How important is research in 2024?

[Dr. Fiddlesticks]

is it valuable to do a whole summer research program if my focus is low-mid tier schools based on my gpa/ mcat, or should i instead spend that time doing more clinical/leadership stuff, research is not something im very interested in, (my application is weak in leadership, clinical experience, and i have no research, I only have clinical volunteering )and it would mainly be to help me get into my state school which is very research focused(i have all the right stats mcat/gpa wise for my state school). Should i just completely forget about research or is there any value in doing a small period of research like for a single month just to try it out? is this negatively viewed by adcoms as “box-checking” or will it help my application to have diversity in experiences even if its not informative of my decision to persue med school?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are going to do it, do it for at least 8 weeks over the summer or 15 weeks over a semester. Do it because you are curious about how things work, otherwise it does look like a box check.

If you aren't gunning for research institutions, it might be wise to fill your time with community service activities that are non-clinical to demonstrate your desire to help those in need and to get to know the plight of people you might not otherwise encounter in everyday life. Someday, people in those circumstances may be your patients and the more you know about their struggles and mindset, the better you may be at caring for them.

 

[Dr. Fiddlesticks]

If you are going to do it, do it for at least 8 weeks over the summer or 15 weeks over a semester. Do it because you are curious about how things work, otherwise it does look like a box check.

If you aren't gunning for research institutions, it might be wise to fill your time with community service activities that are non-clinical to demonstrate your desire to help those in need and to get to know the plight of people you might not otherwise encounter in everyday life. Someday, people in those circumstances may be your patients and the more you know about their struggles and mindset, the better you may be at caring for them.

Yeah that makes sense, 8 weeks is a huge commitment, i dont think i would be able to utilize that commitment effectively in my application since its not a big passion of mine, I would find it much more meaningful personally to do volunteering stuff where I feel like im actually helping people

 

[Hollow Knight]

I did research because I felt like I had to in order to be competitive. Now that I plan on doing rural family med, I regret that. I would have had more fun at a soup kitchen during that time.

If you know you want to go to Harvard and cure cancer though that's a different calculus.

 

[Dr. Fiddlesticks]

If you are going to do it, do it for at least 8 weeks over the summer or 15 weeks over a semester. Do it because you are curious about how things work, otherwise it does look like a box check.

If you aren't gunning for research institutions, it might be wise to fill your time with community service activities that are non-clinical to demonstrate your desire to help those in need and to get to know the plight of people you might not otherwise encounter in everyday life. Someday, people in those circumstances may be your patients and the more you know about their struggles and mindset, the better you may be at caring for them.

if i was gonna pick one or more things to do during my entire gap year, among tutoring or being a TA, homeless shelter volunteering, being a scribe, or being a PT aide, which do you think would be most valuable considering i only have 150h clinical volunteering over a year(wheeling around patients, this experience gave me lots to write about and showed me a lot of the problems that marginalized people face in healthcare so it was very valuable) (no other clinical or volunteering or leadership experience)

 

[LizzyM]

You need to assess yourself:
What have you done clinically? Do you have an opportunity to work in a clinical setting during your gap year? What reasons would you have to take a different job over a clinical one?

What have you done to serve your community in ways that are not clinical? What could you do now and in the months ahead to be of service to people in need, particularly the most vulnerable? Unless you have serious reasons not to be involved in face-to-face service (e.g. you are immunocompromised), you should be doing something at least few hours/month.

What have you done and what are you doing as part of a team and have you had opportunities to be a servant-leader within a team? Are their team-based activities (employment and/or volunteer) that you could continue with or begin soon that would give you an opportunity to build team-building skills and perhaps take a leadership role at some point?

Beyond how things look on an application, I would consider how well a job or volunteer opportunity fits with skill set (e.g. if you hate tutoring and find it exasperating, it shouldn't be on the list), and the opportunity cost of participating (what other things you could be doing with that time, and count the time you would need to commute if the activities you are deciding among are varying distances from home). Also consider the wages you can earn at these and other endeavors and whether there is any upward mobility on the job in you are unfortunate to have to reapply and are thus working for 2 years or more.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Read

Finding Your Purpose as a Health Professional - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[GoSpursGo]

I'm locking this thread since it is very similar to your other active thread. Please focus questions on how to incorporate research into your profile in that one thread