Doing research...

[Pharmwannab]

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Exactly how important is doing research? I'll be applying this summer and most likely won't have any research experience by then. I want to do research with my o. chem. professor but unfortunately she doesn't allow it until we've completed the o. chem series, which won't be until June. I'll probably have around a 3.3 gpa and hopefully will do well on the MCAT. I will have several other e.c.s including co-founder of our pre health club on campus, volunteering at a local hospital, hopefully haved shadowed a D.O., student health activist committee, etc... and likely I'll be getting my EMT license and if all goes well doing that as a job for all of next year. So assuming I do at least high 20's on the MCAT, do you think that should be good enough to get in somewhere? Or is research really that important? Thanks!

 

[Doctor Bagel]

honestly, i doubt research is that important for osteopathic schools, and it's not a deal breaker for lots of allopathic schools. i've got absolutely zero research experience and have managed to get in. doing well on your mcat and getting clinical experience will enhance your application more than research.

 

[dr.z]

I don't think research makes a whole lot of difference in DO schools. They prefer that you have more clinical experience.

 

[Pharmwannab]

Ah ok, thanks. Well, I don't have that either heh. So then will it be pretty hard to get in somewhere without clinical experience? How would I go about seeking a position in a clinical setting? I do have a bachelor's in molecular and cell biology already...

Also, I don't know if it would help me at all (probably not), but I worked in a chemistry lab doing HPLC for about a year and a half. It wasn't clincal though.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Ah ok, thanks. Well, I don't have that either heh. So then will it be pretty hard to get in somewhere without clinical experience? How would I go about seeking a position in a clinical setting? I do have a bachelor's in molecular and cell biology already...

Also, I don't know if it would help me at all (probably not), but I worked in a chemistry lab doing HPLC for about a year and a half. It wasn't clincal though.

nah, you'll still be fine so long as you've done some shadowing and started the EMT thing before you apply. devote may and june to starting the clinical thing and then keep up the clinical work while you're applying.

 

[Pharmwannab]

Heh, well I'll actually be starting the EMT thing probably around the same time I'm applying 😛 or at least that's the plan. I'm taking 4 intense courses up until June 10th (o chem, biochem, physics, a&p) so I won't really have time to get involved in anything else major until then. I also wanted to apply as soon as the website (name is eluding me right now, omcas or whatever) starts accepting applications for the next application cycle (June I believe?) to give myself a better shot. I guess I'll also look for a clinical position at the same time. Basically this year is going to be insane, heh. 😱

 

[OSUdoc08]

Exactly how important is doing research? I'll be applying this summer and most likely won't have any research experience by then. I want to do research with my o. chem. professor but unfortunately she doesn't allow it until we've completed the o. chem series, which won't be until June. I'll probably have around a 3.3 gpa and hopefully will do well on the MCAT. I will have several other e.c.s including co-founder of our pre health club on campus, volunteering at a local hospital, hopefully haved shadowed a D.O., student health activist committee, etc... and likely I'll be getting my EMT license and if all goes well doing that as a job for all of next year. So assuming I do at least high 20's on the MCAT, do you think that should be good enough to get in somewhere? Or is research really that important? Thanks!

Research is a waste of time unless you actually want to do it. It won't affect your application to a DO school.

 

[docbill]

research is not a waste of time. Everyone should have some experience in research as they are to become physicians. Medicine has become really advanced and knowing some of the working.. or just flurting with it. Will help you in the long run. NOT FOR ACCEPTANCE but definitely for medical education.

Also this is one of the negative things about Osteopathy and the DO degree/schools. This research is useless for us belief.

 

[Nate]

Research is more than just running gels or cutting tissue; it can be interviewing patients, analyzing charts, solving puzzles of data, data entry, growing microbes, performing surgery on animals, taking blood, performing OMM, scientific writing, balancing budgets (finance), creative writing (textbooks, pamphlets, etc.), and so much more. Without research there would be no medicine and no medical school. I am not saying you must do research to get into medical school but there is little more worthwhile to do while helping you get in. I know for my school that research is a huge part of the community.

It absolutely will affect your application; I would bet that there isn’t an adcom out there without people very interested (if not completely invested) in research sitting on it.

 

[dr.z]

research is not a waste of time. Everyone should have some experience in research is they are to become physicians. Medicine has become really advanced and knowing some of the working.. or just flurting with it. Will help you in the long run. NOT FOR ACCEPTANCE but definitely for medical education.

Also this is one of the negative things about Osteopathy and the DO degree/schools. This research is useless for us belief.

👍

 

[Jamers]

Exactly how important is doing research? I'll be applying this summer and most likely won't have any research experience by then. I want to do research with my o. chem. professor but unfortunately she doesn't allow it until we've completed the o. chem series, which won't be until June. I'll probably have around a 3.3 gpa and hopefully will do well on the MCAT. I will have several other e.c.s including co-founder of our pre health club on campus, volunteering at a local hospital, hopefully haved shadowed a D.O., student health activist committee, etc... and likely I'll be getting my EMT license and if all goes well doing that as a job for all of next year. So assuming I do at least high 20's on the MCAT, do you think that should be good enough to get in somewhere? Or is research really that important? Thanks!

I dont know how important it is, but I had a lot of research under my belt. The only thing they ever asked me about, however, was the reserach I did in Sydney, Australia. Maybe not so much the research aspect that impressed them but the international aspect....no clue, but nothing good can hurt, only help your chances.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Not important... maybe you can do research in a field you want to enter between your first and second years of medical school but won't do much for now.

 

[DocIn2012]

I'm currently only 2nd year pre-med, but I have clinical experience under my belt, and some research experience in PCR and such. Due to this, i'm being sent on 3 weeks of field research to a tropical island, all expenses paid.
Also, the head of anatomy will be employing me as her 'junior prosector' when the school purchases new cadaveric material. Conveniently, she sits on the board of interviewers for Medicine / Surgery, and has commended me on my level of experience at such an early stage.
Of course i don't know half of what is going on when i am in these situations at the time, but it gives me an opportunity to study what i've seen, which gives me an edge over the others in my degree.

So i think research does help you.

 

[Jamers]

I'm currently only 2nd year pre-med, but I have clinical experience under my belt, and some research experience in PCR and such. Due to this, i'm being sent on 3 weeks of field research to a tropical island, all expenses paid.
Also, the head of anatomy will be employing me as her 'junior prosector' when the school purchases new cadaveric material. Conveniently, she sits on the board of interviewers for Medicine / Surgery, and has commended me on my level of experience at such an early stage.
Of course i don't know half of what is going on when i am in these situations at the time, but it gives me an opportunity to study what i've seen, which gives me an edge over the others in my degree.

So i think research does help you.

I aggree, most my reserach, aside from that I did overseas, was behavioural based. Due to this, I was able to present a poster at the SFN conference in D.C. I think it gives you a leg up on the competition when you can actually "talk" to the PHD who is interviewing you, instead of just fielding his/her questions.

 

[DocIn2012]

Exactly. Plus, it's always a bonus to be a 'practical' student, as opposed to a 'textbook' student. I know at my university, that's their main criteria.

 

[laboholic]

I have a lot of research experience (basic science - not clinical), but it didnt help me for the one school I have interviewed at so far. I might have played on it a little too much because it seemed like they actually discriminated against me during my interview. They basically said I wouldnt fit in to their school and I should apply to the MD/Phd program at my state school.

I think research is a good thing for any application, but when applying to a straight up DO program, it is probably not a good idea to sound TOO interested in it. (I said I wanted to stay involved in research during med school)

Good luck

 

[Jamers]

I have a lot of research experience (basic science - not clinical), but it didnt help me for the one school I have interviewed at so far. I might have played on it a little too much because it seemed like they actually discriminated against me during my interview. They basically said I wouldnt fit in to their school and I should apply to the MD/Phd program at my state school.

I think research is a good thing for any application, but when applying to a straight up DO program, it is probably not a good idea to sound TOO interested in it. (I said I wanted to stay involved in research during med school)

Good luck

Good point

 

[HunterGatherer]

I think research is a good thing for any application, but when applying to a straight up DO program, it is probably not a good idea to sound TOO interested in it. (I said I wanted to stay involved in research during med school)

Good luck

Some schools are into research (UMDNJ and I think MSU-osteopathic and other schools) and it is good to point this out if you have an interest and experience to back it up.

A good number of your interviews will include a PhD as your interviewer. No matter if DO schools think research is important but now you have a common interest to discuss with your interviewer.

I have an interest in research and I tone it down if i don't feel any positive response when I mention it. i'm just starting research now so I can't say that I "walk the walk"