does writing a med school thesis bite? and how impt is weather?

[aprilfirefly]

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Hi all! I have an acceptance at Case Western Reserve, which now requires that its students complete a thesis. I have never attempted a lofty project like a thesis and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts about what it is like to write one. Is it terrible? Horrible? An experience that I should try and avoid by attending my home school, the University of Arizona? And, on that same note, I have heard that Cleveland weather is pretty rough. This being said, do you think I should take this factor into account while choosing between schools? Any thoughts would be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[Dr. Donkey]

You naughty Case Westernite. This is a duplicate thread 😱 ! J/k, I don't care. Weather is important because it's worse to be wet when it's cold. Theces (Theses, Thesises, and Thesi too) mean you have to write a long paper before you graduate (unusually non-fiction, but this is negotiable depending on how honest and imaginative you are!).

 

[Perrin]

I grew up in AZ and moved east. I'll tell you that the weather up north will take some time to get used to. Humidity during the summer and freezing during the winter. It will take a while to get used to the weather.

 

[deuist]

A thesis is not so bad. The two most important things are:

(1) Keep all of your literature sources is one located, clearly sort them, and be ready to name the material in each one. A written summary with highlighted quotations helps.

(2) Produce a lengthy outline of the thesis. Each chapter should have a 1-2 page outline of the content, data, claims, and citations. Typing the actual thesis then becomes very easy.

 

[Larsitron]

A thesis is not so bad. The two most important things are:

(1) Keep all of your literature sources is one located, clearly sort them, and be ready to name the material in each one. A written summary with highlighted quotations helps.

(2) Produce a lengthy outline of the thesis. Each chapter should have a 1-2 page outline of the content, data, claims, and citations. Typing the actual thesis then becomes very easy.

Good tips all around. However, from my understanding at Second Look Weekend this year, a Case research thesis is not really all that involved. They're looking for something like preparing a manuscript for publication, that sort of thing. Not like a masters thesis or anything approaching that level of research.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

In my opinion writing a thesis is all about picking a good advisor and project. If you do, it you should be able to transform a thesis into a publication. That should be your goal. Choose publishable projects and a professor that has a goal to publish it and it will be a very valuable experience for you. If you choose poorly, it will turn into a useless thorn in your side. Overall I think that it is a good thing, since it forces you to do publishable research. Even if you don't like research, getting a pub is always a good thing.

I personally like Cleveland, right there on the lake. But it will be cold in the winter. Don't forget that AZ is very, very hot in summer, also a major drawback for me personally.

You probably can't go wrong either way.

 

[Larsitron]

I've thought a lot about the hot v. cold issue and my opinion is this: you can only take off so many clothes in the desert before you get arrested or you have an awful sunburn. Granted, I've lived in the desert for all my life, but I for one am looking forward to the cold.

 

[doc05]

a thesis requirement is not necessarily a bad thing. it will push you to do research which can be a real advantage when it comes time to apply for residency.