MS-2 seeking some advice on research

[sameer]

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I'm currently volunteering at Bascom Palmer this summer working on a short research project. I will be starting my MS-2 year this August and verbally agreed to work on an ophtho research project at my medical school for the fall term but I'm a little worried about doing this since the MS-2 year is going to be really rough. I really enjoy research but I don't know if I should risk my grades in order to add one more research experience to my resume. At Bascom if I get some results I'll definitely be on a paper but not first or second author since students have been working on the same project throughout the year and my time hear is for only 8 weeks. Am I expected to have a first authorship somewhere down the line if I'm applying to competitive research oriented ophtho programs down the line or would a third or fourth authorship be good enough as long as I have everything else these programs are looking for? Thanks for any advice.

 

[rubensan]

sameer,
1st author usually implies that you wrote the manuscript. 2nd author implies substantial intellectual contribution. 3rd or 4th authorship also implies intellectual contribution to the manuscript, but to varying degrees. look at the FAQ thread on this forum (sticky) and see what wilmer eye institute says about successful applicants that match into their residency program. although 1st authorship on a manuscript is encouraged, does it mean that everyone who matched at wilmer or iowa or wills or bascom or stein or doheny has a 1st author manuscript? no. it's the whole package in the end that will win you your desired spot. do well in 2nd year, rock step 1. keep up your work (and more importantly your contacts) in lab. take some serious ownership in your portion of this research project and maybe pick up something else in the next few years (like a case report) that you can call your own. remember, just because they are telling you that you will be 3rd or 4th author, does not mean that the manuscript will be published (it probably will, but there are no guarantees!)...i learned this lesson the hard way 😉

Good Luck!

 

[eyedr]

although 1st authorship on a manuscript is encouraged, does it mean that everyone who matched at wilmer or iowa or wills or bascom or stein or doheny has a 1st author manuscript? no. it's the whole package in the end that will win you your desired spot. do well in 2nd year, rock step 1. keep up your work (and more importantly your contacts) in lab. take some serious ownership in your portion of your research project

I agree with Ruben wholeheartedly. You do not have to be first or second author to match at a competitive program; I was third/fourth author on two manuscripts and matched at a top 5 program. It really is the whole package including grades, board scores, AOA, unique characteristics, LORs, and of course what really gets you in the door is the interview! I personally would not advise you too let your second year grades/boards scores suffer in order to become first/second author on a paper.

 

[sameer]

Thanks guys for the advice. A couple of my classmates who are interested in ophtho had the same questions I did so I'll be sure to relay the info to them as well.