Research Experience for MSTP

[Optical Illusion]

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Hello,

I will be attending a top liberal arts college in the fall (ranked #1 up and coming liberal arts college by US News.) When I visited for a scholars day one of the students said that students are rarely able to get research experience during the freshman year at this college. I read the thread in the Physician Scientist forum where it was stated that 4 plus years of research experience is "excellent." How would one obtain 4 years of research experience if they do not plan to take a gap year? Also, would it be possible to get into a top MSTP program such as Harvard without 4 years of research experience if I meet the excellent qualifications for the other two categories? I hope to eventually get into the AP/NP program at MGH so I would like to attend a top MSTP program to be competitive. I will be sincerely grateful for any feedback that is provided.

 

[jesie]

Slow down, bud.

It can be quite difficult for freshmen at any college to get started in research right away, but that isn't restricted to one specific school.
Take this one step at a time. Live your life and don't attempt to already have picked out exactly what residency program and specialty you think you're going to want 10+ years down the road. Chasing the big names for the sake of the big names is a pretty shallow way to approach your life, if we're being real here.

Find a college you like and has at least a decent amount of research. Do your very best there and you will be just fine.
I'm at a college that wouldn't impress anybody (Baylor University), but I made the most out of every opportunity I could find and now I'm in a great spot applying to MD/PhD programs.

In regards to the other question you had...
As far as I understand it, that '4+' stat is more relevant to people that had time between undergrad and med (masters, post-bac, research year. etc). I will not dare to question Neuronix (the person that made that post, I believe), but it's more important that you seek out many experiences over the course of the time you have available. For many of us, that will mean the three years between high school and submitting AMCAS/TMDSAS. You will not be disadvantaged by that.


*(Just a heads up, if you cite USNews too much on this site it's not going to go over well. Especially if you're looking at 'up and coming' rankings, where there are often only like three other schools in the regional category...)

 

[Optical Illusion]

Slow down, bud.

It can be quite difficult for freshmen at any college to get started in research right away, but that isn't restricted to one specific school.
Take this one step at a time. Live your life and don't attempt to already have picked out exactly what residency program and specialty you think you're going to want 10+ years down the road. Chasing the big names for the sake of the big names is a pretty shallow way to approach your life, if we're being real here.

Find a college you like and has at least a decent amount of research. Do your very best there and you will be just fine.
I'm at a college that wouldn't impress anybody (Baylor University), but I made the most out of every opportunity I could find and now I'm in a great spot applying to MD/PhD programs.

In regards to the other question you had...
As far as I understand it, that '4+' stat is more relevant to people that had time between undergrad and med (masters, post-bac, research year. etc). I will not dare to question Neuronix (the person that made that post, I believe), but it's more important that you seek out many experiences over the course of the time you have available. For many of us, that will mean the three years between high school and submitting AMCAS/TMDSAS. You will not be disadvantaged by that.


*(Just a heads up, if you cite USNews too much on this site it's not going to go over well. Especially if you're looking at 'up and coming' rankings, where there are often only like three other schools in the regional category...)

Thanks for the advice. Nice job on the GPA and MCAT! You should get into a top notch MSTP program with those stats. Good luck!

 

[Lucca]

Hello,

I will be attending a top liberal arts college in the fall (ranked #1 up and coming liberal arts college by US News.) When I visited for a scholars day one of the students said that students are rarely able to get research experience during the freshman year at this college. I read the thread in the Physician Scientist forum where it was stated that 4 plus years of research experience is "excellent." How would one obtain 4 years of research experience if they do not plan to take a gap year? Also, would it be possible to get into a top MSTP program such as Harvard without 4 years of research experience if I meet the excellent qualifications for the other two categories? I hope to eventually get into the AP/NP program at MGH so I would like to attend a top MSTP program to be competitive. I will be sincerely grateful for any feedback that is provided.

Your primary concern should be to figure out whether or not you want MD/PhD to begin with not to mention just a PhD or just an MD. Literally never having done research for a significant amount of time and then saying "I want 8 years of doctoral training to go into this one specific residency program at this one school" is not a recipe for success. However, it's good to be excited and amibitious but you should also leave room for growth, spontaneity, and change in undergrad. Because it will change you. Even if you finish up wanting to do exactly what you planned at the outset, your priorities and attitude will change.

If you want to do this, just do well academically and try your best to start doing research as soon as possible. You might hate it. You might love it. You might be indifferent about it.

 

[Neuronix]

As far as I understand it, that '4+' stat is more relevant to people that had time between undergrad and med (masters, post-bac, research year. etc). I will not dare to question Neuronix (the person that made that post, I believe), but it's more important that you seek out many experiences over the course of the time you have available. For many of us, that will mean the three years between high school and submitting AMCAS/TMDSAS. You will not be disadvantaged by that.

I'm just some random guy who is never questioned, I believe... But seriously, I've always made the argument that gap years, post-baccs, and masters are not necessary and should be avoided if possible. This career pathway is way too long as it is, and any additional time spent training is better spent closer to your final career than early in your training.

Therefore, Op, I think you pose a good question. If your interest is MD/PhD and a majority research career, I recommend you go to a university that has significant research available onsite for you to be involved in throughout your undergrad career. A small liberal arts school may not be the best choice in this regard.