Concentrate on Classes or do Research ?

[zed350]

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Well, I am a Non -Trad with prior experience of Research and Development (2 years) in field of Mechanical Engineering to go along with research I did in my Post-Grad (M.S.). The dilemma I have is that I am being offered a position in a Microbiology Lab as an intern (Some Research, preparing gels, cleaning glassware kindda stuff). On the other hand I have pretty heavy schedule of classes to go along with volunteering, Clinical research that I am involved in.

So, the question I have is that should I take that job as an intern in Microbiology lab (to get more research experience in a field closer to medicine) and risk my grades while at it or my prior experience in Engineering is good enough to make up for it ?

I could really use some constructive suggestions/advice from you guys. Thanks! 🙂

 

[RxnMan]

What classes are you taking now? Are they in your MS, or are these med school pre-reqs? In the latter, you need to focus on those above all, and not do anything that'll jeapordize you getting A's. In either case, you want to have a full schedule, but you'll also want a doable schedule. To determine that, you'll have to trust your gut on what you think is your maximum you can accomplish with excellence.

On another note - if the internship is all, or even part-time bottle-washing and running gels, I would not go for it. At your level (MS researcher) your time in the lab should be in exchange for pubs and/or $$$ (on the order of $15-20/hr).

 

[zed350]

What classes are you taking now? Are they in your MS, or are these med school pre-reqs? In the latter, you need to focus on those above all, and not do anything that'll jeapordize you getting A's. In either case, you want to have a full schedule, but you'll also want a doable schedule. To determine that, you'll have to trust your gut on what you think is your maximum you can accomplish with excellence.

Thanks for reply RxnMan, well i have a really strange situation. I completed my masters almost 2 years ago from a really good research univ. in US. The problem I have is that I did my Undergrad in a Foreign University ( I am a citizen though) so I have to take pretty much all the pre-reqs again ( like taking the same physics class I was once a TA for, during my Masters..I know its funny).. I actually need to take a total of 90 undergraduate units in a US college/univ. to be eligible to apply to few Med schools i am interseted in.So i have a killer schedules while i try to knock off those units.Hence, the predicament about the research situation.

 

[RxnMan]

I find it hard to believe that a school won't take you because you went to a foreign uni (but I may have glossed over that part of the pre-reqs).

Right now, you have the opportunity to look like a 4.0 student to ADCOMS. If you ace these courses, which you should, then you have a shot at just about any school in the union. At least an interview. That GPA will open many more doors than some research that an internship might provide. I'd focus on the classes above all else, and eschew anything that takes time from them.

 

[QofQuimica]

Thanks for reply RxnMan, well i have a really strange situation. I completed my masters almost 2 years ago from a really good research univ. in US. The problem I have is that I did my Undergrad in a Foreign University ( I am a citizen though) so I have to take pretty much all the pre-reqs again ( like taking the same physics class I was once a TA for, during my Masters..I know its funny).. I actually need to take a total of 90 undergraduate units in a US college/univ. to be eligible to apply to few Med schools i am interseted in.So i have a killer schedules while i try to knock off those units.Hence, the predicament about the research situation.

Screw the research; you'd be a fool to risk your grades to wash glassware. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need research to get into medical school, but you do need a respectable GPA. Anything that prevents you from getting that respectable GPA is something that you want to run from as fast as you can.

 

[melissainsd]

Screw the research; you'd be a fool to risk your grades to wash glassware. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need research to get into medical school, but you do need a respectable GPA. Anything that prevents you from getting that respectable GPA is something that you want to run from as fast as you can.

Agreed. Also, you DO have research (even if it isn't in medicine). The adcoms know that most people claming to do have done research usually performed the monotonous tasks that no one else wanted. You have already shown you can handle research and GPA is FAR more important.

 

[chrisjohn]

Grades grades grades!

Run from that slave labor wanting lab, after you napalm the bench!

 

[Scottish Chap]

I find it hard to believe that a school won't take you because you went to a foreign uni (but I may have glossed over that part of the pre-reqs).

Believe it. Medical schools are very clear about this rule - as stupid as the rule is. Albany, interestingly, was uniquely liberal about this point when I applied three years ago.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Well, I am a Non -Trad with prior experience of Research and Development (2 years) in field of Mechanical Engineering to go along with research I did in my Post-Grad (M.S.). The dilemma I have is that I am being offered a position in a Microbiology Lab as an intern (Some Research, preparing gels, cleaning glassware kindda stuff). On the other hand I have pretty heavy schedule of classes to go along with volunteering, Clinical research that I am involved in.

So, the question I have is that should I take that job as an intern in Microbiology lab (to get more research experience in a field closer to medicine) and risk my grades while at it or my prior experience in Engineering is good enough to make up for it ?

I could really use some constructive suggestions/advice from you guys. Thanks! 🙂

Drop the research like a hot potato. Grades matter FAR more as far as medical school admissions is concerned. Unless you are applying to one of the medical scientist training programs, research plays a minor role in medical school admissions compared to grades, MCAT, and health care exposure. Although the weight given to premed grades and MCAT is questionable for predicting performance in medical school and success as a clinician, it's incredibly difficult to make it there without the numbers.

 

[Law2Doc]

Drop the research like a hot potato. Grades matter FAR more as far as medical school admissions is concerned.

Agreed. A 3.8 and no research beats a 3.2 and lots of research in most adcom's eyes. Lock down the grades first, and if you find you have down time after all, see if you can find a small research project. But never jeopardize grades.

 

[Deepa100]

Believe it. Medical schools are very clear about this rule - as stupid as the rule is. Albany, interestingly, was uniquely liberal about this point when I applied three years ago.

Yes, medicine is very very lucrative for American students and most schools like to protect their turf. MSAR even lists one or two school that require that your high school diploma be from the U.S😱. On a somewhat related topic, I keep hearing that the # of seats in medical schools will be increased so they can have fewer foreign doctors taking the licensing exams in the US.

 

[Law2Doc]

I keep hearing that the # of seats in medical schools will be increased so they can have fewer foreign doctors taking the licensing exams in the US.

Well, the reported target, based on reading between the lines in language in a speech (in 2005?) by a former accrediting organization president, was graduates of caribbean schools, not foreign doctors per se. (Something to the effect of how we should increase seats in the US because it's such a shame so many American students are going offshore for their education, where the quality control may not be the same).

For the rest of you conspiracy theorists, the plan, it seems, is that med school seats get increased (as has now partially been done), but residency slots don't for the time being -- creating a squeeze. I don't think it has any effect on the licensing exam.

 

[Deepa100]

Well, the reported target, based on reading between the lines in language in a speech (in 2005?) by a former accrediting organization president, was graduates of caribbean schools, not foreign doctors per se. (Something to the effect of how we should increase seats in the US because it's such a shame so many American students are going offshore for their education, where the quality control may not be the same).

For the rest of you conspiracy theorists, the plan, it seems, is that med school seats get increased (as has now partially been done), but residency slots don't for the time being -- creating a squeeze. I don't think it has any effect on the licensing exam.

Hey, I don't really care about the licensing part. I am a US citizen myself😉
Just thought it was interesting.

 

[QofQuimica]

Well, the reported target, based on reading between the lines in language in a speech (in 2005?) by a former accrediting organization president, was graduates of caribbean schools, not foreign doctors per se. (Something to the effect of how we should increase seats in the US because it's such a shame so many American students are going offshore for their education, where the quality control may not be the same).

For the rest of you conspiracy theorists, the plan, it seems, is that med school seats get increased (as has now partially been done), but residency slots don't for the time being -- creating a squeeze. I don't think it has any effect on the licensing exam.

I suppose what will end up happening is that more graduates of American schools will wind up going into primary care specialties, which I assume is where many of the Caribbean/foreign grads go now. (I'm not sure whether this is true, so if I'm wrong, anyone with actual data should feel free to correct me.) There will be more American-trained docs, but not more derm and orthopedic surgery slots, so where else can the extra folks go?

 

[Law2Doc]

I suppose what will end up happening is that more graduates of American schools will wind up going into primary care specialties, which I assume is where many of the Caribbean/foreign grads go now. (I'm not sure whether this is true, so if I'm wrong, anyone with actual data should feel free to correct me.) There will be more American-trained docs, but not more derm and orthopedic surgery slots, so where else can the extra folks go?

Exactly.

 

[Deepa100]

I suppose what will end up happening is that more graduates of American schools will wind up going into primary care specialties, which I assume is where many of the Caribbean/foreign grads go now. (I'm not sure whether this is true, so if I'm wrong, anyone with actual data should feel free to correct me.) There will be more American-trained docs, but not more derm and orthopedic surgery slots, so where else can the extra folks go?

The two Indian doctors I know are M.D's in Cardiology. They got their MBBS from Inida and did the residencies in the U.S. But may be these two are not the norm, they are both extremely bright.