Need advice on research

[deleted300868]

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I have a dilemma regarding the route I am taking. I was wondering how important is research regarding med school application. Currently, I have a full time job (40 hours a week) and doing one post bacc class. I would like to focus more on my academic, but I'm also worry that I need research experience on top of that. So far, the ECs I have are 1000 volunteer hours in a local hospital, EMT experience, 2 years of research experience but with no publication, and my current full time job. I have stop volunteering a hospital because I just recently move to a new area. I was wondering should I also continue volunteering as well.

Regarding research, I was offered a RA position, but it's in a subject I'm not highly interested and the time would be during my day off which means no day to rest. On top of that, it would be 1 hour commute each way. However, this opportunity would give me an opportunity to interact with a doctor directly and plus a potential to publish an article. I'm debating what I should do from there. Should I politely declined the offer and seek a research position elsewhere? Or should I suck it up and add to my load?

 

[Osminog]

For a majority of MD schools, research experience is necessary/highly desirable. For DO schools, research experience isn't necessary.

 

[deleted300868]

For a majority of MD schools, research experience is necessary/highly desirable. For DO schools, research experience isn't necessary.

So I should do research anyways?

 

[Osminog]

So I should do research anyways?

If you plan on eventually applying to MD programs (or at least want to keep that option open), then you'll definitely want to have research experience.

 

[Robin-jay]

90% of MD matriculates have done research.

I don't know what the percentage of DO matriculates have done research, but I still would bet the vast majority.

Is it necessary? Probably not.

Having volunteer experience (both clinical/non-clinical), research (especially good with pubs), employment (both clinical/non-clinical), shadowing experiences, and so on help your application.

I mean, if your metrics are high enough (3.9 GPA/ 520+ ), then you can get away with a measly 20 hours of shadowing experience and minimal clinical exposure.

I'm pretty sure I had a friend with a 4.0/520+ get accepted to Harvard medical school with zero volunteering. I think the only EC on his application was 20 hours of shadowing. In fact, I'm not even sure if he did research.

Most applicants have to start patching up their application in every way possible though to get accepted.