Is research during school a waste of time?

[questionasker1071]

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I am an incoming dental student and I’ll be starting this upcoming fall. I was recently accepted to start working in one of the research labs at my dental school and I can start immediately on my project. The original intent of applying to work there was because I wanted to beef up my resume in case I wanted to specialize later down the road (no specialty in mind, just want the option open). The advantage would be that I would probably be done with much of the research before dental school even started. The position is unpaid unfortunately and to be honest I have not liked research in the past very much. PI is nice and I feel like I will have support in the lab. The PI would probably become a great LOR down the road if I do well.

My question is whether research is a waste of time and I would be better off working or doing something else this summer instead? Is it really not too much help when specializing?

 

[knewstance]

Really just depends on your interests. If you like doing it, it's not a waste of time. That being said, it does take a pretty large time commitment. You will need to be documenting and eventually publishing your research. Outside of the actual research, you could potentially be spending a lot of time writing your paper.

I personally am not interested in research, so I choose to not participate. I think you can be successful either way, but it is a way to stand out in the crowd when applying for a specialty program.

 

[questionasker1071]

Really just depends on your interests. If you like doing it, it's not a waste of time. That being said, it does take a pretty large time commitment. You will need to be documenting and eventually publishing your research. Outside of the actual research, you could potentially be spending a lot of time writing your paper.

I personally am not interested in research, so I choose to not participate. I think you can be successful either way, but it is a way to stand out in the crowd when applying for a specialty program.

I’m not a fan at all. I spent 2 years of undergrad doing it. Would my best bet be to put some time in before school starts to get it on my resume and my name on a publication? How far into the research do I need to go for it to be useful to my resume/applications.

 

[shendo]

If you are thinking of specializing down the road, then having research experience and even better some publications, will give you an advantage. It's not a bad idea to get started on your research before dental school starts since the first two years of dental school are usually stressful enough with the amount of didactics and preclinical work schools usually have.

 

[charlestweed]

I hate research. Research was one of the requirements for graduation at my dental school. Initially, I thought it was a stupid requirement…..a total waste of time…and added more stress to an already stressful curriculum. But then, in my 3rd year when I decided to apply for ortho, I listed the research project that I did in dental school on the application and I received 7 interviews (out of the 17 programs I applied). I am glad that I was forced to do research at my school. I’ve met several practicing GPs, who weren’t happy with their job and wanted to go back to school for ortho, but they couldn’t because they didn’t have the good enough grades and it was too late for them to go back to school to do research.

Doing research was optional at my ortho program. Initially, I decided not to do research because I thought it would take too much time and I wanted to focus more on studying to become a good orthodontist. But then I realized that ortho residency wasn’t as busy as dental school. So I changed my mind and earned a MS degree at the end of my ortho residency. I am glad I have this MS degree and I don't think it was a waste of time. I have 4 offices….I think the office sign looks cool with the “DDS, MS” behind my name.

 

[2TH MVR]

Research helps you to be a critical thinker. When you read reports on new products or procedures... You will be better prepared to verify the information.

 

[questionasker1071]

I hate research. Research was one of the requirements for graduation at my dental school. Initially, I thought it was a stupid requirement…..a total waste of time…and added more stress to an already stressful curriculum. But then, in my 3rd year when I decided to apply for ortho, I listed the research project that I did in dental school on the application and I received 7 interviews (out of the 17 programs I applied). I am glad that I was forced to do research at my school. I’ve met several practicing GPs, who weren’t happy with their job and wanted to go back to school for ortho, but they couldn’t because they didn’t have the good enough grades and it was too late for them to go back to school to do research.

Doing research was optional at my ortho program. Initially, I decided not to do research because I thought it would take too much time and I wanted to focus more on studying to become a good orthodontist. But then I realized that ortho residency wasn’t as busy as dental school. So I changed my mind and earned a MS degree at the end of my ortho residency. I am glad I have this MS degree and I don't think it was a waste of time. I have 4 offices….I think the office sign looks cool with the “DDS, MS” behind my name.

So you think your research was a large role in getting you those interviews? I don’t really like it too much and don’t really care about it “making me a better dentist” because I feel as though I’m already a critical thinker and will continue to become one.

I just want to be prudent and spend my time doing something this summer that will actually move me forward in my life. Making 5-6k at an internship or something will not so so much in the long term whereas doing research may help me to have the opportunity to choose a career that I enjoy in the future.

 

[charlestweed]

So you think your research was a large role in getting you those interviews? I don’t really like it too much and don’t really care about it “making me a better dentist” because I feel as though I’m already a critical thinker and will continue to become one.

I just want to be prudent and spend my time doing something this summer that will actually move me forward in my life. Making 5-6k at an internship or something will not so so much in the long term whereas doing research may help me to have the opportunity to choose a career that I enjoy in the future.

Yes, I think so. I think the specialty programs that offer MS degree prefer the candidates who have some research background. Mine was a pretty weak one….I didn’t publish it. At one of the interviews, the ortho program director told me what I did wasn’t a research project. He said it was more like an essay paper. I thought the interview didn’t go well but then 2 days later, he called me to offer the acceptance.

When the admission committees review the applications of 2 candidates, who have the same grade, class rank, and ADAT score but only one of them did research during dental school, who do you think they will accept? I think the one who did research because despite having to divert some of his time to do research, he still managed to do well in school. The other non-research guy had a lot more time to study to do well in school.

To set yourself apart from other applicants, you need to do things that most dental students hate to do. And research is one of them. Being a well rounded applicant, you'll have higher chance of getting the acceptance to your top choice program....ie the one that pays you.

 

[tooth-tastic]

I am an incoming dental student and I’ll be starting this upcoming fall. I was recently accepted to start working in one of the research labs at my dental school and I can start immediately on my project. The original intent of applying to work there was because I wanted to beef up my resume in case I wanted to specialize later down the road (no specialty in mind, just want the option open). The advantage would be that I would probably be done with much of the research before dental school even started. The position is unpaid unfortunately and to be honest I have not liked research in the past very much. PI is nice and I feel like I will have support in the lab. The PI would probably become a great LOR down the road if I do well.

My question is whether research is a waste of time and I would be better off working or doing something else this summer instead? Is it really not too much help when specializing?

As mentioned above, there are many advantages to doing research. It shows that you're well-rounded, enhances your CV, provides access to unique LOR, etc. You may also get the opportunity to meet other dental students and professionals at research conferences and symposiums. I think the pros considerably outweigh the cons.

 

[321931]

Waste of time in my opinion especially if you want to be a GP. However research is good for networking and getting a foot up/I’m into speciality programs.

Granted you can get into speciality’s without it, it can only help you.

In the overall picture/grand scheme of things, it’s worthless in my opinion. Dentistry at its core is very basic. Fill drill and bill out. It’s not like neurosurgery or other cancer treatments that are always evolving and groundbreaking.