How important are publications?

[tesla123]

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I always hear people recommending that premeds attempt to get publications, yet I have friends who have been admitted to MD/PhD programs without them. How important are they?

 

[stoic]

I always hear people recommending that premeds attempt to get publications, yet I have friends who have been admitted to MD/PhD programs without them. How important are they?

if you're applying to md/phd programs, it's my understanding that you probably should have at least one.

if you're applying to just md programs, it won't hurt you one bit to not be published. if you are published, that's cool and it might help, but it really isn't needed.

 

[blingblah]

I always hear people recommending that premeds attempt to get publications, yet I have friends who have been admitted to MD/PhD programs without them. How important are they?

publications are unnecessary tesla.... but if you can do it, fantastic!! You definitely dont need a publication to get into med school.

 

[JuicyDay]

if you're applying to md/phd programs, it's my understanding that you probably should have at least one.

if you're applying to just md programs, it won't hurt you one bit to not be published. if you are published, that's cool and it might help, but it really isn't needed.

I agree; I think they are icing on the cake, especially for just MD applicants. Depending on what med school you look at, some interviewers won't even bother asking you about your research or publication. I don't know anyone who's been first author, though, so it might be different for them.

 

[45408]

if you're applying to md/phd programs, it's my understanding that you probably should have at least one.

if you're applying to just md programs, it won't hurt you one bit to not be published. if you are published, that's cool and it might help, but it really isn't needed.

You should definitely try to have one, but a friend of mine just got accepted to an MSTP without any (he did have several posters at conferences, a big talk at a conference, and 2+ papers in the works, and a LOT of experience).

A publication is just strong evidence that you've got it going on, but some people get their names on a publication that they didn't contribute a whole lot towards, while others are the sole force driving an experiment.

 

[tesla123]

A publication is just strong evidence that you've got it going on, but some people get their names on a publication that they didn't contribute a whole lot towards, while others are the sole force driving an experiment.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the info. I wanted to know if it make any considerable difference for premedds who were repeat MCAT takers with average scores all around. I know someone (not me) with a first author publication, a second author publication, several posters and images that made the cover of science magazines. So far he has gotten rejections and holds everywhere. They were advised to do more research. Any thoughts?

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks for the info. I wanted to know if it make any considerable difference for premedds who were repeat MCAT takers with average scores all around. I know someone (not me) with a first author publication, a second author publication, several posters and images that made the cover of science magazines. So far he has gotten rejections and holds everywhere. They were advised to do more research. Any thoughts?

Adcoms look at a number of things, grades, MCAT, EC and LORs. Research is a big EC, and a publication tends to mean either you were sucessful at it, (or at least able to make people in your group like you enough to put you on the paper). Being a first or second author on a publication thus looks great and somewhat improves on and validates your research EC. But being on a publication only helps if the other things in your application are also good. It won't overcome lousy LORs or a crummy GPA or MCAT.

 

[stoic]

Thanks for the info. I wanted to know if it make any considerable difference for premedds who were repeat MCAT takers with average scores all around. I know someone (not me) with a first author publication, a second author publication, several posters and images that made the cover of science magazines. So far he has gotten rejections and holds everywhere. They were advised to do more research. Any thoughts?

my thoughts are that they got bad advice. a lack of research was obviously not their problem. they should be focusing improving other areas of their application.

 

[jammin06]

I'd say mention your research and/or publications with a grain of salt. It'll look great on the app, but if it comes up in an interview and you can't back up your stuff, then the whole thing looks very fishy. (this is geared towards people entering research projects that are mosty finished and get their name on them on the back end)

 

[Friendly]

Contrary to what was posted above, if you have a dedicated career goal of being a physician scientist, multiple publications can offset a lower performance on the MCAT (my situation) or a lower GPA. Getting your work published by yourself is not cake and 'good' medical schools realize this. I'm living proof of it for this application cycle. If the GPA or MCAT is on the low side, you are much more likely to get into a good research school than an average state school that screens you only by numbers - at least, this is my own experience. Good luck!

 

[tesla123]

Contrary to what was posted above, if you have a dedicated career goal of being a physician scientist, multiple publications can offset a lower performance on the MCAT (my situation) or a lower GPA. Getting your work published by yourself is not cake and 'good' medical schools realize this. I'm living proof of it for this application cycle. If the GPA or MCAT is on the low side, you are much more likely to get into a good research school than an average state school that screens you only by numbers - at least, this is my own experience. Good luck!

Hey thanks, did you also publish at the institution you applied? Does that make a difference? Congrats on the success! 🙂

 

[Friendly]

Hey thanks, did you also publish at the institution you applied? Does that make a difference? Congrats on the success! 🙂

Yes, five papers, although I have not worked there for a couple of years. I'm not sure it's such a critical factor, except perhaps that the senior author on two of the papers from the said institutiuon provided a reference. Just to emphasize the difference publications make: my only atempt at the MCAT was a 23 and I am an average, white applicant. The MCAT is certainly important, but not the be all and end all that high scorers would like one to believe. 🙂 Good luck! If I can do it, so can you. 👍

 

[tesla123]

Yes, five papers, although I have not worked there for a couple of years. I'm not sure it's such a critical factor, except perhaps that the senior author on two of the papers from the said institutiuon provided a reference. Just to emphasize the difference publications make: my only atempt at the MCAT was a 23 and I am an average, white applicant. The MCAT is certainly important, but not the be all and end all that high scorers would like one to believe. 🙂 Good luck! If I can do it, so can you. 👍

You rock! Thanks so much for the info. 😀

 

[ramblinwreckie]

I've been asked at a couple of interviews if I've been published. My personal feelings are that publications are nice but not necessary. I have worked on projects that are not short-term, and not being published is not an indication of half-hearted research.

One of my interviewers at Baylor straight up said that research doesn't mean anything if it doesn't result in a publication. He would fall in that category of researchers who believe in quantity not quality.

 

[true blue]

I've been asked at a couple of interviews if I've been published. My personal feelings are that publications are nice but not necessary. I have worked on projects that are not short-term, and not being published is not an indication of half-hearted research.

One of my interviewers at Baylor straight up said that research doesn't mean anything if it doesn't result in a publication. He would fall in that category of researchers who believe in quantity not quality.

Successful career in research and academia = # of papers + amount of grant $$$$ you pull in