Not having research exp put you at a great disadvantage?

[theA1doctor]

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Does it?

I have very good EC's in all categories, including volunteer, leadership, clinical experience and shadowing. Only thing I dont have is research experience is that going to hurt me bad?

All input would be appreciated.

 

[JJMrK]

It hurts you at schools that are strongly research oriented.

 

[CapnCrunch]

It hurts you at schools that are strongly research oriented.

Agreed. Possibly matching up the stat of students with research exp. matriculating to medical schools in the MSAR might be a good determinant.

Anything above 80-90% for that stat would put you at a disadvantage for those schools.

Generally, a lot of pre-meds have some kind of research experience, but a good portion who get in don't have any either. If you're solid in all other areas (MCAT, GPA, ECs (volunteering, shadowing, clinical, leadership, etc.)), then you have a more than decent shot for an acceptance.

 

[theA1doctor]

Im going to be a junior in college and I am preparing for my MCAT right now, which I take exactly in one year from September 2011. My GPA is decent 3.85

 

[BlueElmo]

At those top tier schools, it will hurt. But otherwise, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[mvenus929]

It'll hurt you at those schools with a strong research focus, but you can still get in somewhere. I did. You just have to know how to choose your schools.

 

[washburn]

its not the end of the world at top research schools either. I got into two top 20 super research heavy schools and did nothing even close to research.

 

[randombetch]

If you look on MSAR, almost every school in the top 25 have >90% of their class with research experience. Even non-research heavy schools tend to have >60% of their class with research experience.

 

[IH8ColdWeath3r]

whats MSAR??

 

[randombetch]

whats MSAR??

You can find it right here.

 

[organdonor]

I had no research experience and was accepted. Like others have said it may put you at a disadvantage at those schools which are heavily research oriented. Keep in mind that the "USNews rankings" use research funding as ranking, so the top schools according to that list should probably be avoided.

 

[sully677]

Most top universities are research oriented. So if you haven't done research or are not interested in doing research during med school, don't do research just to get into one of the programs.

 

[apumic]

The med school spreadsheet will also tell you which schools you are likely to get into/not get into w/ or w/o research if you are able to locate a copy. (I cannot give you one, so don't ask.)