Non Trads and Research

[rangoon1984]

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Hi,

I'm a 28 year old woman living in Chicago currently getting some math classes out of the way before (hopefully) starting a post bacc that would cover the medical school pre requisites.

My background is extremely non traditional. I majored in film and video edit/sound design in my undergrad and I've been working in the commercial industry for 5 years.

I have 0 research. How would it be possible to get research experience? Any additional advice on this topic?

 

[dmf2682]

It's not critical that you have it.

That being said,

You are able to apply any research you did in your previous career, even if not medically related. I've been told by LizzyM and catalystik over in the pa forum that any kind of research is valued.

Also you can hook up with professors in your post bac

 

[cnhampton]

Where are you going to be doing the post-bac? If it's there in Chicago, I'd start by looking at the professors there, and what their research is. Then go talk to them, and explain your situation. Most will likely tell you that they don't have any space available, but you may well hit one or two that will either match you up with another student that's doing work already, or find some aspect that you can be trained up on quickly (running a spectrometer, making media, data entry, etc). Professors love free labor, and premeds are hard workers. Without the basic science classes under your belt, you will most likely not be doing what you would expect to call "research" for a while, but you will get exposure to the process, and time in a lab.

 

[rangoon1984]

I haven't gotten in yet, I'm still applying, but I want to attend Northwestern's post bacc program that starts next summer.

 

[notbobtrustme]

biggest problem would be the time committment if you are working.

I wouldn't worry so much about research if you already are working or already committed to something else.

 

[liyaz]

I'm not sure about Northwestern, but at Loyola I definitely found research opportunities as a post-bac. I kicked butt in my bio class in the first semester and then went to that professor to see if he had any need for a research volunteer. He didn't, but he recommended me to a couple of other professors and I'm currently still helping out in a developmental biology lab. It's definitely harder as a post-bac - since all of the research grants and small prize funding go strictly to undergrads, the professors prefer working with them. But it's do-able.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Almost every professor/lab PI I've spoken with has an assumption that because you are older you are responsible. This doubles up if you havea degree and have worked for a while.

 

[Courtjester8]

You could also try to set up an independent study doing research of your own after you find a professor you wouldn't mind having as an independent study adviser. I've seen this done a few times.

-cj8