research assistant for credit vs volunteering

[wally2009]

Hi, I may at some point apply to a PhD program and I'm wondering if they care whether or not research experience is done on a credit basis or as a volunteer. I probably have enough credits to graduate with my BA but I'm sticking around another semester to gain research experience (my lab work at this point is very limited).

So, I could just volunteer instead. Is there any reason it might be better to actually enroll and be a research assistant in the labs on a credit basis? does that look better on an application? My school is very inexpensive so it's not a huge monetary issue.

thanks for any advice!

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[KillerDiller]

PhD programs aren't going to care. Just make sure the lab you are working in will give you "good" experience, ie. let you get involved beyond simple data entry.

 

[buzzworm]

Hi, I may at some point apply to a PhD program and I'm wondering if they care whether or not research experience is done on a credit basis or as a volunteer. I probably have enough credits to graduate with my BA but I'm sticking around another semester to gain research experience (my lab work at this point is very limited).

So, I could just volunteer instead. Is there any reason it might be better to actually enroll and be a research assistant in the labs on a credit basis? does that look better on an application? My school is very inexpensive so it's not a huge monetary issue.

thanks for any advice!

I don't know whether this is an option at your school, but it's also worth checking into whether you can get a paid position. Any lab experience is good -- and I think the previous poster was right about volunteering vs. getting course credit -- but I think paid experience looks even better than unpaid. At the labs where I've worked, paid research assistants have been slightly higher up on the totem pole and have gotten additional responsibilities and research experience.

 

[KillerDiller]

I don't know whether this is an option at your school, but it's also worth checking into whether you can get a paid position. Any lab experience is good -- and I think the previous poster was right about volunteering vs. getting course credit -- but I think paid experience looks even better than unpaid. At the labs where I've worked, paid research assistants have been slightly higher up on the totem pole and have gotten additional responsibilities and research experience.

It's interesting that you have found that paid researchers are higher on the totem pole, I've actually found the opposite. Paid workers in the labs I've worked in are often left to do the grunt work because the volunteers are there for the more involved experience 🙂. Just goes to show that it depends on the specific lab.

That being said, being paid is definitely a nice perk in this economy.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I've definitely gotten more out of my paid RAship (though the volunteer ones were still extremely valuable), but that could just be because my PI is particularly amazing as a mentor! 🙂