No research?

[JAaronP]

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I am set to begin school as a new freshman soon. I'm attending a private church-owned school because it costs significantly less. I've recently found out it does not do any research of any kind, and the community immediately surrounding my school is a farming area. Will not having research kill my chances? I have an in for a job that will get me tons of clinical exposure, plus volunteering hours, but will that be enough?

If it counts, my major is in History, with a minor in psychology, I my career intent is community-based medicine.

 

[Ismet]

No, research is not a requirement. It helps, but you can build up the rest of your app and not have a need for research.

 

[Noggin]

If you are applying to a research oriented top tier school than having research is essentially a requirement. However, if your career intent is community-based medicine than it appears that you would probably be happy going to a medical school that is more primary care oriented. If that is the case, then not having research would be ok. However, I would still try and do some to keep your options open. After all you are only a freshman and have a full four years to develop your ECs to your full potential

 

[487806]

I am set to begin school as a new freshman soon. I'm attending a private church-owned school because it costs significantly less. I've recently found out it does not do any research of any kind, and the community immediately surrounding my school is a farming area. Will not having research kill my chances? I have an in for a job that will get me tons of clinical exposure, plus volunteering hours, but will that be enough?

If it counts, my major is in History, with a minor in psychology, I my career intent is community-based medicine.

Maybe you can try applying for summer research programs? Research doesn't matter unless you're applying to the top schools.

 

[neekzg]

^Just wondering, what are some notable schools that are more primary care oriented? Or rather, what are some schools that look at volunteering experience more than they do at research? I thought looking at the US News rankings for Primary Care would be a good place to start but a lot of the top schools for primary care are also top schools for research.

 

[JAaronP]

Maybe you can try applying for summer research programs? Research doesn't matter unless you're applying to the top schools.

My first choice Med School is FSU. My problem with summer programs is my school does trimesters, with students taking two consecutive trimesters and being on "break" for the third. I'm scheduled to be in classes from Jan till the end of July. (I may be able to change this after my freshman year, but the school does like doing that.)

 

[Domino2178]

.

 

[Espadaleader]

Research is a requirement. Biomedical research is preferred. Stop beating around the bush.

 

[circulus vitios]

Research is a requirement. Biomedical research is preferred. Stop beating around the bush.

No it's not.

 

[LizzyM]

The vast majority of successful applicants to every medical school in the country have had research experience. It may not be a requirement but it is a very common undergraduate experience. It is quite possible that members of the psychology department have research projects that you may be able to be engaged in. During the winter of your sophomore year, you might reach out to see if investigators at your state medical school have an opportunity for a college student to do research in their "shop" for 2-3 months (during a school break). This wouldn't have to match exactly with a summer program but could be arranged independently. You might have to be a volunteer and pay your own living expenses but if you have the means, this would be a work-around not coming from a school with a strong research program.

 

[Espadaleader]

Biomedical research is preferred. Listen, I am a health disparities research fellow at a major research institution. The top journals are Nature, Science, Cell etc. for a reason. Most schools MSTP programs feature basic sciences and most funding goes toward these fields.

The work in these fields is very difficult and success in them at an undergraduate level is exceptional.

Research is a requirement. Period.

The research may be in French Literature or Molecular Mechanisms, but you have to have it.

Look at the MSAR. 95-100% of students have it.

Also, the belief that "low-tier" MD schools don't require research is nuts. Most of these schools are academic medical centers. Please look up NIH funding by school.

I guarantee those that don't have research are non-trads with exceptional stories and previous careers.

So are you going to believe facts or your opinions?

Better yet, since research isn't a requirement, apply without research.

This is not for the OP, I'm replying to the other post.

 

[circulus vitios]

Biomedical research is preferred. Listen, I am a health disparities research fellow at a major research institution. The top journals are Nature, Science, Cell etc. for a reason. Most schools MSTP programs feature basic sciences and most funding goes toward these fields.

The work in these fields is very difficult and success in them at an undergraduate level is exceptional.

Research is a requirement. Period.

The research may be in French Literature or Molecular Mechanisms, but you have to have it.

Look at the MSAR. 95-100% of students have it.

Also, the belief that "low-tier" MD schools don't require research is nuts. Most of these schools are academic medical centers. Please look up NIH funding by school.

I guarantee those that don't have research are non-trads with exceptional stories and previous careers.

So are you going to believe facts or your opinions?

Better yet, since research isn't a requirement, apply without research.

This is not for the OP, I'm replying to the other post.

The average is closer to 85% for MD programs I'm looking at. There are obvious outliers at public medical schools in the south. The average is, I'm guessing, much lower for all DO schools. Research is not a requirement, unwritten or otherwise. I have no idea why you're talking about MSTP and namedropping journals like anyone cares or is impressed.

 

[sworzeh]

Tried research twice and it wasn't for me. I will not be listing it on my application because it's not required and I have better things to list.

 

[Ismet]

Biomedical research is preferred. Listen, I am a health disparities research fellow at a major research institution. The top journals are Nature, Science, Cell etc. for a reason. Most schools MSTP programs feature basic sciences and most funding goes toward these fields.

The work in these fields is very difficult and success in them at an undergraduate level is exceptional.

Research is a requirement. Period.

The research may be in French Literature or Molecular Mechanisms, but you have to have it.

Look at the MSAR. 95-100% of students have it.

Also, the belief that "low-tier" MD schools don't require research is nuts. Most of these schools are academic medical centers. Please look up NIH funding by school.

I guarantee those that don't have research are non-trads with exceptional stories and previous careers.

So are you going to believe facts or your opinions?

Better yet, since research isn't a requirement, apply without research.

This is not for the OP, I'm replying to the other post.

I'm not going to completely argue against you, since yes, the majority of applicants do have research experience. But it's definitely not 95-100% of all applicants. Find me that statistic, please, otherwise it's just your opinion, and here you are chastising other people for no reason.

Research is a very important part of medicine, and it is very good to have some research experience, but it is not an absolute requirement. I go to a top 20, research-oriented school with a required longitudinal research project, and several of my classmates had not seen the inside of a lab prior to being accepted. And no, not all of them are non-trad or have some exceptional story. Yes, they are the exception and not the norm, and it is still highly recommended to have research, but you cannot speak in absolutes about it. If it is exceedingly difficult or impossible for OP to get research experience, he can make up for it in other ways.

 

[survivordo]

You can certainly get into med school without research. It just puts extra pressure on you to make sure the rest of your application is stellar. I wouldn't sweat it, just make sure you are using the time you WOULD be doing research to improve your chances of success in other ways.

Survivor DO

 

[Doctor Strange]

If you've got any big hospitals in your home area, then you can always see if summer internships are available.

 

[fourhumours]

I did not research (at least scientific research). I got a Masters that I had to write a hesis for but that was all history research.

when I went to an interview at one of the schools they said research is generally something they have as one of the five areas they like to see applicants have. however I got into a medical and am waitlisted at a very good school. research is not necessary if you are applying to schools that are more clinically focused, less research driven.