MD How to get research/shadowing the summer before med school

[fouracle]

I'm starting MS1 in August, and I really want to get a head start on research and figuring out what potential specialties interest me so that I don't go into MS1 as blind. I realize it's early and I'd honestly rather be doing something fun this summer, but since I'm stuck at home anyway, I figured I might as well be productive with my time. I'd ideally like to get in on a research project ASAP and work on it this summer leading up to the first day of class. If this is not an option, that I'd also be fine with shadowing someone.

Currently I'm hoping to go into clinical research (I have no experience with clinical research) in a specialty I'm likely to pursue. In undergrad, I didn't find much success simply cold emailing PIs to see if they have a spot open - rather, I applied to posted open positions or summer research programs. However, since I don't have many connections at my medical school, I feel like my only option would be to cold email PIs and hope for the best. Is this a smart move? I don't want to leave a bad impression with attendings for being the overly eager MS1.

Also, in the event that I do cold email multiple PIs, and they all get back to me, what is the process like to then go about narrowing it down to one project?

Just a little confused on how this all works. Any advice is appreciated!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[takeurmeds02]

Shadowing might be cool but I'd suggest getting your foot in the door first. See if you can handle medical school before over-obligating and extending yourself before you even know what you're getting into. Plus, you might be given contacts through school so that you don't have to cold-call/email a million people.

And at any rate, please just enjoy sitting around or find less academically strenuous ways of enjoying your time. Start a hobby or something. Don't start research, don't study, don't do anything of those things. You'll thank yourself later and will feel ready to tackle school on day 1.

 

[fouracle]

Shadowing might be cool but I'd suggest getting your foot in the door first. See if you can handle medical school before over-obligating and extending yourself before you even know what you're getting into. Plus, you might be given contacts through school so that you don't have to cold-call/email a million people.

And at any rate, please just enjoy sitting around or find less academically strenuous ways of enjoying your time. Start a hobby or something. Don't start research, don't study, don't do anything of those things. You'll thank yourself later and will feel ready to tackle school on day 1.

I think my main motivation for wanting to start research now as opposed to after school starts is so that I'll have more time to get to know certain faculty members in fields that I'm interested in. Many summer research programs that I'd be interested in applying to the summer after MS1 require recommendation letters, and I don't realistically see how I would get to know faculty members well enough to ask them for a letter when I'm busy with schoolwork during the actual semester.

 

[ndafife]

Unless you feel you can finish a project over the summer, I suggest waiting to start research until after your first set of exams. Med school is a big transition academically/socially and I recommend making sure you can pass them before committing yourself to a project. What you really don't want is to lose the summer between M1 and M2 because you're busy remediating classes.

Its really not that hard to get a letter of recommendation. Doing research with someone so that you can get LOR to do research with someone else is very unnecessary.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Unless you already have a strong research background with a specific idea to explore or the ability to contribute to/lead a project right away, you should shadow (if you REALLY want to) and chill. If you somehow jump on a project now, you'll likely have to disappear in the Fall as you transition to school / get through anatomy so it's better to just start next spring / summer when you have a better feel for how to balance school with extra stuff. I also wouldn't worry about LOR because you can get one from a PI that you meet + your school's Deans + any previous letter writers that you have.

 

[fouracle]

Unless you feel you can finish a project over the summer, I suggest waiting to start research until after your first set of exams. Med school is a big transition academically/socially and I recommend making sure you can pass them before committing yourself to a project. What you really don't want is to lose the summer between M1 and M2 because you're busy remediating classes.

Its really not that hard to get a letter of recommendation. Doing research with someone so that you can get LOR to do research with someone else is very unnecessary.

Unless you already have a strong research background with a specific idea to explore or the ability to contribute to/lead a project right away, you should shadow (if you REALLY want to) and chill. If you somehow jump on a project now, you'll likely have to disappear in the Fall as you transition to school / get through anatomy so it's better to just start next spring / summer when you have a better feel for how to balance school with extra stuff. I also wouldn't worry about LOR because you can get one from a PI that you meet + your school's Dean's + any previous letter writers that you have.

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you!

 

[zanzizic]

Premeds, sheesh. Just relax and enjoy yourself for the summer. Don’t be a freaking gunner the summer before med school. Just like your high school accomplishments were erased the day you moved into the dorm in college, medical school erases most everything that came before. Also, you aren’t going to get a feel for specialties until 3rd year anyway. Don’t go into school prejudiced.

Take a trip. Drink some beers. Enjoy time with your family and significant other. Read some books for pleasure. This will be your last time for a really long time that nothing is hanging over your head so enjoy it.