Doing Research in undergrad?

[amistret]

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Hey everyone, I will make this short and sweet. I got offered to conduct research with a professor this year and am deciding if I should follow through and do reasearch or instead put that time toward something different such as more volunteering? I will only be applying to DO schools in the Spring and find myself feeling that being at the bottom of the bunch doing research is less worth my time than working hands on with people who need help in my town. Please let me know, thanks a lot.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you've got extensive EC's already then adding some research would be good. However if you've got minimal EC's such as hospital volunteering, then you should focus more on those first.

 

[amistret]

Thank you very much you make a great point. I apologize for not putting my EC's up there.
-30 Hours shadowing an MD
-Once a week shadowing a DO for about 6 months and will continue until I matriculate into Med school
-Community outreach coordinator for AMSA (Pre-Med) club on campus.
-Volunteered in an open clinic in Honduras for a week long trip and am running for President of the club and will be attending another trip this upcoming year
-Volunteered one day a week in a greenhouse on campus and wished to continue until I matriculate (I like working with plants)
-Volunteer in an offcampus lab testing local ocean water samples and posting the safety health advisories when water levels are toxic
-Volunteer in a local open clinic for the homeless once a month

Please let me know what you think, I feel I would be more productive putting continuous energy into these volunteer fields and to continue them until I matriculate, however, I would like to know what a DO school Admissions office would like to see. Also I want to pursue a DO/MPH degree and do not know if they like research. Thanks a lot.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You need more clinical volunteering, try to get 100-150 hours over a whole year. And you need some more reoccurring and long term community service, like work in at a soup kitchen 3 hours a week for a year.

 

[amistret]

Thanks buddy. Yeah I was going to start working a soup kitchen once a week, also the community coordinator position helps me do community service. Does my shadowing the DO satisfy as "clinical experience"?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Thanks buddy. Yeah I was going to start working a soup kitchen once a week, also the community coordinator position helps me do community service. Does my shadowing the DO satisfy as "clinical experience"?

No it's shadowing, and rather excessive honestly. Most applicants have like at most 50 hours of shadowing total.

 

[amistret]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=682673

 

[scummie]

I'm going to stir the pot and say that you should get some research experience. If anything, it will make you a better applicant. Volunteer at a hospital or in the ER department for a couple hours on the weekends if you want clinical experience. It seems like you have plenty of volunteer experience but 0 research.

 

[blinkboy1156]

You need more clinical volunteering, try to get 100-150 hours over a whole year. And you need some more reoccurring and long term community service, like work in at a soup kitchen 3 hours a week for a year.

I disagree with this post. Maybe im misreading the intent but, IMHO, you don't 'need' to do anything. Find something that you're passionate about and stick with it. ADCOMS want to hear about that passion and not what you 'needed' to do. Taking a cookie cutter attitude into an interview is not advised.

 

[amistret]

Thank you guys for the great advice. I agree wish to find something I am very passionate about and go with that, hence the reason I shadow a doctor once a week. Also I think I will go ahead with the research seeing as though it couldn't hurt. Hope you guys are doing well in Med School.