Question For Next App Cycle

[cwt0502]

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I am in need of your opinion on how I should spend my next semester (spring 2019) before the application cycle begins. Currently, I don’t have any valuable research experience so I’m thinking of trying to incorporate that into my next semester, however, it’s something that I am not very passionate about... I did work in a research lab for one of my professors for a semester but all I did was punch in numbers, time/record data and clean the animals cages (again, why I consider it not valuable) for about 10 hours a week.

There are two issues I must consider if I do decide to incorporate research, which is why I would like your opinion. Firstly, I would have to give up volunteering (which is something I absolutely LOVE doing) to make more time for research since I am still taking classes and working to support myself financially. Giving this up would have no effect on my application since I have been volunteering in various areas for the past three years acquiring TONS of hours (over 800 hours easily) but again, its something I’m very passionate about and love doing. The other problem would be that by doing research in this last semester I think that it may look bad since it’s so last minute. Admissions may look at it as something I’m doing just to fill a gap in my application, which is true.

Little background info: I am a Texas resident so I plan on applying to all the schools within my state and about 8-10 MD’s outside of Texas and about 5 DO schools. I am first gen, ORM with a 3.9 GPA and will be taking my MCAT in January so I don’t have that number just yet. Also, I have plenty of clinical hours and team/leadership experiences through shadowing, work, athletics (D1 FB), and TA experience. Hope this info helps, your opinion and any constructive criticism for my application would be helpful! Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

I am in need of your opinion on how I should spend my next semester (spring 2019) before the application cycle begins. Currently, I don’t have any valuable research experience so I’m thinking of trying to incorporate that into my next semester, however, it’s something that I am not very passionate about... I did work in a research lab for one of my professors for a semester but all I did was punch in numbers, time/record data and clean the animals cages (again, why I consider it not valuable) for about 10 hours a week.

There are two issues I must consider if I do decide to incorporate research, which is why I would like your opinion. Firstly, I would have to give up volunteering (which is something I absolutely LOVE doing) to make more time for research since I am still taking classes and working to support myself financially. Giving this up would have no effect on my application since I have been volunteering in various areas for the past three years acquiring TONS of hours (over 800 hours easily) but again, its something I’m very passionate about and love doing. The other problem would be that by doing research in this last semester I think that it may look bad since it’s so last minute. Admissions may look at it as something I’m doing just to fill a gap in my application, which is true.

Little background info: I am a Texas resident so I plan on applying to all the schools within my state and about 8-10 MD’s outside of Texas and about 5 DO schools. I am first gen, ORM with a 3.9 GPA and will be taking my MCAT in January so I don’t have that number just yet. Also, I have plenty of clinical hours and team/leadership experiences through shadowing, work, athletics (D1 FB), and TA experience. Hope this info helps, your opinion and any constructive criticism for my application would be helpful! Thanks!

Rather than trying to find another short-term lab experience and giving up your volunteer time, I suggest making the last lab experience into something that "checks the box" a bit better.

Even though you feel you had little of significance to contribute to the project, so long as you understand the scientific method and the process in play behind your role, you will have achieved what you need to and can talk about it at an interview.
-Did the project eventually get published? Then read the manuscript.
-If not, go back to the PI and ask if you can have a copy of the original grant application, which will explain everything (hypothesis, methods, etc), and include the original background papers.

 

[diesel17]

I think you should try to incorporate research. Don't sacrifice your MCAT, but don't sacrifice your entire application because you didn't want to add a good research experience. Nowadays, it's important. I saw above that a 2013 AAMC report was referenced that cited research as of Medium importance, but I'd argue that has increased 15-30% in the last couple years. Especially since you seem like a great candidate otherwise (hopefully with a 515+ MCAT as well), with some research you have a good shot as T20/T30s. Without, you have a noticeably smaller chance.

 

[cwt0502]

Thank y'all for your thoughts. I'll reach out to a few clinics and hospitals to see if they have anything going on because I would really prefer to stay away from the type of research I've already experienced. If nothing comes up I'll continue doing my volunteer work and continue to add clinical experience depending on what time allows for it.

 

[diesel17]

It was also referenced in a 2015 survey of all medical schools. The belief by premeds that research is highly important, where some 85% have some research/lab experience, does not belie the fact that since schools have been moving towards holistic reviews with core competencies that stress social, interpersonal, and communication skills, volunteering, community service, working with underserved, and cultural/diversity experience are much more important at the vast majority of schools. And as I also noted that any research, including that outside the wet lab, is also fine to do.

Very true. And the point you made probably needs to be emphasized more and more every cycle. Students need to find ways nowadays to approach those non-cognitive competencies and signify to adcoms that they are more than just science or book-nerds. The fact remains, however, that good research is heavily favored at top schools and will help make a diverse/strong applicant an even more desirable one among the thousands. I don't meet applicants at T20 interviews that haven't shown moderate to severe commitment to research. Low sample size, sure, but samples nonetheless. If the applicant in question doesn't care for getting into highly ranked schools (which he actually seems indifferent about) then the box-check research he has done will likely suffice. But he's a D1 student-athlete with a 3.9, and depending on MCAT, can get several interviews at such programs if he has good research.

It all depends on the individual(s) goals.

 

[diesel17]

I have sent advisees to ivies and similar with little or no research. Many of those with research had “weak”, low quality, little or no productive research, or non wet-lab/bench work. In other words, this perception that you need world class, high-impact journals, publications. In my estimate, under a quarter of who apply have any kind of publication, poster, or presentation, of any kind, including campus-wide, student research conference. Under 5% their name attached to any “major” work at an important journal or conference.

And sometimes publishing is just sheer luck. Thru a chain of a friend of friend of a parent, a student got to shadow a neurosurgeon who had come across an exceedingly rare form of brain cancer. The student wrote up a lit review and case student published as lead author in a major surgical journal.

Fair enough. You as an advisor certainly have far more experience and understanding of this than I do, and I can only speak from my experience as an applicant observing myself and other applicants' success with research as a part of their application. I wholeheartedly agree that publishing and landing conferences as an undergrad is 90% luck with research progress and 10% how hard your PI is pushing you to apply to conferences and papers.