Is there still time to do research??

[justhanging]

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So decided to switch from pre pharmacy track to a pre med track. I will be graduating in spring 2012 and will be taking the mcat this April or May to apply as early as possible in june. My question is if there is still enough time to do research because I don't have any since it wasn't too important in my pharmacy track. I would have to do the research during the summer but my application will go out during the summer as well so my question is would medical schools see this sort of 'future' research experience that am going to have?? I just want to fit in research experience for my application. Any suggestions?

 

[Silverfalcon]

So decided to switch from pre pharmacy track to a pre med track. I will be graduating in spring 2012 and will be taking the mcat this April or May to apply as early as possible in june. My question is if there is still enough time to do research because I don't have any since it wasn't too important in my pharmacy track. I would have to do the research during the summer but my application will go out during the summer as well so my question is would medical schools see this sort of 'future' research experience that am going to have?? I just want to fit in research experience for my application. Any suggestions?

You can't put "future events" in AMCAS because who knows, maybe your "future research" is curing the common cold. 🙄 Given your situation, no, you are not going to have time to seriously devote to research, and trying to do so would 1) sacrifice your MCAT, 2) sacrifice your GPA, and 3) annoy serious professors/PIs who actually want to do some proper research (instead of you just trying to do research for the sake of it).

Maybe that's a bit blunt, but don't do research unless you have time and actually want to do it.

 

[justhanging]

You can't put "future events" in AMCAS because who knows, maybe your "future research" is curing the common cold. 🙄 Given your situation, no, you are not going to have time to seriously devote to research, and trying to do so would 1) sacrifice your MCAT, 2) sacrifice your GPA, and 3) annoy serious professors/PIs who actually want to do some proper research (instead of you just trying to do research for the sake of it).

Maybe that's a bit blunt, but don't do research unless you have time and actually want to do it.

I don't have to put it in the application but maybe my application can be updated as I do it. Don't medical schools keep track of my grades even after Ive sent my application? Wouldn't they be able to see my research too? I wish I would have made this decision earlier, could have avoided taking the stupid pcat.

 

[Silverfalcon]

I don't have to put it in the application but maybe my application can be updated as I do it. Don't medical schools keep track of my grades even after Ive sent my application? Wouldn't they be able to see my research too? I wish I would have made this decision earlier, could have avoided taking the stupid pcat.

Okay, this isn't like a Facebook where you can update your status.

AMCAS, once submitted, cannot be changed. You can send update letters, but there's no guarantee as to when they will read those update letters, so you need to be sure that when you submit AMCAS, that's when you have everything ready and good to go. This includes transcripts, which you need to send to be verified.

Are you sure you want to apply this cycle? You are rushing into a lot of things, and you obviously do not know the ins and outs of medical school application process much.

 

[Coug]

Srsly OP, don't worry about research. People have done absolutely no research and been just fine. Do it because you want to, not so you can try and impress

 

[r1012]

So decided to switch from pre pharmacy track to a pre med track. I will be graduating in spring 2012 and will be taking the mcat this April or May to apply as early as possible in june. My question is if there is still enough time to do research because I don't have any since it wasn't too important in my pharmacy track. I would have to do the research during the summer but my application will go out during the summer as well so my question is would medical schools see this sort of 'future' research experience that am going to have?? I just want to fit in research experience for my application. Any suggestions?

It's totally fine. I took my mcat in july, started research right after, submitted amcas in september (yes, totally on the late side) - I included the research on the AMCAS. I also talked about my research on the secondaries, and even though my app was late, I have interviews and an acceptance (and I really did think I was screwed b/c my apps were in so late).

Takeaway - it's never too late to start doing things for your app (unless it is post-deadlines, and even then you can send updates to the schools that will look at them). Just be sure that these things are relevant, important to you, and you can articulate them clearly.

 

[mdeast]

OP- Given the kind of sudden switch to pre-med...have you thought at all about taking a year off after college? I know people are reticent about this, but almost everyone I know who's done this has loved and appreciated that year. It gives you more time to make sure medicine is right for you, build your resume, chill out and enjoy life. Also, remember this isn't only the resume for you med school app. If you do research, publish, work in a clinical setting or health-related field...these are experiences that are a part of your residency application down the road.

Medicine is such a long path, don't feel rushed into getting it over with as soon as possible.

 

[justhanging]

OP- Given the kind of sudden switch to pre-med...have you thought at all about taking a year off after college? I know people are reticent about this, but almost everyone I know who's done this has loved and appreciated that year. It gives you more time to make sure medicine is right for you, build your resume, chill out and enjoy life. Also, remember this isn't only the resume for you med school app. If you do research, publish, work in a clinical setting or health-related field...these are experiences that are a part of your residency application down the road.

Medicine is such a long path, don't feel rushed into getting it over with as soon as possible.

Am not like most people mdeast, I don't like to travel and I don't want to chill and 'enjoy life' for a year. I want to work.

 

[raltima07]

Okay, this isn't like a Facebook where you can update your status.

AMCAS, once submitted, cannot be changed. You can send update letters, but there's no guarantee as to when they will read those update letters, so you need to be sure that when you submit AMCAS, that's when you have everything ready and good to go. This includes transcripts, which you need to send to be verified.

Are you sure you want to apply this cycle? You are rushing into a lot of things, and you obviously do not know the ins and outs of medical school application process much.

+1 - Love it!