samedicine said:
I am starting school in August, and was wondering if it is unusual to get involved in research during the preclinical years. My father, a physician, is of the mind that I should drop everything and concentrate on classes and generally preparing myself for step 1, but I would like some input from those of you still in medical school.
Thanks for your thoughts
look at research or pubs as a hobby, and do it in moderation. I know many who did bad on the step 1 cuz their research got in the way of their studying. This also might happen to me, but i dont know, im trying to calm down and get more serious cuz I got step 1 coming up soon. Personally, I would just focus on school for the first semester and get used to it. Then if u can handle it, meet some dept chairs and get started on some projects for publications in December.
But if u arent doing well in school, then save the research for the summer after MS1 or during the breaks u get.
Also, make sure u can get publsihed. Nothing sucks more than putting in your time and not getting a publication out of it. For this u need to research the the docs at ur school and see who are putting out the publiscations, and hooking up the students, for this u mioght wanna ask some MS2s MS3s in ur school.
Remember research is cool, but not if u are failing ur classes.
later