Chances of MD acceptance with no research at all

[grindtime1]

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Without even a semester of research, is it possible to get into a US MD school?

 

[chiapet874]

yes

 

[IvyHopeful20]

Eww

 

[IvyHopeful20]

But yes, apparently many schools don't consider research a requirement, so you can.

 

[Barcu]

Without even a semester of research, is it possible to get into a US MD school?

Yes.

But choose schools wisely. Lack of research will decrease competitiveness at many schools (especially top ones) even with competitive numbers.

Certainly there are other ways to stand out besides research, so don't worry too much.

 

[Artest is KING]

Research is becoming the new "thing" to do these days in regards to standing out for admissions to a school (not just medical school, even at the undergraduate level).

Why? Because it shows that you can commit yourself long term to achieve something by analysis and strategy. It also allows your contributions to have a lasting impact to the future of humanity.

Researchers build upon other researchers work. The general perception is that by doing this, we as humans can become more aware of our lives. Having peoples thinking recorded in a strict structure such as a research paper placed in some academic journal can forever be viewed by anyone who has access to the internet. This allows people to learn from your experience. Future researchers can repeat your experiment over and over again to validate it's importance or make adjusts where they see fit.

Ten years ago, medical schools would have probably found being president of an honor society as a "bigger deal" than doing research. But I think their interests have changed over time.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I did it with a 3.1, so yes, definitely.

 

[JonathanMD]

Research is becoming the new "thing" to do these days in regards to standing out for admissions to a school (not just medical school, even at the undergraduate level).

Reason #2: Why? Because it shows that you can commit yourself long term to achieve something by analysis and strategy. It also allows your contributions to have a lasting impact to the future of humanity.

Reason #3: Researchers build upon other researchers work. The general perception is that by doing this, we as humans can become more aware of our lives. Having peoples thinking recorded in a strict structure such as a research paper placed in some academic journal can forever be viewed by anyone who has access to the internet. This allows people to learn from your experience. Future researchers can repeat your experiment over and over again to validate it's importance or make adjusts where they see fit.

Ten years ago, medical schools would have probably found being president of an honor society as a "bigger deal" than doing research. But I think their interests have changed over time.

These are reasons numbers 2 & 3 why research is "the new thing to do these days."

Reason #1: Evidence Based Medicine

The reason to learn research as a physician isn't just some intellectual reason to give you and everyone else warm and fuzzy feelings -- it's there for practical reasons as well.

🙁

 

[muhali3]

Looking at the MSAR, 10-25% of most incoming classes don't have research experience. I've seen many people get accepted without research, just be prepared to explain why you didn't have any. Saying that you weren't interested in the research opportunities your school was offering to undergrads is a perfectly legitimate explanation, and they'd much rather hear that than seeing research you've done but had no interest in. So do it if you want to, but if you don't, fill that void with some other worthwhile activity.

 

[Narmerguy]

Research is becoming the new "thing" to do these days in regards to standing out for admissions to a school (not just medical school, even at the undergraduate level).

Why? Because it shows that you can commit yourself long term to achieve something by analysis and strategy. It also allows your contributions to have a lasting impact to the future of humanity.

Researchers build upon other researchers work. The general perception is that by doing this, we as humans can become more aware of our lives. Having peoples thinking recorded in a strict structure such as a research paper placed in some academic journal can forever be viewed by anyone who has access to the internet. This allows people to learn from your experience. Future researchers can repeat your experiment over and over again to validate it's importance or make adjusts where they see fit.

Ten years ago, medical schools would have probably found being president of an honor society as a "bigger deal" than doing research. But I think their interests have changed over time.

Yes but the sad thing is that for most people doing research, it is on a project that they had no part in creating and in which their PI gives very little creative reign of their own. That's fine, they're undergrads, but it somewhat decreases one's commitment to figuring something out by analysis and careful thought and rather shows that you're willing to follow the instructions of your PI who is trying to figure things out by analysis and careful thought. Sadly, many of us are fine with that because research is just a hoop to jump through and after we've completed however semesters we feel we need to be competitive, we're out.

/pessimism.

 

[ArcGurren]

I did research but I fecking hate it. I hate hate hate basic sciences research with a passion.

 

[Amrazzz]

If you excel at clinical aspects then I see why not...

Been doing research for about 1 year... Clinical > Research for me

 

[s1lver]

Does research within your curriculum count? I think I have to take two of these courses in order to fulfill the graduation requirement...

 

[bannie22]

w/e i had less than a month of research when i finished my apps. LOL

 

[Hanzo Hasashi]

I didn't do any research because I wanted to solely focus on grades, volunteering, and shadowing. Do you think this will fly at an interview?

 

[Meerkatology]

I didn't do any research because I wanted to solely focus on grades, volunteering, and shadowing. Do you think this will fly at an interview?

it's fine but one strategy you can use is to indicate interest in a specialty that doesn't need research.

for instance if you talk extensively about wanting to be a family physician or a hospitalist, research is not needed as a resident or physician in either of these.

clinical experience is especially important in something like family medicine so it would be very reasonable that you focused only on clinical experiences if that's your area of interest.

and of course you don't need to actually go into anything that you talk about in the end.


subspecialties generally require alot of research for instance a GI fellowship etc. so if you have no research, then might not be a good idea to say your looking to become a GI specialist or what not.

 

[Meerkatology]

Does research within your curriculum count? I think I have to take two of these courses in order to fulfill the graduation requirement...

it would help , you should definitely make it clear that you did research for class x,y,z.

because the main reason they want research is to see that you've learned the process/techniques of doing research and it shouldn't matter whether it was for a class or extracurricular.