Could knowing how to program be useful for premeds?

[wellcutcookies]

Hi, I'm just curious as to whether I should pursue programming, if just as a hobby. I think it would be cool to be fluent in a language or two, although I'm not quite sure if that med school adcoms would care. Would they?

Thanks

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[Parklife]

Informatics and IT = the future. Programming is definitely a useful skill for any healthcare professional. If anything, you'll be able to write your own website. You should definitely put it on your application if you've done something related to it.

 

[MT Headed]

Hi, I'm just curious as to whether I should pursue programming, if just as a hobby. I think it would be cool to be fluent in a language or two, although I'm not quite sure if that med school adcoms would care. Would they?

Thanks

They wouldn't care.

Pursue it if you want. I found the logical thinking required in computer programming to be useful for VR and BS portions of the MCAT. Maybe you'll write an app and it will pay for medical school.

 

[DAPI]

This may not be exactly what you are referring to, but if I had time to learn more code, I know HTML, I would learn to program FileMaker Pro and iPhone apps. They seems to give you the most control to make applications that could do work for you instead of just making websites, as I'm assuming you were more referring to.

Thats just me though. Maybe someone with an actually computer background can chime in here on what to learn.

 

[mimelim]

I never studied 'programming' or computer science. However....

1) I got my first summer research position because they needed someone to build them a beowulf cluster for massive data processing. Skills derived from putzing around with computer hardware.

2) I was asked to join a lab in undergrad because they needed someone who understood basic science that could write programs to sort through gathered genomic code. That experience became the focal point of my medical school application. Skills derived from writing scripts for Tribes, Counter-Strike and Starcraft.

3) I designed an online Step 1/shelf exam case database with skills derived primarily from running a Minecraft server/website. (Java and mysql) Not a huge part of my residency application, but something that I was asked about many times on my interview trail. In fact, where I matched at (my first choice) was extremely interested in various programming projects and hardware design that I had done. It is clear since arriving at my residency that they are hopeful to exploit/maximize those skills to produce some new technologies in vascular surgery/surgical education.

Again, never really formally studied, but I would not be where I am right now if I didn't learn skills doing things that I enjoyed doing. If you like it, do it.