How to ask for break from research?

[almostdw]

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I would like to take a break (about one semester) from research because I will be taking the MCAT in May or early June.. There is no way I can spend the time in lab that I normally do while prepping for the MCAT and still get a good score. My PI has high expectations though, and she isn't very lenient. She is the kind of PI that expects you to be in the lab during most breaks and weekends if you are serious about research. She's in her office/lab all the time too, so I guess she has the same standards for herself. So how should I ask? Has anyone else done the same? What did you do, and how did things turn out?

 

[Lannister]

"I'm taking the MCAT this semester, and in order to give my full attention to studying I have decided that I need to take a temporary break from working in the lab".
Be direct and polite.

 

[aldol16]

Well, it's difficult because the PI is going to have her expectations for the lab and like it or not, pre-meds, academics don't really care about your MCATs. You should probably sit down with her and tell her that you would love to continue on in her lab, but need to focus on your MCAT preparation for a few months first. And then explain that the MCAT is a very important thing for med school.

 

[kstorm]

I would just be straightforward with her. She should be understanding.

 

[mistafab]

Just be straightforward. Give her a heads up early in case she needs to replace you. Nothing perfect to say, just say it. You need time for dedicated studying on the MCAT just like grad students need with their GRE.

 

[benjamin94559]

Just be straightforward. Give her a heads up early in case she needs to replace you. Nothing perfect to say, just say it. You need time for dedicated studying on the MCAT just like grad students need with their GRE.

Im pretty sure most grad students dont need dedicated study time for the GRE. Subject tests maybe but its not on the same scale as the MCAT.

 

[Goro]

"Dr Jones, I would like to take a break (about one semester) from research because I will be taking the MCAT in May or early June.. There is no way I can spend the time in lab that I normally do while prepping for the MCAT and still get a good score. Once I'm done, I'll be back and ready to go."

 

[mistafab]

You are right. Grad school is like kindergarten compared to pre-med track. Their exam is worthless, you don't even need to study for it to do well. Just take it and get into a top 10 phd program of your choosing! That is, if you decide that you want become a worthless scientist rather than a doctor.

/sarcasm

Im pretty sure most grad students dont need dedicated study time for the GRE. Subject tests maybe but its not on the same scale as the MCAT.

 

[Lannister]

You are right. Grad school is like kindergarten compared to pre-med track. Their exam is worthless, you don't even need to study for it to do well. Just take it and get into a top 10 phd program of your choosing! That is, if you decide that you want become a worthless scientist rather than a doctor.

/sarcasm

No one said the GRE was easy or worthless. They just meant that the GRE generally doesn't require as much studying as the MCAT, meaning that it's more possible to handle GRE studying along side classes/work/research.

 

[benjamin94559]

You are right. Grad school is like kindergarten compared to pre-med track. Their exam is worthless, you don't even need to study for it to do well. Just take it and get into a top 10 phd program of your choosing! That is, if you decide that you want become a worthless scientist rather than a doctor.

/sarcasm

Put it this way. I know plenty of people in top 10 phd programs and only a handful of them actually took significant time eg >1 month of dedicated GRE prep time. Out of everyone I know in medical school of any rank, a significant majority took at least 2 months off of whatever job they were doing to study for the MCAT.

Besides the admissions processes are different beasts. While i'm not an excpert on phd admissions, I'm told/believe that Phd programs weigh test scores very differently than medical schools

 

[Dr.Kat]

Put it this way. I know plenty of people in top 10 phd programs and only a handful of them actually took significant time eg >1 month of dedicated GRE prep time. Out of everyone I know in medical school of any rank, a significant majority took at least 2 months off of whatever job they were doing to study for the MCAT.

Besides the admissions processes are different beasts. While i'm not an excpert on phd admissions, I'm told/believe that Phd programs weigh test scores very differently than medical schools

ok jeeeeez you made your point, give @mistafab a break. he was just making an analogy

 

[BombsAway]

You are right. Grad school is like kindergarten compared to pre-med track. Their exam is worthless, you don't even need to study for it to do well. Just take it and get into a top 10 phd program of your choosing! That is, if you decide that you want become a worthless scientist rather than a doctor.
/sarcasm

Seriously tho, I GRE studied for 3 weeks and hit 90%ile in both sections. I'm too embarrassed to say what my current practice MCAt scores are. The GRE tests middle school math and if you read books (in english) growing up. The MCAT tests 11 semesters of college level coursework.

search you feelings, you know it to be true.

 

[DrDarce]

I thought you couldn't really study for the GRE it's like the SAT or something 🤣