Research as a class?

[Leer]

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Is research as a class viewed as anything but filler? I'm past the deadline for independent/summer research, plus I don't have enough credit hours for it yet. I'd like to participate in research, but this looks like my best bet for the upcoming year. What do you think?

 

[gettheleadout]

I think it depends on what type of class it is. At my institution, enrollment in a graded variable credit research course is required whenever participating in research with an on-campus lab.

 

[Chelslen]

i'm interested in the response to this question as well.

the only research opportunities i've heard about at my university is a program done through the honors college, where you sign up for the "general" research course number on your class schedule, but then you do whatever research project you have chosen.

basically, you get 3 hours of class credit for it, though you actually do 15 hours research per week.

i'm wondering if this is going to look okay for the "research" experience when applying to med school.
tbh i am completely uninformed about research opportunity and have no idea how else to do any research other than this program, or if other ways even exist at my school for undergrads.

 

[citrusguy2010]

i think it should still count as a science class (given that you're doing science research and not like social science research). if the department giving you credit is science, then i feel it should be science.

 

[alexrgross]

I see what you mean about filler and you may be right. Research is a sort of generic term that may be interpreted ambiguously. If thats was my best option I would take it and then list it in your Activites section of your application.

In my case, I was volunteering in a lab and then ended up doing an indpendent "honors" project which requires 3 credits (2 research one thesis). Even though Ill list those credits Ill also talk about the experience in activites.

That way they can think what they think about the credits and then read about the project, too. I might reference those credits to give some context.

 

[45408]

I did it twice, and no one said anything about it. Once was for honors credit, and the other was for my biology capstone requirement. Unless you're intentionally wasting your time, why would it look like filler? There's no requirement that all your research be volunteered.

 

[raltima07]

I plan on doing this next year

 

[Donald Juan]

Just speculating here, but it seems that the quality of research as a class would just get lumped in with the quality of the research. Most interviewers seem to ask about research, so it would probably stand that how you respond would dictate how much of the time spent was "filler."

 

[LizzyM]

It is quite common for people to list "research" in the experience section and list research in the transcript section. It does not look like filler. As mentioned, some schools have policies that require that campus research be part of your academic record.

 

[45408]

Agreed with Donald. It all depends on what you can say about your research in an interview.

 

[Leer]

Thanks a lot everyone!