Med schools going online so more time for research?

[On_The_Way_Up]

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Incoming MS1. With medical schools going online that means less mandatory things to attend at our schools. Would this be an opportunity to go ahead and get involved in some clinical research fall semester? Usually people don’t advise to do research first semester of medical school but with the freed up time from being online might as well put that time to some use?

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

You really think that means less mandatory things lmao.

#MandatoryWellness #You'reGonnaLikeItOrElse

 

[Throwaway5129]

Yes theoretically but if I were you I'd wait till second semester M1 to get involved. Traditional wisdom is to wait till the end of M1 entirely, but with more free time, and if you're really gungho about it, I'd wait till second semester. First semester is just not wise, you're still getting your feet wet. Remember your ultimate goal is to pass and graduate medical school, not do research.

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

You really think that means less mandatory things lmao.

#MandatoryWellness #You'reGonnaLikeItOrElse

Many schools are going exclusively online fall semester. Some OOS students are staying home since schools aren’t requiring anyone to come to campus fall semester. There is literally nothing mandatory.

 

[ArteryStudyPainting]

Many schools are going exclusively online fall semester. Some OOS students are staying home since schools aren’t requiring anyone to come to campus fall semester. There is literally nothing mandatory.

I'd like to revisit this later

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

Yes theoretically but if I were you I'd wait till second semester M1 to get involved. Traditional wisdom is to wait till the end of M1 entirely, but with more free time, and if you're really gungho about it, I'd wait till second semester. First semester is just not wise, you're still getting your feet wet. Remember your ultimate goal is to pass and graduate medical school, not do research.

I thought about waiting 2nd semester but who knows we all might be back at school next semester so less free time.

 

[Throwaway5129]

I thought about waiting 2nd semester but who knows we all might be back at school next semester so less free time.

You could email faculty around christmas break/december and start research then. It's up to you in the end of course, but imo its just not smart to take on too much in your first semester of med school.

 

[DameJulie]

OP, try to get used to the fire hose and see if your study habits fit your curriculum in Fall semester. It's really tempting to start research Day 1 but most people don't do that.

Also, your school might have online mandatory stuffs during the semester so I wouldn't count it out.

 

[Osteosaur]

The coursework is no joke.

Most people who mess up first year are trying to do everything else.

Most medical students, already, are at home doing anki and watching 2x speed lectures.

 

[Throwaway5129]

The coursework is no joke.

Most people who mess up first year are trying to do everything else.

Most medical students, already, are at home doing anki and watching 2x speed lectures.

Yup. OP might be one of the lucky one's who doesn't need to put in as much time as everyone else but why risk that when you're just starting out?

 

[Mass Effect]

Incoming MS1. With medical schools going online that means less mandatory things to attend at our schools. Would this be an opportunity to go ahead and get involved in some clinical research fall semester? Usually people don’t advise to do research first semester of medical school but with the freed up time from being online might as well put that time to some use?

What makes you think nothing is mandatory just because it isn't in person? Did someone specifically say to you that it's go at your own pace? I'd find it very unusual that a med school would do that with MS 1s. Maybe MS 2s, but seems like a huge risk to just tell MS 1s that nothing is mandatory and that they can just study at their own pace in their own homes and just check in for exams.

I would wait until you know you can handle the course work before you get involved in research.

 

[deleted889094]

Yeah I second waiting to start research. I can honestly say I spent more time out of class on hobbies than ai did studying first year, but give yourself the fall to get used to everything. A couple months will but no means set you behind.

 

[Goro]

Incoming MS1. With medical schools going online that means less mandatory things to attend at our schools. Would this be an opportunity to go ahead and get involved in some clinical research fall semester? Usually people don’t advise to do research first semester of medical school but with the freed up time from being online might as well put that time to some use?

Have you heard the old cliche that medical school is like drinking from firehose? It's real.

Therefore, use your first semester to get used to that, because how you handled College usually doesn't translate to how you're going to handle medical school.

 

[M&L]

Many schools are going exclusively online fall semester. Some OOS students are staying home since schools aren’t requiring anyone to come to campus fall semester. There is literally nothing mandatory.

i am sure it depends on the school, but our school, for example, was completely online the last 2 months of spring semester, and OH BOY we were busy... with mandatory zoom stuff as well..... there was no way i could fit in the research. no way.

 

[executivewaffle]

Many schools are going exclusively online fall semester. Some OOS students are staying home since schools aren’t requiring anyone to come to campus fall semester. There is literally nothing mandatory.

We are fully online this fall and our mandatory classes are still mandatory but online.