better jump on that now if you want to find something...

If you want to match at a strong academic ACGME program, of course you should do research. If you don't care about where you end up and would be happy at a community program somewhere random, you don't need to do research. If your mind changes down the road and you realize that you want to go to a good academic center for residency, and you don't have research, you're in for a lot of regret. Summer between M1 and M2 is a pretty important time to get connected into your field of choice and get research started.

 

[QueenJames]

read FA.

Finish Sketchy micro AND pharm if you can.

Finish Pathoma.

Finish a qbank of your choice (Kaplan or USMLE rx).

That's what I WISH I could have finished when I had my m1 summer break. 🙁

 

[68PGunner]

read FA.

Finish Sketchy micro AND pharm if you can.

Finish Pathoma.

Finish a qbank of your choice (Kaplan or USMLE rx).

That's what I WISH I could have finished when I had my m1 summer break. 🙁

ROFL

You’re snorting way too much coke at this hour.

 

[DODoc2Be91]

Are you an M1 right now? It's getting pretty late, so you better jump on that now if you want to find something...

If you want to match at a strong academic ACGME program, of course you should do research. If you don't care about where you end up and would be happy at a community program somewhere random, you don't need to do research. If your mind changes down the road and you realize that you want to go to a good academic center for residency, and you don't have research, you're in for a lot of regret. Summer between M1 and M2 is a pretty important time to get connected into your field of choice and get research started.

So Im not exactly sure what I want to do down the road. Would it look bad if I did research with no publications in a basic science field vs. Looking at patient outcomes in ED?

I do have a couple years of prior basic benchwork research years ago, but no publications... would that be relevant to for my residency application?

 

[sab3156]

So Im not exactly sure what I want to do down the road. Would it look bad if I did research with no publications in a basic science field vs. Looking at patient outcomes in ED?

It isn't that basic science doesn't look good, it is just really hard to do anything worthwhile. All the residents I have spoken to in a very competitive field in a top program told me to steer clear from basic research because you will never get anything done during school. My mentor also told me that basic research will be a very problematic activity, and that it will be tough to accomplish anything. You really need to be able to show completion of projects and getting things done, that seems to be the main issue.

I do have a couple years of prior basic benchwork research years ago, but no publications... would that be relevant to for my residency application?

You should list publications from before medical school. But medical school research is weighed far more.

 

[DODoc2Be91]

It isn't that basic science doesn't look good, it is just really hard to do anything worthwhile. All the residents I have spoken to in a very competitive field in a top program told me to steer clear from basic research because you will never get anything done during school. My mentor also told me that basic research will be a very problematic activity, and that it will be tough to accomplish anything. You really need to be able to show completion of projects and getting things done, that seems to be the main issue.



You should list publications from before medical school. But medical school research is weighed far more.

In your opinion, if I cant find any clinical research would it be that detrimental if I just take the summer off rather than take a basic science research position with no completion of work? I was literally just told by one of my professors to take a small project but mainly enjoy my last summer.

 

[sab3156]

In your opinion, if I cant find any clinical research would it be that detrimental if I just take the summer off rather than take a basic science research position with no completion of work? I was literally just told by one of my professors to take a small project but mainly enjoy my last summer.

I'm not sure. I would try my hardest to get clinical research ASAP. Put your email on auto-fire and just fire some emails away at tons of academic places and any clinicians in private practice that are involved in research projects. Both of those things (some basic research with no real progress vs. taking the summer off) don't sound like good options.

And please do NOT ever listen to professors at DO schools. They have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to residency, boards (USMLE), or research. Our dean literally tells us that COMLEX is all you need to match in any specialty and his excuse for curriculum diversions away from board relevant material is "we don't teach only for the boards". It's all just bogus nonsense, just avoid those professors and get in touch with real academic people at ACGME programs for real world information.

 

[Chibucks15]

I'm not sure. I would try my hardest to get clinical research ASAP. Put your email on auto-fire and just fire some emails away at tons of academic places and any clinicians in private practice that are involved in research projects. Both of those things (some basic research with no real progress vs. taking the summer off) don't sound like good options.

And please do NOT ever listen to professors at DO schools. They have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to residency, boards (USMLE), or research. Our dean literally tells us that COMLEX is all you need to match in any specialty and his excuse for curriculum diversions away from board relevant material is "we don't teach only for the boards". It's all just bogus nonsense, just avoid those professors and get in touch with real academic people at ACGME programs for real world information.

That's very school specific I believe from people I've talked to about their DO school professors and their knowledge about the process. I'm sorry you have that experience but blanket statements don't help many people. Just my 2 cents for the people passing through. OP do clinical research

 

[sab3156]

That's very school specific I believe from people I've talked to about their DO school professors and their knowledge about the process. I'm sorry you have that experience but blanket statements don't help many people. Just my 2 cents for the people passing through. OP do clinical research

I haven't met a single person who said that they had great mentorship at their DO school. They went outside to ACGME programs to find research and mentorship. At my school (same as your school, I take it), there is a grand total of zero people who know anything about ACGME residency. Which DO school has faculty that are involved in the ACGME residency process? If you are a med student at a DO school, you really won't know if you're getting bad advice or good advice... until you go out into the real world and talk to ACGME faculty.

 

[Chibucks15]

I haven't met a single person who said that they had great mentorship at their DO school. They went outside to ACGME programs to find research and mentorship. At my school (same as your school, I take it), there is a grand total of zero people who know anything about ACGME residency. Which DO school has faculty that are involved in the ACGME residency process? If you are a med student at a DO school, you really won't know if you're getting bad advice or good advice... until you go out into the real world and talk to ACGME faculty.

Eh the people I've talked to seem to be fine with the options available to them. It isn't overly hard to do your own research into what you need to do to get a residency slot, I mean that NRMP survey that floats around here works just fine to give you an idea of what you need to do. Other than that be personable and make connections during rotations and otherwise and you'll end up just fine. I'm at a DO school and have talked to both MDs and DOs during my clinical work prior to starting school, in addition to upperclassmen here. Maybe I just talk to the more laid-back people who don't get all worked up over things largely out of their control, because most DO students didn't have an MD option. But to each their own. I forget that everyone on SDN is going for the uber-competitive and primary care is the 8th circle of hell

EDIT: My advice above is the advice I was given by many on how to succeed in general preparation for residency, obviously in addition to killing boards. Basically they all boiled down to this....Relax, you'll get there, and youll be in the specialty you were meant to with enough hard work. Don't burn yourself out stressing about the gaps in your education just do the best with what you have

 

[QueenJames]

ROFL

You’re snorting way too much coke at this hour.

I'm just saying that's WHAT I WOULD do if I could do my summer break over again.