Interview and using research to suck up

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scotchtape

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I got an interview from a state school where I am a resident. My stats are not spectacular... my gpa is actually lower than this school's average (.26 lower). The school has a good research program and I am attending a good research undergraduate institution.

Here is my bright idea.
The interview is not for another two months and this school is my top choice. I am actually interested in some of the research at this school. I will be in this state for the summer. I was thinking that I should email some of the professors and secure a research position for the summer and then tell the interviewer that I am a good match because I am interested in the school's research as well as its other aspects and then mention that I will be working with Dr. so and so for the summer. Would this be too much sucking up or overkill or will it help me get in?
Thanks in advance.
 
I seriously doubt one summer's worth of research(that you havn't even done yet) would be that impressive to them.

Just my $.02.

Do you have any research experience from the school you are at right now.

After all, you said it was a good research institution. Why not find a position there?
 
scotchtape said:
I got an interview from a state school where I am a resident. My stats are not spectacular... my gpa is actually lower than this school's average (.26 lower). The school has a good research program and I am attending a good research undergraduate institution.

Here is my bright idea.
The interview is not for another two months and this school is my top choice. I am actually interested in some of the research at this school. I will be in this state for the summer. I was thinking that I should email some of the professors and secure a research position for the summer and then tell the interviewer that I am a good match because I am interested in the school's research as well as its other aspects and then mention that I will be working with Dr. so and so for the summer. Would this be too much sucking up or overkill or will it help me get in?
Thanks in advance.

I think it may help you if you can really secure research position. They may wonder though why you haven't already been doing research if you are interested in research (you might be, but I'm not sure from your post).
 
I think that is actually a good idea, considering you can get a decent position within a lab. Washing petri dishes and pipettes for some stiff can really get old. If you're interested in the research, then go for it!
 
One more thing - you can always cancel your plans should you not get into the school. Just a thought.
 
SanDiegoSOD said:
I think that is actually a good idea, considering you can get a decent position within a lab. Washing petri dishes and pipettes for some dick can really get old. If you're interested in the research, then go for it!

This is a good point.

If you do land a spot, do not just wash dishes for the lab.

My only worry is that a summer is not long enough to really get a feel for what the lab does.

Then again, you may go through the summer with flying colors.
 
sorry for the confusion. I ve worked in a lab for almost 4 years. After school ends, I will be heading back to my homestate where this medical school is located. Would they be more likely to take me if I say that I am already have a research project lined up at their school. ( i read the other post stating that research is very important). Would they be more inclined to accept me knowing that I am interested in doing resaerch at their institution and have already made plans to do so after I end college? Or will they see trhough it and think that I am just trying to suck up to the adcom so that they let me in?
 
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