Case Report as Undergrad?

[Brown429]

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I have enrolled into a BA/MD program. I am coming up into my junior year and contacted a radiologist (Interventionalist) to do some research. He told me to do a case report. He said this would be a good thing to start up on, giving me an early start on medical research. I am just wondering if this would be over my head? Also, I realize that connections are huge...soo an early interest can pay off in another 5 years...

I realize it is early, but why not? I do not have to take the MCAT, apply, interview, its all over. Also, contacted the residency director for Derm. It is not going to hurt me.

I am afraid of giving them shotty work because I am not a medical student...thus ruining thier impression of me? Thoughts?

 

[39094]

I have enrolled into a BA/MD program. I am coming up into my junior year and contacted a radiologist (Interventionalist) to do some research. He told me to do a case report. He said this would be a good thing to start up on, giving me an early start on medical research. I am just wondering if this would be over my head? Also, I realize that connections are huge...soo an early interest can pay off in another 5 years...

I realize it is early, but why not? I do not have to take the MCAT, apply, interview, its all over. Also, contacted the residency director for Derm. It is not going to hurt me.

I am afraid of giving them shotty work because I am not a medical student...thus ruining thier impression of me? Thoughts?

When I started in my undergrad lab I remember asking my PI what this 5-apostrophe thing was doing in front of my DNA sequence. He chuckled and gave me a quick lecture on molecular biology and I went from there.

Seriously, it's never too early to do research. Sure, you'll be inefficient, you'll sound like a ***** in your first draft and you'll be glued to the internet googling every word but you'll learn more writing the case report than you probably learned in the last year of classes.

I also suspect that if your mentor suggested a case report he's going to be willing to help you through it. Just remember: copying one person's work is plagiarism, copying many people's work is research. Go out and read a bunch of case studies and then mimic the styles that you see. Getting involved early in research is a fantastic way to network with the same people that are going to be grading you and reading your residency apps. in the future. I think you've got a good thing going here.

Good luck!