I'm currently in a research lab that focuses on clinical informatics. The work is fine, but I'm concerned because this is 100% a computer science role and doesn't have anything to do with basic science. I've gotten conflicting opinions on if this matters or not, but personally I would like some exposure to basic science research for the sake of it anyway. That combined with the possibility that med schools will look at basic science more favorably makes me want to finish up my project here and switch labs. Would love some insight because I have no idea if this is the right choice to make.
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How is clinical informatics research looked at?
- Thread starter Maido
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I need context. Maybe a few research elite schools might be picky about this, but informatics is a legit discipline. Can you make a strong argument about it to anyone who expresses skepticism? (Maybe a med student or applicant who thinks this?)
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It sounds like you want to switch for further/different experience. If that’s true then do it, but @Mr.Smile12 is right I think. What you are doing is fine as long as you love it and are learning and can talk about your work with enthusiasm. Good luck.
I'm in a clinical informatics lab and have posted before asking whether I should switch labs. I don't have problems with my lab but it's 100% computer science based and I would like experience with natural science research, ideally with a component of CS. Responses to my post were that I should switch labs if I want to but for the sake of my application, my current lab is fine. I'm conflicted because it seems like too much of a sacrifice to switch labs. So I was instead thinking about just spending next summer doing bench work or something and maybe getting a small presentation out of it but otherwise staying in my current lab for the rest of college.
The problems:
-I'm planning on taking the MCAT at the end of next summer and don't know if spending so much of my day in the lab will interfere with studying or my mental health.
-I did not start college as premed and thus feel like I'm constantly behind. I barely have any shadowing or clinical experience and do not have any non-clinical volunteering or leadership yet. I also am undertaking an independent project that I think is interesting but will almost definitely last throughout next summer. Going in a new lab also presents the opportunity cost of putting my current research--which I have more progress on--on hold. Tl;dr I could do other things with the summer that would be more beneficial to my application.
So I don't know if it'd be a great idea. I really do want the experience because I want to see if I like it better than clinical informatics research and because from what I know I can't stick with clinical informatics in med school if I want to end up in a competitive speciality (would it matter that I don't have any previous experience or publications in medicinal or natural science research?). Any advice would be appreciated.
The problems:
-I'm planning on taking the MCAT at the end of next summer and don't know if spending so much of my day in the lab will interfere with studying or my mental health.
-I did not start college as premed and thus feel like I'm constantly behind. I barely have any shadowing or clinical experience and do not have any non-clinical volunteering or leadership yet. I also am undertaking an independent project that I think is interesting but will almost definitely last throughout next summer. Going in a new lab also presents the opportunity cost of putting my current research--which I have more progress on--on hold. Tl;dr I could do other things with the summer that would be more beneficial to my application.
So I don't know if it'd be a great idea. I really do want the experience because I want to see if I like it better than clinical informatics research and because from what I know I can't stick with clinical informatics in med school if I want to end up in a competitive speciality (would it matter that I don't have any previous experience or publications in medicinal or natural science research?). Any advice would be appreciated.
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I have merged the above post with your original thread. If you are having problems getting other things done (MCAT, clinical experience, shadowing, non-clinical volunteering), then you will need to decide whether you should be dedicating time to this research. As this stage, you should find out if you want to become a physician because it sounds like you are putting the cart before the horse.
