Recommended hours of research?

[senzen]

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Hi!

I have a question about research. If you have 1 academic year of research, what is the recommended time? I apologize if this has been posted or answered multiple times in the past, I would just appreciate any input. Let's say one does 5-10 hours during the school year but 20 hours every week during the summer, would it be okay to say they did 10 or so hours on average per week on the AMCAS?

I would spend more time if I could but keeping my grades up is more important to me. But I think this is something good to explore but I'm not sure I can really do more than 5-10 hours a week during the school year.

@LizzyM I know you typically give some recommended time frame which I can't seem to find. Sometime like one summer for 40 hours a week or was it 1 year for 10-15 hours?

@Goro @Catalystik @gyngyn I would appreciate your input as well. I know I always tag you guys in the majority of my posts. It's just I truly hold all your advice and input in high regard since you have direct experience with dealing with as adcoms. Thanks so much for always helping!!

 

[LizzyM]

It used to be that AMCAS had you list average number of hours per week but now it asks total hours. The more hours the better. 20-40 hrs/wk during a summer and/or 10-15 hrs/wk during the academic year was pretty typical when the hours per week were listed.

 

[senzen]

Thank you so much @LizzyM! So it seems that having a total of around 500 seems acceptable? Great! I think that is feasible.

Some of these rockstars on SDN manage research, volunteering, shadowing and a million other things while getting stellar grades…absolutely amazing! They're like superhumans haha. I am trying to balance it as well but I think schoolwork takes priority over everything. And getting good grades in a challenging course load isn't that easy! I'm taking more science courses than the average person to atone for my sins from the past lol.

 

[Catalystik]

I think schoolwork takes priority over everything.

I completely agree with you. Ideally, your research position will allow for the option of floating your hours up when you have more time and down to, say, 5 hours per week, when you have a lot of tests to prepare for. Beware of the PI who is inflexible with regard to your academic obligations.

 

[Lucca]

Thank you so much @LizzyM! So it seems that having a total of around 500 seems acceptable? Great! I think that is feasible.

Some of these rockstars on SDN manage research, volunteering, shadowing and a million other things while getting stellar grades…absolutely amazing! They're like superhumans haha. I am trying to balance it as well but I think schoolwork takes priority over everything. And getting good grades in a challenging course load isn't that easy! I'm taking more science courses than the average person to atone for my sins from the past lol.

Do whatever works best for you. People on here might be exaggerating anyway; although I know some superhumans in real life but they are pretty wiped out by the time the weekend hits. I work about 10-12 hrs a week in my lab and I try to do it all Monday-Thursday. I take Friday off and do nothing. I volunteer on the weekends if I have something set up. Schoolwork > everything though. I definitely don't shadow during the school year but some people do. Different strokes for different folks; do what is best for you.

 

[Donthangme]

In my school, to do research you mostly have to register for a 2/3 hour class so the professor can hold you accountable for liability/showing up. But I go to lab probably around 10 hours a week. It is definitely a significant time commitment but I find it pretty rewarding

 

[senzen]

Wow, thanks for the advice. @Catalystik That will definitely be an issue. I'm glad my extracurricular activities and other activities I have set in stone thus far for this semester are somewhat flexible. I literally spend almost every evening in the library 2 weeks before midterms/finals. I will definitely keep that in mind and be sure to bring it up to the PI.

I definitely am excited to get this experience because I think it will be rewarding but ultimately my goal is medical school so I would prefer it not interfere with that. @Donthangme

Yeah I'm setting aside Friday evenings to relax (though after volunteering) and of course I'm going to dedicate a few hours everyday to school work but I'm setting aside 2-3 days a week where I'm doing nothing but school work. Best of luck to you this upcoming semester! @Lucca

Thanks again for the great advice, I appreciate it! 🙂 @Catalystik
(I actually will be posting another thread or two regarding some of my other extracurricular activities-- one should be helpful to people in general because I know I won't be the only one asking about this and one about my own extracurricular activities and where I stand and how I can improve. I will tag you in it!)

 

[senzen]

I completely agree with you. Ideally, your research position will allow for the option of floating your hours up when you have more time and down to, say, 5 hours per week, when you have a lot of tests to prepare for. Beware of the PI who is inflexible with regard to your academic obligations.

I just wanted to let you know that I did get the research position and I did let the PI know in advance that I won't be as available during midterms and finals and she was perfectly fine with it! I'm so glad I let her know now and I don't have to stress about it later. Thank you for the heads up!

 

[Catalystik]

I just wanted to let you know that I did get the research position and I did let the PI know in advance that I won't be as available during midterms and finals and she was perfectly fine with it! I'm so glad I let her know now and I don't have to stress about it later. Thank you for the heads up!

I'm happy to have averted future angst.

 

[Psai]

Man this post shows what is wrong with medical admissions. Do you think researchers measure their productivity in hours per week? The goal is to work on something you care about and is interesting, not to receive credit for an arbitrarily chosen period of time. Look for good experiences and maybe the chance to publish