CC-->4 Year-->MD/DO. Research problems?

[xnfs93hy]

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I just got back a few hours ago from my CC where I signed up or two dual enrollment courses.

I'm taking Intro to Business and intro to Philosophy. One Gen.Ed. and the other and introductory business class.
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Basically, I have not been posting lately because I have been studying to retake the SAT's and relearning Algebra II. I hope to score up to 2100 but we will see. Deciding not to take the ACT's or any SAT Subject Tests. So I'm just focusing on the SAT I. I'm also self studying Calculus I in a few months. I feel that I am pretty ready and I can just take the AP Exam afterwards this coming may.
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So that is where I am right now.

I'm pretty sure I want to transfer to Rutgers. A lot of schools outside of the state do not seem to ever accept ALL of your credits it seems. Like, OSU def. doesn't accept everything I would take, no matter how I look at it, and I don't want to have to get sophomore standing when I should be a junior (or year 3 or whatever). So I'm just going to stay in state. There are a few other schools I plan on applying to in a year or two (if I stay two).
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So what is my point?

Well, I think I've read enough threads to know that I should leave the pre meds reqs. for the four year. Start volunteering, do clinical experience, blah blah blah.

But what about research?

I know that for MD/P.hD you NEED research. But is it helpful to have for just regular MD/DO?

The thing is, I may end up spending 2 years at the CC instead of one. And I don't know how I would be able to go about getting any type of research done.

But I imagine that I should be able to fulfill everything else right?

High GPA
Clinical Experience
Volunteer work

What else is there? Research? Or am I missing something here? I just want to make sure I do this right. I don't want having little no research become a hinderance to gaining admission to an allopathic medical school.

 

[adeline]

Research schools care about research. The rest, eh.

Call the local statie and see if they're looking for vols. Is there a teaching hospital near you? Ask them.

 

[coldkatanagirl]

The thing is, I may end up spending 2 years at the CC instead of one. And I don't know how I would be able to go about getting any type of research done.

It's possible to do research at a community college... I imagine there aren't as many opportunities as a big research university, but you never know unless you keep your eyes open.

 

[Vicviper]

I spent three years at my Community College, then transferred and graduated as a Super Senior - I can attest to the fact that it's still very possible to do research. Most often research is done as a junior or a senior anyways. After I transferred I was able to find a research lab at my University (UC, Irvine), and I'm about to have my second primary authorship paper published - so it is very possible.

And if worse comes to worse you could always apply for a Ph.d program after you get your Medical Degree.

 

[xnfs93hy]

I'm almost thinking I should just take a year off or something or do a research heavy masters program or something, because I want to do MD/P.hD, because everything is paid for.

But that is not a definite plan because I still haven't even done research so I really have no idea if it is something that I will like. But I can't help planning ahead..

 

[adeline]

Think "explore" not "plan".

 

[Vicviper]

Think "explore" not "plan".

Yeah, for all you know at this point you may hate the thought of going medicine in a few years.

My Brother was always decided on Medicine throughout highschool, and then he started college, and did the standard pre-med first two years - and got a 4.0 GPA through Ochem, Gchem, Calc, Bio, Microbio, Physics, everything... and then one night when he was working in the chem lab as a lab tech he cut his hand open and realized he passes out at the sight of blood. Yeah, 2 amazing years down the drain, and he went into computer science.

So yeah, don't make such particular plans now, it's way too early for that. Also, some people find research REALLY boring after they start doing it.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I'm almost thinking I should just take a year off or something or do a research heavy masters program or something, because I want to do MD/P.hD, because everything is paid for.

But that is not a definite plan because I still haven't even done research so I really have no idea if it is something that I will like. But I can't help planning ahead..

This is the dumbest reason to do an MD/PhD.

Your other posts have indicated that you don't even really know what "research" means or looks like on any practical level. At one point you admitted you'd never even read a journal article. You need to actually learn what an MD/PhD entails, and stop thinking with your wallet.

 

[URHere]

This is the dumbest reason to do an MD/PhD.

Amen to that.

Even if you manage to get into an MD/PhD program that is fully funded, not all MD/PhD stipends allow for very comfortable living. You will see your MD-only classmates get through school (and sometimes residency) before you even graduate. You will watch them move forward in their fields. You will watch their salaries climb while you are still steady at $20-25K each year (if you are lucky...some programs don't pay you at all). You may even watch your stipend plummet again once you enter the clerkship years. You may get married only to find that you don't have the money to support having children until after you graduate...and that you won't be graduating for several more years.

Granted, some programs pay enough for you to build up a decent savings, but you still have to watch all of your friends move on while you are working through seemingly endless years in lab...in the end, if you don't love it, the money won't be enough to keep you happy.