Research as most meaningful?

[EricCartmanMD]

Right now I'm considering my most meaningful activities as I put together this year's application. Two of my three most meaningful are clinic- and service-oriented, and I'd like to write about research as my third. There are two approaches I could take for this: discussing what I did one particular lab, or taking a more general approach, discussing how current and previous research experiences have contributed to my education and how it might fit into my future.

I think my largest concern is that overstating research could distance me from service-oriented schools, or generally schools that don't have a research focus.

Any advice? Alternatively I could write about a second clinical experience or a hobby.

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[unclairvoyance]

You're fine. I put research as one of my 3 most meaningful, and I know someone who put two different research experiences as their most meaningful and still did fine (although he was more research focused anyways). We both applied MD.

 

[buckoh24]

Right now I'm considering my most meaningful activities as I put together this year's application. Two of my three most meaningful are clinic- and service-oriented, and I'd like to write about research as my third. There are two approaches I could take for this: discussing what I did one particular lab, or taking a more general approach, discussing how current and previous research experiences have contributed to my education and how it might fit into my future.

I think my largest concern is that overstating research could distance me from service-oriented schools, or generally schools that don't have a research focus.

Any advice? Alternatively I could write about a second clinical experience or a hobby.

Just because they arent a research power house doesnt mean that they dont value research. If you talked about only research experiences in your 3 most meaningfuls then you might turn them away but you could show that you have an interest in exploring unknown topics and dedicated to learning, something that all schools would value.

 

[Catalystik]

Right now I'm considering my most meaningful activities as I put together this year's application. Two of my three most meaningful are clinic- and service-oriented, and I'd like to write about research as my third. There are two approaches I could take for this: discussing what I did one particular lab, or taking a more general approach, discussing how current and previous research experiences have contributed to my education and how it might fit into my future.

I think my largest concern is that overstating research could distance me from service-oriented schools, or generally schools that don't have a research focus.

Any advice? Alternatively I could write about a second clinical experience or a hobby.

If stats-wise you aren't a reasonable candidate for highly-selective, research-focused schools, strategizing to appeal more to primary-care-focused or service-focused schools would be a reasonable strategic move. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't include research as MM, but you could spin your comments to mesh with the mission statements of less-selective schools.

 

[buckoh24]

If stats-wise you aren't a reasonable candidate for highly-selective, research-focused schools, strategizing to appeal more to primary-care-focused or service-focused schools would be a reasonable strategic move. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't include research as MM, but you could spin your comments to mesh with the mission statements of less-selective schools.

If you are in, say, the 10-25%tile for the research focused schools, would research as a MM have any added benefit compared to the cost of it not being as appealing to service schools?

 

[EricCartmanMD]

If stats-wise you aren't a reasonable candidate for highly-selective, research-focused schools, strategizing to appeal more to primary-care-focused or service-focused schools would be a reasonable strategic move. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't include research as MM, but you could spin your comments to mesh with the mission statements of less-selective schools.

My MCAT would be competitive even at the T10's, but GPA is generally in the 10th-25th percentile for Emory and Pitt class schools... hence the conundrum where I could be very competitive for lower tier schools, but also reasonably competitive at the Emory's out there. Thoughts on the strategy of choice?

 

[Catalystik]

If you are in, say, the 10-25%tile for the research focused schools, would research as a MM have any added benefit compared to the cost of it not being as appealing to service schools?

I don't think having research as an MM is going to hurt you. Making it sound as if your heart will be cut out if you aren't going to stay involved with a wet lab 80% of the time for the rest of your career probably won't do you any favors at service-oriented schools. I'm using a bit of hyperbole here, of course, but hopefully you see what I mean.

 

[Catalystik]

My MCAT would be competitive even at the T10's, but GPA is generally in the 10th-25th percentile for Emory and Pitt class schools... hence the conundrum where I could be very competitive for lower tier schools, but also reasonably competitive at the Emory's out there. Thoughts on the strategy of choice?

I don't know ehough about your overall application to give you focused advice. If you have a WAMC thread, feel free to tag me from there.