Research Compared to Clinical Volunteering

[hot hot heat]

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I've usually lurked on the forums for a few months now since I found the whole SDN place. But I had a question about research vs. volunteering and just wanted to know what people thought about it.

I am currently a Sophmore at UCI getting a decent GPA and would like to go to medical school. I talked to one of the pre med advisors recently about some different stuff and the question I asked was what medical schools would prefer in terms of either research or clinical volunteering at a local hospital. He said that in a best case scenario I should do both but me being kind of lazy on these kind of things asked if which would be more favored if I were to do only one. He said that clinical volunteering is probably viewed more favorably. Is this true?

Even with what he said, I decided to do some undergraduate research for a professor on campus because I thought it would help me get a LOR after I work on him for awhile, so it kind of kills two birds with one stone. Should I start doing some volunteering at a local hospital now to help out my transcript/resume?

Thanks for the help

 

[zingyraindrop]

I believe that having both volunteering and the research experience will make you a well rounded applicant and perhaps more competitive. However, I have met students (successful ones) with one or the other and not just both.

But why leave it to chance...do the best you can. If you can squeeze in the volunteer exp, the hospital benefits and so will you. Also it is a good reality check.

So I say go for it

zingy🙂

 

[siempre595]

Hey,
My gut instinct is to tell you to do the research and try to fit in some volunteering on the side. However, if you're really not interested in doing research, just don't. I've been asked about both experiences at interviews, and most the time interviewers are more interested in why I didn't do more clinical volunteering and less research since I know believe that I want to do clinical practice rather than research, which I considered pretty seriously for awhile. It really depends on your interests. That said, I know a few people who have full rides to md/phd programs and have literally never been in a real reserach lab. So anything is possible. Maybe you should try out both and see what you like, then stick with that. But if you're just doing something for an LOR, don't, trust me, that's not worth your time in the long run.
siempre

 

[jon_jon]

Clinical volunteering is important in that you get to know what goes on in the hospital/clinic/doctor's office. Medical schools want you to know what you are getting into and not go into it blindly. Sometimes the volunteer activity can lead to some speacialty interests which can be helpful when writing your AMCAS personal statement or during your medical school interviews.

As for research, you have basic sciences research, clinical research and others. A lot of people find basic science research boring, unless you are interested in becoming a MD-PhD. However medical schools will look at your intellectual curiosity when looking at your research experience. It is an opportunity for you to set yourself apart. Often times, you will know more about the research topic than any of your medical school professors or interviewers. You get to become a pseudo-expert in a specific field. You should do research that leads to publication or a presentation though. If not, then you are really working as a lab assistant. I would invest at least one full-year in research during the academic year if you can. You don't have to spend a lot of time each week, but longitudinally, it will pay off if you like the reserach area and you get along with your preceptor.

 

[canadagirl]

I'm going to give the stock answer, and say do what you enjoy! I hate the idea of doing anything because "it'll get me into med school". I do what I love, and any med school who doesn't want me because they have different priorities than me, then, well, THEY CAN'T HAVE ME! 😛

For me that has included both clinical volunteering and research. Clinical volunteering because I felt that FOR ME I couldn't make the decision about medicine until I had experienced that environment, and because I loved the volunteering once I was there. Research, again, FOR ME, because I learn tons and have a great time.

I did far less of the clinical voluntering, though, because I felt that it was a setting where I wasn't using my skills as much as other settings. I was just as good at clinical volunteering when I was in high school - now in my last year of undergrad, I choose to participate in volunteer activities that use the skills I've gained. Again, if med school aren't happy with that explanation, then TOUGH.

 

[dr. deez]

here's my reply 🙂

on research: it is not necessary to get in... but as all the other posters said it will help.

on clinical work: you cannot substitute this with research... very seldom will a comittee let you slide if you do so. also, you do not necessarily have to volunteer to get relevant clinical exposure. you can get a certification and work as a tech (ie pct, cna, emt etc).

my advice (and it worked for me): is to do research and part time or less of clinical work. ad coms know how busy we are with our own academics, the mcat, volunteering, work, etc... so they will seek out a well rounded person that can show a good balance an succeed in med school (i was told this by an interviewer/ committee member).

 

[Gleevec]

Ideally you would do both, but if you had to pick one, it would depend on what type of doctor you wanted to be.

If you only did research, then hopefully you would want to enter academic medicine (as an MD, MD/PhD) with a heavy research bent. Some of the more basic science research-intensive specialities (paths, onc/heme, pharm, etc), if you showed an interest in these you might consider basic research as more important.

If you only did volunteering, well, its more helpful in several ways. First off it shows adcoms that you know what a medical environment is like. Secondly, it gives you and opportunity to interact with patients and doctors so you will be better informed about the whole process. Third, it shows a degree of altruism. And Fourth, it will probably make for better personal comments than research.

I too once debated between these two, until I realize if I shuffled my schedule around I could do both. As someone who has enjoyed permuting these two activities, I would highly recommend you consider/do both.

 

[starryeye81]

Hey Hot hot heat,

I'm an Anteater too.. 4th year though. I also think that you should try to do both clinical volunteer and research. There are tons of research opportunities at UCI so i don't think you'll have problem finding a lab. Also, if time is a factor, you can do maybe 2 units (6-8hours) a week instead of going for the maximum 4-5 units. Most professors are very understanding in terms of hours so that if you need some time off for midterms or finals, they will let you. The more highly ranked med schools (top 20) tend to research oriented so that having research experience does help.

As for clinical volunteer, i did mine at the UCI Family health clinic in santa ana where they actually let you shadow attendings and med students into exam rooms. I even got to practice some physical exams along with the med students. Pretty cool. At all my interviews, the ad com seemed to be really impressed with the amount of hands on work i got to do at the clinic. So, pick a place that actually let you do stuffs instead of just filing paperworks. You can also get a LOR at the clinical volunteer place too.

Good luck!

 

[Wardens]

It seems pretty well-regarded that shadowing physicians does not count as appropriate clinical experience for medical school at least from what I've read on this board in the past. Is it acceptable (in the eyes of an admissions committee) for one to do research and periodically shadow physicians or is it important for a pre-med to volunteer in a hospital? If the latter can someone who has volunteered significantly at a hospital explain its benefits over shadowing?

 

[truth617]

Geez, only participate in activities that you find worthwhile. College is too short to waste time doing things just to impress other people. Clinical exposure is probably better because, although it doesn't show much as far as scientific curiosity is concerned, it allows you to learn about medicine in person and to interact with patients. You'll learn how you behave in medical environments.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Yeah, don't do stuff only to look good on an application. If you enjoy it, fine, but it's not worth it if you don't.

 

[arana]

I know people who have gotten into med school who did not do research or volunteer but worked and stuff like that. It's not completely necessary to do both but it is good. If you want to work with people you should definitely try volunteering out, especially at a county hospital because truthfully that?s were you get to see the most stuff. Also, great to have volunteering under your belt because then you can say at interviews I loved working with doctor x at y and meeting patients and that is why I want to be a doctor. Also if you shadow a doctor for a period of time you can usually get a letter of rec. from them and that looks really good. When I interviewed they usually brought up doctor C who I shadowed because he wrote me a good LOR. But, if you're looking at schools like Harvard or Stanford you should do research. I know people who had perfect everything, even a lot volunteer work but didn't get interviews at these places because they didn't do any research. So play it safe and do both. Hope that helps😛

 

[Bonds756]

I agree with everyone saying don't do something unless you like it and that you should try to do both. But I'll try to help you out a little more.
Clinical experience is incredibly important. How do you really know you want to be an MD if you never volunteered? Schools want to know that you truly want to be a doctor and know why you want to be one. So, that being said, you should try to make room in your schedule to do some of this. Most everyone coming into med school has some experience.
Lab research is conveted by med schools, especially productive research that leads to publications. This helps to separate some applicants (although many, many candidates also have this going for them). So, I think bench research is more important a deciding factor, but more because almost everyone does some clinical work.
My advice, do what you enjoy. And if that is lab research, then great. But try to fit in some clinical work too.

 

[Neuronix]

Remember that the "top" schools are the ones ranked by USNews as the top "research" schools. Even if you're not considering MD/PhD, research is an excellent EC that will really help you stand out from the crowd.

There's only so much clinical experience you're going to get before medical school, unless you get a patient-interaction job or become an EMT. Besides that, volunteering is almost like a pre-requesite, everyone does it, but it gets old only being able to stand around and watch.

On the other hand, in research you should have tremendous oppertunity with time to get hands on experience and get published.

I wouldn't do research if you absolutely hate it, but you need to do SOMETHING extensive to set you apart. My pre-med advisor was always like "uhhh... Just go volunteer, that's all you need, now go away" and I know now that was some TERRIBLE advice.

Good luck!

 

[Flack Pinku]

Obviously first do what you enjoy...

But if you don't care, then do something where you get to follow a doctor or resident, or even a medical student around. This isn't so that you can list on the application stuff you did.

Yes, you can do that too, but once you do it (quite a bit of it), you'll feel sooo better (if you still want to be a doctor), and can straight out say, "Yea, I want to be a doctor," without any reservations.

And that confidence will come through only after you know what you're talking about... only after you've seen a last stage AIDS patient skinny as bones and dying in front of you can you test your stomach for really sad things (or something else of that magnitude).

It's like a strong virile guy going into combat and passing out. You can say many things, but unless you tested yourself out, it all amounts to nothing (at least in most interviewer's view).

I hope I didn't overstate it. It's just the way things are (fortunately or unfortunately).