Is Research important for MD only Applicants?

[ChinaDoll]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys and gals..

Just wondering if research is really really important for MD only applicants.. Someone told me before that Research weighs more for MD/PhD applicants than to MD applicant...I am just curious...cuz I am not really leaning towards MD/PhD (too darn long apparently...😛)..I am not doing a lot of research right now but volunteering and shadowing (lots clinical experience)...so just trying to get some ideas from you guys...

Thanks~~~

 

[ChinaDoll]

bump anyone????

 

[scotsdoc54]

Your right about MD/PhD. Research is vital for admissions for those guys, as they are training to spend the rest of their lives doing some kind of research.

For MD-only applicants, it's a mixed bag moreso. Many, if not the majority, seem to have some experience with research, myself included. It's more important at top schools, which in general tend to be more research-focused. However, I know several people who have gotten in without research. So it's not a requirement, but it definitely won't hurt.

So....if you really really don't want to do it, then don't do research. But if you think you might be slightly interested in it, then it can only help your application.

Just my two cents.

 

[shemarty]

If you're interested in academic medicine and becoming a leader in your field, conducting meaningful research and contributing to the body of knowledge is obviously looked upon favorably. There are some schools that emphasize this more strongly, as its part of their mission statement. (These are the ones that are ranked highly in the US News "research" rankings) There are other schools that don't care as much about research because they want to train clinicians who are going into primary care.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Why not research for fun?

 

[shemarty]

Why not research for fun?

Well yea, hopefully anybody who's working on a research project enjoys what they're doing. And usually people enjoy it because they like answering questions, furthering the cutting edge of science, etc.

 

[mvenus929]

The majority of applicants do have research experience. And many people go the research route at the expense of volunteering (self-reported volunteering percentage of admitted students tends to be 10-20% less than the research percentage at the same school). However, there are many schools who admit a great many students who don't participate in research, so it's not exactly vital. You just have to make up for it somewhere else (leadership, volunteering, etc).

 

[Cardiac]

At least consider doing research in some field. I promise, if you try hard enough you'll find some sort of research you're interested in. Choose something you like and are curious about and pursue it, even if it has nothing to do with science - someone, somewhere is researching it.

 

[HellaStellar]

As previously stated, it definitely will help your application, but it is not essential. I got into a top school without doing an ounce of research during undergrad. My honest answer when asked why not? I'd rather invest my time and effort in working with people. You have to find your niche in medicine, and while I obviously respect the value of research, it's not what I'm about.
That being said make up for lack of research with excellent volunteering and clinical experiences, and make sure nothing else in your application is severely hindering you (low GPA, MCAT, etc). You should be fine OP. Best of luck!

 

[slick27]

I would do research. I don't see how it could hurt your application.

 

[not so calm now]

My honest answer when asked why not? I'd rather invest my time and effort in working with people.

So did they not ask why you didn't get involved in clinical research, or at least a psych lab?

 

[Kaustikos]

So did they not ask why you didn't get involved in clinical research, or at least a psych lab?

I'm interested in clinical medicine? Case solved.👍 It cannot hurt you if your primary focus is clinical focused.

 

[jammy22]

seeing how I'm applying MD/PhD, I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to do research 😀

That being said, for the MD-only applicants. I think it is a good idea to at least get a taste of it (although, you aren't obligated). While you may think that you don't like research, after a year or so in the lab, you will be even more convincing when you say at your interviews that you'd rather work with patients 100% , have no intention on academics, don't want to incorporate research into your career, etc. That's what I did, except, I ended up loving it.

 

[koffein]

Hey guys and gals..

Just wondering if research is really really important for MD only applicants.. Someone told me before that Research weighs more for MD/PhD applicants than to MD applicant...I am just curious...cuz I am not really leaning towards MD/PhD (too darn long apparently...😛)..I am not doing a lot of research right now but volunteering and shadowing (lots clinical experience)...so just trying to get some ideas from you guys...

Thanks~~~

No. Do something else that interests you.

 

[Kaustikos]

seeing how I'm applying MD/PhD, I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to do research 😀

That being said, for the MD-only applicants. I think it is a good idea to at least get a taste of it (although, you aren't obligated). While you may think that you don't like research, after a year or so in the lab, you will be even more convincing when you say at your interviews that you'd rather work with patients 100% , have no intention on academics, don't want to incorporate research into your career, etc. That's what I did, except, I ended up loving it.

Taking that approach is smart, imo, because it makes sure you've covered all the angles of science and can help bolster the idea that there is nothing you'd rather do. Imo, research is interesting, I've just had too many doors shut to care anymore👎