How much does research matter?

[Coldwater_Adler]

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Hello everyone, I am new to SDN, and to the med school prospect as a whole. I recently decided that medical school would be a better option for me than a PhD. I am almost finished with my BS in Psychology (3.94 cGPA, if that is important) and have decided to take the pre-med courses. I have done quite a bit of research in Psychology, presenting at conferences across the nation and possibly have a publication or two. I have also done some research in traumatic brain injury and the Dr. in charge of the project presented that in London. As you may have gathered from my experience, I am interested in psychiatry - specifically neuropsychiatry. Here is my question, how much do medical schools care about research done as an undergraduate? As I planned to matriculate into a PhD program before I decided on med school, that is clearly what I put the most energy into. I plan to shadow a psychiatrist, a neurologist, and a general practitioner before applying. Also, I work, have a family, and go to school full-time - this leaves no time for volunteer work. How much does volunteer experience play into my chances of getting in? To recap, I am asking:
1) How much does research experience play into admissions?
2) How much does volunteer experience play into admissions?

 

[mw18]

Hello everyone, I am new to SDN, and to the med school prospect as a whole. I recently decided that medical school would be a better option for me than a PhD. I am almost finished with my BS in Psychology (3.94 cGPA, if that is important) and have decided to take the pre-med courses. I have done quite a bit of research in Psychology, presenting at conferences across the nation and possibly have a publication or two. I have also done some research in traumatic brain injury and the Dr. in charge of the project presented that in London. As you may have gathered from my experience, I am interested in psychiatry - specifically neuropsychiatry. Here is my question, how much do medical schools care about research done as an undergraduate? As I planned to matriculate into a PhD program before I decided on med school, that is clearly what I put the most energy into. I plan to shadow a psychiatrist, a neurologist, and a general practitioner before applying. Also, I work, have a family, and go to school full-time - this leaves no time for volunteer work. How much does volunteer experience play into my chances of getting in? To recap, I am asking:
1) How much does research experience play into admissions?
2) How much does volunteer experience play into admissions?

Unfortunately, it is the opposite of what you're hoping. Volunteering is pretty much an absolute necessity and research is icing on the cake for a good amount of schools and only incredibly important for top research schools. It's a necessity for MD/PhD.

 

[Coldwater_Adler]

Unfortunately, it is the opposite of what you're hoping. Volunteering is pretty much an absolute necessity and research is icing on the cake for a good amount of schools and only incredibly important for top research schools. It's a necessity for MD/PhD.

How much volunteering is appropriate?

 

[getAsordietrying]

Unfortunately, it is the opposite of what you're hoping. Volunteering is pretty much an absolute necessity and research is icing on the cake for a good amount of schools and only incredibly important for top research schools. It's a necessity for MD/PhD.

I actually know someone from my school who got into a top 20 research school and she never did any clinical volunteering. She had great stats all around, but this is an exception (and an incredibly risky move).

According to the MSAR nearly 80% of med school matriculates did some kind of research. However, for most schools clinical volunteering trumps research. I believe some posters on here did little to nothing research and adequate volunteering and attend good schools. In most situations I would agree with mw18, more volunteering is more important than more research.

For starters, you want to do some kind of clinical volunteering such as in a hospital or small clinic, and possibly some shadowing.

 

[kamakazi5]

How much volunteering is appropriate?

Obviously the more, the better but shoot for 100 hours of both clinical and non-clinical. You are good on research at least.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I actually know someone from my school who got into a top 20 research school and she never did any clinical volunteering. She had great stats all around, but this is an exception (and an incredibly risky move).

According to the MSAR nearly 80% of med school matriculates did some kind of research. However, for most schools clinical volunteering trumps research. I believe some posters on here did little to nothing research and adequate volunteering and attend good schools. In most situations I would agree with mw18, more volunteering is more important than more research.

For starters, you want to do some kind of clinical volunteering such as in a hospital or small clinic, and possibly some shadowing.

Did she have paid clinical experience?

 

[Coldwater_Adler]

Thank you for all of the responses! If I want to be a psychiatrist, should my preparation be different than someone who is going into surgery, general, or some other specialty?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Thank you for all of the responses! If I want to be a psychiatrist, should my preparation be different than someone who is going into surgery, general, or some other specialty?

Your undergraduate preparation doesn't change based on what specialty you think you want to go into. When you get to med school and actually deal with psychiatric patients, you may change your mind. I get that you have a psych degree and have done research, but that isn't the same as being a psychiatrist.

 

[Neuroplasticity]

From my understanding, medical schools are looking to see through actions if you are willing to dedicate yourself to a service profession. As the attached shows, this is of high importance. With your personal circumstances this may be difficult, hopefully other applicants with similar circumstances can weigh in on this.

 

[Goro]

No. Your interests are going to change.

Thank you for all of the responses! If I want to be a psychiatrist, should my preparation be different than someone who is going into surgery, general, or some other specialty?

 

[getAsordietrying]

Thank you for all of the responses! If I want to be a psychiatrist, should my preparation be different than someone who is going into surgery, general, or some other specialty?

No getting into medical school consists of the same process no matter what field your interested in. Though if I were you I would look into shadowing a local psychiatrist, which would also help tie it in with your research.

 

[Full metal alchemist]

MD/Phd programs- Research is an absolute must.

MD programs- it's not essential but it's nice to have. Clinical volunteering is usually necessary and very significant.