When do you do research? Summer between 1st and 2nd year?
Depending on which school you choose, you'll have some darn hard classes in that first summer semester. At Barry, we have 5 classes including Immuno and Physio II (both pretty tough... I believe they each sent some people to the 5yr program or even home packing).
Also, besides still having hard classes, you may still have a tough time understanding some research terms and topics at that time. You will have just finished LEA, but you won't have had much path or radio yet.
I'd say that there really is no "ideal" time for research during the first two years; exams, boards, time to clear your head with excercise/hobbies, and the occasional much needed vacation basically take up every day. Your grades and knowledge of the subjects you are taught are of top priority. You definetly do not want to "rob Peter to pay Paul" here. Research is typically only done by students who are 3rd and 4th years - and sometimes a few younger students who are in very good standing.
I'd like to write more research or get involved with a project soon, but I'm nearing pt1 board exams, so that is where all of my free study time is going right now. Unless you want to take some time out of your spring/holiday/other inter-semester break time, you will probably have a tough time getting much research done as an underclassman. You don't have a good enough knowledge base as a 1st year, and you are swamped with pharm/path/boards in the 2nd year at most programs. If you would like to try research as a 2nd year, I'd recommend talking with some upperclassmen and seeing what you can do to assist them on a project (ACFAS poster, review, background, trial, etc). Doing a project of your own is probably a bit too ambitous for even most 2nd year students (exceptions might be a review or case report...
with a faculty advisor). I'd say good grades are the focus of the first two years, though. Heavier club involvement and research are probably better saved for 3rd and 4th years in most students' cases.
I made a bit of an exception to the advice guidelines I just gave because I wrote a literature review early in this semester (it was an EC option to get up to an A after I got an 89% in a class last fall). I had to spend a good chunk of my Xmas break searching for and then reading many articles, and I finally finished the writing during the latter half of my spring break. I still haven't even submitted it for pub because I'm waiting on the professor who is proofreading it. It's a long process sometimes (then again, I have OCD when it comes to the writing
).
At any rate, good luck, and keep your ears open for student research opportunities. It's a great way to advance our literature and become an expert in small aspects of podiatric knowledge one-by-one.
(sarcasm)
