Importance of Research?

[cl1234]

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I'm currently a 3rd year undergraduate student at a UC and I was wondering how advantageous it will be to get some research experience. I know with Optometry, research isn't really emphasized as much to shadowing/interning with an optometrist, but I was wondering if it would give a certain edge in the admissions process (since it isn't that popular of an EC for pre-opto student)?

I have an opportunity to do some medical research (even though the subject has nothing to do with the eye/opto stuff) but it is a large commitment (at least 2 quarters + 10+/week) and Should I spend that time instead shadowing an optometrist? I already have one shadowing/working experience with an optometrist under my belt (and he mentioned that he is more than willing to write me a LOR) but I was thinking about getting a part time job in my 4th year working with an optometrist or something similar along those lines to get more experience. Can't really do both because that means no room for studying + my other ECs.

Basically, I'm wondering if it is worth it to invest my time in this research opportunity or am I better off just volunteering at an opto clinic or something?

 

[mupreopt]

I was wondering if it would give a certain edge in the admissions process?

Yes, according to one of the optometry schools that I e-mailed.

 

[cl1234]

just out of curiosity, which school was that? Thanks!

 

[mupreopt]

just out of curiosity, which school was that? Thanks!

If I remember, it was SCO in Tennessee.

 

[anchan]

the more diverse your background, the stronger a candidate you will be. however, do not forget that academics is the first thing you are screened for in the admissions process so if you feel like the workload of taking on the research opportunity will hamper you grades then i woudln't do it but if you can successfully balance the two, it will make you a much better candidate. and also for yourself as well, i think scientific research really allows you to further yourself as a student and gain a lot of insight to further develop your learning.

this is something that i've observed with our admissions candidates, i feel that those who have done research often are more mature as students because they've done more than just hack away at books and come away with a more fundamental understanding of the concept of science.

 

[inspired]

yea definitely a tough choice but i would say get more opto experience. well, how long did you shadow for?

i think what got me my acceptance was my vast experience and knowledge of the field from working in an optometry office. i worked at the office for 1.5 years and volunteered with unite for sight. i felt like when i was at the interview, they mainly wanted to know that i was passionate about optometry e.g. my knowledge of the field and experiences related to it. i did do some research in my undergrad, actually related to uv radiation, but it never came up during the interview. i'd say the research work did help diversify my application and maybe helped a little in my acquiring the interview.

however, i do believe that research would help your application if your application's weaknesses were school-related e.g. grades, letters from academic professors. research would show them that you're strong academically and you could probably get a good letter out of the professor you're doing research with.

so if you're already strong academically or only could choose one, i'd say invest your energy in doing more opto related things like volunteering or interning/shadowing for a good period of time in the field of optometry.

 

[brownyeyed]

hmmmmm, like said right above me, this is a tough choice. i also think it depends on how much experience you already have. if you think you have enough exposure to the field with many hours, than i would say go with the research, like said earlier, it will DEFinitely diversify your app. but i also think working in an optometrist's office is a great experience to interact some with patients (the appreciative and cranky ones). i worked in an office for a little over a year during my sophomore year. Plus it helped me getter a much better LOR from the optometrist because he was able to see my personality in good and bad situations. i had quit when i started taking a bigger load and tougher classes. a professor of mine had asked me if i'd be interested in research (i'm a biochem major). i thought about it for awhile but decided it would be a great way to go more in depth in this particular area of science and that i just wanted to see if i'd be interested in doing research later on in opt school. i had done one semester of it. after doing research, i realized i did not really want to do it again, but i don't regret it at all. i had interviewed at UAB and SCO. UAB seemed more interested in my research (which i expected). SCO asked a little about it but not too much, they were more interested in my opt experience.

OVERALL, i think it depends on the schools your applying to (you should get a good idea by looking at their website). BUT more importantly, it depends on what would interest you more. i had the opprotunity to do both and they both helped my app in different ways for diff schools.

hehe...sorry for the long post!!

 

[cl1234]

Thank you so much everyone for all your feedback/help! I recently switched to optometry not too long ago (last summer) so I'm still in the learning and researching process right now to making myself a competitive candidate