is research more valued than clinical exp?

[bantyran]

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ok. i'm applying for residency this year. i was told by someone that if i dropped a year and did research with someone it would open sooooo many more doors for me, even in the future it would help with fellowships knowing that research experience was there. my question is, should i go for research and start it now and continue it till next year even if i dont get a residency now? will this research experience be a better benefit than doing externships or something else? what will get me a better program that has fellowship opportunities in the future? there was a point when i thought maybe doing a prelim if i didnt get a match into a good program would be a good way to get experience but now i heard research would be better and less painstaking.

ideas? i'm confused. i do have a research position possibly available. not sure to take it or not.

hmm... help! if any new interns or older residents or even PDs here, let me know... need insight.

 

[Blade28]

Please don't cross-post in multiple forums. Likely the other thread ( http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=5778891#post5778891 ) in the Internal Medicine forum will be closed as this is the more appropriate location.

 

[Tired]

I don't really see how this is a "clinical exp vs research" question. Your two options as you describe them are (1) continue on as a normal med student, or (2) take off a year to do research, then come back. It's not really a "one or the other" situation, it's a "take an extra year to do something extra" situation. It's not like you're picking between externships and research.

That being said, duh, of course a year of research makes you a more attractive applicant.

 

[bantyran]

ok, actually. im not a student anymore. im a graduate now. i graduated earlier this year. my point to the question is... i'm applying this year. i dont know my odds of getting into a good program that will have further research opportunities. so as a backup plan, what would be a better option to do incase i cant get a good residency. should i join a research project for the following year? or... should i try to get clinical experience through an externship? which would bet better/superior/offer more long term and residency wise.

both my steps are really good but i dont have any other USCE, i am a foreign grad. so thats that. i dont know what to exactly do. i can start the research position very soon if i choose that. maybe it can help if i mention it to PDs that i'm doing it now, but definitely incase for next year.

 

[Blade28]

So you graduated already, and are applying for the 2008 Match? What are you going to be doing until the start of residency next July?

Where did you go to med school, here or abroad?

Do you already have an externship set up?

 

[bantyran]

hey. well, i already graduated in january 2007. and i am applying for the 2008 match. i went to med school abroad. now, as far as doing something till start of residency next year, i dont know yet. nothing in the works as of it yet for me. i was considering a research position i found but its gonna have to be for a while and a few hours a day and well, the guy needs me for some time. not just short term. this is actually where i get confused, there is no guarantee i get a program that will have fellowships to offer too. my thing right now is start this research and continue with it for good or i can set up an externship for next year (from march onwards). i dont have it setup yet but i can get it setup. its not a big problem at all. but i want to know, will it be better to go for this research for the next year or will it be better to do like 6 months of USCE/externship? what will help me more to get a residency? if i pick the research, i'd do it for a good year or more. i hope you understand what i am saying...

 

[Blade28]

How does the rest of your application look? What field are you interested in?

 

[bantyran]

99step 1, cs passed, awaitin ck result next week, no usce

want IM.... hopeful for fellowship later on

 

[Blade28]

both my steps are really good but i dont have any other USCE, i am a foreign grad.

If you didn't get your USMLE Step 2 CK score back yet, how can you state the above?