Is this research useless? :(

[mrivera]

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Hi... so I have been doing research in Occupational Medicine @ a Med school, and although im enjoying it, the research that im doing is so much different than my other undergraduate friends.. i Read papers and draw conclucions.. there is no lab work, and as of now, im looking for factors involved for refugees trying to find jobs in the new country.... what do you guys think?

 

[ksmi117]

Research is research. Bench research isn't the only type there is. Just do what you find interesting.

 

[Catalystik]

As long as your work constitutes a scholarly investigation which adds to mankind's understanding, it is Research for the purposes of an AMCAS application.

 

[greencan]

I was in a similar position as an undergraduate... no bench research, and all my friends that were involved were in labs. I wasn't interested in labs and wanted to work more with people.

I did end up doing an independent project for the pediatric department after reading a few papers, designing my own thesis/question, and presenting my findings.

Like the previous posters have stated, research is research. Personally I think it's more about what you get out of the process... like are you learning the skills to critically think? Discover new knowledge? Are you contributing to a field? Or are you just washing dishes in a lab or filing papers? As long as you get something out of it and are enjoying it, definitely stick with it 🙂

 

[BBender716]

I did all economics research. It was hypothesis driven and that's what counts. I got asked about it at all my interviews and they ate it up so just do what you enjoy and really try to get involved and participate in "scholarly discovery"! 🙂

 

[bannie22]

no research is useless.
even if its just research on the best build for a hero in dota. 😉

 

[mrivera]

Thanks for all the responses - but do you guys think Med schools actually prefer the lab work over this kind of stuff? I initally thought this would be a huge deal for my app since it was in the Med school(research at the med school level!), and i will be using the researchers(profs) as a letters of Reference.. and they really like me...

 

[BlueElmo]

I would try to find a laboratory research if it's biological research.

 

[mrivera]

I want to bump this thread. I want others to comment on my research topic.. thanks..

 

[ShinyDome19]

I say stick with it. The majority of applicants (who do research) will have either psychology or biology bench research experience. But, if you have something that is differnt, and you enjoy it, then stick with it as it will more likely stand out. For instance, I have several years of microbiology bench research under my belt which resulted in several publications. I also did about 5 months of zero gravity research with NASA, for only a presentation. When it came to interviews, I think, on average, I was asked one question about my bio research, but I couldnt count the number of questions I was asked about the NASA stuff.

 

[LizzyM]

I say stick with it. The majority of applicants (who do research) will have either psychology or biology bench research experience. But, if you have something that is differnt, and you enjoy it, then stick with it as it will more likely stand out. For instance, I have several years of microbiology bench research under my belt which resulted in several publications. I also did about 5 months of zero gravity research with NASA, for only a presentation. When it came to interviews, I think, on average, I was asked one question about my bio research, but I couldnt count the number of questions I was asked about the NASA stuff.

Don't mistake what you are asked about in the interview with what really counts to the adcom. Interviewers will ask you about what is novel in your application. That doesn't mean that they do not value what was mundane but that it just doesn't make for an interesting conversation.

OP, if you are doing something interesting, if you are learning new skills and contribuing new knowledge toward answering a reserach question then stick with it. Not everyone has an interest in bench research and it is certainly not an essential component of medical practice, even in academic settings.

 

[metallica81788]

Don't mistake what you are asked about in the interview with what really counts to the adcom. Interviewers will ask you about what is novel in your application. That doesn't mean that they do not value what was mundane but that it just doesn't make for an interesting conversation.

OP, if you are doing something interesting, if you are learning new skills and contribuing new knowledge toward answering a reserach question then stick with it. Not everyone has an interest in bench research and it is certainly not an essential component of medical practice, even in academic settings.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but that is really great advice. I know this personally unfortunately, as one of the schools that rejected me commented on my decision and one of the factors was something never addressed in either of my two interviews there. Thanks, LizzyM, that's something everyone should know.