Focusing on MCAT for the summer vs. doing research

[Nirvanesthe]

Hi everyone,

I know this question has been asked a bunch in the forums, but after reading a couple of threads I'm more unsure of what to do in my specific case.

I'm a Canadian undergrad, planning to write my MCAT at the end of this summer. I had also planned on working 3-4 days a week at a research lab so that I could spend the rest of my time preparing for the exam.

Reading some of the threads here, I'm concerned that I'm not actually doing enough research/other work during the summer—it seems that a lot of people are able to fit in more alongside studying for the MCAT.

My past research experience consists of the follows:
- Wet lab for 1 year, middle-author publication pending
- Wet lab last summer, no publication but I'll be doing a poster presentation; also, it's in a field that is a bit of a far cry from medicine
- Research assistant experience with 2 projects where I just did grunt work (sadface)

This year, I'll be returning to the lab from last summer—I decided to stay with my PI because we have a good relationship.

The research projects I've worked on are all over the place in terms of subject matter. I was offered a full-time research position this summer in a field more relevant to medicine with the promise of publications, but I turned it down because I wanted to stay with this PI. However, after I turned it down, the person offering the position changed their offer, saying that I could work part-time instead.

Now, I am not sure what to do. I could either:
A. Take both research positions (so work 6-7 days a week, basically) and study for the MCAT in the free time that's left.
B. Drop the research position with my former PI and take on this new position, with the risk of not getting as good of a reference letter from my former PI but doing research in a more medically relevant field.
C. Stick with the research position with my former PI, give up this new position.

I /was/ averse to A because it seems like I'll be pretty damn exhausted and won't have enough time/energy to study properly. But now I'm wondering if I should do it to bulk up my research experience.

What do you all think? Is the research experience I already have enough? How much would I benefit from a research position in a more medically-relevant field and more publications? Apologies for the long post. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

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[stickgirl390]

MCAT is required, research is not. I don’t know what your timeline is, but I personally would make the MCAT my priority and see where research fits in, not the other way around.

 

[pewpew95]

I think you need to ask yourself, do you want to be a doctor or a researcher?

If you really want to have research experience this summer, I would choose the PI who is going to be most flexible with your study schedule. Which lab will be least stressful on you? Trust me, you only want to take the MCAT once so you want to make it count.

Schools won't care how medically relevant your research experience is. As long as you have it and you're productive, you're good. So sticking with the PI you have a good relationship with may be better in the long run because he/she can write you a stellar LOR.

P.S. my biggest regret is not having used a full summer to study for the MCAT

 

[mellie0]

I’d do C and only go to the lab 2-3 times per week, nothing else. The MCAT trumps EVERYTHING else.

 

[HomeSkool]

Go with option...

D. Do whatever it takes to kill the MCAT; if time allows (which it should), fit in work with whichever PI is most likely to give you a great LOR.​

GPA and MCAT are the two big screening checkpoints. If you do poorly on the MCAT, adcoms will trash your app before they even read about your ECs.

As ECs go, volunteering and shadowing are more important than research at most schools. If you haven't got adequate exposure to those things, you should prioritize them starting right now. LizzyM's guidance on ideal hour totals for those ECs can be found here: How many volunteer hours are solid?.

 

[Nirvanesthe]

Thanks everyone—I really appreciate all of your replies. They make me more confident that I'm making the right choice for myself.

As ECs go, volunteering and shadowing are more important than research at most schools. If you haven't got adequate exposure to those things, you should prioritize them starting right now. LizzyM's guidance on ideal hour totals for those ECs can be found here: How many volunteer hours are solid?.

HomeSkool, are you speaking more about US schools? I checked out the link, and I'm a bit confused by the categorization. Or maybe I just haven't spoken with enough people to hear about the importance of clinical hours vs. non-clinical hours in Canada.

 

[HomeSkool]

HomeSkool, are you speaking more about US schools?

Yes. If you want information specific to Canadian schools, you should check out the Canada forum: Canada.