*not*-research oriented med schools

[AlanAlanine]

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Hey all

So I know that many top 20 schools are highly research oriented and generally favor applicants who have had some research experience.

I am wondering which schools are not that into research. That is, what schools will truly not care if you didn't do research as an undergrad?

While I understand that research is not a requirement for medical school admission, it seems that a lot of good schools would fault you for not having research experience. Or is this only the case for the top ranked med schools?

Thanks

 

[Law2Doc]

Hey all

So I know that many top 20 schools are highly research oriented and generally favor applicants who have had some research experience.

I am wondering which schools are not that into research. That is, what schools will truly not care if you didn't do research as an undergrad?

While I understand that research is not a requirement for medical school admission, it seems that a lot of good schools would fault you for not having research experience. Or is this only the case for the top ranked med schools?

Thanks

All med schools will look at research as an undergrad as a positive, so I don't think it's realistic to phrase it as "what schools will truly not care". Many schools, even the top research ones, will look favorably on someone with outstanding and interesting ECs even if they aren't specifically research, however. The notion that research is mandatory is probably more premed myth than something schools require. Certainly some schools consider the "ideal" applicant to have both research and clinical experience. But every school is flexible on this and would take someone outstanding who didn't have the research. (But not without the clinical).
However if you want to know what schools don't focus on research it's simple. Look at the US News research ranking. You can see the first 50 or so free on the web. Those schools that aren't on that list aren't as research oriented.

 

[Geekchick921]

When I met Dr. Brooks at Jefferson, she told me research was basically the thing they were interested least in seeing, and that clinical experience and volunteering were more important to them. Hope that helps.

 

[flip26]

All med schools will look at research as an undergrad as a positive, so I don't think it's realistic to phrase it as "what schools will truly not care". Many schools, even the top research ones, will look favorably on someone with outstanding and interesting ECs even if they aren't specifically research, however. The notion that research is mandatory is probably more premed myth than something schools require. Certainly some schools consider the "ideal" applicant to have both research and clinical experience. But every school is flexible on this and would take someone outstanding who didn't have the research. (But not without the clinical).
However if you want to know what schools don't focus on research it's simple. Look at the US News research ranking. You can see the first 50 or so free on the web. Those schools that aren't on that list aren't as research oriented.

There is some research going on at virtually every med school in the country, even the ones not listed in the USNEWs rankings.

 

[Law2Doc]

There is some research going on at virtually every med school in the country, even the ones not listed in the USNEWs rankings.

Of course. But the schools that are on that list make a good percentage of their money through research grants, and so they place a bigger premium on folks who are into research.

 

[flip26]

Of course. But the schools that are on that list make a good percentage of their money through research grants, and so they place a bigger premium on folks who are into research.

No disagreement there, but most of the pre-meds here have never set foot in a med school and would probably be surprised by the amount and variety of research that is going on at every med school in the country, including many of the schools that are NEVER mentioned here, much less being on any USNews rankings list...

 

[Law2Doc]

No disagreement there, but most of the pre-meds here have never set foot in a med school and would probably be surprised by the amount and variety of research that is going on at every med school in the country, including many of the schools that are NEVER mentioned here, much less being on any USNews rankings list...

No doubt. But if you are trying to get into med school with no research experience, all I'm saying is those schools not on the list are the one's you will have a better shot at.

 

[foster033]

The notion that research is mandatory is probably more premed myth than something schools require. Certainly some schools consider the "ideal" applicant to have both research and clinical experience. But every school is flexible on this and would take someone outstanding who didn't have the research.

I know of at least one school that requires some type of research experience so you might want to check into some of the schools you are interested in and see if there are any other schools that have this requirement.

 

[flip26]

If you believe the MSAR student "self reported" percentages of undergrad research, the vast majority of applicants claim to have it. Not sure I believe that to be true and accurate, but I assume that many students "stretch the truth" to claim just about anything involving the word "research" in the assignment constitutes a research experience...

 

[Law2Doc]

I know of at least one school that requires some type of research experience so you might want to check into some of the schools you are interested in and see if there are any other schools that have this requirement.

Yeah, so they say. I know of a school that says they require research experience too (perhaps the same one), but you know what, I also know someone who got in at such place without any. It's largely important at the schools that depend more on research for their funds. But it's not a prereq for admission like clinical experience will be. There will always be exceptions without research.

 

[foster033]

Yeah, so they say. I know of a school that says they require research experience too (perhaps the same one), but you know what, I also know someone who got in at such place without any. It's largely important at the schools that depend more on research for their funds. But it's not a prereq for admission like clinical experience will be. There will always be exceptions without research.

It must not be the same one b/c this is an absolute requirement...I actually work at the med school and know a good portion of the adcom. If you don't meet the research criteria you will not get a secondary...this goes for their gpa, mcat, clinical, shadowing, etc. standards as well.
Even if a few people with some type of connection or another out of the ordinary occurrence it's definitely the exception not the rule at some places (certainly not all). I was just suggesting the OP check and see if any of the schools s/he is applying to have some type of requirement...better safe than sorry

 

[flaahless]

Keck and Tulane from my experiences.

 

[eight sat up]

Evms

 

[leftmid]

1) no research, no stanford
2) no research but you still can get interview invites at ucsf, mayo, harvard and dartmouth. don't know about the rest of the like kind though.
3) no research but you still can be invited to apply to md/phd program at drexel by the chief.
4) no research but you can get acceptances at ucla,ucsd,ucd,uci, and usc in the same cycle
5) in case of supporting casts with no research, don't forget to apply to mcv, wvsom and mcw, please.

no research, and a lot of unigue mediocrities will have to wait until May or June to get in somewhere, i bet.

good luck

 

[stixx]

1) no research, no stanford
2) no research but you still can get interview invites at ucsf, mayo, harvard and dartmouth. don't know about the rest of the like kind though.
3) no research but you still can be invited to apply to md/phd program at drexel by the chief.
4) no research but you can get acceptances at ucla,ucsd,ucd,uci, and usc in the same cycle
5) in case of supporting casts with no research, don't forget to apply to mcv, wvsom and mcw, please.

no research, and a lot of unigue mediocrities will have to wait until May or June to get in somewhere, i bet.

good luck

Interesting, is this from your own personal experience?

 

[leftmid]

Interesting, is this from your own personal experience?

definitely, but i was not any of those applicants though.
i'm glad that you asked. no one had seemed to be willing to double check me so far. u r the first.

 

[stixx]

definitely, but i was not any of those applicants though.
i'm glad that you asked. no one had seemed to be willing to double check me so far. u r the first.

Yeah I mean I believe you, that's the same kind of stuff I've heard from others, especially Stanford.

And for the other top schools, research participation according to MSAR is 90%+, but never 100. So there must be some people (who probably have personally cured thousands of African babies of malaria, etc.) who get interviewed there without research. Or they could've forgotten to list it on AMCAS or something.