research experience-yes or no?

[mdsweetie1]

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hey guys i recently decided to switch over to prepharm from premed. i was offered a research assistant position at my school and i'm trying to decide if i should still do it. no pay, just academic credit.
i wanted to get a job as a pharm tech over the semester since i plan to apply to pharm school for the class of 2010. i was also hoping to do some volunteering to get experience since this semester and the summer is all i have to get that pharmacy experience in so i can talk/write about it in the interview/ admissions process. but since i will be on campus and won't have a car, my options are quite limited and i'm thinking i should just accept the research position in case i can't get a pharm tech job. the research position involves experimenting with the molecular genetics of a plant and i'm not sure if it really applies to pharmacy/ or even how it would be useful. plus the professor wants me to accept only if i can commit to several semesters of work and possibly apply for some kind of fellowship. 🙄 i need letters of recommendation so i guess it would be useful in that respect and pharmacy schools look for well-roundedness.
i don't know what to do...maybe you guys can help?

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Thread moved to pre-pharm forum because of topic.

I would take the research position. It sounds like you would have a really hard time finding a pharmacy position without a car. If there is a hospital nearby, it would probably be easier to volunteer or do some shadowing. The research will help your resume whether or not it is pharm related. There are actually a few people in my class who participated in similar research areas and had little to no pharm experience. I would make sure though that he knows when you are planning on attending pharm school. Applying for a fellowship kinda sounds like he expects you to be there a few years, though there are different ones out there.

 

[WhiteSnows]

Get pharmacy experience is more urgent than researching. Most schools want to see PEx. Researching is optional.

 

[evilolive]

I disagree. Research is more important in the eyes of a committee in terms of your academic abilities and things that make you stand out. You can still make a well informed decision about pharmacy school without necessarily working in a pharmacy. Everyone can be a tech, but not everyone can be a researcher 🙂 Actually...

 

[PharMed2016]

hey guys i recently decided to switch over to prepharm from premed. i was offered a research assistant position at my school and i'm trying to decide if i should still do it. no pay, just academic credit.
i wanted to get a job as a pharm tech over the semester since i plan to apply to pharm school for the class of 2010. i was also hoping to do some volunteering to get experience since this semester and the summer is all i have to get that pharmacy experience in so i can talk/write about it in the interview/ admissions process. but since i will be on campus and won't have a car, my options are quite limited and i'm thinking i should just accept the research position in case i can't get a pharm tech job. the research position involves experimenting with the molecular genetics of a plant and i'm not sure if it really applies to pharmacy/ or even how it would be useful. plus the professor wants me to accept only if i can commit to several semesters of work and possibly apply for some kind of fellowship. 🙄 i need letters of recommendation so i guess it would be useful in that respect and pharmacy schools look for well-roundedness.
i don't know what to do...maybe you guys can help?

I think research would be an added bonus to any type of application. It shows that you have gone beyond the basics of coursework, into something new and novel. With that being said, what do you mean by experimenting with the molecular genetics of a plant? Are you trying to isolate a gene within a plant? Sorry, I nosy... my background/undergrad is in DDS development and clinical research.

 

[alenadoma]

I agree with most of the above posts. Take the research position, - it will make you stand out, especially in the interview process. Chances are, some of the people that will be interviewing will be researchers themselves, and it will give them something to talk about with you and to veer away from the typical interview questions ("so...tell me about yourself).
If you have some additional time I would recommend trying to find a nearby hospital where you can shadow a pharmacist. And if you can find a tech position that would be incredibly beneficial to you as well.

 

[PharMed2016]

I disagree. Research is more important in the eyes of a committee in terms of your academic abilities and things that make you stand out. You can still make a well informed decision about pharmacy school without necessarily working in a pharmacy. Everyone can be a tech, but not everyone can be a researcher 🙂 Actually...

I wouldn't say being able to do research is a good measure of your academic abilities. Many people do research not just those with advanced degrees, not saying those that do not don't have academic abilities. What admissions committees want to see is that you know what your talking about and have played a role in the whole process of it all, not a glorified data collector which anyone could have done.

Just my $0.02

 

[Artful Dodger]

Go for it. Get pharmacy experience later. I think, in the undergrad level, research is an important learning experience. It will prepare you for pharmacy school, especially if it's research in the science realm. I did some research as well in polymer chemistry. It has not only satisfied experience, but it has helped me tremendously in the classroom, especially in lab classes. So...I say go for it; it'll make you a better student & a better candidate for pharmacy school (in my honest opinion).

 

[UES Girl]

I would also go for research - I have little pharmacy experience, but I have a hefty research project under my belt and I wrote about it in all my apps. I applied to all the schools that offer joint Pharm.D/Ph.D, except for the Texas one, and even wrote in my applications specifically that some of the research being done in those school interested me and I think it's my research project that made me stand out. Pharmacy experience can be always obtained, but a place in a good research lab, under a guidance of awesome PI is essentially impossible to come around (3-4 spots every couple years), at least in my school.

 

[Pharmdapp87]

The way I see it, Pharm Tech and Research are both positive experiences to obtain and place on your resume. Obviously Pharmacy Schools want you to work in a pharmacy setting so that they can confirm whether or not you are really interested in a pharmacy career. In addition, this makes you familiar with different aspects in pharmacy: issues, job availability, patient care and even the politics of a pharmacy. Research on the other hand enhances your analytical skills and shows the Adcom that you are definitely compotent in the lab setting. I've seen individuals matriculate into pharmacy school with just research, some with both and of course, some with just Pharm tech experience. the important thing is that you receive some type of educational experience. Seeing as finding a job as a pharm tech will be somewhat difficult I'd say pursue the research position. You'll get a lot out of it, along with analytical skills, you'll build your communication, your lab techniques, and you'll gain lots of knowledge. And if you become an author of a publication, you can bet you will definitely have something that sets you apart from other applicants. 9 times out of 10 you will meet someone who has done the cliche Pharmacy setting (not saying it is bad) but very rarely will you meet those with research experience and a published paper. Adcoms will become enthusiastic about your learning process and it will help validate your success outside of class. Hope I don't sound biased! Good luck👍

 

[mdsweetie1]

thanks everyone for all the feedback! i think i will take the research position then. my only concerns were the lengthy commitment and the relevance of the project I would be working on towards pharmacy. but i guess any research experience at all is looked upon highly. i may be faced with taking on both the research and a pharm tech job as well, is this feasible with a schedule of physics and orgo 2 and communications class? a tough semester indeed...what do you guys think? should i do both? or am i underestimating how hard it will be? the research position requires a commitment of about 10 hrs per week and the pharm tech job may be like 15-20 hrs per week im guessing at the most.

 

[PharMed2016]

thanks everyone for all the feedback! i think i will take the research position then. my only concerns were the lengthy commitment and the relevance of the project I would be working on towards pharmacy. but i guess any research experience at all is looked upon highly. i may be faced with taking on both the research and a pharm tech job as well, is this feasible with a schedule of physics and orgo 2 and communications class? a tough semester indeed...what do you guys think? should i do both? or am i underestimating how hard it will be? the research position requires a commitment of about 10 hrs per week and the pharm tech job may be like 15-20 hrs per week im guessing at the most.

Depends, my friends work usually about 8-12 hours a week @ cvs as a pharmacy student. Then again another is employed in inpatient pharmacy who works about 15-20weeks although I can't remember if it is JACO or someother entity which wants them to schedule less.