does research done during HS count?

[z786]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hi everyone i was wondering if I can claim 2 years of research done during HS on the AMCAS. Or does it have to have resulted in a publication to be considered? I know you can't claim anything done before the college years on you app but for some reason I think it might be different for research.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Neuronix]

You can claim anything you want. Will people pay attention to it? Maybe? It probably depends on the adcom.

 

[j-weezy]

You can claim anything you want. Will people pay attention to it? Maybe? It probably depends on the adcom.

where's the corgi?

(p.s. I know we've been through this before - humor me)

 

[seraph524]

whats a corgi?

 

[j-weezy]

whats a corgi?

 

[CCLCMer]

hi everyone i was wondering if I can claim 2 years of research done during HS on the AMCAS. Or does it have to have resulted in a publication to be considered? I know you can't claim anything done before the college years on you app but for some reason I think it might be different for research.
Thanks in advance!

I think if you continued with that research project in college you can count it. Otherwise don't. Or else just mention it in your research essay, that might be the safest thing.

 

[Neuronix]

where's the corgi?

😛 Beats me, wasn't my corgi to begin with. I just really like corgis cause I grew up with them.

 

[Zmoney12]

FWIW... I briefly (3-4 sentances) wrote about a 1 summer thing I did at the end of high school. If anyone has said anything, which most haven't, it was along the lines of "so you have been interested in research for a while" (which I felt like they meant in a good way) or they had heard of the guy who was the PI.

In my opinion, I wouldn't list it as one of the 15 experiences though, but do what you think is best if it was significant, just be ready to discuss it.

 

[xanthines]

There's nothing stopping you from listing it, but would listing it help your application in any way? That's what you need to determine.

While in high school, you probably didn't have college level biology, chemistry, physics, orgo, p-chem, etc etc etc. Some MD and/or PhD researcher with publications and RO1's might not be too impressed with your high school research. Like most research experiences, think about what your involvement was. Did you plan and design experiments or did you just follow the directions? If you're quizzed on this research are you going to give intelligent, articulate answers? What if your interviewer throws out a hypothetical question about your research? Better come up with something other than "I don't know" or worse "um......"

Your HS research might have been great and rivaled that of one in college, but we don't know that and neither will adcoms. Therefore you'll have to make an extra effort in your app to convey the notion that your research was worthwhile. HS stuff will be up against some bias (and for good reason). That's what you're facing.

Basically, your high school research will have to be pretty impressive to matter.

Good luck!

-X

 

[z786]

There's nothing stopping you from listing it, but would listing it help your application in any way? That's what you need to determine.

While in high school, you probably didn't have college level biology, chemistry, physics, orgo, p-chem, etc etc etc. Some MD and/or PhD researcher with publications and RO1's might not be too impressed with your high school research. Like most research experiences, think about what your involvement was. Did you plan and design experiments or did you just follow the directions? If you're quizzed on this research are you going to give intelligent, articulate answers? What if your interviewer throws out a hypothetical question about your research? Better come up with something other than "I don't know" or worse "um......"

Your HS research might have been great and rivaled that of one in college, but we don't know that and neither will adcoms. Therefore you'll have to make an extra effort in your app to convey the notion that your research was worthwhile. HS stuff will be up against some bias (and for good reason). That's what you're facing.

Basically, your high school research will have to be pretty impressive to matter.

Good luck!

-X

thanks so much i had'nt thought of it like that. I had taken AP science course before I started which aren't exactly college level course but I guess the next best thing. And it was an independent project which landed me a full scholarship for undergrad and several other monetary awards but sadly fell just short of a publication. that's why i thought maybe it would be worth mentioning, if for no other reason than showing a long term dedication to research. It also was the kind of translational research I would like to do with my MD/PhD degree which is how i first started thinking about pursuing a joint degree in the first place.

 

[Zmoney12]

I am not so sure I agree with the above post. My hs research was totally me just doing other people's work without really understanding what I was doing; and when this came up in interviews I told them exactly that. I think that for one thing, they liked the fact that I was honest and that I could differentiate between doing a real project myself and doing someone else work. Also, like I said, I explained to them that in hs I was considering pursuing science and wanted to see what it was all about. They were all very receptive to this.

I think based on what you wrote, your experience is definetly worth mentioning. Just make sure you approach it with the perspective that you were in fact a high schooler that didn't know a lot of stuff yet. It shows an early interest, and afterall MSTP programs want to see people who are in it for a research career, not just taking on a PhD to get a free ride.

Good luck.

 

[solitude]

I had the exact same experience and agree whole-heartedly. Interviewers appreciate the honesty, and it was a formative experience that influenced me to continue in science. I don't think it can possibly HURT so the question is do you have 15 other activities that are more deserving of the spot?

I am not so sure I agree with the above post. My hs research was totally me just doing other people's work without really understanding what I was doing; and when this came up in interviews I told them exactly that. I think that for one thing, they liked the fact that I was honest and that I could differentiate between doing a real project myself and doing someone else work. Also, like I said, I explained to them that in hs I was considering pursuing science and wanted to see what it was all about. They were all very receptive to this.

I think based on what you wrote, your experience is definetly worth mentioning. Just make sure you approach it with the perspective that you were in fact a high schooler that didn't know a lot of stuff yet. It shows an early interest, and afterall MSTP programs want to see people who are in it for a research career, not just taking on a PhD to get a free ride.

Good luck.