Does publishing research in an undergraduate journal have any value?

[aalamruad]

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[ChrisMack390]

1. Yes, unless you have some other incredible ECs in lieu of research.

2. If you are doing some research and its not going to be published in a "real" journal, may as well get it put in the UG journal. Its not as good, but its at least something to show for the research you did.

 

[VitaminVater]

1. Yes, unless you have some other incredible ECs in lieu of research.

2. If you are doing some research and its not going to be published in a "real" journal, may as well get it put in the UG journal. Its not as good, but its at least something to show for the research you did.

1. The vast majority of applicants, both MD and MD-PhD, do not have publications.

2. Publications are a poor way of demonstrating quality undergraduate research experiences. Some labs publish after every experiment, others after multiple years. It's also very field-dependent.
Other ways of show something for your research: excellent LORs from your PIs, being able to articulate your research both in paper and during interviews, presenting posters/oral at scientific conferences.

 

[typhoonegator]

At this stage, "something to show" for the research you contributed to should come in the form of an excellent letter from your PI. At your level, publications are serendipity, for the reasons listed above, and are not even a reliable indicator of your level of commitment or contribution to the group. If you have a chance to present a poster/abstract at a local retreat or something like that, it would be a great opportunity. I'm a career scientist, and I wasn't even aware that "undergraduate journals" existed. There are a lot of people who would be happy to collect publication fees from you poor guys for very little benefit. The purpose of journals is to provide a forum for peer-reviewed research and allow others the chance to build on and replicate your experiments. Is that honestly the goal of an undergraduate journal? It sounds to me like another version of the Golden Key society or whatever other supposed "prestigious" societies you can simply buy your way in to. Your time and money would likely be better spent elsewhere.

Finally, there are plenty of pubmed listed journals that are widely considered the minor leagues. Places like PLoS-One. Think of the undergraduate journals as more of beer-league softball. Man, I miss beer-league softball.

 

[ChrisMack390]

1. The vast majority of applicants, both MD and MD-PhD, do not have publications.

2. Publications are a poor way of demonstrating quality undergraduate research experiences. Some labs publish after every experiments, others after multiple years. It's also very field-dependent.
Other ways of show something for your researhc: excellent LORs from your PIs, being able to articulate your research both in paper and during interviews, presenting posters/oral at scientific conferences.

What's your point? The vast majority of applicants don't get into a "top 20" program.

 

[genericpremedstudent]

What's your point? The vast majority of applicants don't get into a "top 20" program.

I believe the poster is saying that you are wrong about a publication being crucial for acceptance into a top 20 school

 

[ChrisMack390]

I believe the poster is saying that you are wrong about a publication being crucial for acceptance into a top 20 school

Yes, and as I said, barring some other incredible activities, s/he is wrong.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Yes, and as I said, barring some other incredible activities, s/he is wrong.

Disagree. Publications are absolutely positively not a requirement. You don't need something super special beyond good stats and generally strong ECs/communication skills (+ some luck).

Also VitaminVater got into like 15 of the top 10. I think he knows what he's talking about.

 

[Narmerguy]

Nah, I go to a research-heavy school and the majority of students definitely did not have pubs. Research was possibly the strongest part of my application and I had no pubs, though I was still complimented on my research at other schools.

 

[aalamruad]

Nah, I go to a research-heavy school and the majority of students definitely did not have pubs. Research was possibly the strongest part of my application and I had no pubs, though I was still complimented on my research at other schools.

mind briefly sharing your research experiences that you were complimented on?

 

[Banco]

1. Yes, unless you have some other incredible ECs in lieu of research.

2. If you are doing some research and its not going to be published in a "real" journal, may as well get it put in the UG journal. Its not as good, but its at least something to show for the research you did.

Lol no. I didn't even have posters or presentations when I applied - interviewed and accepted to multiple top schools.

Disagree. Publications are absolutely positively not a requirement. You don't need something super special beyond good stats and generally strong ECs/communication skills (+ some luck).

Also VitaminVater got into like 15 of the top 10. I think he knows what he's talking about.

Hahaha that would be quite the accomplishment.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Yes, and as I said, barring some other incredible activities, s/he is wrong.

Uhhhh no

The majority of people in top 20 schools didn't have publications before entering. This is just a fact. Saying anything else is just nonsense.

Take it a step further: There are tons of people in top MD/PhD programs who didn't have publications in undergrad. My freshmen year RA who ended up going to Harvard's MD/PhD program told us later on the stats released to them said in their class 8/13 students hadn't been published prior to matriculating there.

 

[genericpremedstudent]

Yes, and as I said, barring some other incredible activities, s/he is wrong.

uhhh, yeah, well, I'm more inclined to trust the opinions of several med students in this thread than a pre-med.

 

[VitaminVater]

Yes, and as I said, barring some other incredible activities, s/he is wrong.

I'm a he.

Also, as the others above have said, even in the Top 20s you'll find the majority of applicants did not publish. Adcoms know the 'luck' required to be an undergrad and join the right lab, at the right time, on the right project, to get published before graduating/leaving the lab.

 

[md-2020]

1) Do you basically need pubs if you're gunning for a top 20 med school?

Depends on many factors. Your other ECs, LORs, URM/SES disadvantaged status etc.

 

[Narmerguy]

mind briefly sharing your research experiences that you were complimented on?

Usually it was the depth at which I was involved (had a lot of ownership over my project), I started researching as a freshman, and had given oral/poster presentations at a couple big conferences.