Does prestige of gap year institution matter significantly?

[Beaverfan]

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I am curious...I am currently in a postbacc program that will end this summer, and I am applying for research tech jobs. I just interviewed with a lab that I really like - the PI is very productive, has a great lineage, and does research that I really, really enjoy. By the time I start I'll already be done submitting secondaries. The only "drawback", so to speak, is that it's not at some top institution - the lab is at a mid-level state school. For me, it doesn't matter at all, obviously - I just want to do research that I enjoy. But I am worried that it might be held against me when people read my secondaries or speak to me in an interview and see that I'm going from a more prestigious institution to a less prestigious one. Would this be an issue, considering that I wouldn't even have started in this lab before I submit my secondaries, or am I overthinking? I am leaning towards the latter, but I figured that I would check.

 

[wondervisions]

Personal fit is far more important than name brand at this stage of your career

 

[Beaverfan]

Personal fit is far more important than name brand at this stage of your career

I figured as such. Thanks!

 

[mdphd_applicant]

Impossible to really say if there is a right answer here. I think you should do research you enjoy and that will help you build skills for PhD + future career over prestige.

 

[Beaverfan]

Impossible to really say if there is a right answer here. I think you should do research you enjoy and that will help you build skills for PhD + future career over prestige.

Thanks for letting me know! I do enjoy this lab's work a lot, and will get experience with a ton of amazing techniques, so I think the endeavor is worthwhile.

 

[pierty]

The prestige of the school matters little. If anything, your lab/PI matters much more, but not at your stage. If you are applying to MD/PhD programs, your PI's letter (i.e., how well they know you) and your understanding of your project are critical. Programs want to know that you understand what the pathway entails, and you can critically think. Showing some productivity is also helpful, but papers are not needed (conference presentations are helpful as well).

 

[Beaverfan]

The prestige of the school matters little. If anything, your lab/PI matters much more, but not at your stage. If you are applying to MD/PhD programs, your PI's letter (i.e., how well they know you) and your understanding of your project are critical. Programs want to know that you understand what the pathway entails, and you can critically think. Showing some productivity is also helpful, but papers are not needed (conference presentations are helpful as well).

Thank you so much for the info! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear.

 

[InternationalChaos]

I would add to the discussion that prestige only matters to prestige. It's a feed-forward pathway. 🙂 If you are applying to a prestigious school, then absolutely yes, prestigious research experience will help you get in. If you are focused on your own work and passions, and not trying to break into an ivy or similar program, then this lab sounds perfect.

 

[Fencer]

Not as much as you think. It way more important the quality of the laboratory/PI (i.e.: quality of the research experience) than institution.

 

[Beaverfan]

I would add to the discussion that prestige only matters to prestige. It's a feed-forward pathway. 🙂 If you are applying to a prestigious school, then absolutely yes, prestigious research experience will help you get in. If you are focused on your own work and passions, and not trying to break into an ivy or similar program, then this lab sounds perfect.

Well, I am trying to break into a relatively high-level program (~T30, not necessarily T5) to be brutally honest, but I figured that this wouldn't be the factor that makes or breaks me - I have, in my estimation, significant shortages on my application that I figure will be viewed with much more scrutiny (no accepted publications and went to average state school), but I guess only time will tell.

 

[Beaverfan]

Not as much as you think. It way more important the quality of the laboratory/PI (i.e.: quality of the research experience) than institution.

Great, thanks for letting me know! I was hoping as such and ultimately took the job based off this assumption.

 

[appleeatingchamp]

no accepted publications and went to average state school

Neither of those will be viewed as significant shortages

 

[Invisible_sun332]

Productivity matters the most, but as someone who did almost 4 years of full time gap year research at a top, top university, I feel it gave me the prestigious edge I needed to get into a t5 MSTP, especially as someone who didn’t go to a prestigious undergrad.