question about summer opportunities

[studentdoctor2021]

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Hello!

I'm a current junior, with a pretty low GPA (3.2 right now, estimating that it will be 3.4 after this semester ends), and I am trying to decide what to do over the summer of 2020 to maximize my chances of getting into a medical school. I have decent clinical and non clinical experience (tutoring, hospital, hospice) and have shadowed, but do not have any research experience. I am trying to secure a research position over the summer, but I just came across this medical program offered at UNC SOM that seems like it will help make your application to medical schools (but especially UNC's med school itself) much stronger (About the MED Program | Office of Scholastic Enrichment & Equity)

I am a NC resident, and would love to go to UNC SOM. Should I skip out on research (and potentially end with 0 research experience) for this summer program to maximize my chances of getting into UNC med school?

Thank you!

 

[candbgirl]

With your GPAs you won’t be applying to the research powerhouses so having research isn’t all that important. Why do you think this program would be beneficial? Are you URM? It seems from my cursory reading it is primarily designed for URM students.

 

[studentdoctor2021]

With your GPAs you won’t be applying to the research powerhouses so having research isn’t all that important. Why do you think this program would be beneficial? Are you URM? It seems from my cursory reading it is primarily designed for URM students.

I'm not URM, but I am low income/first gen/immigrant, just not the specific races they're probably looking for. Do you think it's still worth applying?

Also, wouldn't research help me look good for even schools like UNC/Wake Forest?

 

[Shunsui]

Yeah I remember someone stating that 70% of matriculated students had some form of research. So just because you won’t be applying to a “research powerhouse” doesn’t mean research is completely irrelevant. Seems like you have the volunteering and shadowing down pat. Academics aside, I would say to prioritize research and the summer program probably your best bet considering seniors joining a lab isn’t ideal for the PI. Just my thoughts though


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[candbgirl]

I'm not URM, but I am low income/first gen/immigrant, just not the species races they're probably looking for. Do you think it's still worth applying?

Also, wouldn't research help me look good for even schools like UNC/Wake Forest?

Well I suppose it’s good to know the scientific method but this was from a few years back but has been reiterated more recently:

In a 2013 AAMC survey* where 127 medical admissions offices responded, found research experience is only of medium importance at private schools and of low importance to public schools as an experiential factor in offering both interview invitations and acceptance. Healthcare experience, community service/volunteer experience, experience with underserved populations, navigated through cultural barriers or challenges, leadership experience were considered of higher importance in factors for interview invites and offers of acceptances. This was further borne out in the 2015 AAMC Survey** where 130 medical school admissions found that both community service or volunteer in both medical and non-medical settings ranked higher in importance than physician shadowing

Thanks to @gonnif for this information.

As to applying to the summer program why not. I’m not sure it will help your application as much as you think but it seems interesting and it’s free. In fact you get a stipend it seems.