Different publications other than science?

[PressPforPi]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Just a quick question for those stalking the SDN forums at 4a.m. I know science publications are very nice to have on your app., but what about ones in the areas of humanities or social sciences?

 

[apumic]

Same. It's research. Honestly, outside the sciences is probably better simply b/c you likely had more to do w/ the actual design of the project.

 

[Law2Doc]

Just a quick question for those stalking the SDN forums at 4a.m. I know science publications are very nice to have on your app., but what about ones in the areas of humanities or social sciences?

The publications that are highly regarded in those fields will look good, although folks who research in the science world are always going to find something closer to their field more personally interesting. If you are publishing in the local newspaper or highlights or penthouse forum, I would probably not expect the same. You also have to realize that research which leads to publication is regarded more highly than simply a publication. The problem with most humanities/social science publications is that they tend to be more library research and less of the "testing a hypothesis" kind of research. And in medicine the pinnacle of publication is the peer reviewed article. Most social sciences/humanities don't use this system, and some editorial board will simply decide if something is publishable. So that's a big difference, and some will use it to "downgrade" your publication as not having passed muster.

So the short answer is that if you have non-sci articles (as I did in law), definitely list them in your application, there is some value to these. But if you are just starting out in research, the goal should be to find someone doing scientific research that will lead to a peer reviewed publication that you can be on, because that will be the highest regarded in the medical field (and for CV purposes).

 

[PressPforPi]

The publications that are highly regarded in those fields will look good, although folks who research in the science world are always going to find something closer to their field more personally interesting. If you are publishing in the local newspaper or highlights or penthouse forum, I would probably not expect the same. You also have to realize that research which leads to publication is regarded more highly than simply a publication. The problem with most humanities/social science publications is that they tend to be more library research and less of the "testing a hypothesis" kind of research. And in medicine the pinnacle of publication is the peer reviewed article. Most social sciences/humanities don't use this system, and some editorial board will simply decide if something is publishable. So that's a big difference, and some will use it to "downgrade" your publication as not having passed muster.

So the short answer is that if you have non-sci articles (as I did in law), definitely list them in your application, there is some value to these. But if you are just starting out in research, the goal should be to find someone doing scientific research that will lead to a peer reviewed publication that you can be on, because that will be the highest regarded in the medical field (and for CV purposes).

Thanks a lot L2D. You were a lawyer before you were a doctor correct? If so, that's damn awesome!

 

[TexasPhysician]

Same. It's research. Honestly, outside the sciences is probably better simply b/c you likely had more to do w/ the actual design of the project.

Just the opposite. Research elsewhere is still good research, but it won't beat science research. Medical schools are not very familiar with non-science journals if you publish, and interviewers may push to see why you want to advance other fields than your own.

If by non-science research, you mean research in clinical psychology or something somewhat related to a clinical perspective - 👍

 

[CattleBruiser]

Same. It's research. Honestly, outside the sciences is probably better simply b/c you likely had more to do w/ the actual design of the project.

No offense, but humanities and social studies "research" cannot hold a candle to research in the hard sciences. And to assume anyone less than a grad student can make meaningful contributions to projects including designing projects is pretty ridiculous.

If all you have are the non-science publications, I hope they are somewhat related to medicine unless you are writing the next Harry Potter. Still, include them in your application because it will be a plus, but don't expect it to get you into med school.

 

[Lil Mick]

It is possible to design and analyze a solid study in the social sciences as an undergraduate or high school student (went that route myself). When I applied to MD/PhD programs, my more substantial research experiences were in the social sciences/environmental sciene/humanities, and none of my interviewers looked down on my research as "less than" their research in the hard sciences. For me, it was more difficult to come up with substantial research in my social science experiences than it has been with biomathematics research. Since many fields are intimately connected (social, biological, mathematics) in the field of medicine, I'm not sure that one field can be deemed more valuable or more important than the other fields in giving us a more complete picture of disease.

 

[devilpup]

No offense, but humanities and social studies "research" cannot hold a candle to research in the hard sciences. And to assume anyone less than a grad student can make meaningful contributions to projects including designing projects is pretty ridiculous.

If all you have are the non-science publications, I hope they are somewhat related to medicine unless you are writing the next Harry Potter. Still, include them in your application because it will be a plus, but don't expect it to get you into med school.

Ah, sounds like a premed version of Eric Cartman-- "Respect my authoritah!"

 

[apumic]

Just the opposite. Research elsewhere is still good research, but it won't beat science research. Medical schools are not very familiar with non-science journals if you publish, and interviewers may push to see why you want to advance other fields than your own.

If by non-science research, you mean research in clinical psychology or something somewhat related to a clinical perspective - 👍

Yes, by non-science, I meant something like clinical psych, where a student is likely to be engaged in medically-relevant research that is far enough outside the ochem/bio/chem/physics spectrum to allow for serious students to have serious input and leadership in a project at the UG level. If we're comparing history research to biology research, of course not. However, if, for instance, a UG student were to be in a social psych lab and study the effects of ongoing social stress on immunological function as measured through patient survey, physiological tests, and blood sampling, this would, I suspect, be at least as clinically relevant as most BCP research. And, in all likelihood, this would be an experimental design that a senior psych pre-med could put together and be the PI for with the guidance of an experienced researcher (which is something rarely available at the UG level in the sciences it seems).

 

[apumic]

No offense, but humanities and social studies "research" cannot hold a candle to research in the hard sciences. And to assume anyone less than a grad student can make meaningful contributions to projects including designing projects is pretty ridiculous.

If all you have are the non-science publications, I hope they are somewhat related to medicine unless you are writing the next Harry Potter. Still, include them in your application because it will be a plus, but don't expect it to get you into med school.

You underestimate what good student researchers can pull off at the UG level.

As for my research, I have a variety (and a good 6 years of it with publications and presentations). Some is clinical and nonclinical outside the hard sciences. Some is clinical/medical. Some is hard science.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Yes, by non-science, I meant something like clinical psych, where a student is likely to be engaged in medically-relevant research that is far enough outside the ochem/bio/chem/physics spectrum to allow for serious students to have serious input and leadership in a project at the UG level. If we're comparing history research to biology research, of course not. However, if, for instance, a UG student were to be in a social psych lab and study the effects of ongoing social stress on immunological function as measured through patient survey, physiological tests, and blood sampling, this would, I suspect, be at least as clinically relevant as most BCP research. And, in all likelihood, this would be an experimental design that a senior psych pre-med could put together and be the PI for with the guidance of an experienced researcher (which is something rarely available at the UG level in the sciences it seems).

👍

 

[CattleBruiser]

You underestimate what good student researchers can pull off at the UG level.

As for my research, I have a variety (and a good 6 years of it with publications and presentations). Some is clinical and nonclinical outside the hard sciences. Some is clinical/medical. Some is hard science.

what...no the guy I quoted said UG researchers can't accomplish anything and I disagreed. Typo of can instead of can't in my post...mistake. We are on the same page. 👍