Does doing an undergrad thesis win any points?

[cdmccart]

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So as part of the Honors Program that I'm in, I'm required to write a thesis that "sets me apart from the other students in my major". The honors director keeps talking about how great it'll look to have a thesis done when I apply to med school, blah blah blah. I was wondering if that's even remotely true. I'm a bio major and most likely doing my thesis on drug/vaccine resistance of dengue virus.

 

[URHere]

So as part of the Honors Program that I'm in, I'm required to write a thesis that "sets me apart from the other students in my major". The honors director keeps talking about how great it'll look to have a thesis done when I apply to med school, blah blah blah. I was wondering if that's even remotely true. I'm a bio major and most likely doing my thesis on drug/vaccine resistance of dengue virus.

How much this will help you probably varies from school to school. Some medical schools that are associated with big-name research centers tend to prefer students with scientific experience. Other schools really don't care at all about the research side of a student's application.

However, I do think that this thesis could help you at your interviews if you know your topic well enough. Interviewers always want to see that you have a passion for something and that you know what you are talking about - being able to explain your research well will definitely earn you points in these areas. That being said, if you can't answer non-research related questions or communicate effectively during the rest of your interview, the benefit will be minimal.

 

[GATORochoCINCO]

It can only help

 

[Isoprop]

So as part of the Honors Program that I'm in, I'm required to write a thesis that "sets me apart from the other students in my major". The honors director keeps talking about how great it'll look to have a thesis done when I apply to med school, blah blah blah. I was wondering if that's even remotely true. I'm a bio major and most likely doing my thesis on drug/vaccine resistance of dengue virus.

do it. it'll help. especially in your interviews.

edit: and it's something to put on your CV later. they'll see you graduated with distinction.
oh, and you could prob snag a good LOR from your thesis adviser.

 

[Mei]

I don't think it will directly help in the same magnitude as say a big MCAT score jump / GPA boost would, but writing a thesis requires you to not only explain your research well. If you've had a lot of research experience and can talk on and on about your research and comprehend it very well, I can imagine that will be great when interviewing.

And I've heard of some people listing it as one of their "15 Work/Activities" in the AMCAS, so think of that too.

 

[Isoprop]

I don't think it will directly help in the same magnitude as say a big MCAT score jump / GPA boost would, but writing a thesis requires you to not only explain your research well. If you've had a lot of research experience and can talk on and on about your research and comprehend it very well, I can imagine that will be great when interviewing.

And I've heard of some people listing it as one of their "15 Work/Activities" in the AMCAS, so think of that too.

i think it goes with publications/honors/awards area. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[metalgearHMN]

You should definitely go for it. Have you already done the research and collected the data? If so, there's no reason not to write it up and get a thesis. It's very similar to getting published w/o the publishing part, but at least you'll have experience doing all the hard stuff.

 

[WinterLights]

It helps at the prestigious schools where even the little things that set you apart can mean the difference between an acceptance and a waitlist.

 

[Dulcina]

it helps. its a great thing to talk about in interviews.

 

[QuaerensIntelle]

I'm working on one right now, and I think it has helped me a bit (not sure how much). Thing is, it is really hard, because your thesis is completely your responsibility. No professor is giving you deadlines etc or ideas for that matter. Its probably the hardest thing I've had to do so far, possibly because I also have some pretty serious senioritis from the application process. Anyway, it's tough. If you do decide to do it, emphasize that it is your original topic etc on your acmas/interviews, because that to me is the most impressive thing about it.