Is research Important????

[dolly]

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Have any of you done research prior to applying to osteo school? If so what type and did you find it a help in your interview sessions. Or a possible help to getting accepted to med school? Thanks.

 

[PT.DO]

i did only 1 minor research project during my senior year of undergrad school (it was regarding delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and recovery times.... i first interviewed at OSU-COM and it never came up...got waitlisted there...interviewed at KCOM and it never came up and got accepted there........so in my case i don't think it made much of big deal...but then research may make you appear more well rounded or academically strong...but i emphasize
"may"...

 

[fmfcorpsman]

Hello,
I have been doing research for over a year now after graduating college. I just had an interview at UHS and it only slightly came up in the interview. I have to say that research, although it doesn't always directly relate to what you want to do, it is important in understanding what is being written in journals. It also has the benifit of learning how to communicate scientific ideas between doctors.

 

[pirulo]

I've done about a years worth or research in undergrad, and a year full time after college, all basic science research (prostate cancer and AIDS.) I was told by someone at the admissions commitee at NSU-COM not to emphasize it at all... I still think that it depends on the school, but d.o. schools are primary care oriented, i've heard of people that have been told at interviews that if you want to do research go to john hopkins or duke, don't come here. Emphasizing your research experience might actually hurt you, so although I wouldn't deny it if asked I would not emphasize it, if anything emphasize it like you've had more life experiences or have entered other careers, and are now sure that medicine is for you, primary care that is. this, of course, would not apply if you're going for a d.o./ph.d. and a school that offers one might also be more receptive...
pirulo
UMDNJ-SOM
2004

 

[dolly]

Thank you for all of your helpful replies. I have heard little bits here and there about having to do research before med school. I am relieved that this is not currently a major concern for applicants. I don't know how I'd fit the time in to do it. Thank you again.

 

[zilberman]

I was involved in research for 3 years as an undergrad, and i dont think that research is abount doing the procedures and the cook book receipies, it is about thinking and any med school would rather take a person that can think over a person that cannot. At NYCOM interview i emphasized my research and i think that they where impresed.

 

[dreamTeam]

My wife and I have been working in the Biotech industry for over two years since graduating with degrees in Biology. I joined a project involving orthopedic research on a product aimed to repair articular cartilage, while my wife works in molecular biology? cloning etc? We both decided to take some time off before medical school in order to get married and relax for a while. I would highly recommend this! We are now more excited than ever to start school this Fall at UHS. During my interviews, I used my experience in research to my advantage and brought it up many times. The interviewers at most schools were very interested in the specific details of the research projects. I made sure to point out that my main goal is to become a doctor and also emphasized my clinical experiences. It is my opinion that you should only do research before medical school if you really have a desire to do so. Having experience in many different areas makes you seem well rounded and gives you a lot to discuss on paper and during your interviews. I strongly agree with fmfcorpsman ? experiencing the research environment is important to help further develop skills necessary to understand and express scientific information. Research is important in all areas of medicine.

I hope this helps.

 

[apollosrt]

I agree strongly with DreamTeam. Research is important and helps mold one's academic mind, but if you have no desire to do research then you won't like it. I recommend doing it only if you are considering doing research in the future (like pursuing a DO/PhD). Especially don't do it if you are ONLY doing it to help your chances of getting into med school.

First of all, you should concentrate on activities that you enjoy doing and there are better things one can do to help your chances of getting into med school (working, volunteering, studying for the MCAT, etc. etc.) Bottom line: if you are intrigued by research and think you may like it then go for it! If you are not looking forward to it and are only willing to do it to help you get in, then don't waste your time. Plus, I agree with zilberman that research at its best helps develop your intellectual capabilities, but at most schools (like mine) an undergrad can really only help a grad student with their research (except for some extreme cases). So all you do is the cookbook type experiments b/c the grad student designs the true experiments.