Quality vs. quantity of research for MSTP admissions

[InNotOf]

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I will have been with the same lab (at a major research university) for 3+ years by the time I apply for MSTPs, w/ a few abstracts and 1-2 publications. However, it appears that much of this work may well be completed primarily over summers, as my PI insists that I focus my time and energy during the school year on getting good grades and MCAT scores. Don't get me wrong - my PI is a great person and wants me to do well in the admissions process - but I suspect that admissions standards have changed since he attended med school 20 years ago. I find it hard to believe that merely having the numbers will cut it. Will it hurt me to load up on summer research and take it easy during the school year? (effectively having a stop-and-go research routine) I'm sure my PI would understand if I need to do lab work more often in order to improve my odds, but right now he isn't too keen on giving me new stuff to work on.

Let me know what you think. Thank you!

 

[RxnMan]

The quantity and quantity of the research work you've listed is on-par or better than what others have posted in this forum. I think you're doing just fine, and you are fortunate to have a productive and supportive relationship with your PI - Just keep doing what you have been, and follow his advice on focusing on those numbers.

 

[Maebea]

Certainly, if you are as productive as you predict you will have a strong cv. However, admissions committees also expect applicants to be passionate about science, and feel that the passion should exhibit itself by a "gotta have it" attitude. If you were to interview at my program, we would want to know why you only did research during the summers, especially considering tht you are at a major research university. (Summers-only research is OK if you are at a small college like Williams or Augustana, but is a cause for concern if you are at MIT or Michigan.)

To be sure, an applicant has to have strong grades and very good MCAT scores, but the research is what will get you admissions offers. Last year, my program interviewed an equal number of applicants that had MCATs above 38 or below 33 (7 in each category); we offered admission to 2 with >38 MCATS and 5 with <33 MCATs. Admittedly, these are very small numbers, but they do illustrate the truth that high MCATs will not, by themselves, guarantee admission to a program.

I believe that you would be better served by maintaining a reseach effort throughout the year, as your class schedule allows. Do not overload on classes (double- and triple-majors are no more impressive to an admissions committee than a strong preformance in a single major). Take the MCAT practice exam to gauge how you will perform on the actual exam. If you score in the mid-30's, you should have no worries. A score below 33 probably indicates that you need to consider some form of test preparation.

 

[Neuronix]

👍 Listen to Maebea. He knows what he's talking about.

Bad advice from people at undergrads can really get people in alot of trouble. I don't mean RxnMan here, but rather the op's PI. Thanks SDN!