Is Research Necessary?

[Dr. Weebs]

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I have been reading this site too much I think, because I'm starting to doubt my chances at getting into a good medical school even though I have good stats (3.73 GPA, 33P MCAT), due to the fact that I have no research on my resume. It seems like all of the top medical schools just expect that you have research experience, or even have published articles or something. My extracurriculars are all based around public service and patient contact (Tutoring HS biology, volunteering at a medical clinic, working full-time as a CNA at a hospital.). Are those EC's enough to make me competitive at a school such as Harvard, or Stanford? I was very confident about my chances at getting into a good school until I started reading this site... am I crazy? 😱

Weebs

 

[lorelei]

When I interviewed at WashU (research-heavy school, right?) they told me that 30% of their incoming students had done research, and 70% did some research by the time they graduated. If only 1 in 3 Wash U matriculants has done research, it can't be that vital.

 

[45408]

Well, a 33 MCAT is below the averages for those schools anyways, so in your shoes, I'd be pulling research if you really wanted to get into those schools. Can you get into a good medical school? I see no reason why not. Can you get into a top 10 school? It gets a little sketchier, because it can be such a crapshoot. If you look on MDApplicants.com for Stanford, two people got in with less than a 30 on their MCATs (a 27 and 29, but it might be worth noting that they are both URMs).

 

[45408]

When I interviewed at WashU (research-heavy school, right?) they told me that 30% of their incoming students had done research, and 70% did some research by the time they graduated. If only 1 in 3 Wash U matriculants has done research, it can't be that vital.

Conversely, I was told that every incoming student at MCW this year had done research, so if 3/3 of them have done research, it does seem kinda vital. 😉 Might want to check on the individual school.

 

[DrYo12]

Oh. My. GOD!!!! You're screwed without research. You might as well give it up now. Silly, silly rabbit...of COURSE you don't need research. If you're interested in it, do it. If you haven't the interest or the time, don't. Its not a given that everyone will have done it, and chances are that it won't really even come up. There are lots of folks with mediocre stats that are getting acceptances that have done no research and lots of others will excellent stats (still no research) and are doing just fine.

Don't worry too much about it. Do what's right for you and don't worry too much about having research experience as long as you have done things that can show an admissions committee that you've thought through your decision to become a doctor and that you have an idea of what to expect.

As in the words of the great Steve Martin--Chill or be chilled! 😀

 

[erin682]

So yeah best piece of advice I can give you is DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE ON THIS SITE. Sure a lot of the top research schools look at research but a lot of the top primary care schools place more weight on volunteer work and clinical exposure. The point is that you show adcoms more than just the numbers on the page. You're stats are great and that gets you in the door. Once you're in the door you need to prove that there is something about you that sets you apart from all the other numbers. Any kind of EC's do that. Lots of luck and RELAX!

 

[bigdan]

ditto everyone.

No research here; in at 8 schools.

Good luck.

dc

 

[hnbui]

I have been reading this site too much I think, because I'm starting to doubt my chances at getting into a good medical school even though I have good stats (3.73 GPA, 33P MCAT), due to the fact that I have no research on my resume. It seems like all of the top medical schools just expect that you have research experience, or even have published articles or something. My extracurriculars are all based around public service and patient contact (Tutoring HS biology, volunteering at a medical clinic, working full-time as a CNA at a hospital.). Are those EC's enough to make me competitive at a school such as Harvard, or Stanford? I was very confident about my chances at getting into a good school until I started reading this site... am I crazy? 😱

Weebs

you're okay. Research is not vital.

 

[MWillie]

8 schools, but which ones? My friends with heavily research weighted ECs have interviews from places like Harvard, U Penn, Yale even without many other ECs. I have a little research but not as much and I have fewer interviews at these top research institutions. If you want to get into medical school, research is certainly not required. But if you want to go to a top 10 research institution I think research is an important part of your application. Of course there are people who get in without it, but they probably have a combination of superb numbers and other interesting ECs.